Day 22 of my 30-day journaling and posting challenge didn’t exactly go according to plan. The action item was to learn something new from a co-worker, but work was a whirlwind. The kind of day where you’re not sure if you’re swimming or just trying to keep your head above water, while helping everyone else stay afloat too. But here’s the thing: even though I didn’t check that box at work, I ended up learning something far more meaningful at home.
It came from my son, Hank.
He was absolutely buzzing with excitement to share what he learned in school -tally marks. You remember tally marks, right? That little counting trick where you draw four vertical lines and cross the fifth diagonally? Not exactly revolutionary stuff for adults, but for Hank, it was pure gold. He explained it with the enthusiasm of a kid who just uncovered a secret code, and I loved every second of it.
And here’s what hit me: I wasn’t just excited about what he was saying, I was excited for him.
There’s a big difference.
So often, we respond to someone’s excitement with a “Yeah, I know,” or a “Cool, cool,” especially if it’s something we’re already familiar with. But in doing that, we miss the moment. The moment they are fired up. The moment they feel like they’re sharing something important. And that feeling deserves to be matched, not dismissed.
When someone’s excited, whether it’s a kid talking tally marks or a friend sharing a new recipe, we have a choice. We can either douse their spark with indifference or fan the flame with genuine engagement.
I try to always fan the flame with my kids. But this was a reminder to carry that same mindset into all my interactions. Co-workers. Friends. Strangers. Everybody deserves the space to be excited and to know that their excitement is welcomed.
No, we don’t need to fake enthusiasm. It’s not about pretending we’re amazed when we’re not. It’s about recognizing what matters to them in that moment. And being present enough to say, “Wow, that’s awesome,” even if it’s something you already know.
So today’s lesson came from a six-year-old and a handful of tally marks. Not bad for a day when I thought I hadn’t learned anything at all.
And tomorrow? The action item is to sing my favorite song in the car -loudly, shamelessly, even if someone pulls up next to me at a stoplight. Because sometimes, you’ve just got to lean into joy and let other people see it.
Let them see you be excited.