follow the signs
From the desk of Marilee Emerson, Client Navigator
I snapped this picture when I was in Asheville. I had arrived on the evening of last day of Belle Chere, a local music festival.
While I did not participate in the festival, I did observe a remnant of the event. Like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumbs, I saw several chalk-scrawled messages that were dropped along the path declaring a single word: CAPES.
I was captivated by the notion of someone leaving a clear signal so wanderers on the path could easily find support and strength on their journeys.
Of course, I immediately imagined that the missives were showing the way to superhero capes. Wouldn’t THAT be cool?
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. While we do get signals all the time, most of them are not so obvious, and many times we second-guess their meanings. Often, we don’t slow down enough to attend to the signals we receive. Sometimes we have too much information flowing in at once, and we feel overwhelmed. Other times we’re just too plain tired to lift our heads up and look. When we are hurried, overwhelmed and tired, we can easily miss the signs and signals that guide us to our own strength and power.
My friend’s father used to say, “Sometimes you need a sign; sometimes you need a brick.”
Don’t wait until it’s a brick.
To see the signs that are in plain sight, slow down, ask for support and make time for rest. These three strategies are key to tapping into your personal strength and power as you advocate for what is most important in your life.
Just like every superhero, the power you need already lies within you. You simply need to pause long enough to notice the signs.
No capes required.