Put Your Mask On First
If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you know the drill. During the safety instructions, a pleasant flight attendant reminds everyone to buckle up, properly stow their carry-on luggage and turn off all electronics.
In the case of an emergency, we are also instructed to put on our own mask before attempting to help others.
About 5 years ago, I happened to be in a Women’s Leadership Mastermind class. In Day 2 of the training, the coach asked each person to share a piece of wisdom we felt could benefit the group. I was in a deep state of burnout at the time and I recall sharing how much I needed to put my mask on before doing it for others. The response from the women in that room lives with me to this day.
There were business owners, CEOs, successful artists, and overall badass leaders in that group. Every single one shared how much they needed to hear those words. Perhaps you do, as well.
My takeaway that day was simple (but not easy): I had to begin putting my well-being first to be the best leader I could be for Children of Uganda. All of us are the CEOs of our lives in so many ways: we are parents, we run households, in some cases we run businesses, many of us now homeschool, and the list could go on ad infinitum.
As Executive Director, I take my work and role very seriously. But I no longer take myself so seriously. I also encourage my incredible team (both here and in Uganda) to focus on their self-care – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I believe that we must willingly permit for ourselves the care and attention that we so freely give to others.
There are members of our team working exclusively from home, raising children and fulfilling their daily work responsibilities in spectacular fashion. There wasn’t a beat missed when the world suddenly shut down.
Instead, our focus sharpened to ensure the necessities of life would be provided to our beloved families and children.
In order to fulfill this priority, I knew we needed to “put on our masks” first and foremost. I held weekly What’s App check-ins with the Uganda team as they navigated working from home for the first time ever. I used those weekly opportunities to encourage the team to take care of themselves.
My team began meeting by phone 2-3 times a week. As children occasionally cried in the background, we organized online fundraising efforts, got current on team tasks and also helped each other untangle the emotional toll of quarantining for months on end.
The work you allow us to do is remarkably fulfilling. And, the best way we can continue stewarding your generous gifts is by keeping our “cups filled” each and every day so that we can empower a future generation of leaders and their families to realize their potential.
Together, we can help women and families go from merely surviving to thriving for years to come.
