Ever felt like you work too many hours? Too much dedication and service?

Well, me too. Every now and again I have a pity party for myself about the long hours I work, and sometimes I wonder if it is worth it.

And then I watched The Queen at 90, a documentary on Queen Elizabeth II at her 90th birthday.

I was totally humbled.

Not only does she work incredible hours, she has done it for 65 years—probably longer if you count her years before she became queen. And she does it with grace and a profound sense of duty and service. Her kindness is legendary. She does more than 300 engagements a year, rarely has a day off, starts her day with paperwork, and often ends in the late evening. And she does it unrelentingly—year after year.

Queen Elizabeth II is gracious to strangers, and she seeks opportunities to thank those who make a difference, honor those in service to others, and develop youth to be leaders for tomorrow. And yes, she has a support staff, but a support staff cannot provide the energy, the unrelenting commitment to duty and service. That comes from within.

What struck me the most in addition to duty and service was the demand for absolute perfection every time, at every event, and the personal sacrifices she has made over the years. There is no girls’ night out. There is no jetting off for the weekend for a little holiday. Everything is scrutinized constantly.

So I am humbled. And reminded again that duty and service are part of the legacy each of us leaves in our own way. In our own time. For those whose lives we touch.

If you are in service to others—whether it be in the ministry, in business, in social work, in teaching, in law enforcement, in healthcare, or any other profession—her example is a model for us all.

Click to learn more about Ruby Payne.

Ruby Payne2020-06-26T15:16:09-05:00January 9th, 2017|Uncategorized|

About the Author: Ruby Payne

In her two decades as a consultant on education and economic class, Ruby has published more than a dozen books and spoken extensively around the globe. Ruby empowers educators and community leaders to address issues of poverty in classrooms, communities, businesses, hospitals, churches, and social services. Through aha! Process programs and conferences, Ruby has certified thousands of trainees in her Framework for Understanding Poverty and Bridges Out of Poverty models. Her book Emotional Poverty won an IPPY Award from the Independent Publishers organization, which named it one of the best educational resources of the year. Over her distinguished career, Ruby has worked as a teacher and principal, written K–12 curriculum in all subject areas, and assisted in strategic planning and staff development programs for multiple organizations. Ruby’s work guides educators and community leaders through her extensive library of resources. She aims to equip everyone she meets with the tools to write a future story full of hope.