Turning the Page

I decided to share an email I just wrote to my colleagues who  have been my friends and family through the years.  LinkedIn gives us all the ability to learn, share and develop leadership and talent. I hope that my experiences reflect all we strive to be as we discover what matters most. I look forward to my new chapter of Family in San Antonio. I hope that whatever the next professional chapter holds I travel the road to impact lives everyday.

I have heard more than once in life that change and saying good bye are never easy. I assure you that is true. I will soon begin a new life chapter. As a new chapter begins, it means the previous chapter closes. There will never be enough pages to describe the last 26 Kroger years. I said not long ago like me, love me or hate me you all made me the person I am . I have learned so much personally and professionally from each of you. I hope I have returned that gift.

  I was asked not long ago what I considered my greatest failure. Without hesitation, my answer was this. While I was hyper focused on climbing the ladder, did I remember to say good morning…how’s your son or daughter or you mom and dad…you feel better..or even sorry for you loss? I hope so …but if not I have failed.  With life experience, you grow and learn what is important. I will always strive to succeed and be my best; but the definition of what comes from that and measures success changes.

  You all will go on and milk and bread will get on the shelves and out the registers. My hope is that I touched your hearts and made each of you smile for at least one moment in time. I laughed as I don’t have much physical “stuff” to take out after all this time. However, the World is not enough space to take out the memories, the laughter, the joy, the friendships and even the memories of sad times and tragedy. I found a letter I kept from 2005. Honestly, I had Grad school and adoption craziness going on so I really didn’t even remember it. I have no idea why I kept it…and maybe it was for this moment. It was from a Customer I had helped. I am guessing at the time I thought nothing of it. But according to the note…I had listened ..listened to more than the reason she had called…the letter from her husband ended with the fact I had given his wife dignity…..and honestly at the time they didn’t know how they were going to get through the next week. He said I was their Angel…I tell that story to close this Chapter with these words…

  Always be kind. Slow down and listen. You never know what little gesture creates huge change for someone. My sincere hope is that there are countless more times I have touched lives than I ever knew.