A Humble Salute to Our Veteran's
Every Veteran's Day I am reminded of a work trip where I happened to sit next to a young soldier on a long plane ride home. I am grateful for his story and his service... and each year I wonder what became of him.
Cue The Psychedelic Back in Time Music...
I reluctantly booked the trip for the conference because I had too much going on to be spending a week out of the office. Even though I knew a change of scene was probably in order I found myself denying it and making up excuses for all the reasons I couldn't go. So... I just had to remind myself that "the way I was working wasn't working". Let's face it... I was caught up in a lot of me...me...me... and was admittedly in a "funk".
Also recognizing that I would need some support for the long trip and days ahead... I ordered a book that my former executive coach from London had recommended; “Inside the Leader’s Mind” by Liz Mellon. It highlighted how leaders have the capability to think differently. I made the commitment to myself that by the time I landed back at home I would finish the book.
Music Feeds My Soul
Following along the theme of how leaders can think differently... listening to music (all kinds of music) helps change my mood, bring me up when I am down, gives me the courage to go on, or humbles me. I also need to confess that I sometimes become obsessive over a song and need to “wear it out” by playing it over and over again.
For this particular trip, my daughter was playing “Chicken Fried” by Zac Brown Band in the days before I left. I can’t explain how these songs get stuck in my head, but that was the chosen one for this trip and I found myself humming, and needing to “wear it out”.
As part of the conference activities, we played the Poipu Bay Golf Course ( I know you feel sorry for me). I have to admit that it was one of the most beautiful courses I have played (because I am not necessarily a good golfer). The 16th hole was the women’s longest drive and I stepped up, sang a little “Chicken Fried” and crushed it – long and straight up the middle. As it turns out – this was enough to win women’s longest drive on that hole and I got a $100 Amex card. It felt cool.
It's Amazing How the Subconscious Mind Works.
So that Friday… as I boarded the plane, book in hand, “Chicken Fried” on the iPhone and ready for the 6 hour ride home... I ended up sitting next to a young soldier who was headed back to Tennessee on vacation. We chatted a bit before takeoff but we quickly settled into other things (I in my book and he into a movie).
Towards the end of the flight... I happened to focus in on a chapter in the book about “Your inner compass”, “Do you have an internal sense of the right thing to do?”, “Are you authentic?”, “Do you show Humility?” These traits are really important and are very meaningful to me. The other line that stuck with me was “You’ve made it – you have nothing left to prove – now be generous with what you have learnt”.
As we were landing and I had listened to Chicken Fried for the millionth time I honed in on a line from the song that I had NOT been paying that much attention to:
“I thank God for my life And for the stars and stripes may freedom forever fly let it ring….Salute the ones who died the ones that give their lives so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love”
Thank YOU for YOUR Service
It was like something clicked...between the message in the book and the line from the song...
So... I took off my headphones asked the young soldier how long he was going home for. He said he was headed back for 10 days – he was getting married. It was supposed to be a surprise to everyone but the information got out. They were doing it now so the paper work could get through the system in the next couple of months. They were going to have a more traditional wedding later in the year just before he got deployed to Afghanistan for 10 months. He was a sniper and was preparing to head into the eye of the storm. He said that when he joined the army he decided that he may as well be in the middle of the action – he was about to get what he asked for. He was young, humble, hardworking and full of hope/excitement of what was ahead of him.
I told him about how I had been in Hawaii for meetings and how I had played golf the day before. I told him about how I had hit the longest drive and won a prize. (Now…you may think this story is about me…but it isn’t.) I reached into my purse and gave him the $100 gift card and told him that it was my wedding gift to him and his lovely bride. He was stunned and said he couldn’t accept it. I told him “of course you can – it was found money and it was my pleasure to kick off his wedding week with good karma”. He was unbelievably grateful and I was grateful for “Chicken Fried”, the ability to hit the ball long and straight, and for having the sense to do the right thing.
In Closing...
Life is about stringing together all little things into something that can make a difference – one person at a time.
I am grateful for that young soldier's service this Veteran's day and every day. I wish I had gotten his name and I could know for sure that he is living his best life with his bride. I will send positive thoughts into the universe that he served his country well and came home safe!
To this soldier and his family... this is my humble salute!
Leadership questions of the week for YOU:
What is YOUR story of focusing less on you and more on others and did that help pull you out of a funk?
Can you think of a book or music or something else that caused YOU to do the right thing in a moment that you might otherwise have missed?
What is YOUR story this Veteran's day that reminds you to be grateful for those that serve?
Thanks for reading and remember....YOU make a difference!
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