Claiming Your Hero

Posted by Kimberly on Nov 15, 2013 | No Comments

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.

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.