See Her Greatness

Do you enjoy playing or watching basketball? I loved playing basketball when I was younger; now, I love watching it. I especially love March Madness. Between work travel and home, I have taken time to enjoy the NCAA basketball tournament this year, not just the men’s but also the women’s. What makes March Madness so unique is that there is undoubtedly an upset despite the polls that seed the teams. The past does not predict the future. This year, several moments have inspired me, and I want to share them with you. Whether you are a basketball fan, I believe you will find a nugget that resonates.

Disclaimer. I have dear friends who are not happy about the outcomes I appreciate here; I hope they will see beyond the game and not hold too much of a grudge. It is merely a game; the lesson from the game is the importance.

A Blue jay

In a second-round game of the women’s tournament, a #2 seed, the Iowa Hawkeyes faced an intense battle with the #10 seed Creighton Bluejays. The entire game was back and forth; one team would go up, the other would answer. In the end, Creighton was victorious over Iowa. Creighton’s success is that their defense limited Iowa’s star player Caitlin Clark, Big 10 Conference player of the year, to 15 points. Additionally, Creighton’s Lauren Jensen, a transfer from Iowa, had a phenomenal fourth quarter. She scored 9 of the last 10 points for the Bluejays and was instrumental in winning. Lauren Jenson is quoted in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, “Being back in Carver (The Hawkeye Basketball Arena), it’s fun for me, Jensen said. “There is no bad blood, no red flags.” Lauren’s ability to focus on the present, her strengths, and ultimately her goal to succeed for herself and her team was inspiring. Lauren and the entire Bluejay team displayed their grit to win.

I draw strength and knowledge from symbolism. The Bluejay’s victory prompted my interest to learn the symbolism of a Blue jay. According to Birdfy, blue jays are known for their fearless nature, curiosity, resourcefulness, resilience, and intelligence. Blue jays are mischievous and can cause chaos with their loud, nosy, and curious personalities. Even when faced with a much bigger predator, the blue jay will not retreat; it will put up a fight and protect her family. That is the message I took away from the game. The Bluejay’s, a #10 seed, did not retreat; they kept fighting and won against a much bigger #3 seed.

When I am up against something I believe is much bigger than myself, I will show up as a blue jay and take care of myself, my family, and my team. When and where do you need to channel your inner blue jay?

A Peacock

In the Sweet 16 round of the Men’s Tournament, #15 seed Saint Peter’s Peacocks beat the #3 seed Purdue Boilermakers. The Peacock’s becoming the first 15th seed to make it to the Elite 8. Not only did they win in the Sweet 16 rounds, but to get to that point, the Peacocks first beat #2 seed Kentucky, followed by #7 seed Murry State. Their win against Purdue signifies one of the most significant upsets in history. The coach, Sheheen Holloway of the Peacocks, said following the victory, “I’ve got a bunch of guys, and we just play basketball and have fun; that is what we do.” Those of us who filled out a bracket likely did not expect them to make it this far, but the coach and the Saint Peter’s players believed in themselves all year.

Again, I looked at symbolism. What does a Peacock mean, and how did this team harness that meaning to enhance their talents? According to California Psychics [www.californiapsychics.com], Peacocks are confident but never arrogant and are symbols of respect, rejuvenation, honor, integrity, royalty, passion, beauty, protection, and holiness. When I lived in South Pasadena, California, I would often pass by a Peacock on my walks in the neighborhood. Their sight was so magical, and now that I better understand their symbolism, I know why. “If you’re ever feeling down, think of the Peacock and imagine the beautiful colors it provides, and soon you will harness its bright and powerful energy to boost your self-confidence.” Quoted from Your Tango . I am going to take that quote with me from today.

The Peacock is a prized bird, full of beauty. Their feathers are their beautiful ornaments; you are also lovely. The Peacock can remind you of your worth, as it did for Saint Peter’s Peacocks over the last week. Are you valuing yourself as you should?

A Buick

Buick ran an ad campaign throughout the NCAA tournaments that caught my eye. Their ultimate motive is to sell cars, but this campaign brings awareness of the great work done by countless women athletes. The campaign See Her Greatness illustrates that 40% of the athletes are women, yet they get 10% of the media coverage. Buick conveys this message by presenting a black screen with sound in the background of a sporting event in which the announcer is providing a play-by-play of the impressive feat that has taken place. Withholding the event’s image showcases the excitement of the accomplishment irrespective if a male or a female does it. As the ad plays, the date of the event and the individual’s name becomes known to the viewer in white type. The accomplishments shared in the campaign include Missy Franklin’s world record in swimming the 200-meter backstroke and Arike Ogunbowale’s final shot to win the NCAA basketball national championship for Notre Dame. An additional ad celebrates Elizabeth Giguere’s last shot to win the NCAA Hockey National Championship for the Clarkson Golden Knights. These stories are unforgettable moments in sport, yet very few people saw them, remember them, or are even aware they happened. Critics of the ads point out that by only sharing the audio and removing the visual, Buick again is ironically not showing her greatness. I would argue that the black screen reinforces the inequity and that as things are today40% of the population is hidden from view and not appreciated through media coverage, pay, or just general respect. I like this campaign. As a result, Buick is on my new car list.

The ad campaign, See Her Greatness makes me think about the incredible women I work alongside. I am more inspired today to see her greatness, mentor her, celebrate her, and share her accomplishments. Is there a woman in your life where you can further see her greatness? What can you do to celebrate her?

I love watching basketball, the fast pace and the emotion of the game keeps my attention. Above the action of the game, I am inspired by the lessons I learned as I watched basketball over the last few weeks. I hope you are inspired by the stories of a blue jay, a peacock, and a Buick.