Have you ever had a “bone marrow” person in your life? Someone who was FIERCELY supportive of you? Someone who saw your potential when you couldn’t? Someone who spoke truth into your life in a way that encouraged and uplifted you?
I am blessed to have several people in my life who fall into that category. One of them is on the edge of passing from this world to her eternal address. She brought huge value to my life:
- When I fell in love with coaching back in 2001 and jumped in with both feet to launch Career Coach Academy before I had finished my foundational coach training, she read every word of my curriculum to make sure it was aligned with International Coach Federation (ICF) competencies.
- She conducted oral evaluations for a number of graduates from Career Coach Academy.
- Prior to turning my many manuscripts in to my publisher JIST, she read countless chapters . . . often with 12-hour turnaround in the middle of the night when deadlines were tight.
- And, of course, she expanded my capacity as a coach.
Here are just a few of my favorite powerful questions I learned through her modeling . . .
- What do you want this to look like in the long-run? (when I had charged ahead with enthusiasm and getting lost in details)
- What will happen if you don’t do this? (when I was wavering in courage!)
- What can you do in the next 7 days that would get you some traction? (when I was in overwhelm)
Who is this bone marrow person? Judy Santos. An ICF Master Certified Coach, founder of the Christian Coaches Network, and masterful teacher who, over the past dozen years, taught thousands of coaches through the Institute for Life Coach Training.
When she learned a few months ago that cancer had returned (after a valiant battle five years ago that earned her a clean bill of health after lung cancer), we had long talks by telephone. Over the course of our 10-year relationship, we had only seen each other three times face-to-face. I told her I’d love to fly up to her home in Bellingham, Washington to “just visit.” Despite a hectic schedule, I took three days a few weeks ago to do just that. It was priceless.
On learning that she took a serious turn for the worse this weekend, a friend asked me, “What would you want to model from her life to honor her?”
My answer: Be an intrepid trailblazer, a trust agent, and a respectful “truth teller.”
She was all of those to me, and more.
Bottom line: As a coach or person of influence, you can honor someone significant to you by modeling his or her most-admired attributes … today! And, if your “significant someones” are still alive, reach out and remind them what you admire most about them or what you appreciate learning from them. Like bone marrow, it will be a life-giving gift.
Tags: bone marrow donor, christian coaches, christian coaches network, donate bone marrow, judy santos
Susan -
Thanks for this heartfelt tribute. It is always good to hear your “voice.” I am sorry for the impending loss of your dear friend.
Susan,
What a touching tribute to Judy and insightful take-aways you’ve offered us ‘readers’ re: honoring someone by modeling their most-admired attributes.
Your warm words also are a testament to Judy’s deep value in your life.
Jacqui
Hi, Susan,
Such a heartfelt to Judy Santos. I am sorry to learn of the impending loss of your dear friend and mentor. Just want to say that you have succeeded in honoring her, because you have been a “bone marrow person” in my life. I am grateful with all my heart for your loving support when I began career coaching and beyond.
My best,
~Kathy
Susan- I have recently felt a strong sense of energy and focus to take the next steps needed to continue on my path of certification and building my career coaching business. As I have done so I have thought much about what Judy taught me during my foundational training and how grateful I am to her for being such a trailblazer for the rest of us. As I was visiting with Chris yesterday and signing up for my next class I remembered how I had always thought I would be taking it with Judy as my instructor, and I found myself dearly missing her. I ran across this piece you wrote today, and want to thank you for capturing your heart for her in print and for sharing it. Judy certainly had a impact on my life as well. She represented and articulated something I longed to achieve… and will. Thanks, Barbara
Dear Susan, Thank you for writing such a beautiful tribute! Mom would have been blessed by your kind words. She loved you so much. Hope you are having a wonderful day! Blessings from Judy’s Daughter, Kristie
Thanks, Kristie. Just this past Friday, I was thinking about the future and possible new directions. I literally said out loud, “God, I wish I had Judy to talk to. How I miss her.” I’m sure you feel the same, to the “Nth” degree. Blessings.