Last Wednesday, I had a telephone call in which I was reminded of a subject that had once crossed my mind and then had escaped me. I was unable to remember it – until now. In Dutch, I call it the big vs small principle. It took me a while to find an English equivalent: confident humility (eg, Buffer, Medium). Its opposite might be something like pompous arrogance.
In my writing, I use the confident humility approach by making myself small and vulnerable. Several people have already advised against that approach. Several years ago, a former colleague argued that it was bad for my career. The probability that I want to resume my career is remote, if not nil.
I think, feel and believe that I can only reach out to you – my reader – if I am someone to whom you can relate – as a fellow human being. I cannot reach you from a pedestal. My blogs may be complex – like me – but my choice of words is not. My words aim for simplicity rather than complexity (my blogs), in order to improve accessibility.
Moreover, I do not write about subjects that I do not (fully) understand. It’s impossible for me to rephrase such subjects into simple words. As Albert Einstein once stated: “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.”
In 2016, my close friend Joan died at the age of 54. I wrote an eulogy and presented it at her funeral. She approved its contents, like she picked my clothes for that day. I still remember her advice to me: “No details, Leon, no details!” Her words have become a motto in my writing.
The Why question is crucial in my writing. All other questions are secondary, like How, What, When, Where, and Who. I enjoy asking the Why question to people, who try bluffing their way through a conversation. You cannot answer a Why question unless you (fully) understand what you’re talking about. I doubt I’ve written blogs in which I was unable to answer that question.
I suppose asking (myself) the Why question is keeping me grounded. Medium-2018: “The Latin word “humilis” is translated into English as “humble”, but also as “grounded”, or “from the earth” since it derives from “humus” meaning earth.”
“Stay humble, stay grounded, remember what got you to that level — and that’s hard work.” A quote by Tim Howard (b.1979), an American professional soccer player and goalkeeper.
Humble and Kind (2016) by Tim McGraw
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you’re goin’, don’t forget turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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