Thursday, 11 June 2009

• Currently The Alchemist By Paulo Coelho see related

  Heart

  " My heart is afraid it will have to suffer,"
  the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.
  "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.
  And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams."

  ~ The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
  
  
  We have been told since childhood that certain things are impossible.
  
  An African American President of the United States in this lifetime?
  
  Impossible.
  
  A female President no less?
  
  Impossible.
  
  Twenty years ago we had no idea what was going on inside a human cell.
  
  Today, we know within the single human cell lies the nucleus, and within that nucleus lies neutrons and protons, and within that are quarks.
  
  Today, we can teleport light beams from one lab to another.
  
  Who's to say twenty years from now what can happen?
  
  I have been told my enthusiasm for change and belief system in the vast reservoir of strength within ourselves is an enthusiasm best seen in the naive and the new.
  
  I frequently tell my staff that impossible is not an option, and we have to believe that it isn't an option because when the stars are your limit the possibilities are endless.
  
  The same way, despite my frustrations and rants, I believe one day my country of birth will acknowledge true equality and realise its full potential lies not in filtering the freedom of speech, but encouraging active debate no matter how much the truth hurts.
  
  In order to grow we need to reflect on ourselves.
  
  I find that in order to lead, to inspire I need to look at myself. What is it about me that makes me great? Makes me good?
  
  I still can't answer this, I just know I do the best to be like the people that inspire me.
  
  "D," one staff and long time friend said to me the other day. "The staff love you, you know that? For the first time, they feel like someone is listening to what they have to say and is doing something about it."
  
  I thought that was the coolest compliment ever.
  
  However, they doubt whether I can sustain my 'impossible is not an option' attitude.
  
  "Some of them have been here a long time, and nothing has changed."
  
  My regional manager, who acts as my mentor, says she doesn't expect miracles from me but is really happy with what she sees thus far. She also says to be careful of what I say because the old guards may not like me changing their rules.
  
  I understand and am grateful for all the procedures that have been put in place to get us this far.
  
  But it's fun to attempt the impossible, isn't it?
  
  

  • 11:35 AM
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