Be a Kind Leader: Birthday Reflections
I have a birthday this upcoming weekend. As always, before the passage of another year of life arrives, I find myself in reflection — looking back at the lessons that revealed themselves, the pieces of the puzzle that came together, and the ones still finding their place.
The gems, the challenges, the humbling moments, the growth.
It was a big year on many levels — full of trials and tribulations, yes, but also deep joy, meaningful connection, accomplishment, and clarity.
The message that has been weaving itself through me in all of it is the call to be a kind leader. Not only in how I show up in my work, but also in how I tend to my relationships and move through my day-to-day life.
This does not mean I am perfect. I fumble, I forget, I get tangled in my humanity just like everyone else. But what I know is that I am devoted to returning, over and over again, to kindness as my compass.
To choosing presence when defensiveness wants to pull me off center.
To staying open when old patterns want to shut down.
To leading with my heart and the intention of kindness.
This isn’t about tiptoeing around difficult moments or avoiding discomfort. Kind leadership, for me, is fierce and tender at the same time… honest, raw, vulnerable, and deeply human.
Sometimes the most loving act is truth-telling.
Sometimes kindness looks like reflection, accountability, boundaries, and presence… not pleasing or smoothing things over.
It is the courage to meet ourselves and others with heart, even if it is not received in that way. The bigger work in this journey, to me, is to stay true to ourselves in midst of the density of the world and varying opinions and choices.
To learn to offer each other love in diverging paths…to normalize the growth that happens with humans and that sometimes our growth pulls us in different directions. To bless and release with integrity, grace, and kindness.
At the end of the day of this precious life that has been given to me, I want to be remembered as being kind. Of meeting my fellow humans with kindness in my heart, even in midst of a conflict.
For this next year of my life, I remain committed to my passion of supporting others in navigating the ups and downs of this human existence. To showing up to the best of my ability every day, and to live my life with integrity and upright in truth, in authenticity, and guided by purpose.
Stay true to who you are. Do not bypass your feelings (yes, even the messy ones!) and keep showing up each and every day with authenticity as your guiding light.
How can we all be kind leaders in our own way?
I sincerely hope that our paths crossed in this next year ahead.
Thank you for being on this journey with me. I am eternally grateful.
Take good care of yourselves and be kind to each other.