Friday Inspiration, May 22, 2020

Dear Friends,

This is my farewell Women of ESG weekly inspiration email.

Over the course of the day I have started and stopped writing this message several times. An attempt to come up with the perfect last bit of inspiration became daunting.

What I've learned in my life is that when I try to make something perfect it becomes too precious. Then it becomes nothing because I never begin the thing.

So here it goes.

Thank you.

Thank you to each person in this group. It has been a great honor getting to know you through your responses to the weekly emails, our monthly calls, banter on yammer, or on the front porch. Thank you to Becca Palmer for being my right-hand person. Thank you to Heather Stalvey for introducing me to ESG. A very special thanks to Jen Testa for creating this group, letting me co-chair it last year, and intrusting it to me this season. Jen, you are an innovative leader and champion of progress. I have learned and grown tremendously under your direction.

Here is what I would like to leave you with--never forget that: you are worthy. You are smart. You are cared for. You are doing a great job despite difficult circumstances. Be easy on yourself and others.

Please keep in touch if you'd like: maggie at maggieduckworth.com

On to the next adventure with great love and admiration of you all.

Be well.

Maggie

Friday Inspiration, March 20, 2020

From: Duckworth, Maggie
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 5:53 PM
Subject: Friday Inspiration, March 20, 2020

Dear Friends,

Thanks to those of you who came early and stayed late on today’s call! It was great seeing so many of your gorgeous faces, meeting your “co-workers”, and to be reminded: we are not alone and we will get through this!

If you’re wondering what’s up with my new hair—since all of the salons are closed I’ve declared this the season of the wig! Lol

Earlier this week I was feeling particularly down. Wednesday night I decided to watch a movie. My dad always says that when things feel bad—go to the movies and escape for a while. A few months ago I friend recommended I see JoJo Rabbit—he knew I’d love it. Since I couldn’t go to the theater I rented JoJo Rabbit. My friend was right: I loved the film.

JoJo Rabbit has an absurd premise that I won’t get into here, but there’s a lot of growth and love developed by the main character throughout the film. As JoJo becomes friendly with a perceived enemy the work of poet  Ranier Maria Rilke becomes a supporting character.

At the end of the film, just before the credits, the screen faded to black, and this poem of Rilke’s popped up:

“Go to the Limits of Your Longing”

Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going.

No feeling is final.

This poem gave me a lot of peace and hope.

The next day I called a colleague to discuss today’s call. As we were talking I read the poem to her and she exclaimed she’d just read Rilke’s work on isolation a couple of days prior. We were both excited to learn we felt connected to the same poet during this season of the unknown.

Connection is important—through words, art, music, making time to video chat with someone you miss. Let’s keep connecting with one another and the world around us in small ways. Create something, bake a loaf of bread, sew on a button, do some abstract water colors, write a letter with pen and paper. Connect to the simple things you have access to as we remain sequestered and share these things on social media, in an email or text, on yammer or the front porch in Microsoft Teams. Let’s celebrate each other during this time. 

I’m glad to know each of you.

May you all feel comforted as we head into the weekend.

Talk soon.

Maggie

Friday Inspiration January 24, 2020

From: Duckworth, Maggie
Sent: Friday, January 24, 2020 6:08 PM
Subject: RE: Friday Inspiration January 24, 2020

Dear Friends,

I’m so glad I got to spend part of my morning with you. I enjoyed hearing about Michelle Little’s work experiences and loved the side chat that was happening. Who knew trashy TV would be the thing that brought such unity?

My trash TV confession: General Hospital. I watch it on Hulu whenever I get a chance. When I was little my parents worked and my sister and I stayed with my grandparents. Everyday at 3 pm in the summer we were snapping green beans and watching General Hospital. A lot about my life has changed since those days but General Hospital remains the one constant. Aside from GH, and the Bachelor, and Real Housewives—any other TV you guys can’t get enough of?

Big shout out to Becca Palmer! She came over a couple of days ago with poke bowls and bubble teas and we plotted out the next few months of Women of ESG. (We are open to suggestions let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see!) So happy she’s agreed to partner with me on this adventure.

Correction I should note—when Becca first started she was the only female engineer at Heil. ESG has hired more female engineers.

