The Bright Lead logo … and the importance of being grateful this Thanksgiving…
I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season, after a worrying week in the Chelsea & Westminster hospital with Rob. He was superbly looked after by their fantastic, dedicated and professional staff, and I am so very grateful to them and all our friends, family and colleagues for their support over this challenging time. The journey of life and leadership takes many twists and turns and the paths we have trodden lead us to where we are today.
Rob and I have enjoyed walking sections of the Northern route of the Camino de Santiago, a network of pilgrimage paths leading to the shrine of St Jerome in Galicia, northwest Spain, and need to finally complete it – I feel this even more urgently now. Both this pilgrimage and the poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, were influential when I was setting up Bright Lead. The poem ends, “Two roads diverged in a wood and I - I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” It suggests that overcoming adversity generally advances our awareness and understanding of the world. The mindset of an explorer or adventurer is to embrace the unknown, regardless of how difficult the journey may turn out to be, which links both with the Camino and our life and leadership journeys. I felt I was ‘taking the road less travelled’ in my new venture, and so I decided to weave this symbolism in the form of the Camino shell into the Bright Lead logo – look carefully and you will see it!
The Camino shell is a powerful symbol of guidance, purpose, and direction in pilgrimage, which links closely with the foundations of leadership: understanding our purpose, having clarity of direction and guiding ourselves and others to fulfil our mission together. Traditionally, pilgrims on the Camino, would use shells as a practical wayfinding tool. The shells were fixed to the pilgrim's clothing or equipment, serving as a guide along the intricate network of paths. Metaphorically, the shell represents guidance, a symbol of the journey and the path we are on. The scallop shell, with its grooves radiating from a central point, is said to symbolise the various routes that pilgrims take to reach their destination. Similarly, in life and leadership, there are many paths we may take towards our destination, and many different ways of being a successful leader. There is no ‘right way’ or ‘perfect leader’.
As pilgrims navigate the Camino, they often experience a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the beauty of the landscapes, for the fellow pilgrims they meet along the way, and for the simple yet profound lessons learned during the journey. The Camino shell becomes a tangible reminder of the gratitude cultivated on the pilgrimage, and the same can be said for our own journeys in life and leadership. I am so grateful for the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve had on my journey to where I am now.
Thanksgiving is a time for reflection and appreciation, and so the symbolism of the shell aligns with the spirit of Thanksgiving. Just as pilgrims express gratitude for their journey, Thanksgiving encourages us to count our blessings and appreciate the paths we have travelled, and the people we have travelled with – which I feel especially keenly this week. Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends come together, much like pilgrims on the Camino. The shell also symbolises unity and shared experiences; while each groove on the shell represents a different path, they all converge at a common centre, emphasising the interconnectedness of our journeys. The interconnected experiences and challenges of the mentors and role models we meet on our leadership journeys all contribute to our leadership evolution, and the shell reminds us to express appreciation for the opportunities and lessons we have had on our professional journey.
Pilgrimage then, whether on the Camino or in life, offers a unique opportunity for self-discovery and gratitude. The shell becomes a talisman, reminding us to appreciate the diverse experiences that shape our journey and to express gratitude for the lessons learned along the way. This is why it is incorporated into the Bright Lead Logo, and why we like to use it in our Christmas cards and message when we express our thanks to those we have worked with over the year.
Reflection:
What are you grateful for on your journey of life and leadership?
Who are you grateful to as mentors or role models on your professional journey?
When did you last tell them?
How often do you make time to reflect upon your journey, your purpose and your clarity of direction? Do get in touch for some help with this.