This was a phrase I heard recently at an emerging leader forum I attended. I reflected upon this phrase, and could immediately relate it to several milestones and events that had occurred through my life. Although i had never heard that phrase in all it explicitness before, the mere verbalization of that phrase in my presence resonated with me over the course of the entire day, and for many days since. It was as if a second person was constantly bringing it to my attention - there was a voice in my head chanting this over and over again. I began to think back on some of the biggest events of my life. And I knew I had the topic for my first ever blog…
The most recent event that came to mind was the 39.3 miles i walked for Avon walk for breast cancer.
I would consider myself to be a fairly active person and I had grown up playing many sports. However, I hadn't ever envisioned personally completing a 1.5 marathon. All previous social efforts I had been involved with were essentially making a contribution of either my time, my effort or provide monetary assistance. It was not very often that I was given to even think about being the walker - I had for some reason become very complacent by being the person that did everything else but the walk. And I was about to change that one aspect of myself...
Earlier this year I received a card in the mail from Avon which sat on my desk with a pile of mail. As soon as i saw this card, I texted a couple of my closest friends - "wanna do the Avon Walk with me?". I actually did not wait for their response and I went ahead and signed up on a whim. Both of them were very supportive of my decision, although they couldn't take part in the walkathon themselves. My husband was very encouraging, and his only concern was that I was going to be training and participating in the event all alone - without a partner. His concerns were around committing the time and doing this alone. Both my daughters were excited. And so the training began...
My first day of training was refreshing. I thought about how to train without my iPod (no music was allowed during the walkathon), how to carve out 2 to 4 hours in a day to dedicate to the training and how to keep the rest of my life moving at the same pace. I was thinking too much. There came the voice again - if not you who and if not now when. Everyday for the next 8 weeks this voice traveled every mile with me. This voice encouraged me to walk the extra mile - even when my feet had blisters. The voice had helped me reach my training goal.
On the day of my marathon, I reached the venue bright and early, excited and with a little trepidation about what the next day-and-a-half would turn out to be. I looked around the crowd and felt alone. Many women walked with family and friends. Although i started alone, i knew I had my new best friend within me every step of the way - the by now extremely familiar voice, and the phrase - repetitive, motivating, firmly coaxing, but gently urging all at the same time. I managed to finish the walk in 26th place out of a 1000 plus walkers.
I then learned later that this phrase is heard by every person that wants to push the envelope, push the boundaries, break the glass ceiling and do more than what is expected. I realized then that the friendly voice had graduated from being just a "friend" to a mother. My mother who has shaped, molded, influenced and encouraged me to be me - and made me be who and what I am today. This mothers day, I reflect on what my mom gave me - strength and encouragement. This will be a phrase I plan to chant like a mantra to my kids. Someday when I am no longer part of their life asking them to do their homework, brush their hair and cheer them on their activities, my phrase "If not u who, If not now when" will be with them.
Happy Mothers Day!
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