#262 presidents

Today is President's Day; for many an excuse to miss school more than it is a day to pay tribute to the nation's leaders.  President's Day began in 1885 to pay tribute to George Washington's birthday.  Lincoln's birthday was celebrated this month as well, so the Uniform Monday Holiday Act combined the two in 1971 and declared the third Monday in February as a day to pay tribute to all U.S. presidents.

I would bet that the vast majority of people will not even give our former leaders a second thought today.  The markets and banks are closed; mail is not delivered, and the focus on most minds is sleeping in or bargain sales.  

It may be an impractical and lofty notion to think of paying tribute to government officials.  President Obama has access to invite the four* living former presidents to lunch (as he did in 2009), but most of us are limited in our ways to say "thanks for serving" even if we wanted to.  

So, today I propose that you use this as an opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifice that leaders in your world have made, and thank them for having the courage to stand up to the podium.  Surely you know a president: of your company or organization, the school board, Little League, church board, professional association, a trade union, neighborhood cooperative or Girl Scout troop.  All these presidents have made sacrifices to move your group forward.

It may not be what Congress intended when they declared today a national holiday, but take advantage of their thought to add meaning to those in your circle from whose leadership you have benefited.  It's lonely at the top and your appreciation is sure to go a long way.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com

* George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton