Hand in Hand into the World

A smile came across my face as I watched a group of preschoolers out for a walk, all hanging on to a rope that kept them safe and linked together.  

It brought back warm memories of when my girls were little, but it also struck me that at Company of Women we do the same.

Just as the children were holding on to the rope, you just know that if one of them fell, the group would stop, an adult would go over, pick up and

comfort the child and likewise if one of our members, stumbled, I’d like to think that we would rally round and her chapter leader would be there to provide support.

And worse case scenario, one of the children broke loose, there would be someone to go after the child and bring her back to the “fold.”

Sometimes as small business owners we can fall by the wayside,  tripping on some obstacle that seems overwhelming at the time.  I am sure we can all think of friends who are sometimes “missing in action” and who disappear when the challenges become too hard to face and share.

But perhaps that’s just when, like the teacher with the children, we need to be there.  We need to check in and gently remind the individual that there are people who care; that all of us have faced tough situations and perhaps we can help. 

And maybe we can’t,  but just knowing that you are not alone; that others have been there and survived, can reduce that sense of isolation. Your caring doesn’t go unnoticed.

We can become the safety net for each other.  Providing a safe place where you can be honest, authentic and vulnerable is what Company of Women is all about.  

It was that vulnerability that enabled the women in the One Red Lipstick book  to share their stories with us.  They are our role models, showing us the way to overcome obstacles with resilience and tenacity so we too can achieve success on our own terms.

I encourage you to look around.  Is there someone missing?  Someone who hasn’t shown up recently?  Why not check in?    We are all on a similar journey and hopefully heading in the same direction, let’s make sure we are there when someone gets lost.

As Robert Fulgham says in his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten  “When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.”