STOP AND SMELL (& BUY) THE FLOWERS
Yas Grigaliunas
Founder | Director | Global 100 Inspirational Leaders - 2022 | Impact Entrepreneur | Circular Economy | Keynote Speaker | MC | Thought Leader | Action Taker & Maker | TEDx | SDGs
As a single mother, mornings can be a challenging time, especially when managing the needs and wants of two teenage daughters. Each daughter is unique in their own way, but they share a level of honesty that can sometimes be difficult for me to hear, but also makes me appreciate how they were raised. On this particular morning, my eldest daughter informed me that she was not feeling well and didn't want to go to school.
In the past, I may have pushed her to go to school and convince her of the importance of education. But over time, I started to listen and understand the root cause of her reluctance to go to school. I realised that it was more important for me to be present in the moment and to understand her feelings, rather than to focus on the metrics of attendance.
After dropping off my youngest daughter at school, I was on my way to a business meeting, feeling frustrated and disappointed that I was not able to understand my eldest daughter's feelings that morning. But as I was driving, I spotted her favourite fruit shop and had an intuitive feeling that I should stop and buy her some flowers and sourdough crumpets. I knew that some people might see this as rewarding her for staying home, but my motivation was to understand her perspective and to spend some time with her.
When I arrived home and gave her the flowers and crumpets, she was speechless and tearful. This was my opportunity to talk with her, not at her, and to share some of my motherly wisdom. We spent the next ten minutes talking openly and honestly, and she felt appreciated, seen, heard, and understood. Our walls were down, and our hearts were open. It was a moment that mattered and one that I will always cherish.
In conclusion, as a parent (& a leader), it is important to remember that sometimes it is more important to be present in the moment and to understand our children's feelings, rather than to focus on metrics or expectations. By showing our children that we care and appreciate them, we can create a stronger bond and foster a more open and honest relationship.
??Geode: Community Architect ????Empowering Young People to Thrive: Remembering their Purpose & Modelling Self-Love & Sovereignty
1 年Thank you Yas Grigaliunas honoring you & your humanness sharing words that I have been challenged to sometimes share! Soul Parenting & Soulpreneuring is something that has me remembering Self First, then family. And today had me feeling for humans who may be challenged or struggling - I got a warning letter from an employer who I have casually worked for since 2017 because I didn’t follow their specific protocol for notifying not attending a shift because Jaxon was sick & our newly adopted dog has to go to the vet! They are in WA I felt ringing at 3am was not really ?? Do I need the money, yes I have $0 in the bank & it could take up to 17 day to be received. Anyway I am grateful for all that unfolded, witnessing the squids care for Dino before school & giving Jaxon the time he needed us all the validation i needed to witness & experience. And now choosing to dive head first into a new business proposal for school leaders & designing their 2024 (and beyond) future vision becoming a reality for their school & communities?????? #listen #love #live
Think better ? Perform Better ? Feel Better.
1 年Keep it up Yas!
Community engagement and partnerships professional with a strong growth & sustainability mindset.
1 年Love this Yas! I have an honest, whip smart teenage girl too and being her mum is a constant opportunity for me to drop in deeper, try to stay grounded and open my heart and ears. I confess I do not always get it right the first time, but like you, I try to always circle back, take responsibility and open the lines of communication again. Thank you for sharing. I feel seen and I see you! ??????
Managing Partner at Sprint Ventures | GAICD | Chartered Accountant | Experienced in Startups, Investing, Responsible Investing, Funds and Portfolio Management
1 年https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G7KNmW9a75Y
Luminate Leadership Founder + Director | Speaker | Facilitator | Podcast Host
1 年This is so spot on. I literally finished most recent Lael Stone podcasts on the imperfects and it was a very similar message ( clearly I need to hear this) Thank you for your honesty and generosity to share. Your courage will change people's days/lives.