“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment
with a blaze of light.
You’ll never know how much your caring matters.”
— Amy Leigh Mercree
My recent health challenges have caused me to be even more reflective than I am normally.
In sharing my experience with a friend who wants to race to my side and do whatever it would take to make it better for me, I recognize the actions of another caregiver — who, like Mr. Rogers — is one of the many “Helpers” in the world. Like this friend — and the many who have leaned in to wrestle me out of my need for control and inability to ask for help — I see the warmth of someone who derives joy and pleasure from supporting the well-being of people.
I believe this is a good motivation and which has been my prime objective all my life. I don’t believe that it is gender specific, just a set of values and principles that perform like an operating system in my life.
Having a servant leadership approach to life has served me well. It is my profession, my avocation, my way of moving through the world, and my purpose. The process of being focused outwardly on others has required me to grow, learn, develop my capacity, and be the strength in the storm.
I attract individuals to this energy. I find that my closest friendships are with other individuals who are responsible for themselves and those around them. It makes for a very rich life.
It may also contribute to a flat side. This morning’s text — followed by a phone call of support — made me smile. I had seen myself in the mirror of my friend’s offer and actions. I don’t think I was given a choice. Maybe that is what it takes to break my attachment to “maintaining control’ and “pleasing others” by not needing anything.
I have mastered being a competent caregiver. I am a novice in accepting help, recognizing when I need to ask for help, and putting myself on top of the day’s agenda.
It takes a serious life interruption to grab my attention.
Can you relate?
Every experience for me — easy or difficult — is an opportunity to learn and grow. I am still recovering from my health-scare wake-up call. And the lessons keep bubbling up.
So does the support from loving friends, colleagues, and clients. Grateful is the song playing in my head – over and over and over again.
The beautiful Spring weather is calling me to embrace the day and all it has to present to me.
I wish you well-being.
Leslie
PS. Please don’t wait for a wake-up experience to cause you to put yourself first in navigating work-life, life-life, and how you want to spend your time — and with whom.
In the absence of wake-up calls,
many of us never really confront
the critical issues of life.
— Stephen Covey
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