As a kid I watched a movie called, “Harry and the Hendersons.” It is about a family that accidentally hits a Sasquatch on their way home from a family camping trip. Assuming it’s dead and that they’ve made a fantastic discovery, they strap it to their car roof and take it home. As you can guess this doesn’t go well, the creature isn’t dead, and ends up wreaking all kinds of havoc on their lives. They develop a kinship with “Harry” and eventually are able to help him get back to the wild. It’s a great movie and one I could (and maybe will) write about in more detail. For this recovery talk, it’s just a stepping stone to explain my fascination with the Sasquatch/Big Foot concept. I don’t know if they exist. I don’t really care if they exist. For me it’s just an interesting and exciting possibility.

So when I saw a quote from Sasquatch, I knew I had to share it. What’s even better about this quote is how much I need it daily. Self-doubt is insidious and disastrous. Self-doubt is how I am a constant barrier to myself. I hear it from people all the time, “you have to start believing in yourself.” But here I am, still facing that as my greatest struggle. Now though, I have this quote from something I’ve always wondered about existing, and it really hits deep. If a creature that not many believe in can make this kind of declaration, maybe I can believe in myself.

I’ve started using Big Foot in many areas. I have a figurine glued to the dash of my car, I have them on a keychain for work (the place I doubt myself the most) and I’ve got pictures and stickers I see all day, every day. Constant reminders to believe in me. It’s amazing because people will comment about my “Big Foot” and I get to share why I have it. Spreading the self-belief one person at a time.

Maybe Sasquatch isn’t your thing. Unicorns, Mermaids, Aliens… there are many “mythical” things… Find something that speaks to you and use it as your reminder to believe in yourself, no matter what!

Sarah Deats

Sarah Deats is the Hope Inc. Stories Inspiration Engineer. Her goals are to make a connection with everyone that she can while building community, spreading hope, and sparking change. She believes that while life may not be easy, it is never lived alone.