Stupid Ideas

Sometimes our people will think our ideas are stupid. Their opinions are harder to ignore; they’re not just random strangers. Because we trust that person enough to share the things we think, feel, and dream with them, their words matter. That doesn’t mean their opinions are correct.

Recently I shared a particularly rainbow-chasing pipe dream with a close friend. Something I have the means to accomplish but with no tangible reward. Doing a thing simply for the sake of doing it, because it makes me happy. Even though, by every rational measure, it’s probably not worth doing. With, I honestly believe, the best of intentions, my friend told me my idea is stupid.

The thing is, this person knows me. Like, really knows me. They know even though it makes no sense whatsoever, this particular dream is my most favorite rainbow to chase. I know my friend meant well. They are concerned that I’m wasting my time. They think I’m being ridiculous and they’re probably right.

Maybe this is my midlife crisis, but I feel like I’ve earned the right to be a little ridiculous. My stupid little dream isn’t hurting anyone. No one will be disappointed except maybe my own self, and isn’t that risk the entire point of chasing the occasional rainbow?

I wish my dumb heart wasn’t so easily bruised. I wish I wasn’t awake tonight, feeling bad about myself and writing a blog about it, and I wish my friend could have kept their judgement to themselves this one goddamned time. My ideas, while often stupid, also sometimes turn out to be really great. My company was an exceptionally stupid idea and this year it turned 21. My stupidest idea ever is old enough to drink and employs 8 people. Not to shabby for a pipe dream, eh?

I’ve also had some really spectacular failures. I’m talking failures so epic it’s as if I was involved in a bet. Failure with fireworks and jazz hands. Everything I’ve ever actually accomplished started with what seemed at the time to be a stupid idea. Yet here I stand, with my stupid bruised heart and so many rainbows I still want to chase.

So my point, if I even have one, is that maybe sometimes it’s okay to dream of stupid things, as long as it’s not harming anyone. And maybe, sometimes, showing up for a friendship means standing with our people even when we think their dreams are stupid.

Sharing obviously brilliant ideas is easy. If someone chooses you to share their stupid ideas, though, maybe you should be flattered instead of trying to correct them. When someone trusts you enough to share their stupid ideas, the one’s they’re a little bit ashamed of, be still and listen. I need your support, not your judgement.