The setting – a conference for tribal social services staff
The activity – a dance to celebrate cultural connections
The Traditional Presenter – “You need to dance. You’re an important person, a leader”
Me – “I don’t see myself that way. I’m clumsy and shy and I don’t know the dance.”
The Traditional Presenter – “Dance anyway for the sake of others. Let them teach you.”
The lesson – humility and the importance of finding courage to try anyway
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Memories inspired by a photo shared with me decades ago by Linda Reivitz, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services (left), discovered when purging old files – an embarrassing, humbling experience accepting an award for just doing my job from then Wisconsin Governor, Tony Earl (1983 – 1987) during an all-too brief era of hope.
Voices from the Margins 
Tubularsock has dropped “hope” a long time ago.
You DO until it’s done. And in the way it all works it’s NEVER done.
Tubularsock always remembers what Lot said to his wife, “God said not to look back” as they left Sodom and Gomorrah.
Yet, Lot’s wife “looked back” and was turned into a pillar of salt by God’s angels. Kind of a drag if you ask Tubularsock.
But Tubularsock tends not to look back only because it’s over. We ONLY have PRESENT moment to do or it’s gone!
Stay present and kick butt!
Ok, ok ….. Tubularsock has preached enough!
Cheers, change is now.
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Ah, Tube, I am grateful for the chance to work with the next generation of advocates, encouraging them to dance anyway in a different era that seems less hopeful.
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Carol, they are lucky that they have your guidance.
Tubularsock has noticed that the music has changed and so have many of the dance steps but clear direction is the key to shifting the present and bumping the future.
Tubularsock has noticed that the Fox Trot is becoming pretty scarce due to the decline of the fox population.
However the Covid Waltz is becoming rather popular. It too will pass.
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💜
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There’s a difference between “just doing my job” and doing it very well, which I’m sure is what your award was for. By the same token, Trump should get an award for screwing (up) his job, which he did uniquely well.
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Ah, Mister Muse, it is true that I did do my job well, but I always believed that this award was primarily intended as a way for the state to show it did not discriminate against “minority” staff. (Because it did discriminate.) The boss who nominated me described me as “our well-tailored Chippewa.” But I did my job well, anyway, because I cared about the people I was responsible for representing and serving.
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Carol, I tried to leave a “Like” on your comment, but apparently WordPress doesn’t like me because my “Like” wouldn’t take. Such is Like — I mean Life!
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🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you, Libby. 💜
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Very fine post. I love the red shoes.
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Thank you for your kind words, Bob. I liked the shoes, too. I can’t remember what happened to them. In just a little time, Sorel boots took their place when I moved to the northwoods. 🙂
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Dance anyway! Such a wonderful, liberating thought. My wife was taught that way by a priest from Peru. And now she lives and loves it!
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Charley, thank you for sharing such lovely, delightful comments. Your wife sounds very wise. 💜
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