Maya Angelou once stated, "A hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people."
I couldn't agree more as heroes are the every day people in my life. While I have forever heroes and she-roes (dad, mom, great-aunt, great-uncle, pastors, teachers, etc.), I also have seasonal heroes. Those who come into my life during a major disruption and who I have to depend on for that moment to see me through a fearful, regretful, or confusing situation.
Last week, it was my orthopedic doctor and his surgical team. I had a benign lipoma removed from my right ankle. While I thought it was a Dr. Pimple Popper moment to be done in the office, it was actually a surgical procedure that required pre-operative testing, sedation, and recovery. Now being a woman of faith, I called on my prayer warriors to cover me in prayer, but the human side of me got very nervous right before being wheeled into the surgical suite. I haven't been sedated for over 10 years since my last surgery, so for me its almost something new and unknown.
By voicing my fears over the phone the day before with the surgical nurse, she was able to reassure me "we got you." It was at that moment that I cried (to release my tension) and at that moment I knew the power of prayer. She was an angelic, reassuring voice on the phone. Before I hung up I asked her if she would be there tomorrow and she said yes, but not as my nurse. I was disappointed to hear that, but felt reassured about the procedure.
The next day, that same nurse, Katie, sought me out in the surgical suite. I cried, she cried, and then she hugged me twice. I affirmed her that her reassurance yesterday made all the difference for me today. My doctor came in afterwards and touched my shoulder to remind me "we've got this." To me they were my heroes of the day!
So how do you reward heroes? With Nothing Bundt cupcakes! My gratitude for their heroic leadership in a difficult situation for me.
This made me wonder if there was such a thing as Heroic Leadership? What I found was a wonderful book called, Heroic Leadership, by Chris Lowney. It's described as "Best practices from a 450-year-old company that changed the world" - the Jesuits.
Drawing on Chris' unique background as a one-time Jesuit seminarian who later served as a Managing Director of JP Morgan & Co, Heroic Leadership paints a refreshing new vision of who leaders are and how they live. Specifically, Chris articulates four pillars of great leadership: self-awareness, heroic, ingenious, and loving. That is, they know themselves deeply, live for "heroic" purposes greater than self, adapt confidently to a rapidly changing world, and respect the dignity and potential of those around them (https://chrislowney.com/wp/books/heroic-leadership)
So who is yours? Your hero? Have you affirmed them today?
More importantly, are you someone's hero? Have they affirmed you today?
It's not praise we seek, but knowing we have made an impact on someone other than ourselves. I hope you strive for this every day! After all, your impact might make you a unsung hero and you will never know it.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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