Pausing Life for Life Lessons

Wisdom is all around us: from the MBT Blog
Published by Mary Balistreri, MBT More Business Today LLC

Sometimes in the midst of our plans life intrudes and makes us pause. That is what happened since my beautiful, kind and talented great niece Gigi (Giuliana Grace Jahn) passed away. The effect of her death is more than a pause to me, it changes everything forever. So, for starters, today’s MBT blog is pausing to honor her and the lessons she taught me and the many, many people she touched in just 13 years of life.

1. Be Kind. As I listened to the many voices young and old who attended a candlelight vigil for my grand niece, the overwhelming message brought by the 1,000 or so people in attendance reverberates in my mind. Gigi was kind. What does that mean to all of us still living? It means we need to harness our assumptions about people and their intentions. We need to approach each other with kindness and understanding. We need to break out of ourselves and recognize the needs of others.
2. Shine Your Light. Gigi was gifted with so many talents and she left those contributions behind to continue to delight and amaze us. First, her artwork shines with bright color, shades of pencil, and every imaginable emotion. Her gift for music lives on in the videos and photos of her singing, writing songs, and dancing. Then, stories of her gift for humor are shared among her family and friends still causing us to laugh and remember how she made us feel through laughter. The message is let your light shine, share yourself.
3. Be There. Listening is an important skill in business and in life. Gigi heard people and counseled them. She heard the troubles of her friend. She felt for them. And, mostly, she was there for them whether by listening, giving advice, or having a good time – she was there. As I read through the text messages she sent to me, I realized the majority focused on things she thought I would enjoy. A red purse or red flower she found and thought of me because red is my favorite color, a candle whose scent reminded her of Lala, my sister who passed away last year and was her grandmother, a video she found on YouTube entitled “I love being an aunt” knowing how much I loved being her aunt.
4. Be Open. Even as a young girl, Gigi had strong beliefs about life and how to live. Acceptance and support of the differences in people was at the center of her ideology. She began advocating for others as soon as she understood the inequities in our world. Whether it was in a very public way – attending a protest in Waukesha and singing a song that was banned from music class by the school board – or standing up for a classmate in school, Gigi’s advocacy had already begun. And, while her beliefs were very strong, she created space to listen to the beliefs of others.
5. Bring Gentle Love. Classmates and teachers who shared stories about Gigi used the word “gentle” in nearly every description. She showed her love through gentleness toward animals of all kinds and people. The majority of the pictures we have of her show the pensive or joyful or enthusiastic look of a gentle soul who loved deeply. The lesson here for us is to bring gentleness into our interactions with others. A simple gesture like a nod and a smile communicate volumes of care to those feeling lonely and left out. When in the midst of a disagreement, responding with careful gentleness rather than accusatory arguments cultivates a resolution to the problem.

The English language, all languages actually, are bereft of words to adequately describe our girl, our incredible Giuliana Grace. I hope these words convey the feeling and brightness of her. And I hope we all learn from the lessons Gigi taught us.