Why pink tights matter

It took me till I was 40 to really understand that I was "enough".

I realised literally on my 40th birthday, that I am a good person, I am kind and I have good intent. I work hard and do my best to deliver on my committments. And if that isn't enough for others, lets talk about it, but you know what, it is good enough for me. I am enough!

It took me till 40 to get that.

So last week when asked to open a female leader event, I decided to tell that story.

And I chose to do it wearing pink tights!.

You see pink tights are funky and funny and maybe not very common in a corporate world but they are me, so I wear them with pride.

I wore them with pride that day too and my message was two fold:

1. What are your pink tights and why are you not wearing them?
2. Are you waiting til 40 to be at your best?


I closed the event with a fabulous quote from Dolly Parton. Hope you like it!

Asking for help

A few years ago, I was struggling with a personal issue and it was dragging me down. I remember feeling alone and helpless. A colleague noticed this and would not let me off the hook, she sat with me until I told her what was going on and then she insisted we found a solution together. And you know what I learned from that? Help is out there. You just need to look for it.

I was too proud and too shy to ask for help. I thought I needed to do things on my own. I thought no one could help. I felt I had to own and solve my own problems.

The brainstorming we had at that time changed everything. We came up with new ideas and do you know what, one idea turned the situation around.

The best thing is, that 4 years later, that solution still helps. That idea lives on and the concept that we co-created could not have been found alone. Innovative and sustainable.

So why I am telling this story, well many years later I find myself in a similar situation. My husband and I feel helpless but know we can not just sit there and let life take its course. So remembering the brainstorming back then, we underwent a similar exercise together and came up with many ways to approach the problem.

We decided to try everything, engage everyone, enlist help and persist until things change.

Right now we are in the thick of it, but you know what it feels good. We are in control and helping to find the right outcome. We are not accepting no for an answer and we are not giving up when one door closes.

I feel lucky that I had that colleague (now friend) and I feel lucky that this time I am not letting pride get in the way. I need help and until I get it, I will not give up.

First appearance!

I will spare you the details of why, but I nearly missed something today.

However due to input from wonderful friends, and consistent and gentle persuasion from my hubbie, we made it happen.

Today my 8 year old took part in a concert for the first time. She has been having a flute lesson a week since August, and she is making progress  As a consequence, she was invited to play a part in the concert.

Being unmusical and not having an understanding of the importance of being part of something like this, quite frankly, I struggled rearranging long planned events to ensure she got to play her part.

However things got rearranged and she took part.

Oh my word, what I nearly missed.

I nearly missed a great mummy moment. I was so proud of her standing up there alone, I was shouting (from the inside only) hey everyone, see that girl, she is mine, isn't she amazing.

She truly was. She was the youngest in the event and she was brilliant.

My heart was bursting with pride and my body full of emotion. And that was just me.

She was concentrated, determined, confident and skilled. She oozed serenity and calmness.

She blew us away.

I am so glad I got to be part of this moment. This is one for the memory bank.

Wonderful, wonderful!