“OH, I’M JUST A NOBODY…”
How many times have you heard someone call themselves a nobody? Or have you said that about yourself? What does it mean when people discount themselves this way?
Is it really a bad thing to be a nobody?
In Nobodies in a Somebodies’ World, author Merlin Bylsma takes an in-depth look at what it means to be a nobody … and why it might actually be a positive thing!
ARE YOU READY TO BECOME A PROUD NOBODY?
Merlin Bylsma’s Nobodies in a Somebodies’ World is a series of essays and discussion questions on the concept of being a nobody. You will be encouraged to see yourself and others in a fresh light!
MEET MERLIN BYLSMA
Merlin Bylsma lives in Orange City, Iowa, with his wife, Holly. They have five children and several grandchildren. For many years, Merlin and Holly managed elder care homes in Montana and Iowa, caring for somewhere between 300 and 400 people.
Merlin was inspired to write Nobodies in a Somebodies’ world by this realization: In all his years, he has never met a person whose life doesn’t matter—everyone fills a necessary niche. He was also inspired by his family and how proud he is of all his children and grandchildren, no matter the job they choose or where life takes them.
Merlin Bylsma (second row, center) surrounded by his family.
“Of course we need doctors and lawyers and entrepreneurs—but where would we be without janitors, waitresses, power line workers, and the millions of others who make the world run? That’s why it has always greatly bothered me when people discount themselves as a nobody. All of us are essential.”
– Merlin Bylsma
LET’S CONNECT
What did you think of Nobodies in a Somebodies’ World? Did it make a difference in how you see yourself or the world around you? Merlin would like to hear your thoughts—send him a message and start a conversation!