I teach a freshmen seminar on leadership. During our last meeting we had an lengthy discussion about the relationship between leadership and commitment. Everyone seemed to agree that leaders are committed to whatever cause it is they support.
Listening to students discuss what commitment looks like is what proved most interesting to me. They seemed to get the idea that commitment is not Martin Luther King's speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, but instead the countless sermons and letters he wrote when no one was watching. It wasn't Alice Paul starving herself in prison and receiving international press. It was the the rallying and picketing and advocating she did all along the way that was the truest testimony to her commitment toward women's suffrage.
If my students read the brief description of today's recipient for the Yellow Envelope Project, I think they would agree Trudy's day to day life is a testimony to her commitment toward natural childbirth and childbirth education.
She is a committed leader in her field. Take a look:
"Trudy has been inspiring moms for many years. In addition to that she changed my life and led me to become a childbirth educator. I met her and saw her speak in St. louis in the early 90s and haven't looked back since. She talked about how childbirth education has changed and how women need to be that change. she really invigorated me. Beyond that she has been a mentor to countless women in the wilderness of Alaska. she's driven miles in cold and snow to hold their hands while they labored. She's got her own family and yet always took the time for new moms or new educators. She's a brilliant leader and friend."
Trudy's passion for natural childbirth is perfectly aligned with how she chooses to spend her time - teaching, mentoring, supporting, and inspiring. Trudy is a committed leader.
You might know, and care, minimally about the same things as Trudy. But, surely you can find ten minutes and a postage stamp to thank her for demonstrating, so beautifully, what a difference someone makes when they are committed. Write your note to Trudy, but dedicate it to a person whose commitment you appreciate. Tell Trudy why his or her commitment makes your corner of the world a better, brighter place. Chances are those are all the same reasons her commitment makes her corner a better, brighter place.
Participating is easy.
Take ten minutes and write a short note to Trudy. Seal it in a yellow envelope (or a white envelope decorated with yellow stickers and markers). Place the words, "Yellow Envelope Project" in the top left hand corner and send it to the address listed below before next Saturday when we meet again to recognize another worthy recipient.
Better yet, commit to sending it to the address listed below before next Saturday when we meet again to recognize another worthy recipient.
Trudy Keller
Anchorage Pediatric Group
3340 Providence Dr.
Building A, Suite 500
Anchorage, AK 99508-4616
Shining off until tomorrow...
T.G.I.F.
Hold on to your hats. Our video is chock full of fun.
You get to: Meet Misty, recap the week, find out who won our Mystery Package contest, hear about one of our readers who Shines, and help us decide who the proverbial, "they" is.
Plus more.
Have a fun and safe Halloween. Don't forget to tune in again tomorrow for the address of this week's Yellow Envelope winner.
Who's "They?" from Heather Snow on Vimeo.
Shining off until tomorrow...
Fraykenstein, here.
Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat or I'll kick your @$$ and wrap your house in toilet paper. And, I'm not talking about those waxy pellets they call candy corn either. That's crap. I want the real stuff. Hershey Bars or Reeses.
Tricks or treats. That's the name of the game for today. I need new Halloween tricks and Claudia - the pansy with no sense of mischief - is pleading for new Halloween treat ideas. Treats that she needs like another hole in her head. Shush. Mine are bolts, not holes.
Head over to the Community Forum labeled, Today's Post and give me some new tricks I can play Sunday night. Throw Claudia a bone while you're at it and share some sort of Halloween treat. Do it, otherwise it'll be Christmas before she stops complaining.
Ray out.