Thank you Ashley Waggoner for being our spotlight employee. It was fun to get to know you better and I loved your idea for the addition of a gourmet chef to the team. If only!

And a HUGE thank you to Michelle Little of Waste Connections for speaking with us today. I appreciated that her personality trait (being a straight shooter) is what she attributes to her success. I feel like mine is the ability to connect with people and facilitate connections for others. What’s yours?

For a bit of good news: I read this article last week and it made my heart happy. It’s about a little boy who could have had a t-shirt that said anything: Roll Tide, I NY, Spiderman, but instead he asked his mom to make a shirt for him that said, “I will be your friend” for all of the kids that don’t have a friend. What a kind spirit.

This article, “These 5 Brain Hacks Helped Me Get Six-Pack Abs. And They Can Help You Crush Any Goal You Set for Yourself” has a ridiculous title, but has some thoughts with merit:

2. Use the 10-minute rule. Sometimes, the thought of launching into a 40-minute weight lifting session seemed overwhelming. I was certain I didn't have the energy to do it. To get myself moving, I used the 10-minute rule. I agreed to work out for 10 minutes. Once I got to the 10-minute mark, I could decide if I wanted to keep going. And if I didn't, I'd give myself permission to quit. I never quit though. Once I got to the 10-minute mark, I was able to keep going every time. It was proof that starting is often the hardest part. Once you get moving, it's easier to keep going.

I’ve never called it the 10-minute rule before but I find myself doing this often in life when a huge task is a head of me. What do you do when you have a big project? How do you stay sane and motivated?

What are you guys doing this weekend? Hope it’s fun!

Talk soon,

Maggie

Friday Inspiration, January 17, 2020

Sent: Friday, January 17, 2020 6:02 PM
Subject: RE: Friday Inspiration, January 17, 2020

Dear Friends,

Is this weather not scarily amazing? It’s been sunny and in the 60s here in Chattanooga. The last few days I’ve had the sliding door to the balcony open while I work. I can feel the breeze and hear the sweet dogs at the park across the street play. It’s helping with the cabin fever.

My Facebook profile banner says, “If you see something beautiful in someone speak it.” That’s been on my mind a lot this week. Many of my friends aren’t feeling like themselves and I’ve had a slight case of the sads being cooped up in my apartment.

Last night I couldn’t sleep and the phrase “If you see something beautiful in someone speak it” came back to me. It reminded me of years ago in NYC when I was at a really low point in my life. Around that time I became friends with a woman named Carey. We’d been in the same social circle for a long time but had not been very close. I really admired her: she was a published author, lived in a cool neighborhood, and knew how to throw a dinner party. She was so cool. As we got to know each other better every time she sent a text or email or greeted me at the coffee shop she’d say, “Hey, beautiful!” The first time she did it I thought, “surely she didn’t mean me. I’m hideous.” but she continued and the more she said it the more I thought, if Carey thinks I’m beautiful, I must be beautiful. It was a small act on her part but it was this giant-healing balm for me.  

So friends, you’re beautiful and smart and successful. This “leaning in” and trying to have it all is hard but you’re kicking booty. You’re a good friend, an AMAZING mom/wife/sister/cousin/aunt/colleague, and I’m glad to know you. Text that friend you’re thinking of and tell them the beautiful thing you see in them.  

Have you all seen that the San Francisco Giants just hired THE FIRST FEMALE COACH IN MLB HISTORY?! Kudos to Alyssa Nakken! This news made my day.

Last week I came across this article from Upworthy, Opposing team members surrounded a soccer player whose hijab came off, and it's fabulous

From the article: “For women who cover their hair with the hijab, it is an expression of faith and symbol of modesty. For a hijabi woman to be seen in public without that covering is to feel inappropriately exposed. The players on the opposing team didn't wear hijab themselves, but they immediately recognized the potential embarrassment of the player. As soon as they saw her kneel down to replace her head covering, players from Shabab al Ordon Club started gathering around her, signaling their teammates to come and form a shield around her while she put everything back into place. It was a spontaneous act, clearly born of understanding, empathy, and respect.”

I love that these young girls, who did not practice the same customs of the young woman in the story, protected her and treated her with respect. I want to be *that* kind of team member.  

In the words of the great philosopher Beyoncé—who run the world? GIRLS!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Talk soon,

Maggie