Day 12

Today someone challenged me to play a game called “Trade Up.” I don’t know if you have heard about the guy who took a paperclip and continued to trade up via craigslist until he ended up with a Porsche, another with a House, and I think another with a Yacht? Well, I always seem to love a good challenge. So, the rules were to convince someone to trade me something for your toothpick, and then trade up from that, etc. What you couldn’t trade for was food, money, or sex. Ha! Of course being the “dreamer” that I am, I decided to shoot for a car by the evening. To set up mentally for success, I reminded myself of something I always strive for, which is to be the “electricity that others want to plug into to brighten their internal light which also charges my internal light.” So, with this concept in mind, I set out on my mission.

I went to a restaurant, started having negative self talk, but then quickly shifted as I recognize I have a choice in how I feel. I walked straight up to a table of 4 people thinking I was going to get something from every single person there. Well, I had some great conversation, was offered money, food, and business cards. I met potential people worth chatting with regards to business, but only walked away with 2 names and a empty beer can deciding the 5 cents was worth more than the toothpick which was worth a penny, right?

Next, I took my beer can, and traded up for a brand new votive candle from the bartender. Mind you, I spoke to 2 different bar tenders, multiple times before I could convince him to give me anything. I think in the end he just gave in as I asked specifically for a candle vs being vague and asking for anything. Interesting lesson there, maybe?

I spoke to my neighbors at the bar, one almost gave me his cell phone, he also tried to give me a business card, in which I said that was backwards. One of them wanted to maybe chat tomorrow, and offered me a glass of wine. I said thank you, but I couldn’t as food wasn’t part of the deal.

Next I went on to chatting with people outside and I was having a blast with everyone, yet wasn’t getting very far with results. I went from a candle to a clean diaper, thinking maybe I’d find someone with a baby? Well not at 9p. I started thinking about how I wasn’t getting very far, as I saw my friend who ended up with the coolest bracelet. Grrrr. I decided to knock on a door of a salon that was closed, but still had people in it and I have to admit, I believe they were thoroughly entertained by my challenge, so they helped and I walked out with a fork!

I had accidentally waved at a friend across the street earlier, only to find out it was someone else. I ended up running into this stranger on the street later, and we started chatting about everything, super duper sweep, he was from Switzerland, and his girlfriend was from the Pacific NW like me. He offered me gloves, and she offered me a pin. I took the pin, and as I walked away I realized the pin had a picture of a light bulb on it…. That was where I stopped. I had wanted to be the electricity that other’s plug into, to turn on their light right? Interesting how things worked out.

I encourage everyone to dare themselves to this game as its so much fun and also so many lessons were taught from this one simple challenge:

LESSONS OF THE DAY:

1-      Don’t always get caught up in the RESULTS. Because I had been so focused on the act of trading up, I missed out on potential new friends, or maybe even business networking which I regretted the rest of the evening.

2-      Pushing myself to talk to strangers can be super fun, and not only brightens their light, but also charges me up at the same time.

3-      Value is all Perception.

4-      Again, things work out perfectly, I LOVE my little light bulb pin, it now serves as a memory.

5-      I have the ability to change the course of someone’s evening. Quite a few people chose to continue the game with the trade up item, received from me!

6-      If you are genuine, people want to help. I had people scouring for items to give me, or asking others around them to help.

7-      It’s possible to get what we ask for.

If this post supported you at all please share below with others, and comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts and support you in your journey!

love.