Inspiration

I have a friend named Mindy. I asked her permission to write this piece, and she agreed. I’ve known Mindy for many years.  For the last 10 years or so, we have been playing weekly Mahjong together. She has a bit of a habit of saying that her Mahjong hand is awful, and then she wins anyway.

Mindy was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a glioblastoma, three and a half years ago. That is 42 months.  The prognosis for this kind of cancer is 12-18 months.

Since her diagnosis, she has gone from having one grandson to two, and just added grandchild number three, a girl. She danced at her daughter’s wedding. She has taken bike trips in Tuscany and Ireland. She has travelled to England and all over the U.S., because she knows people everywhere. She can still beat us at Mahjong.

In all of this time, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Mindy complain. She goes about her busy life, and it is busy!

She is an inspiration to all of us, for many reasons, and she has weathered this terminal illness with grace. She normalizes her situation and doesn’t hesitate to answer your questions if you ask. I marvel at her strength.

There are many people in the world who are “famous” who have been or are inspiring. Malala. Barack Obama. Anthony Rizzo. Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Jonas Salk. Not perfect people, because no one is perfect. But making contributions to society, good at what they do, living the principles they espouse, being role-models for others. They seem to do their good works because they care about others, not for the fame and glory they receive.

And around us are everyday heroes too. A teacher who works to meet the needs of a diverse and varied classroom of kids. A parent who takes on the job of Girl Scout or Boy Scout leader to expose kids to skills and values that will help them become positive members of society. A coach who combines tough love and high standards with empathy and caring. A neighbor who watches out for a kid who spends a lot of time on his own, because both parents work late.

We get inspiration from children too. A child who is kind and invites those left out to join in. A child who raises money for a cause that has caught their heart and interest. A child with dyslexia who works so hard to overcome their reading challenges. A teen who rakes their neighbor’s leaves because the neighbor can’t.

I don’t think people set a goal to become an inspiration. It’s how they conduct themselves that “speaks” to others. I believe that part of being an inspiration are qualities of humility and quiet determination that cause them to become noticed. What they give to others around them is what is inspiring.

Who is inspiring to you as you look around? And how do you recognize that? By telling them, perhaps. And maybe by trying to emulate their good example. Or by supporting their work and mission.

As Mindy continues on her journey, I will continue to be impressed by how she lives her life. And I will know that I will have to have my “best game on” when I play Mahjong with her.