Sunday 12 April 2020
It’s early on Easter Sunday; l love having the quiet, still sleeping house to myself. Two nights ago, I woke up at about 1am hearing Bette Midler singing this song. Clear as daylight, fortunately for my sleeping husband, in my head.
(I include the link to the song under the Resources tab, she really does perform it with such poignancy.)
The relevant lyrics for me in this song are:
“I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I’ve got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it
I would be nothing without you
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?”
That time of the morning I downloaded it and yesterday listened to it a few times and every time I hear it, I get a little lump in my throat.
The lump there for the gratitude for those who were the Wind Beneath my Wings and who is no longer me and gratitude for those who are so now and yet might not know what they mean to me.
This dreaded Corona Virus has taught us many things, uncertainty, vulnerability, inspirational leadership, the courage of frontline workers, leaders who take no accountability and so much more, but it has certainly taught us that there are no guarantees in life. Twelve short weeks ago families globally did not think that they would be dealing with the passing on of over 108 000 loved ones (as at writing). Eight days ago, that number was just over 57 000.
The numbers are scary enough, why am I sharing them with you again?
It is important to realize that no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. We do not even know what that tomorrow will look like. So many of us have lost loved ones long before we expected that to happen.
And when then do we tell those who mean so much to us, that they are the Wind Beneath our Wings? When do we tell them what they mean to us?
My plea to you is to make a list of the people who for you have been “The Wind Beneath your Wings”. Don’t just write their names but also write down what they have meant to you. No matter how long or short the list, it is your list.
If you are fortunate enough to still have those people in your life today, albeit maybe not in your lockdown space, take the time to tell them. Please don’t assume they know.
Call them and tell them what they have meant to you. And if calling may be too emotional, send them a message which clearly states what they have meant to you. Not just a “you mean the world to me message”, be specific. It is in that which the real appreciation & value lies.
My Mom suddenly passed away in December, but I still speak to her. I do so when I am alone driving in my car. Out loud, not in my head, aloud. And so, if a person on your list has passed on, find a private space and tell them out loud what they meant to you. Be specific, do so audibly and I believe they will know that you appreciate what they have done for you. I believe they will “hear” you.
If my belief offends you, I am sorry. Maybe in writing it down, it is acknowledgement enough. Do what you are comfortable with. This is not about making you uncomfortable.
It is about you acknowledging to them that:
“I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings
It might have appeared to go unnoticed
But I’ve got it all here in my heart
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it
I would be nothing without you
I want you to know that you are my hero?” (with apologies for the change in the lyrics of this last line)
I wish you courage in doing this simple, but very powerful act of acknowledgement, appreciation and showing of gratitude.
I will write more on another occasion about the importance of gratitude.
Stay safe and I hope the Easter Bunny visited your home, after all Jacinda Ardern (NZ PM) confirmed the Easter Bunny an Essential Worker.
For today just tell your hero that s/he is the wind beneath your wings.
