By Crystal Kemp
I had occasion last week to speak on behalf of Conway Corp. to a group of women leaders in our Arkansas community. I wanted to share with you some of the thoughts I shared with them while I hope you are moving into a time of rest from the weariness that is 2020. (Also, as a bonus, I’ve included the Kemp Family Christmas Card.)
To remember important things, I keep a notebook where I take notes when I attend programs, conferences, etc. There may be quotes from some of you in that notebook!
As part of my preparation for last week’s talk, I reached for the notebook in search of inspiration to include in my remarks. I found it in a stack with another notebook from my Girl Scout leader planning days. I was a Girl Scout troop leader for 18 years. In that Girl Scout notebook was a list I made six years ago for a group of 13-year-old junior Girl Scouts who were planning to lead some younger brownie Girl Scouts in an upcoming event.
Here is my list:
- Be Yourself
- Encourage others to be themselves
- Be there for your friends
- Don’t be two-faced
- Be an encourager
- Accept differences
- Don’t tell secrets (in other words, be trustworthy)
- Don’t tell lies
- Be open-minded
- Share wisdom (your lessons learned)
No matter where else I look for inspiring and motivating thoughts to share with this group or really anybody, I always keep coming back to this list.
And I think I keep coming back to it because in my brainstorming ahead of meeting with these 13-year-old Girl Scouts, I felt a strong sense of HOPE. Please notice this: The list did not include them sharing ways to get ahead in life. I felt as if they were reminding me that if I wanted to have an impact, I had to be willing to be impacted by others.
It has been a long year, right? More so than ever, I am more truly open to the hope offered in the words: “I should be myself at all times and encourage others to be themselves at all times.”
I am so very thankful for the friends who have been there for me. Let me look for ways to be even more intentional to be there for my friends. What would I do without the people who have encouraged me?
I am thankful for the ways that we are finding to not only accept but celebrate our differences; thankful for the people who have kept my trust and have spoken truth to me, and thankful for the people who have been open-minded when I begin a sentence by saying, “I’ve got something I want you think about.”
And, finally, thankful for the many, wonderful beautiful women and men who have shared their wisdom and their lessons learned with me.
The lyrics from “O Holy Night” have been on my mind — “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.”
Many of us are weary right now. It is not the first time we have been weary, but it may be the first time we have all been collectively so weary. I hope as you read this message – especially the words to those 13-year-old Girl Scouts — you feel hopeful and, in your weariness, can find reason for rejoicing.
Wishing you the best holiday available to you! I look forward to seeing you in 2021!
Pictured in Photos: Crystal Kemp, Mike Kemp (Husband), Katie and Sarah (Daughters).
Crystal Kemp is Chief Marketing Officer at Conway Corp. in Conway, Ark.