BUSINESS AND LIFE: Fighting to make this world a better place

“I am fighting to make this world a better place”, responded Gaby Gifford to the question, “How is it you are able to be so positive amidst the challenges?”  Gabrielle “Gaby” Giffords, former US Congress Woman and her husband Mark Kelly retired Astronaut were the featured speakers at the closing ceremony of the 65th annual SHRM Annual Conference and Exposition.  Really, Mark was the main speaker, for following the attack on Gaby, it affected her speech and she cannot answer in long sentences and in essence her husband has become her voice.

I was moved to tears when Gaby took the stage, walking haltingly, left arm paralysed, happily greeting us and bravely telling us she is fighting to make the world a better place.  Her husband, Mark told us, ”fight” is Gaby’s motivating word.  She is fighting to get better so she endures the hours of physiotherapy, yoga and speech therapy; she is fighting to regain her speech, she is fighting to regain control of her life, she is fighting so that her children learn never to give up.  She is fighting so that good will triumph over evil at all times.

And it was evil that almost brought her life to an abrupt end.  On January 8, 2011, Gaby was shot outside a supermarket in Tucson Arizona, where she was meeting with constituents. On that day a nine-year-old girl, along with six others were killed.  This senseless crime brought to a halt the fast rise up the political ladder for Gaby.  She was in the words of her husband, an intelligent, ambitious, strong woman, who knew where she was going.  She was also a mother of two young daughters.

With tears in my eyes, I sat reflecting on how our lives can change in a twinkle, for on that morning when Gaby left her home, kissed her daughters and husband goodbye, none knew that this was the last day of the life and world they knew.  Her husband said when he got the call that she had been seriously injured, he was in shock and had to look at his phone to see if he really got that call and called back the number to verify.  And thoughts of my family flooded through my mind.

Gaby is fighting her way back following numerous surgeries with her strong faith in God, discipline to undergo the therapies, a will to survive and loving support of her family, especially her husband and friends.   The support of family and friends I believe has been and will remain critical on her journey of recovery.  While her husband went on to captain the last US space mission to space on “Endeavour”, a mere six months after her accident and after he initially relinquished that role, his love and devotion to his wife were palpable.  He said this was the hardest decision he had to make, especially since she could not speak to give him her approval in words, however he knew his wife and what she would want.  Following the mission, he retired.  He had some advice for caregivers with the main ones being that caregivers need to take time for themselves and know when to return to their lives.

Gaby reminded me once again of the fragility and uncertainty of life; of the importance of family and friends, the need for strong and supportive relationships, of taking care of each other and of making a positive difference in the lives of those we touch.

I am also reminded of a finding that people before they die regret not the mistakes they made but the things they did not do; they do not regret not working harder or doing more at work but regret the relationships they did not nurture and strengthen.

When I think of Gaby and people who have or who face daunting challenges yet remain hopeful, thankful and positive, I know I have to keep on fulfilling my purpose, facing my challenges head-on, looking for the rainbow amidst the storm and thanking God for his gifts of life, grace, mercy and peace.  I will not complain.  I will continue striving, like Gabrielle “Gaby” Giffords, to make this world a better place.  Please join us on that quest.

Until We Meet Again, May the Lord Continue to Hold Us in the Palm of His Hands.

Valda Frederica Henry, VF Inc.’s CEO and Principal Trainer is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR), Certified Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner, holds a PhD in Industrial Relations & Business, a Masters in Business Administration and a BSc Management Studies. VF Inc. is a Human Resource & Finance Consultancy firm with a Training and Recruitment arm, and the producer and host of a live TV program “The Cutting Edge of Business”.