Who’dya Think You Are 

 

I would attend football games when I was in high school. I would climb the stairs in the bleachers and find that exact right spot where I could find friends, munch on a treat. Watch others in the crowd. 

 

Sure, watch the game. Occasionally. 

 

There would be a line of pom pom holding students transformed into yelling and jumping dynamos. 

These were the cheerleaders.

 

One of the cheers they would lead the crowd in went like this. 

 

Ready, okay!

 

Who’da, who’da, who’da

Who’dya think you are? 

 

Those of us in the stands would roar back: We’re the warriors W A double RR IOR S. 

 

Can you see a bunch of high school students yelling and jumping and thinking that this makes sense? 

 

It didn’t actually need to because teenagers, especially in a group, are often willing to go with it, clap their hands and bring on the hilarity. 

 

This cheer has stayed with me. It is now on my quote board in my office. 

 

Who’dya think you are? 

 

A warrior? Do you think that you are able to go with it? Clap with those around you or stand alone when needed? 

Look at this picture.

And then I look at this picture. 

 

It is the purest and best. To me, that is.

 

Perhaps you have seen a young adult who can send a dagger across the room as quick as lightning. 

Same as this! 

 

Who’dya think you are? 

 

Let me tell you what was going on here. 

 

This was a day that I was taking pictures from every angle. Constantly. 

Trying to capture the moment. 

 

The everyday stuff of a teenager and his dad. 

They were both sick and tired of being the models. 

Told to leave.

I had already been asked, then told to leave. 

Mother!

 

For all that is golden in this good world. 

Take the camera with you. 

 

Enough. 

I had been escorted out of the backyard, with no uncertain terms. 

 

And then, I looked back. 

 

I laugh out loud with this grand memory. 

 

This boy looked up at the very moment and sent this look from across the yard as my camera was being raised. 

 

He caught me as I was taking one more picture! 

 

People! 

The hilarity and seriousness of it is incredible. 

 

I will tell you that I left as quickly as I could. He was not joking with this look. 

 

Mother! You have to give us space.

Take your camera and meddlesome ways and be gone. 

 

I am laughing right now with the strength of a warrior he had. 

 

My husband just shook his head with an equally massive smile on his face. 

 

Here is the ticket to why this question stays on my quote board. 

 

Who do we think we are? 

Do you and I stand in place, clap our hands and go into a powerful stance when we know what it is we need? 

 

Like this young man who was saying so much without words? Or sign language or any of his communication systems? 

 

This is what I learned that day and so many times since. 

 

First, I need to let others know what I need, even when it means saying it a few times. 

 

That day I was escorted out of the space by someone who knew what he needed. That is also called self determination and he had it with bells and boldness. 

 

We can all determine what we want and then, go for it one day and one thing at a time. 

 

Next, I learned that I get to choose who to be around. 

 

What?  

Yes, and yes. 

This teenager did choose who to be around.

That day, this teenager did choose who he wanted to be around, for how long and then who was going to be there for the next part of his day. 

 

Can you see the power of that for 

Each

One

Of us? 

 

Some days I love crowds and other times I love to be on the top of a mountain with one person. 

 

What about you? 

 

That’s the best part for everyone. 

What if it changes during the same day? 

 

Well, that is alright, as well. 

 

Here is what I have learned as a final bit. It took me a minute to acknowledge, even while I knew it in my core.

 

You may know this already. If you do, perhaps help the person next to you with this piece. 

It can be doozy to learn for some.

 

I get to feel everything that comes. 

 

Do you see the intensity in his eyes? 

He felt deeply.

I love that he felt deeply. 

 

Here’s the kicker with this part.  

This young teenager was not always able to let us know what he was feeling with his words, his sign language, or any other communication that was there for him. 

 

He did know what respect was and what it meant when I walked away that day. No more pictures were taken. 

He was able to take a breath and enjoy one on one time with dad outside. 

 

The truth is that he had come from the way we were when he was younger, learning how to let others know what he wanted, to becoming his own self. 

 

What a wonderful place to be! 

 

That is what I know for now, my friends. 

 

May we learn to cheer each other on as we continue to clap to the beat and find out who we think we are.