A Coming Out Celebration! Emerging publicly from behind my wig

Ann McGee-Cooper

Monday marked my first day to enjoy showing up with only the small amount of hair that is managing to sprout.  Finally I have grown enough new hair to feel comfortable without my wig.  I continue to learn so much on this journey.  For one thing, I am more keenly aware that who I am is continuously evolving.  This was true before breast cancer but became more evident as I went through surgery and chemotherapy and then the recovery period.

What has been fascinating during this recent few weeks is how helpful your feedback continues to be.  From the first time I dared to take off my wig, those around me would encourage me, telling me that my head had a nice shape and, to quote Matt Kosec, “Bald is beautiful!”  And now I am given encouragement as I welcome dark, salt-and-pepper baby fine hair coming through with lots of curl.  I realize that being surrounded by wonderfully encouraging friends who admire my hair even at this short length and encourage me to feel comfortable without a wig.

What I realize is that as we grow in our leadership skills it really helps to have encouraging friends tell us what is going right instead of how clumsy we appear.  As we take on new responsibilities, learn to take risks by delegating more, try on new roles within our team or even within other teams….life is about change and that can be scary.  And to have loving friends who sense the insecurity and support you as you dare to spread your wings and fly, awkwardly at first, these are the treasures of high performance teaming.

I continue to be so grateful for the abundance of friends and partners who stand with me as I recover and dare to claim a future, however short or long, filled with shared purpose and meaning.  We are only assured of this moment.  And life becomes sweet and rich as we invest all we have into making this moment the best it can be with the very best we have.  It’s not about how long my hair is or isn’t.  It’s more about who I choose to be in the midst of life’s many challenges.  And I continue to discover that I am a far more effective, fun and creative me when surrounded by so many inspiring servant leaders…people who are so gifted at supporting growth and courage in all those around them to claim bold dreams together.

I thank you!

Ann

“What is Success?  To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived–this is to have succeeded.”         Ralph Waldo Emerson