3 Ways to Invest in Others
Our daughter is an enthusiastic fan of the musical Hamilton. She has listened to the soundtrack relentlessly, memorizing every word. She has sung it for our family continuously, ensuring we learned every word. She has read books about Alexander Hamilton and books about the making of the play. She follows the cast on Instagram and knows their stories and families—really, anything they share publicly.
For her sixteenth birthday, we took the plunge. We bought tickets for the show in Chicago and began counting down the days. Needless to say, anticipation built as we got closer, and her excitement was uncontainable.
The big night came. As we arrived at the CIBC theatre in Chicago, the first thing we did was scout out the outside “cast door” so that she would know where to go after the play to get autographs. She was just as excited about meeting the cast as she was seeing the play.
The play was nothing short of amazing. The music and choreography were beyond impressive. Even though I was there for my daughter, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
The play ended, and we bolted to the side door as quickly as we could. She was hoping to be toward the beginning of the autograph line. We rushed down the stairs and out the door, but as we approached the exit, we stopped in our tracks. It was pouring rain. Lightening. Thunder. Buckets of water falling from the sky.
If you knew our daughter, you would know that the rain would not stop her. And it didn’t. She and her cousin, who had come with us, went out and stood in the rain, hoping someone from the cast would come out. Her brother and I opted to stay dry under an awning close by.
They waited and waited, and no one came out. I watched, marveling at my girl’s tenacity.
Finally, a sweet, talented dancer from the ensemble came out. She was precious and so kind to them. And after the dancer came out, Miguel Cervantes, who played Alexander Hamilton, came out. In the middle of the pouring rain, the lead character came out to meet and greet the fans. I don’t think he had any idea how much this gesture meant to my daughter and the other drenched enthusiasts. I wanted to run over and hug him and let him know that I appreciated his investment in my girl. He could have stayed inside, dry, but he chose instead to let his fans know they mattered.
That’s the thing, friends. So often we don’t realize the enormous impact we have on others. We miss the simple ways we can let others know they matter.
We can invest in others by using these three strategies:
1. Show Up
When we show up, we communicate to others that they are seen. When we are present, we give a gift. How often are we physically present but mentally and emotionally checked out? We’re not really “with” someone if we are distracted by devices.
2. Listen
Listen to understand, not to reply. Listening is also a gift we can offer, as we all long to be heard and understood. In society, so many feel comfortable shouting out their thoughts and opinions, yet we so rarely take time to listen. Steven Covey said it best when he advised, seek first to understand, then to be understood.
3. Validate
We all need validation. It feels so good when someone understands and affirms our heart, even if they don’t agree with our thoughts or preferences. Our relationships get stronger when we are recognized and accepted for who we are.
We want to be seen. We long to be heard. We desire to be affirmed. Hamilton actor Miguel Cervantes went out of his way to show his fans that they mattered. He gave them the gift of being seen. How can you do the same for those you encounter today?
You are amazing! Start living like it!
