When times are easy it is relatively easy to be a leader.
It is times like these where true leadership matters, where true leadership is needed, where true leadership rises.
I am inviting each of you to rise into an expanded version of leadership – in your conversations, in your homes, in your communities.
I am asking you to step into the values you hold dear, and to show up as an even better version of yourself.
What is happening in our world is an opportunity.
The opportunity can go either way
We can become angrier – and we have reason to be – or we can become calmer and more reasoned.
We can become disillusioned – and there are lots of examples for that – or we can expand our conviction and commitment.
We can become divisive – and we have witnessed this as well – or we can create this an opportunity to expand our connections.
The opportunity can go either way.
Canadian Best selling author Robin Sharma:
“Every moment in front of another human being is an opportunity to express your highest values and best self.”
What is happening in our world is an opportunity.
Let’s express our highest values and best selves.
Like many of you, I have experienced the shock, the abuse, the hurt, the anger, the confusion, the frustration, the dishonouring.
Like many of you I have felt small, helpless, victimized, and scared
Like many of you, I made decisions to shop local, staycation and send a clear message with my actions.
But let’s think about are we pushing against – or moving toward?
Elbows Up emerged, and many Canadians have rallied behind this call…
Where did Elbows Up come from?
Gordie Howe – known for playing a very rough game of hockey is said to have coined the phrase to mean that a fight was finishing before it really got started.
It means to protect yourself and fight back. Mike Myers, who started the viral use of Elbows Up wore a Canada is Not for Sale Tshirt. His actions encouraged us to stand our ground and stand up for ourselves. It has become an empowering and unifying message for Canadians…but Canadians all know that we aren’t playing hockey, and we know “Elbowing” in hockey is penalized.
The administration of the US has forgotten who they are and what they stand for.
As Canadians, let’s not do that.
We had a moment of forgetting when the US anthem was greeted by booing, – Phil and I heard about it on the news while we were in Australia. The country known as the Peace Keeping force on the planet forgot who we are and what we stand for.
Like me I’m sure you were shocked. It just wasn’t Canadian. We forgot who we are. We forgot about the glorious and free part.
We let our values and our beliefs sink to a level that frankly scared many of us. And the fear served a purpose.
That fear woke some of us up.
That fear moved many of us out of complacency and disbelief.
That fear transformed and invited the leaders in us to examine who we really are, and what we really stand for.
When we let fear take us over, we become divisive.
Remember – The opportunity can go either way.
Instead, let’s use this an opportunity to expand our connections.
to express our highest values and best selves. It’s chaotic times that invite leaders to be solid.
Let’s lead through the example of this wonderful folk community. A community that holds truth, justice, peace and connection as its highest values.
Elbows Up – we got defensive…which we needed to.
Our Gloves were dropped and went in for a fight…
And now we are remembering who we really are, where we’re from.
We are Canadians. We are world peacekeepers.
We are choosing to bring peace keeping home.
Let’s lead our families, our friends, our communities, our provinces and our nation to stand together, collectively, collaboratively and peacefully
Let’s extend our hands to support, encourage and move toward our values.
We stand on guard. Glorious and free.
So I invite you to join me.
Let’s stand together.
Elbows Up
With gloves off
Extending our hands
Elbows linked
I’ve planted a seed for a movement
ElbowsLinked.ca
Let’s water and nurture that seed.
Let’s take it into our families, our friendship groups, our communities.
Let’s flood Social Media with songs written, videos shared, stories told that all speak to Elbows Linked.
I’m planting seeds. Please join me in this proactive, positive movement. Have a conversation, post a video and #ElbowsUp #ElbowsLinked, write a song, tell a story, speak your truth.
LEAD.
ElbowsLinked.ca