Compass

by AmyShoe

When I was a third year undergrad at Drake University, the late, great Tim Russert gave a lecture on the basketball court. He was the first adult of great influence worldwide to ever articulate so much of what I was witnessing in my generation.  His book had recently been published and he told us anecdotal stories about his father while painting for us a clear picture of what he saw happening in this country, especially with our generation.  He spoke up for my peers, he spoke on my behalf.  I remember identifying fully with the problems he was identifying, but I wasn’t hearing any real solutions to them.  I could listen to political commentary all day long without hearing any constructive suggestions about what to do about identified problems. So I decided to ask him.

I had no fear.  After writing for my high school newspaper, I could approach anyone about any topic…  Compared to cold calling the super hot quarterback of the football team, Tim Russert was easy.

He stuck around after his lecture to sign copies of his book and I hung around until the crowds cleared.  I went up to Russert and asked if I could talk with him.  He said he was on his way out but I could walk with him to the car – so I did.  I told him how impressed I was by his ability to name so many of the problems I witnessed, and asked him what his suggestion would be to the youth of the day, to my generation.  More importantly, I asked for his advice… What advice he had for a leader among my generation. What solution could he offer?

His answer was this: that every person needed some sort of compass to keep them going in the right direction.  His father had been a compass for him, taught him how to find his own way in the world. The image of a compass, the analogy of it has stuck with me since then, even outlasting Russert himself. I took his words to heart and since then I have devoted much of my life to directionality, making sure my whole self is aligned and moving forward.

InterPlay as a system, has helped me stay connected to my own inner compass. My movement has direction.

Teaching InterPlay gives me the tools to facilitate the same compass connection in others. I get to witness their self-discovery and affirm each step they take toward their fullness.

It meant so much to me that an influential adult understood and articulated what I had seen. It is the greatest gift to be able to witness others understanding themselves and articulating their experience on multiple levels. For this and many other reasons, I continually give thanks for InterPlay.