A Good Dog Day

On Friday I was interviewed by a writer who rode his bike across the U.S with a charity called Go the Extra Mile. I had watched him interview another young woman who clearly struggled with her life, but loved what she did. She even cried a little while describing her work with autistic children and horses. It was heartwarming in that way that news people love and cameramen want to poke mikes in your face.

I was next up. I had been having a very busy but good dog week. Just back from Puerto Rico, busy with clients and readying for back to back meetings for One Village on Sunday. I bellied up to the table, even spoke French to the cameraman (he was French) and answered questions. “Had I ever been afraid for my life?” Yes.
Why would I think of going back…blank stare from me..see this where I just don’t fit in I guess. It never dawned on me not to go back, One Village is what I’m supposed to do. He asked me if I’d always been such a maverick and I had to say yes..it would be one of the main reasons my marriage to Dr. Conservative failed. Then the final question, “How would I describe my life?” to which I answered “I’m dancing in the light. It’s as sweet as life could get.” And he was done. I was of no interest to him.

Here’s the deal, I get to work with the most amazing people on this planet. The research team who is writing a grant to improve healthcare in Kenya, came together 4 weeks ago. They are cranking out a grant with the grace and style of a finely honed surgical team. And they only met each other 4 weeks ago. As I watch the emails fly past me, everyone helping each other, I can get incredulous that I get to be part of this, or just downright joyful that somehow I get to put people together and get to watch them be the very best of who they are.

I’ve got a Board of Directors that any E.D should kill for. They are bright, creative, enjoy each other and really dig in. I think I told the bike guy this in the context of what’s wrong with most charities today. Most charities have people my age on the board. They sit on lots of boards, each other’s boards blah blah blah. They do it cuz it makes them feel important. However they don’t change things, they don’t think outside the box, they don’t challenge the E.D to be the very best she can do for fear she will let them down. If you get to be the very best of who you are, if you get to watch people gel and become friends and make a difference in this world, what’s not to love?

So what I’m sayin’ is that it’s pretty cool to be me, and I’m having a really really good dog day.