Where Purpose Meets Passion...BOOMerang

It began as a nugget of an idea in a casual exchange with a “virtual” friend she still hasn’t even met yet. They were discussing the not so casual subject of purpose. Tracy told her to let the question of her purpose sit for a while and to blow it away with a kiss and that it would come back to her. He told her she was awesome. To which she responded...right back at ya. And thus, the first Boomerang of Awesomeness was launched.

Kate Lindquist had big dreams when she was in elementary school the first time. She wanted to be the first female President, winning on a platform of non-violence. Then, as dreamers are wont to do, she dreamed of saving the rainforest followed by dreams of an award-winning scientific discovery (by her, of course) that would change society for the better. That last one has been happening, albeit in a slightly different vein and perhaps more slowly than Lindquist originally planned.

She has established herself as a mentor, example, leader and teacher. As an elementary art teacher, Lindquist has had the opportunity to influence the lives of children from K through 8th grade in both Virginia and Florida.

She not only has her artistic abilities and teaching expertise to share with the students, but her gentle, patient nature as well. Each draws in many students who might not otherwise have excelled in art otherwise.

Lindquist also has worked through a personal issue of her own—an eating disorder—and come out stronger for all of the hard work she put in to address it. Some of that hard work has involved using the creation of art as a form of therapy. The mere process of creating, she asserts, is what accomplishes the most. It’s not, for her, about the end product, but more in the journey of making it.

Through her own challenge, she came to realize that she still wanted to do something, not big because that implies ego and Lindquist doesn’t have designs on becoming a big name, but she is more concerned with touching as many people in a positive way as she can. Once she began feeling better and more hopeful, she discovered that she wanted to spread that feeling far and wide—a contagion of kindness.

She approved of the motto, “Be kind,” but the vagueness of it bothered her. “How is one supposed to be kind?” was always her thought. What does that look like? And again, we return to the birth of the #BoomerangOfAwesomeness.

It is Lindquist’s hope and dream that this movement will have long legs and encourage others to see the good those around them are doing and call them out on it—in a good way. It is said that we see what we put our focus on. So, it stands to reason if we look for people doing the right things or doing great things, then that is what we will see.

So, if you catch someone doing something right...tell them. Send them a #BoomerangOfAwesomeness to mark the occasion.