For others, for ourselves

Taking on the responsibility of maintaining a support network for others at just the right time when I could use one myself seemed like a ridiculous thing to do. (Jamison Green, Becoming a Visible Man, 67)

This wasn’t one of the quotations from Jamison Green’s book, Becoming a Visible Man, that I initially put on my list of quotations to blog about, but when I ran across it again the other day, I felt compelled to revisit it.

This quotation comes up in Green’s book as he is writing about Lou Sullivan’s presumption that Green would be taking over the FTM International Newsletter following Sullivan’s long-time leadership. Green stresses how much struggle and turmoil he is facing in his own life as he questions how suitable it is for him to take on the responsibilities for the newsletter. What he eventually realizes is that he has so much to offer, and that that doesn’t preclude his own needs for the help and support of others.

I’m actually reminded of my high school track coach, Mr. Turner, who said to us that the day when we feel most like not being at practice is the most important day to be at practice. He was trying to teach us the importance of showing up, of believing in our abilities, and of persevering.

It is often amazing to realize what we can do when we set out to accomplish a goal, and even more so when we simply set out to get through the day and come out with so much more.

I’m so thankful for all those who have stepped up, whether they felt ready to answer the call or not, to be in leadership positions. I hope they know what a difference they have made in so many of our lives. May we all return their investment in us to others in the future.