New Lease on Life: The Blessing of Inspiring our Veteran Leaders

By Deb Boelkes

If you’re like me, perhaps you have a friend or two who occasionally sends you a meme or video that they have found especially funny, sentimental, provocative, or mind blowing. Depending on how busy I am, I may choose to give the missive a quick look, or I may set it aside until I have more time to indulge in such musings.

Recently I received a link to a 5-minute video originally published about five years ago. Due to the age of the post, I was about to set it aside until I noticed the title Reunited – A Short Film about Music and the Human Spirit and the description which began, “In this uplifting short film….” Since even I can use an uplifting message now and then, I decided to watch it right then and there.

The story was narrated by a young man named Sam Kinsella of the UK. He shared how he had come to work at a residential home for the elderly: “I loved the idea that I could try to make a difference in someone’s quality of life.”

As Sam tells it, he quickly became attached to a 93-year-old man, Edward Hardy, who no longer communicated with anyone due to a spiraling state of depression caused by severe dementia. One day, young Sam told the old gentleman that he was part of a local band. Upon hearing this, Edward’s face lit up and he responded that he used to play piano in a band.

This seemingly trivial conversation sparked a special friendship which eventually led to a keyboard being brought in for Edward.  To everyone’s amazement, Edward immediately started playing jazz songs on the piano. The veteran pianist was so inspired by the chance to play his beloved jazz music once again, his entire demeanor changed virtually overnight. Sam subsequently contacted Edward’s old band members, and they eventually came together to play to an audience at the residential home. Sam exclaimed, “The look in his eyes when he was reunited with his old band mates was indescribable.”

Imagine how Sam must have felt to have so inspired the veteran pianist that it literally changed the old man’s life. Isn’t that what heartfelt leadership is supposed to be about? Yet, how many of us make the seemingly small efforts to do such things?

As we discuss in our book, Heartfelt Leadership: How to Capture the Top Spot and Keep on Soaring, heartfelt leadership is all about finding whatever it is that might ignite a spark in someone, and then fanning the flames. Opportunities abound, both at work and in our everyday lives.       

That’s how outstanding results are achieved. You get to people through their heart. You inspire them. Essentially, when you help people achieve what they care about most, when you engage their emotions … that’s when you will achieve stellar results.

One of the leaders interviewed in Heartfelt Leadership was Colonel Debra M. Lewis (US Army, Retired). In the book, she shares a story about her father, Lieutenant General Bennett L. Lewis, who at the pinnacle of his career served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mobilization and Director, Defense Mobilization Systems Planning Activity.  

My husband and I recently attended a birthday celebration for Col. Debra Lewis. The event was hosted by her parents, General and Mrs. Ben Lewis, now in their nineties. What an honor it was to be the guests of the esteemed General, especially considering he is still struggling mightily to overcome the debilitating effects of a stroke he suffered two years ago. 

To say the least, General Ben serves as an outstanding role model to one and all, to this very day. His relentless efforts to overcome his stroke-induced mobility challenges with determination, dignity, and grace are awe-inspiring.  Most impressive is his continued ardent interest in the arts, literature, current events, and strategies to revitalize our nation. Nothing hinders him from pursuing his life-long passions.

During our visit, my husband and I had a wonderful conversation with General Ben. He listened with keen interest as we told him about our recent trip to the Shilo National Military Park, where we followed the Civil War battlefield footsteps of my great-great-grandfather who was killed in the bloody two-day battle that took so many lives. 

General Ben, in turn, engaged us in an informative discussion of the battle of Gettysburg led by Brigadier General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.  Before our conversation concluded, the General pivoted focus to discuss the divergent leadership styles practiced by him and his daughter, Col. Deb. Everything we talked about was fabulously insightful and interesting. My husband and I were so glad that we took the opportunity to spend time with this amazing military veteran and patriot.

While I’m not known for being emotional, it honestly brought tears to my eyes to see the general’s eyes sparkle as we discussed ways for him to continue contributing to future generations’ realization of the American Dream. Just as Sam Kinsella described his experience with the veteran jazz pianist, “The look in his eyes was indescribable.”

The next time you encounter a veteran leader who seems a bit withdrawn or disengaged, I hope you will make a special effort to establish a connection. Explore a passion, even if it’s your passion. You never know, the simple act of sharing a personal story could trigger a treasured memory, or a latent talent, or a unique expertise that just needs a little coaxing to re-appear.

Best of all, you just might give a new lease on life to a very special veteran leader. Doing so just might be one of the greatest blessings life has to offer.