She was on television for nearly seventy years. Betty White started her career when women were part of the scenery, not part of the plot. As she notes here, “once you open the door to girls they take over – you know how that goes!” She was there when it all began to change. She credits Carol Burnett for helping light the way for other women…including herself.
We have all had someone who opened the door for us. Somewhere along our path someone believed we could be more that just part of the scenery. They may not have handed us our life, they merely gave us the option to see the door, they held it open and we had to go through it. We had to be willing to do the work. It is the gift that we can never repay unless we open the door for others as we move forward.
You might not think you have the ability to open doors. You don’t have the right keys, the right connections, the right position in life. Phooey! Everyone thinks that about themselves. The truth is that no matter who you are or what you have experienced, there are others going through those same challenges and experiences. The fact that you are on the other side of the door is enough. Getting yourself through that door is worth everything when you tell your story AND then open the door for them to come along. You can’t bring them along kicking and screaming, they have to be willing and able. You can open the door and wait. Time will tell who wants to hear your side of things and learn from your expertise at living on the other side.
Share those stories, open those doors, give someone else the chance. You’ll never know if you don’t do the work, get to the door then open it for someone else. You may just be Carol Burnett inspiring the next Betty White!
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