Unexpected Surprise

Leadership

May 15

It’s the leadership that allows us to be heard that makes the greatest positive impact. - Cheri Ruskus

Happy Monday!

Wow, 4 days ago I was given the surprise of all surprises. Here’s how it went down…

Thursday afternoon I was waiting to get on a Zoom call with my daughter Bailey (she lives in San Diego), when my office door opens and there she is, standing there in person! Along with my son Travis (who also does not live nearby). I was in the shock of all shocks!

It was the weirdest feeling of joy and disbelief that my grown babies were standing there in the flesh! Within seconds we were hugging and laughing as I cried tears of complete joy. Those feelings were felt over and over again this entire Mother’s Day weekend. Love, joy, tons of laughter and just being together with the people who mean the most to me in my life.

Since Ed’s birthday was also this weekend, we got to celebrate with other family members Saturday night which made it just the best of the best.

This morning I believe I am having a love hangover after taking them to the airport bright and early. Feeling very blessed indeed. Missing them once again of course, but as the saying goes my love cup has been filled. The conversations that allowed each of us to be heard was perhaps the best part of it all.

What I had planned on talking with you about this morning is the importance of leadership as I dig into more with my podcast on Mindful Leadership. In this podcast I not only share the responses to the question I asked a few weeks back about what freedom means to you, but I dive into a leadership meditation as well.

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My hope is this podcast will get you to thinking more about the leadership role you play in your own life. Ironically, as the events of this weekend unfolded before I wrote this week’s letter, it was a great reminder of the importance family plays in the leaders we can become. I believe the family unit plays a key role on many levels to the way we show up for the rest of the world.

When you know that you have people who love you, people who have your back, it’s everything. My leadership role as a mom has been one of my greatest gifts in my life. And I love that both of my children are playing such caring leadership roles in their lives as well.

There is a song, Helplessly Hoping, that Stephen Stills wrote that played this morning when we got home from the airport. This song, in the years since I had my own family, makes me think of the family that I had the honor to create most especially with these words:

They are one person

They are two alone

They are three together

They are for each other.

In my family’s case I see the for as four. And isn’t that the true essence of leadership when we are there for each other. No matter the difference of opinions, or life paths, we are there for each other in good times and bad. And again, feeling extra grateful for the good times of this past long weekend.

Onward we go! Enjoy the podcast and have a great week ahead.