What’s Your Red Balloon?

Kid’s parties.

Balloon animals.

That person at a party singing “I will Survive” after emptying a balloon of helium.

This is what the humble red balloon means to many. Not me.

It’s my perspective.

It’s my confidence.

It’s my courage.

For 6 months in 2007, I volunteered in Sri Lanka’s Tsunami affected South, with most of my time spent working with kids and teenagers.

About a fortnight in, I bought some balloons for the pre-school kids…plain red balloons. No fancy writing on them. No brightly coloured string attached to them. No noise made when you punch them. Just plain, red balloons.

I will never forget when the 45+ children were given their own red balloon. If someone had just walked into the classroom (let’s call it what it is…a shack), you would have assumed they’d just been awarded tickets to Disney Land, with unlimited ice-cream and 24/7 access to the biggest toy shop in the world.

But they hadn’t.

This overwhelming joy, manifested in huge smiles and big sparkling brown eyes, was down to a plain, red, 1p balloon.

This is a mental picture I will never forget. My drive, my determination, the risk taker in me…all driven by the kids’ reaction to a plain, red, balloon.

It’s my perspective.

A child who lives a life of adversity is satisfied with a plain, red, balloon. I take that perspective when my workload feels overwhelming.

It’s my confidence.

A child who lives in unthinkable conditions, escapes reality as they play with their plain, red, balloon. I take that confidence when I’m in a situation outside of my comfort zone.

It’s my courage.

A child who treasures their plain, red, balloon, yet proactively asks others to play with it and share in their excitement. I take that courage when I make a risky decision.

You don't have to travel as far as Hambantota in Sri Lanka to have a red balloon experience. We all have countless experiences everyday. Have you considered how these can be applied to develop yourself in your work life?

What’s your red balloon?