After 20 years of speaking about workplace safety and sharing my story with organizations all over the world, it’s been my experience that if you want to make your safety message matter, you’ve got to make it personal.
This International Women’s Day, send a little love to the women who have been helping you get going when the going has gotten tough. I #choosetochallenge you to carve out a little time for your number one gal…. (hint: it’s you) - to do something nice for yourself - I can say with great certainty - YOU DESERVE IT!
The mars and scars that live within us may be easier to disguise, however the effort to cover up is harmful in itself. Offering your time and attention to allow someone (who you know or don’t) to speak their truth out loud and share what is troubling them could make a lifetime of difference.
I will work from home with feelings of deep gratitude towards anyone and everyone out there on the front lines working to keep us safe. I will work on staying optimistic, while keeping those who have suffered great loss in my heart and prayers. I will work on practicing patience, knowing how fortunate I am to have a safe place to weather the storm. I will work on trusting the universe, and myself – knowing that this isn’t the first time my life feels like it’s been turned on its side, and it won’t be the last.
For today, on this Day of Mourning, I will hold close to my heart those who have not returned home from work. I will pray for those who have been left waiting for the hug that will never happen.
For today, I will leave a candle burning in the window throughout the day and the night in honor of those who aren’t coming home, and to light the way for those who are.
One of the questions I am asked most often is how to communicate discomfort about a situation, or to call out plainly unsafe behaviour to a co-worker in a manner that will be well received.
