Squad Goals

I’m a runner. It’s built into the fabric of who I am. Although there are faster runners, more elite runners, and most definitely more dedicated and disciplined runners out there, it’s still such a big part of me, that I really can’t unwind that part of me from every other thing that I do in life. If you follow running at all, or if you happen to just follow pop culture or sports in general, you may have heard about a Kenyan runner, Eliud Kipchoge, who recently ran a full marathon (26.2 miles) in under 2 hours. For years, exercise scientists and running enthusiasts said it couldn’t be done. Until he did it in Vienna, Austria last week. (There is debate about whether or not it should qualify as a new world record because he had human pacers as well as a pace car out in front of him but I’m not here to debate that!) But, what does this story even have to do with a pediatrics medical practice? In truth, I could answer that a lot of different ways, as certainly there are lessons underneath this storyline that could arguably be added to the conversations revolving around raising kids. Things like learning about set-backs (he tried previously and missed it), resiliency, passion, and the list goes on. But there’s a part to this storyline that really grabs me. And it can best be summarized by the photo above, taken after Kipchoge crossed the finish line.

The photo and the caption stopped me cold when I saw it. Gave me chills, honestly. Cheering more for others’ accomplishments more than our own. Sometimes feels like a ghost of an idea, with all that’s going on in the world right now. Because running is so much a part of my world, the running analogy just resonates with me. Running is so often viewed as an individual sport. In my world, it surely isn’t. The camaraderie that drew me to the sport, is what keeps me in it. Raising kids, surely isn’t an individual endeavor. If there has been another part of my world, that has allowed me to see this theme play out right in front of my eyes, it’s with the mom-friendships, both professionally and personally, that have brought me back to my center time and time again. Moms do this. At our best, we cheer more loudly than anyone, when another mom crosses their proverbial finish line. That’s part of what we love about Pediatric Housecalls…the fact that we honestly feel like we are just one more “cog” in the giant wheel that contributes to taming the chaos, albeit life-giving/soul-filling/love-filled/magical chaos, of raising kids. It’s also one of the things I personally love about being at the helm of Pediatric Housecalls. Our team…from the providers on the front lines, to the ones behind the scenes making it possible for us to do our jobs…I wouldn’t be so compelled to keep pushing, to keep innovating, to keep serving, if it weren’t for the fact that I get to do it while surrounded by some of the coolest people I know. Healthcare is challenging. Burn-out is real. If I can make sure that I create the healthiest work environment for our providers, I know they’ll give the best care in return. Balancing that with being as available as patients need us to be, is tough. But what moves me, is how willing everyone seems to be, to be a team player, while we keep figuring out the formula that serves everyone. If feels like we have a whole army of team members, not just the 10 or so that technically work for us. And that brings me to a quote that I saw recently. It captures the essence of why I think everyone is so willing to pitch in and make this whole process work.

“No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.” -Amelia Earhart

I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again. It’s not complicated. Just be kind. Everything flows from there. Life is messy. In fact, last time I believe I exactly blogged about life crap and wanting to run away and live in a tiny house. This morning I’m blogging about loving my squad. It’s the kindness that pulls me back in every. single. time. Get yourself a squad, folks. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you, if you’ve allowed us to be part of your’s.