The three P’s
Kim taking time off to relax with Daisy on the back patio
I recently had a conversation with my amazing beautician, who in addition to doing hair is also a coach for a high school cheerleading squad. She currently has a team made up of 32 cheerleaders. In addition to coaching the athletic aspect of it, she also teaches them life skills such as cultural values. During our talk, she told me about The Three P’s, person, people and place. The purpose of The Three P’s is to encourage these young people to be more thoughtful adults that take care of themselves as well as look after others and their environment. I love the concept and have decided I will try to practice it myself! I’m always looking for ways to become a better human being and contributor to society as a whole.
The first of The Three P’s is Person. The focus of Person is to take care of yourself. Practice healthy living, exercise, eat healthy, allow yourself down time, I think I will struggle with this last one. Interestingly, my friends and people in general have been reminding me of this point day one of Andy’s stroke! Keeping The Three P’sin mind will help me be more intentional about this and be more purposeful in what I do to take care of myself.
People, this is different from Person in that you are intentionally trying to do kind things for other people. This point takes the focus off you and redirects it toward others in your community. I love this concept, because I find myself thinking about what can I do for someone else, and who is that person going to be today? Sometimes, this happens by chance, you see someone in need of assistance, and you offer to help. Sometimes you need to seek it out. It reminds me that life isn’t all about me and that others in my village might have their own challenges going on and perhaps they need my help. It causes me to be more reflective and to think about what talents or skills I have, that I can offer up; or if I am going to Denver, to reach out and see if anyone needs anything.
Place focuses on the environment in which you are in. For example, if I am out at a winery, offer to help put things away. If I am attending one of our church coffee hours, offer to clear other people’s plates or cups. Andy is very good at this naturally. If you see trash on the ground, don’t just walk by, pick it! Basically, leave the place in better condition than when you found it.
I think focusing on The Three P’s will not only help me be a better person, but it will force me to move beyond or not get ‘stuck’ in Andy and my current situation. Rather than always thinking about us, it inspires me to focus on others or the environment and what they or it might need. In a nutshell, it puts the emphasis on community service while still remembering to take care of oneself. You can’t do good for others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Or… perhaps you can, but not for long.
