Are You a Leader or a Follower?

Cindy Georgakas

July 26, 2021

“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.”

Albert Camus AUTHOR AND PHILOSOPHER

Are you a leader or a follower?

I still remember my parents words in the back of my head to be a leader not a follower and it makes complete sense when you’re trying to raise children to stand up for themselves and not get caught in the riff-raff of the crowd.

I’ve gotta say I’m a little of both. At first glance I’d say I’m a leader in my work and my home life managing the many hats I wear but if I look closer, I think I’m actually more of a follower or maybe right in the middle. What about you?

I couldn’t have been happier when my husband said “I think all of the kids will go on a hike with us if we leave now”. I was shocked and leery at the same time and I didn’t want to dare ask them for fear that they would say no, so I told him to ask. They are daddies little girls and my son had his girlfriend with him so I take a back seat when she’s around which is how it should be. Plus, I adore her, so there’s that.

I put my shoes on so fast, when I’m usually slow as molasses on a weekend when I have time to dawdle. I always curtail my excitement because if they even remotely feel it, they might change their mind in a nano second or so I think, so I pretend to be impartial while I’m secretly ecstatic. Any chance to be with my kids is my greatest joy and of course as a health and wellness professional I’m over the moon everyone is exercising and out in nature together which is a double bonus.

I started out with a bang taking the lead at the front of the pack, listening to their footsteps from behind and their happy chatter but soon I noticed my husband is lagging behind with our dog Hunter who might as well be a mule; so I stop, give him a treat and spur him on with the hope that he’ll join us.

I step it up and catch them one by one I and now I’m smack dab in the middle and what a perfect place to be well unless you’re a middle child I hear.

I get to watch their stance, their gate, their swing and any manifestations that show up in their body that could be a result of some of their physical ailments. One prances and bounces with her heel never hitting the ground, one plants their heel into the ground, one turns her feet out like a duck as she moves and one is running the beach in Malibu so I can’t get a glimmer of her. 2 of them have their shoulders back and two of them thrust their hips forward with rounded shoulders. Oh I’d love to align them but will wait for the chance that they might ask me why something is hurting and I can point out my observations at a time that might actually be useful to them.

I ponder whose traits resemble my husband’s and which ones got mine as I listen intently as words drift back and words travel forward. There’s nothing of importance in their discussions or maybe it’s that it stops when they notice my presence. It’s fun to hear them talk about what they’ve been up to, where they are going next, work, travel, grievances, hopes and dreams.

They are back in their lives full throttle ahead, back to work life with a hybrid approach traveling for work and on the wedding going circuit. One of my daughters boyfriend is in Croatia for a bachelor party. “Wow” I say, “that sounds like it should be a honeymoon”. They laugh and agree. They must have about 12 weddings planned this year since most of them were cancelled last year between the 4 of them. One of my daughter’s will be in Connecticut at the same time her boyfriend is in Idaho for a wedding. Another one of my kids will be in Italy, another in Washington, Turkey, and the list goes on and on. It’s enough to make my head spin. Can you blame me? Never mind my concerns of carbon emissions or Covid, so we barely touch on that because I’m a guest in their world right now. They tell me how exhausting and expensive it is and that they’re coming back next time as Ollie our cat. It does sound pretty good but instead I say “I’m coming back as one of you”. Again, they laugh and say, “you would hate our life” and I laugh because it’s true. While I like to travel a bit that would throw me over the edge. Besides, someone in the family has to make up for the carbon emissions! Here’s a great article on flying and carbon emissions that is useful for all of us to read.

For the rest of the walk I stayed middle ground neither leading nor following and enjoying hearing about their lives that are so far from any of my past experiences but I enjoy being part of their world not separated from it . And even if I don’t quite get it all, it doesn’t matter… because they matter so much to me more than anything and that’s all that counts.

The key to a mother’s heart is time with her 2 legged and 4 legged kids walking the path with her.
Cindy Georgakas

Hunter was so happy to find a friend Bandit on our walk who was a mutt just like him. It always blows me away how many fathers they can have in just one litter.

You may have many best friends, but your Dog only has one
^unanimous

Happy Monday Yall!

It’s amazing to me how many people are back fully in their lives with restrictions lifted. We’re beginning to hear numbers increasing and people who have gotten their vaccines getting Covid as well. It’s here to stay vaccinated or not vaccinated and yet the symptoms are less with milder side effects. While I’m happy to be out and about and seeing clients hands on again, I am taking all of the necessary precautions with longer scheduling times, disinfecting the room, wearing a mask etc.

I know lots of people are tired of it all and throwing common sense to the wind. All I know is we had so many fits and starts, I’m not believing anything. Thanks so much for stopping in and sharing our hike today. I’d love to hear your thoughts on where you line up in being a leader or a follower if you care to share.

Have a wonderful day and remember it’s Monday so make sure to move your booty in one way or another as either a leader or a follower or a little of both.