The Unexpected Call to Action
The phone call comes late in the morning. A friendly lilting voice saying hellohowareyou. Then, the tiny waver that lets you know something is amiss.
“We are in a bit of a tight situation here this morning… we wondered if you could possibly help out?”
It’s the conference director of the local resort. The afternoon speaker has called in sick. Could I come and deliver a program… in two hours?
The Hometown Hero Moment
You immediately do a quick personal assessment:
- Showered? Check.
- Speech? Check.
- Prior commitments rescheduled? Check.
- Tights? Leotard? Cape? Check. Check. Check!
Hometown Hero reporting for duty!
Within a blink, you are up in front of a room packed full of eager, energetic attendees who are all a little unsure of what to expect from this last-minute plug-in. You take a deep breath and you are on your way, laughing and learning and having a grand old time together. Before you even feel you’ve started, it’s over. Whoosh.
Do You Love to Be the Understudy?
There is such a rush that comes with sizzling in the pan when the burner is on high. Don’t think! Trust your training! Trust yourself!
It is the true essence of preparation meeting opportunity, and when it clicks, it’s soooo cooool!
So really, when I receive a phone call like that, rushing in to help is a joy. It’s something I can easily do that makes a huge impact on the people who need my services. I get to practice what I love to do most, and they get a swooping superhero.
What’s Your Thing?
Now, getting up in front of a room full of people and giving a speech at the last minute is MY idea of a good time. You, however, may have a few other choice words to describe that experience.
But there IS some ‘thing’ YOU do – some ‘thing’ you love to do. Some ‘thing’ that fills you with such delight that, if asked, you would gladly set aside Netflix AND an extra hour of sleep to help out with your ‘thing.’
What makes it even better is when someone needs you at the last minute – you can step in, do your ‘thing,’ AND be the Hero!
Not the Nightmare Scenario
I’m not talking about situations like “the dream.” You know the one. The lights are off except for a blistering spotlight shining on center stage. The audience of five hundred people is hushed in enthusiastic anticipation.
You are bemused to see your family among those people… and your boss… and your secret crush from college… Slowly, you realize the uncanny coincidence that every single member of the audience is someone you know.
You stand innocently behind a heavy velvet curtain when suddenly a VERY official person in black, wearing a Madonna headset and carrying a clipboard, hisses in your direction: “GO! GO! You’re ON! Get OUT there… YOU!”
No. I’m not talking about terrifying asks like THAT.
When the Timing is Right
I’m talking about when the timing is right, stepping in at the last minute and doing your ‘thing’ feels good. It’s thrilling. It’s easy. It’s fun!
If you want a true boost to your day, look for ways you can do your ‘thing’ and be the Hero.
- If you love to cook, bake a dinner for the family whose kids are doing virtual school. Hero!
- If you are a nurturer, and you see a young parent at the airport struggling with an infant, car seat, stroller, and luggage, offer to hold the baby or collapse the stroller. Hero!
- If you love to DIY, help the elderly person next door fix their wobbly porch step. Hero!
- Are you a minimalist? Donate your lonely Foosball table to the local fire department. Superhero!
Helping Others Be the Hero
Now, if you want to take this social rejuvenation to the next level – since you know how great it feels to be the Hero – how can you help someone else get that same feeling?
Look for ways to let people do their thing to help you:
- Let the handy-person in your life rescue you from that crazy blinking fluorescent light bulb – then swoon over how much better the world looks under incandescent lighting.
- Let your BFF pull you out of your grumps with her bad jokes and good stories – then send her a text thanking her for saving your day.
- Let your mother tell you how SHE used to executive direct a family – then make sure to give her props when one of her “tricks of the trade” works for you.
You’ll make all of them the Hero! And you’ll see in their faces the joy of being the one who could help when help was needed.
The Joy of Being Someone’s Hero
Occasionally, when he got home from school, I would ask my young son to show me again how to fold a perfect paper airplane. I would listen carefully as he instructed me on how to best launch it to achieve the highest possible loop-de-loopage.
When I launched it well, his face was the Sun – he beamed, knowing he had saved me from a bleak existence devoid of proper paper airplane performance.
He knew in every fiber that he was my Hero.
And just like that, I’m walking on air.
Love and light,
Tami
