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Over time, for me, a few things are important.
1. Working to do what is needed to make things easier for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Doing the things that are necessary to make justice possible, even if it means some of John Lewis’ ‘good trouble’. What is that sentiment sometimes attributed to Thomas Jefferson? … ‘when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty‘.
2. Competence and empathy are critical components of leadership. We can never say it doesn’t matter who leads.
3. No one becomes successful alone. Someone told me, successful people can do anything, but they can’t do everything. All successful people have had love, support, and generosity bestowed on them at some point.
4. It is our responsibility to make a positive dent in this world. Lin-Manuel Miranda, as Hamilton says, ‘I am not throwing away my shot. Eminem says, ‘you only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow’. Never throw away your shot to step up. Summon the courage to keep going. This is made possible by showing up RIGHT every day, responding and not reacting, smiling in the sunny weather AND the rain, and delivering on your commitments. And, if that has not been happening for you as of late, ‘the next thirty seconds are your chance to turn it all around’ – Penelope Cruz in Vanilla Sky.
5. Don’t live Saturday to Saturday. Structure your life to enjoy EACH day and appreciate the mundane along the way. Invest the time in understanding what it is that you value. Your strength, your peace, your happiness will come from aligning what you choose and do with what it is that you value. Understand what you value, put it in a bubble, and make all your decisions, grand and small, in such a way that the bubble is protected.
Breathe and live joyfully.