Surprise!

Someone asked me recently - what's something about your background that might surprise people?

Not a lot of people know this, but when I was a kid, I thought the coolest thing you could ever be was a cheerleader. Like, it was the pinnacle of success in any category - life, career, popularity, volume, athletics, etc. Top of the pyramid!

What my kid-self saw was a group of (mostly) young women using their voices AT FULL VOLUME. They TOOK UP SPACE - and demanded your attention! The cheerleaders encouraged, supported, cheered the team on. Even if the situation looked bleak, their support never wavered. They looked HAPPY and fully engaged in life. They were a community, a team that worked together to do things you couldn’t do alone - hello, human pyramid?!? There was dancing, rhyming, jumping, cartwheels and they invited others to join in the cheering with them.

As soon as I was old enough, I tried out for the 7th grade cheer team. And the 8th grade cheer team. And the 9th grade team. I failed all three times. (Woof. That was rough. I’m gonna pause here to give my little 14-year-old self a quick hug.)

BUT you know what? Reflecting on what made me love cheerleading and looking at where I am today, I realize I’m on the team now!

With all the things in our world that can bring us down, make us feel defeated, steal our motivation and hope, it’s clear that we need cheerleaders more than ever. So, I’m a cheerleader for Team Humanity! I’m a cheerleader for every person I get to lead, teach, coach, befriend, or connect with. I cheer for you being your whole, authentic self. I’m cheering you on to achieve that big dream or do that thing you never thought you could do. I’m supporting you when it looks bleak, when you’ve failed, when you’re hearing that inner judge voice saying you’re ‘not good enough’ - I’ll reflect back the strength I see in you. Because I SEE YOU and I know you can do it!

Here’s a cheer just for you (cheer along - AT FULL VOLUME!):

HEY HEY - I ROCK

*clap*

HEY HEY - I ROLL

*clap*

HEY HEY - I’M AWESOME

*clap*

THE WORLD SHOULD KNOW

*CLAP!*

(do lots of cartwheels - literal or spiritual!!)