Claiming Your Hero

When I was a little girl I wanted to be Julie Andrews playing Maria Von Trapp.  It’s true.  A bit embarrassing, but true.  I didn’t want to be Maria Von Trapp – the real woman was a stranger to me.  I didn’t want to be Julie Andrews, because to me, she was Maria (whoever this Julie Andrews-person really was, wasn’t even something I thought about).  I yearned to be Julie-Andrews-playing-Maria-Von-Trapp.  I learned every lyric for every song.  I could quote every scene.  When I was a third grader, I would organize the first and second graders on the steps during recess at Russel School to perform the Cuckoo song (with me, of course, playing…Maria).  I would twirl around the pastures in front of my house, my arms spread wide, singing “The hills are alive…” at the top of my lungs.  Even to this day, I sing Edelweiss to my kiddo at bedtime (although about a month ago he urged me to get new material).

At the tender age of 7, Julie Andrew’s Maria was my hero.  A flibbertyjibbet who was unabashedly herself.  She helped the Captain and the children find their way back to laughter and music.  She healed their hearts and gave them courage.  I loved her spirit.  I loved her haircut (don’t ask).  I loved everything about her.  She was all of the things I wanted to be.

I think many of the values I’ve come to hold sacred, the things I admire most in others, and the woman I aspire to be, have been influenced by my childhood hero.  I suspect that’s true for most of us.

I encourage you to take a journey back in time.  To the days before you had any sense of what was “cool” – the days of wide-eyed innocence in which you let your imagination soar.  When you believed in heroes.

Because our heroes show us our secret powers – they lead us to the best part of ourselves.

And if you look close enough, you may just find that even though you’re all grown-up, there’s still a hero in you.

©OnStage Leadership, 2013

Kimberly Davis is the Founder/Director of OnStage Leadership, a full-day experiential leadership workshop.  If you found this helpful, interesting, thought-provoking, or inspiring please “recommend”, “Like” and share.  It is only through your generosity that we can reach those who may find it valuable too.