The next 4 years

It's been 8 years since I was surrounded with the buzz and bickering of presidential elections. For the past two elections I've been out of the country. I can't say that my absence has disappointed me. I don't like the tension, it sort of feels like an on going game of tug of war, only with more name calling. It really seems that way to me. To clarify, I care about political issues and have my fair share of opinions, but why does it always have to be a bashing game. 

Yesterday I read this article from one of my favorite magazines Title IX. I wish we talked a little more about how to follow and a little less about how to lead. 

“Everything I know, I've learned from coaching teenage girls. In this election cycle, I thought I'd share their criteria for a good team captain.

- A captain should really WANT to be a captain.

- She does not have to be the best player, but she does have to be a REALLY HARD WORKER.

- She should LISTEN CLOSELY but she should not necessarily act on everything she hears.

- She has to be“up”even when, ESPECIALLY when, others are down.

- She has to be able to say the things that we MIGHT NOT WANT TO HEAR.

- But most importantly, these 8th and 9th graders recognized that in order for a leader to be successful, she also had to have REALLY GOOD FOLLOWERS.

That is the tricky part for all of us, isn't it? How do we support our leaders, even ones we did not vote for, even when we disagree?

Here's to hoping that we all have the strength to be good followers, no matter what the outcome of this election.

- Missy Park, Founder