Not On Your Level

We've all heard this. Often times its a put down. It's demoralizing and condescending. It deflates the best of hot air headed folk. But on the flip side, we may have used this against others whom we felt weren't up to our standards. We may have thought of using a little bit more tact or come across as being a bit more careful in the decline of said advances. But in the long run, it didn't come across as such.

One thing about the practice and use of "The Level" is that not too many people want to admit that they encounter somebody on a higher level than they are. Think about it. Those rare occassions where you meet somebody and they are just doing the damned thing. They got respecable, if albeit high, goals, and have achieved them. They are "credentialled" and "upstanding" people.

"Damn!!! You got a full ride to Tulane Law? That's some good shit!!!"

or

"You own your own business with just a high school degree! And you're about open up a 2nd location? Keep doing the damned thing!!!"

These are but just some examples that I have come across where somebody is "not on your level" in the way that they are above you according to your own standards. Yet, you feel as though pursuing them might bring them down and hence, make them lose a few notches on their belt or some officer stripes off the shoulder. I've had it happen once. I met a girl and she was really down to earth(at first) and personable. Open and conversational. But as the conversation went on, I came to hear her speak on what she's doing and where's come from. Needless to say I was way intimidated. I felt like shrinking into a corner and assuming the fetal position.

"We're not worthy! We're not worthy!!! We're scum!!!!"
(c) Wayne and Garth

You've seen the movie!!!! But yeah.... Do we have the humility to see others as above us? As thought they have reached what we aspire to be? Really meeting somebody that has a lodge and spa on the mountain top?