A while back I opened a tab on the computer and there was an article about a solar storm that may let people at lower latitudes see the Northern Lights.
I knew someone who was at the beach in a small town on a retreat at the time. I told them that they might be able to see the Northern Lights and sent the map that was in the article. They sent back an emoji and I went on with my day.
I woke up in the middle of the night for some reason and like a low performer I opened my phone and saw a text from them. It was a picture of the Northern Lights and they were super happy because where they live there is zero chance of ever seeing such a thing.
Now, they had the ability to send a text or put a post of the group message to let everyone else know about this. Do you think that they did?
I am going to let that go unanswered because it doesn't matter and I don't know myself but there are a few different ways that they could have handled it and outcomes.
"Hey, check it out! The Northern Lights may be viewable from where we are after dark. Scientists are saying that there is a solar storm and we could see those green wavy light in the sky. I am passing this along in case you want to go outside of your room and look north after dark."
That could get it done.
If they don't see them then all of the people at the retreat will undoubtedly stone this person for suggesting something that didn't work.
If they do see them then a few dozen people get an experience that they may never have gotten in their entire life.
They decide to not tell every one what happens?
If this person looks out and sees the Northern Lights they cannot really tell anyone about it because they will have a hard time explaining why they didn't say anything.
"I was afraid that the lights may not show up and then look stupid" sound cowardly.
"I was afraid" is the root and could have quite a few reasons.
Generally I don't like to give answers because I think that you the reader are smart enough and most of what I write is obvious enough but I really want to make sure that if there is any little bit of confusion on this that I have said what my view is.
It's cowardly, rude and selfish to not send the message. It may not work and then everyone stepped out of their hotel and walked the 100 feet to the beach and had a pleasant time with their friends; they joked about the lights and some talked about actually seeing them some time in the past. It's one more fun spot on the trip.
If you share something that could be a once in a lifetime moment and the lights showed up you participated in magic; people remember you as the one that let everyone experience something memorable and they look at you with new and fond eyes.
Is the down side really such a down side (if it is at all). At the least you showed caring for the tribe. You were not the cowardly, fearful non participant trying so hard to not be noticed and that can help you feel really good about yourself.
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