Being a CEO is an impressive life accomplishment.
But so is finding and inspiring love. Both CEOs and life partners have particular power to move others to action. My 70-something mom, Virginia Blankenbaker, and her 80-something husband, John Williams, provide a vivid example of this.
Mom and John married seven years ago, and they have acted like newlyweds ever since. They sing and read love poems to each other, listen adoringly to the other even when they’ve already heard the story before, giggle about—rather than criticize—each other’s foibles. That John’s limbs are weak and his eyesight impaired from childhood polio is hardly an issue. He doesn’t complain and she loves helping and being appreciated by him.
Mom often puts her face right in front of his so they can gaze adoringly at each other, just like Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy used to do in “Woman of the Year.” A grace surrounds their love and touches others who spend time with them.
Unfortunately, in January, John suffered a stroke that hospitalized him for three weeks. Despite hours of therapy each day, the medical experts did not think he had improved enough to go home. Rather, they wanted to send him to a rehab facility. The more the hospital pushed this, the weaker John became.
However, whenever Mom visited, John rallied. She would start singing a song, and he would perk up and finish it. When she held his hands and looked deeply into his blue eyes, energy flooded his handsome face. Her love helped heal him.
Eventually, John stood up by himself, marched around his bed and announced that it was time to go home. That is the power and inspiration of love.
