Riots, a Pandemic, and a Nation’s Absent Leadership: How You Can Lead Instead

It’s hard to write something light, say for ‘Motivational Monday’, or ‘How to Prioritize’, or ‘Why It’s Important to Connect with Your Team’, with everything going on.

This weekend we’ve seen uprisings, protests, curfews, violence, peace, blood, anger, kickstarted by a merciless act thrown on a powder-keg of a frustrated and disappointed nation who haven’t had an outlet for weeks.

Not only that, but we are lacking a response, a sense of direction, a vision.

Leadership is glaringly absent.

I’m not a Trump supporter. I’m going to leave that right there, it’s not up for debate, you can support (or not support) whomever you choose with no ill-will from me, as can I with no ill-will from you.

But I’m thirsty for leadership right now. I’d put aside what I think of him in order to unify behind the office that represents us a nation.

(*Disclaimer: I’d like to assume said office would empathize with the week’s events. And they would speak eloquently and passionately about how every human being, every citizens’ rights are fundamentally preserved in our great country. It would have to be that kind of message, this disclaimer is because I’m not sure that’s what I would hear.)

It would also be the kind of message that says, “I’m here, I see what’s happening. Here’s what this means for us as a nation.”

I’m desperately looking for our leader to show up, take responsibility, and to calm our nerves. To lead us.

So, where does that leave me, us, our nation? It leaves us to be responsible for ourselves. We still have that, and thankfully, it can never be taken away. Response-ability is always our choice. What can I do, how can I make sure the actions I take help?

That’s where I’m going to start.

However you feel right now, listen and learn from it. You have a choice. Respond in a way that feels right for you.

For today, do what you can, what you know is right.

Take care of the person to the left of you and to the right of you. Whether that’s at the grocery store or through a phone call.

Sometimes, in the absence of leadership, a new leader emerges.

Let that person be you.

Originally published at https://www.karyndanielle.com on June 1, 2020.