Awe With Awale

Maybe I Am Cool

“I am still thinking about our chat together. It was so inspirational to me. I just wanted to let you know.”

“I’ve been talking about our conversation with most of my friends, so I thought I’d tell you. You clearly had an impact.”

Those were the words I received this week from a young man I met in Brisbane during my Christmas visit. We had met at a Christmas gathering, and the next day he offered to show me parts of the city. We spent the entire afternoon together exploring Brisbane until evening.

As we walked through "South Bank" and crossed the river by ferry which cost me just 50 cents, I shared stories and perspectives on history and geopolitics about Somalia, the Middle East, and growing up in Saudi Arabia. Much of it was new to him and at one point, as we walked through "West End", he stopped, looked at me with genuine admiration and said, “You know you’re cool, right?”

I was surprised by the impact I had on a young migrant man in his early 20s, educated and a recent graduate with a master’s degree in finance. When he asked if I knew I was cool, I laughed and said, “I know” and quickly changed the subject. Talking about myself has never been my strong suite. Like many of us, I feel uncomfortable at times when receiving a compliment.

But maybe I should sit with it. Maybe I am cool, maybe my words carry weight. Maybe when given the chance, I offer people something unique, something they didn’t know they were looking for. A new perspective, hope, or simply the feeling of being seen.

And maybe this is the reminder I needed to realise that my voice matters, that my stories, my openness and welcoming spirit have an impact on others. I have a gift and gifts are meant to be used. I will aim to use my gifts more often and share them with those who are willing to receive and reciprocate.