I always make it a point to stop by the Mayor's office at least once or twice a week to chat briefly with one of the most down-to-earth and kind-hearted ladies I have ever had the privilege to meet. This angel's name is Vicky, the assistant to the Mayor of Gilbert and if you meet her, you will immediately succumb to her sweet smile and cheery disposition. I'm absolutely serious! If a care bear could take human form, it would be Vicky! Not only will she bend over backward to lend an ear or a hand in times of need, but she goes out of her way to make your day shine. I always tell her that I pop in to steal candy off Mayor's Lewis' desk, but in actuality it's to get a positive, non-sugary energy boost from her.
Anyhow, I stopped by to grab a snickers from the Mayors desk and talk to Vicky briefly before heading to a meeting. I've been having a difficult time this semester juggling school, family, and several lovely, unexpected life situations all at the same time. Today was one of those days, and I knew Vicky would be the person I would need to drive the clouds away. She talked in length about a leadership retreat she went to twenty five years ago that cost a whopping $1k to attend. She was amongst CEO's, bankers, and high profile business owners at this intensive leadership retreat that basically broke you down to the core of your being only to build you back up with the skills to become a highly effective leader. She went on in detail about the things they would do and how exhausting the program was on her psychologically, emotionally, and physically. Vicky mentioned she would go home and cry tears of frustrations and fatigue from the grinding exercises and activities she performed day after day. They told her at the beginning that 2-3 people quit every year, but she was headstrong and determined to make it through the entire program.
When it came time to graduate, the graduates had to perform one final test to receive their diploma. They had to sing the Star Spangled Banner in front of 200 people present at the graduation. If you failed to show passion, energy, and resolve during your performance, the graduation committee would give you a thumbs down and then you would have to sing it OVER AGAIN! Vicky had to sing it twice-TWICE! She decided to give it her all and sing with every ounce of energy her heart and soul could muster. She sang with passion, strength, and commitment in front of a crowd of people she hardly knew. That takes guts. It takes what I call a "fire within" that an individual invokes to overcome great odds to achieve success. That fire within drove Vicky to do something most of us would never do due to fear. Being alone inside the den of lions with your adrenalin pumping and your life on the line draws your basic survival instinct to either fight or run away. Vicky decided to fight. It took everything Vicky had to graduate from that grueling leadership seminar that tested her in every way imaginable. When the final vote came in she received a thumbs up. She passed. Victorious Vicky!
She pointed to the quote on her wall, and she said that quote reminded her of her leadership retreat all those years ago. After reading it, I was filled with a renewed sense of energy and strength I lacked before I came to her desk. Vicky had stoked that fire within me to face whatever challenges I must overcome within the next few weeks. I'm extremely thankful for stopping by her desk this morning, because I needed that extra push up the mountain or in Vicky's case a second chance to singing the Star Spangled Banner.
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