Those who know me will scoff at the name I chose for this blog. They know me as outspoken and opinionated. They know me as a vocal and active advocate, always trying to influence a decision, an outcome or a condition. Hopefully they see me as someone whose motivation is to make a positive impact on the world, which of course depends on what they consider positive, but that's another day's blog posting.
So, what's the deal with the blog's name? Believe it or not, I once was very shy. I remember when my parents asked me to walk to the corner store and buy a newspaper at age 5 or 6. I dutifully went only to stand outside the store, look in to see half a dozen people at the checkout and walk right back home. I couldn't bear the thought of walking in there and talking to anyone. Yes, I once was painfully shy.
What happened to cure me of this awful affliction? Life happened. Life in the streets of East Beirut and later in a foreign land. Fear, joy, few successes, many failures, and great teachers, chief among them was my amazingly courageous father. I realized a few years after his passing that so much of me comes from him--the good and the bad--and so much of my evolution and growth was due to his deliberate coaching and constant mentoring. Without his influence, I'd still be very much that little girl too terrified to walk into the corner store.
I will say much more about him in this blog in the coming days and months, but for now, I'll say this: Think about who your coaches are or have been. Are you coaching anyone to repay what you owe? If you think you did it all without any help, think again.
Laura
