Here’s a short email I wrote to Leadership Reno County Alumni this AM:
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written and this has been due to some circumstances in life. Specifically, I lost my grandmother on July 7. I had the privilege of traveling home (to Southern Illinois) and being a part of the service. It was a great time, but hard as that last relative on one side is now gone. Needless to say, it was a hiccup on the road of my life.
We all face these don’t we? We face situations that have the potential to take us out of the game for a season. We encounter times or seasons that call for refocusing or redirecting our efforts. We drift into parts of life that mean we’re a little bewildered as to who we are and what we’re doing. Even a simple vacation, which is an important part of taking care of yourself, can have an effect like this.
So, how do we fight the “hiccups”? Well, for me, even writing this short thought meant fighting through the hiccups. And, I simply recalled a couple of basic KLC civic leadership principles: Leadership is an activity, not a position. I have to simply step out and do something. I also remembered that It starts with you and must engage others. Reengaging meant stepping into other people’s lives. And, finally (and maybe most important), I remembered Your purpose must be clear. Why do I do this? So that the leadership capacities of you, my friends, are strengthened. I want Reno County to be better for my children because we are more effectively engaging in acts of leadership.
Today, what hiccups are you fighting? Maybe these simple reminders will help you make progress on the issues you care about.