Something has changed deep within me and I am not sure that I am ready for the change. I see a gift coming that is going to require me to me undergo another stage of healing and more personal growth. For love of my Mom, brothers, and my sister, I learned to overcome fear and to fight. From grief and sorrow, I learned to shed tears and invest my energy into constructive purpose. From the teachings of my grandparents, parents, aunties, and uncles – I learned my role as a family leader. From my Grand Chiefs, I learned that the life of a leader belongs to the people. A leader believes in their citizens until they believe in themselves. A leader creates hope so that citizens will carry on to a better tomorrow. Fourteen years ago, at the ripe age of 40 years, my Auntie Ginny and my sister Dot helped me understand the gifts given to me by the Creator. Auntie Ginny and Dot helped me understand that my purpose in life is to develop these gifts to help the people. They helped me understand that the Creator provided me with gift of oratory. The Creator also blessed me with the gift of leadership. To develop these gifts, I had to leave the freedom and security of self-employment for elected leadership jobs. Long ago, my Respected Elders taught me about the power of “words.” Words may hurt, or words may heal, I have been working to employ words to heal and not hurt others. This meant that I had to continue my healing and personal growth. I am a work in progress. From time to time, I employ “words” to adjust the attitudes of colonial thinkers. Now, fourteen years later, I prefer to employ words to inspire, heal, give hope, and support growth. For me, leadership is carrying out the teachings of my dear Uncle. He guided with me with powerful but simple teachings. He taught me that leadership is simple but tough. Leadership is about listening, learning, and then acting. In that order, and only that order, a leader listens, learns, and then acts. My uncle also taught me that a leader makes decisions. Some decisions will make citizens very upset. Some citizens will lash out in anger at the decisions I have taken. When a citizen lashes out in anger at me – I do not have a permit or licence to reply with anger. These leadership teachings are very simple. These teachings challenge a leader to be their best at all time. I am a work in progress. Twice in the past two weeks, harsh words from others have struck me. In thirty-four years of leadership jobs, I have experienced harsh words. So, it surprised me when in both instances that I felt shocked and hurt. There is a purpose for everyone and a reason for everything. We do not always understand. I am thankful to understand. I will offer prayers for those citizens that are hurting and use their words to hurt. I understand pain. I understand the use of words to hurt others. This morning it occurred to me that the lessons I learn today would help me to heal. Today, I begin a journey to my next stage of healing and growth. Today, I begin the lessons that would help me to carry the next gift. dk:
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:07:15 +0000
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