Life After

by Jake Mendys

A macabre fire which reveals our own shortcomings. Revealing impermanence. A failure to recognize. Lack of preparation. Conjuring doubt. Where are the leaders?

Where are the leaders? Instead, we are left with finite perspectives seeking to dominate a never-ending game. Again, I say, where are the leaders? All the while bickering, as their subjects are lured deeper and deeper into lands of lotus eaters which we ourselves have created. Drowning in a fiendishly seductive cocktail of hedonistic apathy whose strength is rooted in our own fear and insecurity. No one is immune.

No one is immune. Intoxicated by shallow bursts of what we’ve tricked ourselves into thinking represents joy. Brought crashing back down to earth by an invisible enemy. One who reminds us of our own fragility.

And now. We’ve arrived at that place where two roads are diverged in a yellow wood. Quick, easy, shallow. Long, challenging, honest. A fork shrouded with uncertainty. Brimming with possibility.

Reconstruction or re-engagement? Greatness can be forged in the fires of uncertain adversity. Yet so can be despair. All the while, though we shan’t see the end from the beginning, I can’t help knowing that a bright future lies ahead.

__________________________________________________________________________

Bottom Line Up Front:

I wrote this free-verse poem during one of many late nights I've spent contemplating "What is next? How will we get there?" over the past month. Leadership is hard. But we are capable of rising to the challenges we face time and again if we allow ourselves to. I hope that, by sharing this piece publicly, I can inspire my peers, superiors and those who come after me to remember that we are powerful and more than capable when we are open and honest with ourselves and those around us. And that propensity, despite our deepest wishes, is not the same as realization. That answers ≠ truths.

We must endeavor to chase after humanity's green light - regardless of how frightening, revealing, or challenging the pursuit may be.

The Author's Full Analysis:

Building upon the BLUF...to me, leadership is patience in the face of chaos, strength and servitude when faced with life altering decisions for yourself or those who look up to you. Leading requires empathy, so that even when you don't like what you are hearing, you listen intently before adapting thoughtfully and appropriately.

Humanity is at a perplexing crossroads right now and in many respects, at the risk of sounding cliche and jaded, we refuse to get out of our own way to make a cohesive set of decisions in our collective interest as we confront a crisis. We're instead allowing ourselves to be distracted by tribal, rhetorical arguments over semantic issues in the pursuit of what we wish to be "right", rather than resolving for what is objectively true.

And what I mean by "objectively true" is not pursuit of a binary outcome - truth very rarely is binary in our world's hybrid operating environment. Not whether a virus is or is not deadly. Or whether our global response is heavy handed or insufficient. Or most importantly in the context of this poem, whether one group of politicians, media members, or other set of thought leaders knows better than the other in the face of a crisis. I posit that, often when confronted with difficulty, we don't rely enough upon mutually agreed upon behavioral standards, well reasoned interpretations of objective evidence, or designing a cohesive framework to even begin gathering the necessary facts for our journeys. Our shortcomings in these areas ultimately prevent us from providing legitimate guidance one way or another (or another).

Instead we fall victim to a preponderance of loud opinions, rather than truth or facts. However, to do anything other than search out the truth is irresponsible, even when that truth is unappealing or contradicts our beliefs system.

I hope that, by sharing this piece, I can inspire some of my peers, superiors and those who will come after me to remember that we are powerful and capable when we are open and true to ourselves. That we are reminded that our greatest achievements often lie on the other side of a direct, oftentimes ugly, confrontation with fear or anxiety. That regardless of the situation, great and honest leadership is indispensable and mandatory for our collective success and betterment. And to remind us all of humanity's profound propensity for hope, resilience, and creativity in the face of uncertainty. I'm reminded of stories of prisoners at Robben Island in South Africa, who despite their oppressive conditions, overcame their captors to carry on a fight worth fighting.

Leadership is hard. But we are capable of rising to the challenges we face time and again. Though the captor we're currently confronting is mercurial and unpredictable, strong leadership, ingenuity, and resilience will guide us through our trials to a brighter future. We just have pause, step back, and get out of our own way.

I cherish all thoughts and feedback, whether you liked or agreed with my words or not. I ultimately hope my writing is thought provoking and want to hear from my readers. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: All views contained in this post reflect my own views and not those of my employer or any other organization I am affiliated with.