Leadership

Today the chef had a dessert demonstration and tasting for the residents. I was asked to go over to the dementia ward to see if any of them wanted to come over to watch. No one wanted to go, but two of them were strongly encouraged to go anyway. I was "given", literally, two sweet ladies to take over.

 I was walking beside them and one said "honey, we never know where we are, you're going to have to lead." Well, I am NOT a leader but I obliged. They also needed/wanted me to tell them exactly where to sit. At one point one interrupted during the demonstration "I think we're lost." I assured her she wasn't. One of them is an escaper (she has literally scaled fences), so when she had to go to the bathroom, I followed her closely. But both seemed meek and willing to follow me like ducklings.

This was a strange babysitting situation but it was sweet now much they blindly depended on me to lead them. Sometimes you're put into a moment where you have to be willing to lead, because no one else can. As I led them back to their side of the building, they both very sweetly thanked me for taking them. 

It was a good lesson in leadership for me, a follower, especially when it comes to those older than me. Sometimes you can learn as much from leading as from following.