When I walked into the room there was a man talking to the group about his graduation from our Leadership Development Program, which we offer at RHD to help provide continuing education for career advancement and prepare employees to become better leaders. As I took my seat he stopped in mid-sentence and I looked up, concerned, to see what was happening. He’d stopped because he was trying to catch his breath. He’d begun to cry.
As he paused, with some tears wetting his cheeks, in that moment we all applauded. Some people in the audience offered a few words of encouragement to convey to him that we understood these tears and gladly accepted them. He was so moved as he talked about all the help and encouragement he received from his fellow workers – and these are the tears that we often celebrate at RHD.
I’ve also known the tears that come when I’m watching the tender care and contact between our staff and those we call our consumers … the hugs … the smiles and the warmth that joins two people and melts away the differences.
Then there are the tears that flow from that very joining – like the ones I heard about today – when someone we cared for passed on. We cry out of love for those whom others can only see how to dismiss. And, boy, are we richer for that, also.
It’s easy, and popular, to maintain a sense of cynicism about the world around us. It’s a shield, in a sense, a defense mechanism to protect ourselves. But it’s that wonderful moment when something moves us, when your breath catches in your throat and your eyes well up, and your stomach flutters, that reminds us of something very important. The ability to be moved, and moved to tears, reminds us why we’re here – at RHD, and indeed on this planet.
I’m thankful for those tears. All of them. And for working in a place where those tears are part of the fabric of our corporation.