Wrestling (!) with a personal mission

A couple of years ago, David Westbrook, a good friend and mentor, asked me a question I could not answer. "What's your personal mission?" he inquired. I was at a loss. I'd never even thought about it. "You've got to have a personal mission," David said. "Otherwise, how do you ever really know what you're doing or how to do it?"

It was an excellent point. Over the next few months, I spent some time thinking about it and discovered that "helping others be the best that they can be" is how I would describe my primary goal. And David was right. A clear sense of purpose has made all the difference. After all, this is what's at the heart of the Community Foundation's mission to empower the lives of Kansas Citians through philanthropy. And it applies equally well to bring order to the chaos of my home!

Or does it? Last weekend I encouraged Eva to build her motor skills during a friendly tussle with her sisters in a pile of pillows on the basement floor. "Get back up, Eva!" I said, as she kicked her chubby little toddler legs in a wild frenzy to get back on top of the heap. "You can do it!" My seven-year-old, Ann, never to be outdone by anyone, chimed in "Go, Eva! You're going to be the world's greatest women's wrestler!" Note to self: Save the cheering for the science fair!