Author: JoAnna Brandi
Recently I came upon a sandpile next to a large hole on the beach that quickly became a learning experience for several people. I'd like to share that story and its lessons with you. Think about these lessons from the sandpile and be bold. Do what you CAN do to change things and you will get the support you need.
It's been raining a lot here in Florida and that's a good thing. We need the water. But yesterday there was a break in the weather and so off I went to the beach. My legs needed stretching after days indoors, so a friend and I decided a long walk was in order, and off we went.
Walking is not only a great way to get exercise it's a great way to have a nice visit - and walking along the Atlantic ocean has always been for me a great way to learn the lessons that nature has to offer in a gentle and easy way.
While on our walk yesterday, we spotted a very large hole dug in the sand. It looked as if someone had dug the hole large enough for two people over six feet tall to be able to lie down in it. The sand that had come out of the hole was piled high around it and no attempt had been made to make this pile look like a castle! Just a great big gaping hole in the middle of the beach.
My first response was a rant. "Can you believe this! Some inconsiderate jerk dug this big hole and just LEFT IT HERE! I hate when people do that! I can't believe that people could be so selfish!" I kept walking as I projected. "Somebody out here at night looking for sea turtles is going to step right into that hole and break an ankle, isn't that horrible?"
"I really think people are so thoughtless," I rambled as I continued to walk back towards the car. And then, all of a sudden I stopped. I heard my mouth saying one thing as my feet were doing another. I stopped and looked at my friend and said, "I can't leave it that way! I have to do something."
I ran back to the hole in the sand and started pushing the sand back in (this was much harder than it looked - the sand was wet and heavy after days of rain.) He, looking slightly bewildered, followed suit. We were pushing the sand into the hole with our feet, often sliding down into the hole with the sand. We worked hard, almost furiously, to repair the damage someone had done to the beach.
A few moments later, walking down from the row of houses and beach clubs, come four young people carrying fishing rods. One of them seeing us intent on our task breaks free from the group, drops his rod and without saying a word begins to help. I looked up and smiled. He also attacked the task with vigor, picking up our pace.
Moments after that another one of the fishermen joins us. He starts kicking the sand in with his feet (never letting go of the rod) and asks his friend, "What are we doing here?" His friend responded, "Filling in this hole so no one gets hurt."
Only moments after that the others came over to see what the commotion was all about and after hearing what we were doing they all joined in and now there were six people pushing sand back into the hole, once again making the beach safe for the nighttime turtle watchers.
We brushed the sand from our bodies, (I was covered - since I slipped into the hole a few times) looked at the result of our hard work, said thank you to the others and headed back home. "Wasn't that cool?" I commented as we walked back. "Yeah, the neat part was how those people just appeared and started to work with us" my friend said.
"I guess they saw the determination on our faces and saw how committed we were by how hard we were working, and they figured out what needed to be done. Yep, it was very cool."
As we walked away we mused at what lessons the beach had taught us this Sunday.
Vision is motivating (I could see someone falling in that hole and getting hurt.)
It's not enough to talk about what needs to be changed - you need to pitch in and change it.
When you are committed and work hard and when others can see that - they want to join in the fun. (In the end we were all having a great time - six big kids in a sandpile.)
Teamwork makes a big job more manageable.
The world is full of helpful people and when you do the right thing they will appear.
Some people need to be told what they are doing and why, others can see it clearly from the start.
Pride in a job well done is shared.
Timing is everything (The tide was coming in.) Don't put off what needs to be done, just do it.
"De-briefing" - discussing a project after it's over provides valuable and lasting lessons.
And lastly, after we finished our walk, and made our way back to our beach bags, we decided to open the bottle of wine we had brought with us to the beach and we remembered to:
I am reminded of the words of anthropologist Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
The next time you are tempted to blame "management" for not giving you what you need to take care of your customers, the next time you decide to wait until *they* change things before you change things, think about the lessons from the sandpile and be bold. Do what you CAN do to change things and you will get the support you need.
Be well,
JoAnna
Copyright 2006 by JoAnna Brandi. Used with permission.