B.A. Role Model
All for one and one for all, as they say. You, too, can B.A. Role Model. All you have to muster is care for others as deeply as you care for yourself. It’s a simultaneous explosion of excellence. The idea is brilliant leadership breeds more brilliant people. It’s one of those life win-win double greatness phenomena. Even if you never wanted to lead, or don’t have the gumption for recognition so much, the simple act of making good choices can influence family, friends, colleagues, community, and strangers alike. For ages in time, I think we’ve had sincere ‘influencers’ of this kind, the role model kind. Long before social media swept the notion into a partially different realm.
Upon reflection a bit of time ago, and I know I’m not alone, I proudly realized I am a role model to some. Beyond this measure, I’ve been honored that a good few of these people might agree I’ve earned myself a degree in the role model business of life. What I’ll call today a “B.A.”, a Bachelor of Arts in Role Model. My actual B.A. is Political Science. I’m sure my attempt at the playful analogy is partly trying to drum up a witty wink from my dad, being the B.S. Poli Sci major he was starting out. As well, he’s my first genuine role model. I’ve crafted so much of my value straight from who I was raised by, and therein who I was raised to be.
In actuality, all of this is mirroring. I am merely reflecting to these people what is already their being. I am highlighting their strengths through positive words, actions, reactions to my involvement with them, their lives, hopes, goals and inspirations. The result of me ‘modeling’ positivity, compassion, courage, strength, gusto, drive, joy and so on resembles who they already are. A classic role model we want to mimic. That’s the entire point. So, by shining back at those around me the very best traits I see in them produces the degree of quality that I’m deeming B.A. worthy.
I seem to be rotating my thoughts of late about exemplary behavior. I think this is a dawning due to my pending birthday, which always coupled with the new year (that resolutions based reminder) gives me pause on what’s real and what’s really important to me. Ripe with all this energy, I’ll remark that the movement of many women of late is a clear case for role model Oscar moments. Even dear Oprah paved the way last night during her Golden Globes acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award 2018.
Each of you out there, whether we’ve crossed real life paths or not, feeds my hope in the good. And I cannot help but focus on the good. It’s a DNA gift that was my lottery in life. I wouldn’t change it. Although, it doesn’t mean I don’t have my tattered days. (I’m sure I’ll get to writing about those along these lines later at some point.) No matter, I keep learning to treasure what anyone has to teach me. Much of this being role modeling. I relish moments where people have told me my being helped them, aka role modeling. It’s all in the magic worship of what I consider a mutual mentorship, which I hold in high regard. Sometimes known. Sometimes unknown. So, may we all enthusiastically enjoy our ability to receive a degree. College bound or not, you can earn merit in life this way, this well.
For now, heck- for eternity, to role modeling and beyond!
