Feeling a Little Footloose

Remember Footloose?

I loved that movie.

It was everything the ’80s was about. 

Ren—otherwise known as Kevin Bacon—moved to a tiny southwest town with his mom. And there, they had an ordinance that banned all kinds of dancing and rock music. He had to fight this ridiculous law so his school could hold a prom.

High school is nothing without a good prom, right?

The soundtrack to this movie was da bomb. I still remember my cassette tape of it with Ren dancing on the cover. In addition to Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose,” it also included John Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good.” And “Holding out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler!

And the fairy godmother in Shrek 2 sang “Holding out for a Hero” again.

Ever feel like you are holding out for a hero? 

That you could use a fairy godmother?

I could. 

The other day, I could not get that song out of my head.

“I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night

He's gotta be strong

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a hero

I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light

He's gotta be sure

And it's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life…”

As I kept humming it, I thought, “Why am I thinking about this song?”

I remember times in my life where I did not have that hero. When I was in the grip of marriage with an alcoholic, I was lost and very alone with my 5-year-old child. And then, for years afterwards as I was online dating and trying to find that hero, I kept asking as she does in the song, “Where are all the gods, by the way?”

These days, I have my Hercules, a trustworthy, dependable, and amazing guy at my side. But I’m still humming a tune for that hero.

So, I thought the other day, “What if the hero I'm waiting for is me?”

I often have coaching clients who are feeling a bit lost. Craving some pivotal guidance or direction. Longing for a force in their lives that will shake things up and get them on a different path. 

In the end, however, that force or guidance comes from within. Just like the lyrics later in that song say:

“Somewhere after midnight

In my wildest fantasy

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me…”

What if that someone reaching back is you?

I often suggest to clients that they imagine themselves 20 or 30 years in the future. That their more experienced and wiser self is reaching back and taking their own hand. And offering some important advice.  

If you could take the hand of your older, most powerful self, what would they tell you?

That’s who your true hero is, my friend. 

It’s you.

Reach out and ask that future self what they think. You may surprise yourself.

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