Pay it Forward February
A few months ago, I received an email from Christa Nelson, owner of Epiphany, a local public relations and marketing firm.
In honor of her upcoming 50th birthday, she decided to dedicate 50 weeks to giving back and acts of kindness. She was looking to highlight the work of some of her favorite nonprofit organizations and said this included the National Resilience Institute, the organization that I founded and direct.
Christahas been a passionate partner in bringing others to our mission of thriving,helping them understand how to donate time, talents and treasure and help morepeople together. So while it didn’t surprise me that she wanted to encourageothers to find creative ways to help meet our needs and bolster our work, itdid delight me.
Iquickly settled on the month of February.
Why?
It isthe month I was born – shared with others I hold dear.
In mycountry, it is a month that dedicates a day to celebrating love and another to greatleadership.
And housing the day of my cancer diagnosis, it is the month that marks the beginning of my journey as a cancer survivor.
As part of her halfcentury birthday celebration, Christa asked if I also would personally shape anact of kindness to do together. Oh, the possibilities…
With her request runningin the background of my mind one day, I set off for a follow-up appointmentwith my oncologist. I’m not sure if this impacted how I was viewing thosearound me. Perhaps it simply was the point in my healing – somewhere in themurky waters between focusing on surviving and desiring a state of thriving.For whatever the reason, I felt profound compassion rise time and time as Itook in the women around me.
As I parked my car, Iwatched a woman tenderly shuffle across the parking lot and I saw myself in heras I recovered from the surgery that removed the cancer and rearranged my body.As I walked through the front doors, I saw a woman walking out with a dazedlook on her face and I recalled the absolute overwhelm of my doctors talkingthrough options and procedures and treatments. As I checked in for myappointment, my eyes settled on a woman sitting around the corner getting herblood drawn. I recalled sitting in that same chair to start the genetic testingand detailed discussions of risks and prognosis for an earlier death than I hadpreviously entertained.
All I wanted to do washug these women. Each and every one of them. Not tell them I understood. Notmake suggestions. Not even give them an assurance that they were stronger thanthe challenges they were facing. But simply to remind them that they areprecious and surrounded by others who see and care for them far beyond anydiagnosis or life situation.
So on some days this month, you will find me, Christa and other lovely people at the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa wearing FREE HUGS t-shirts. Our home base will be the McIntyre Patient Resource Center on the first floor, a space that provided me with both respite and resources during my cancer journey.
We will be sharing some mementos of inspiration if people want to take one home. But mostly, we’ll simply be offering love, holding a space of care, and reminding others that despite walking a path that only they can walk, they most certainly are not alone.
Resource: To follow along or join on our Pay It Forward month, connect on twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
