New Meaning of Hair on Fire
In my executive coaching, I frequently use the metaphor of someone having their “hair on fire” to describe a leader being visibly super-stressed.
Well, yesterday I got to witness it first hand in a non-metaphorical sense. Yes, for real! Get this: my husband and I are in LA on business. His back was bothering him, and he began to fill the tub here at the house to have an epsom salts bath, and realized we were out of hot water. Assuming the hot water heater had something wrong with it, he checked it out and the pilot was out. He began to reignite the pilot and I heard this loud “”"”WHOOF!”"”"” and heard him yell for me. He had been burned in the face by a tongue of flame that burst forthas he attempted to light the pilot. I called 911 right away and the fire department and paramedics were here in short order. Miraculously, he only suffered minor burns, and his eyesight is okay. It did, however, set his hair on fire, his eyelashes, eyebrows, chest hair (thanks to God he wasn’t wearing a shirt or it may have caught fire) and burned his face. Later on when we were kidding around (after we knew he’d be alright) I told him how much it costs to get a laser peel these days and how good he’d look afterward!
So, why am I telling you this story? No, not to encourage you to save money on a laser peel by burning the skin off your face with a gas accident! To remind us all of the power of the words we use, the irony of life, and the delicate balance in which we live. My first husband died after twenty years together. My current husband has had 2 bouts of bladder cancer. In the last 3 months, we have each had to call the paramedics; once for me in July, and once for him in this latest gas water heater escapade.
A little reminder that running around with your hair on fire is bad for your health, whether metaphorically or literally! Either way, it’s not good. So , relax. Take a deep breath. Enjoy the moment. It’s the only one we have. That great old saying you’ve heard me repeat before is: “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift…….that’s why they call it the PRESENT”. anonymous
Make today your best.
Coach Julia
Tags: coaching, exectuive performance coach, Executive Coach, executive coaching, Gratitude, Miracles, reducing stress, Stress Management
October 1st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Julia, Julia…I thank you for this story…and so sorry that you and Dan had to live it, grateful for the redeemed outcome. Wondering the reason for the calls for paramedics. Wondered abt, prayed for your cruize..or did you get to go? Think of you ever so often and pray for gi-hugic quantities of mercy and grace and all else you are needing. Wondering how thgings are in the teen dept…are they still with mom or sometimes with you? September seemed like a bonus weather wise..then there’s the other issues! Onward we walk, by faith in the One Who is on the throne, no matter what’s going on! Laters, love, andrea
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Andrea,
How wonderful to get your post. No, I did not ever get to go on the cruise. I was told by the neurosurgeon not to go, but the family was still going to go. Alas, the evening before they were to fly to Rome to begin the vacation, I had to be transported to the hospital by ambulance and my husband called the whole trip off. That is a story I will be telling in an audio podcast sometime soon. It is quite interesting.
Thank you so much for adding a post. I love to hear comments from people, especially those people who are so dear to me, as you are.
Let’s talk soon! I would love to have you tell some of your stories on one of my podcasts sometime! Let’s talk about that. You have much info and experience of interest to senior executives!
Coach Julia