A Little More Like Bowie
Bowie May
Bowie, my youngest daughter, is about to turn two.
She currently has a diagnosis of dyspraxia, although we expect there may be more to come. Despite it all, she is undoubtedly the most joyous human I know.
Bowie smiles with her eyes and laughs from her belly. She loves to provoke a comedic moment and has a seemingly insatiable appetite for fun — all in spite of a challenge that could severely limit her ability to experience that very emotion.
In layman’s terms, dyspraxia means everyday tasks like standing, feeding herself and talking are a real struggle. She knows what she wants to say and do — her body just won’t let her.
There are two qualities I’ve observed that contribute to Bowie’s zeal for life: resilience and vulnerability.
Bowie’s motor control means failure is both a constant threat and a regular reality. She tries, and often fails, with some pretty nasty falls along the way. But when she falls, she bounces back quickly. Once consoled, she gets ‘back on the horse’ and takes on whatever challenge she was attempting before.
She also knows her limits and is willing to reach out when she can’t manage something on her own. Walking is a skill we’re currently working on. Sometimes she’s happy to hold my hand and take a dozen steps; other times, she’ll turn into my leg and reach out her arms so I’ll pick her up.
Like Bowie, most business owners I meet have resilience ‘down pat’.
Some might even say, they’ve been conditioned to accept the graft - they’ve learnt to deal with the good months and the bad months, the dreams and the disappointments.
A less common characteristic, however, is vulnerability.
We hold our cards close, promote the idea that all is well, and trudge on believing we can do it alone. Being honest when we’re at the edge of our own knowledge and skillset — and inviting input from others — is much harder.
The truth is, hard times are virtually guaranteed in this game of business. Resilience is essential. Even more critical, however, is knowing our limits and asking for a hand-up when we’ve reached them.
Sometimes, we just need to be a little more like Bowie.