I celebrated another birthday yesterday with house full of friends, over to enjoy burgers on the grill, some summertime salads, and strawberry shortcake. I'm not a big fan of birthday celebrations, mostly, because it isn't a date that means much to me. When my mother was alive it meant more, because it was date full of memories and it mattered to her.
What do like about birthdays, is that friends want to come by, hang out, and have cake. Now that I've crossed the apex of my life and am officially eligible for discount offers with the AARP, getting gifts from friends seems a silly formality. While I am always grateful for the thought, I get a bit uncomfortable with material offerings. None the less, my friends brought some fine gifts, and I am happy they still like me enough to give me something.
Last night I got one gift in particular that I will remember for years to come. My friend Linda, a talented graphic designer and performer, brought her young daughter, Ella, to my little gathering. Ella is more than a handful of kinetic energy, is wise beyond her young years, a naturally talented performer and comedian and often demanding. I love Ella because she defies definition, constantly surprises me, and one might easily imagine she'll become a star.
Shortly after all of us had finished our hamburgers and apple salad slaw, Ella announced she had prepared a gift for me, a performance, and now that everyone was seated and she had the attention of the room, she wanted to give me her performance gift.
Ella, born with the performers eye for staging and drama, stood up on the coffee table in the middle of my living room, faced the audience of my friends and with her hands at her side sweetly sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" acapella. There was no choreography or stunt work, nothing precocious, just her lovely singing. When it was over we all applauded and cheered, congratulating her on the performance. It was so simple and sweet, and it was the best gift she could have given to me.
It is times like these that the adults in her life will help to define who she'll become. It was such an innocent gesture, yet somehow boldly compelling. I know adults that would not dare to risk so much, opting out because of a fear that they wouldn't be good enough.
When we talk about creating workplaces or a world in which our creativity is safe and talent is given spaciousness to explore its voice, success is determined not only by the performers act of boldness, but also in the manner in which we respond and how we encourage the performance.
When Ella stood to CLAIM her place in the middle of my living room, she was beginning to define her future, and through our applause we were defining our own.
What do like about birthdays, is that friends want to come by, hang out, and have cake. Now that I've crossed the apex of my life and am officially eligible for discount offers with the AARP, getting gifts from friends seems a silly formality. While I am always grateful for the thought, I get a bit uncomfortable with material offerings. None the less, my friends brought some fine gifts, and I am happy they still like me enough to give me something.
Last night I got one gift in particular that I will remember for years to come. My friend Linda, a talented graphic designer and performer, brought her young daughter, Ella, to my little gathering. Ella is more than a handful of kinetic energy, is wise beyond her young years, a naturally talented performer and comedian and often demanding. I love Ella because she defies definition, constantly surprises me, and one might easily imagine she'll become a star.
Shortly after all of us had finished our hamburgers and apple salad slaw, Ella announced she had prepared a gift for me, a performance, and now that everyone was seated and she had the attention of the room, she wanted to give me her performance gift.
Ella, born with the performers eye for staging and drama, stood up on the coffee table in the middle of my living room, faced the audience of my friends and with her hands at her side sweetly sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" acapella. There was no choreography or stunt work, nothing precocious, just her lovely singing. When it was over we all applauded and cheered, congratulating her on the performance. It was so simple and sweet, and it was the best gift she could have given to me.
It is times like these that the adults in her life will help to define who she'll become. It was such an innocent gesture, yet somehow boldly compelling. I know adults that would not dare to risk so much, opting out because of a fear that they wouldn't be good enough.
When we talk about creating workplaces or a world in which our creativity is safe and talent is given spaciousness to explore its voice, success is determined not only by the performers act of boldness, but also in the manner in which we respond and how we encourage the performance.
When Ella stood to CLAIM her place in the middle of my living room, she was beginning to define her future, and through our applause we were defining our own.
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