It has been an emotional week, filled with all kinds of of emotions, and I’ve had a hard time sitting down to write. Sometimes feelings both the good ones and the hard ones can feel like too much. But it’s often in the times when I don’t feel like meeting friends for dinner or doing that workout that I realize after the fact, I needed it the most. So, I’m going to spend a little time here.
I’m not going to spend time in all of my big feelings from the week. I think, for now, I would like to spend time appreciating what is special about some of the people with whom I work on a daily basis. Specifically, three themes that emerged this week as important life and work lessons.
Make People Feel Like a Big Deal
The work is hard and many days it’s not glamorous. It’s easy to lose sight of what is going well and our role in what is going well too. So, when we have an opportunity to write a small note, give a shout out, and even nominate people for awards, we should do it. Because every time we make someone feel capable, special, and important, it energizes them to make others feel capable, special, and important. Beth Rimer, Director of the Ohio Writing Project, nominated me for an award recently and three of my colleagues wrote letters of recommendation. And all four of these incredible women drove 2 hours to sit with me at table during the recognition ceremony. This says so much more about each of them than the award says about me. Now that I know what it feels like to receive an award, I am even more motivated and inspired to nominate more people for awards, so they too can experience it for themselves. It reminds me of that quote from the book Wonder, “I think there should be a rule that everyone should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” When we nurture the conditions needed for people to show up as their best and biggest selves, we make it possible for people to do their best work.
Be Genuine and Generous with Your Emotions
When people mean something to us, we should tell them. When we are sad about something, we should talk about it with the people who mean a lot to us. Being more open about how we are experiencing the work and big decisions is an important step in self-respect and in building trusted with others. People can only meet us at the level in which they’ve met themselves. So, it’s not always going to be an even exchange. This should not deter us from sharing, however, because if we don’t tell people how we feel, how will they ever know? This week I’m grateful for the people who made space for my big feelings and with no expectation of anything in return, cared for me and share of themselves as well. Not everyone will understand or appreciate us. But if we belong to ourselves first, as I mention in Legacy of Learning, the people who are meant for us will show up when we need them most.
Have Each Other’s Backs
Sometimes when we say things like this, people weaponize it to pressure others into defending them when they were wrong. This isn’t what I mean here. Last night at the ceremony, it became clear when the first recipient went to the podium that award winners were giving speeches. Eek. I must have missed that detail in the communications, and I started to panic. My good friend, Dr. Jessica West, sensed this and lean over quietly to say something along the lines of, “Don’t worry about giving a speech or having prepared anything. Just go up there and be you. That is enough.” It was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. She had my back, and I was able to collect myself and speak at the podium more calmly and clearly because of that little pep talk. That’s an example of having someone’s back. Knowing each other so well that we pay attention to the little actions and words needed to support one another when it matters most.
I have much more to say about this past week, but I think I’ve gone as far as I have the capacity to go right now.
To the people who showed up for me and had my back this week. You know who you are. Thank you.
MEGHAN LAWSON 
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