Recently, I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks in Africa on a whirlwind trip to accomplish multiple things. If I had to use one word to describe the experience it would be inspirational. At every turn, something or someone exceeded expectations, and I felt like a better person on the plane ride home than on the outbound flight. Here is why.
Do you see them—really see them?
Have you ever undertaken planning an event, thinking you have thought through all the parameters and accounted for all the logistics to maximize the experience, and then been blown away because none of that mattered nearly as much as the human element of connection? For our first week, we were continuing a two-year project to help scale a very worthy non-profit called Key of Hope, located in Durban, South Africa. Our goal was to put on an “acceleration bootcamp” for the staff to help increase their professional development, expand their capabilities, and encourage personal development so the collective organization gains greater bandwidth. The staff spends their days bringing hope to children in the slums of Africa, helping transform their future with lifelong mentoring, meeting basic needs, and providing spiritual growth. It can be a thankless job as each day each child faces daunting challenges—food availability, bullying, sexual abuse, illnesses untreated, documentation challenges, etc. and the staff has to help them solve potentially life or death problems regularly. Understandably, most visitors focus on the children. Our team focused on the staff, many of whom have been raised in a similar environment.
We checked all the boxes for event prep, coordinating presentations, developing schedules, and arranging logistics. All of which was critical to success. But what I learned is that what had the greatest impact wasn’t the quality or content of the materials, it was our presence and all it represented. We took the time to make a 20+ hour journey, to spend a week investing in them, and appreciating the value of their work and the difference it makes. There is a word in Zulu, sawubona. It is a common greeting that means “I see you.” More than words of politeness, sawubona carries the importance of recognizing the worth and dignity of each person. It says, “I see the whole of you—your experiences, your passions, your pain, your strengths and weaknesses, and your future. You are valuable to me.”, according to loominternational.org. We saw them. We valued them. And we were connected in ways that truly are indescribable. We weren’t just teaching, we were valuing. It heightened awareness, receptivity, interest, and knowledge. It took the whole event to a new level. As we all strive to do things to the best of our ability, remember that most often that means engaging other people. And when you do that, if you truly see them and appreciate them, they not only rise to your expectations, but they often surpass them.
What do you take for granted?
Next on our list was a safari. You can’t go to Africa and skip that. We headed to the Thornybush Game Reserve in Kruger National Park. We had a tremendous experience but what touched me most was the ability to get so close to animals who should be scared of us. After all, in the food chain, humans are hunters, and they are prey. Over time, these wild animals have become accustomed to our Land Cruisers and disregard them. The engines rumble, people chat and yet still, the animals do not act threatened in the least. We were warned not to leave the vehicle and not to even stand up, which changes the outline of the vehicle and thus, the animal’s reaction to it. So, we all behaved and stayed seated while taking a million pictures of an indescribable site. I can’t even imagine what would have happened if those animals were not completely comfortable with us. They took us for granted. It made me wonder what I take for granted—good and bad—in my native Kansas City habitat, or as a citizen of the United States. How many times do I ignore a potentially harmful situation and pass it off as “Well, that is just how it is these days.” ? Too many, I am sure. In an election year we all need to be paying more attention. If our world is out of whack, how can we contribute to making it a better place for all?
But not to get on a soapbox. There is the flip side. What do I take for granted that I should be appreciating more? What do I not see—the love of family, the beauty of nature, the hard work of others, the opportunity to be in a democracy and have the right to speak? This type of soul searching makes me grateful and humble that I have been blessed to spend five days in the animal kingdom, allowed in as an invited guest, and shown how each living thing from trees to insects to birds and animals contributes to the betterment of the entire environment. There is a natural balance and interdependence in nature that I believe would make every organization or environment more effective or enable them to thrive at a much higher level if better understood and cultivated. How would your organization stand up to that kind of scrutiny? Does it all work together in harmony for the greater good?
How do you make a difference?
On our last and final leg of our journey we went to Victoria Falls, which is a stunning site. We were there in their winter which is low water season, and it is very impressive. I can’t imagine what it is like at high water—they say you can’t even see the Falls because of the mist in the sky. While only there two days we still accomplished many things, a dinner sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, visited an elephant refuge, toured the Falls, helicopter rides and much more. We were reliant on local transportation to take us everywhere we went. Our travel agent kindly instructed us on tipping guidelines. It wasn’t long before we threw the guidelines out the window. Each driver was so friendly and had a story—about their family, how they grew up, or what they were proud of. They were open and kind. I do understand that hospitality is their business, and they are well versed in how to do the job well so as to be appropriately rewarded. And yet, they increased our joy. They made us feel welcome. They never were demanding or surly or entitled. We gave generously. If you are reading this, you are blessed beyond measure compared to many in this world. And what seems relatively small to us may make the difference in what children had for dinner that night. It was a privilege to step into their lives if only for a short while. It causes me to question whether I am making enough difference with my life, pouring into others, ramping up the quality of my work, extending my support to more who need a helping hand. It is valuable to challenge ourselves from time to time, to question whether we are too complacent or have more to offer, and where we can best share the many talents we have been blessed with. You are the steward of your life. To maximize joy, make a difference for others. It is one of the most rewarding things one can do. This applies in our professional lives as well as personal values. Where are you making a difference?
Life is short. Make a difference
