On my way back from the office I decide to ‘milk’ the last few sunrays even though they are weak and wintery and the sun is already diving behind the tress. It is 3.40 in the afternoon and the temperature below zero. I have forgotten how cold it can get here in Wales, my birthplace.

As I walk around the perimeter of Roath Park, I am reminiscing the many times I used to push my daughter’s pram around its beautiful lake. My thoughts however, get interrupted by the unusual silence. I notice an atmosphere of slow motion and the usually chatty ducks and swans look like statues. I then realize that it is because the lake is frozen. Are they warm enough, I wonder. Yes, of course! I can judge from the warmth of my own down jacket which I now wear guiltily ever since knowing of the torture birds go through to give us their feathers.

As I continue my mind games, I see a crowd of people gathering. I cannot believe my eyes! A person is actually in the lake, breaking the ice with a stick. At first, I think it’s someone who’s gone crazy! But after a few minutes I realise that the rhythmic movements and persistence were an act of self-sacrifice. This human being is trying to reach a teenage swan trapped in the ice in the middle of the lake. I feel we are all holding our breath. I have never seen a person with so much strength, so much focus, so much courage.

Suddenly, with one last, well-timed and decisive blow a huge chunk of ice shatters next to the swan. Without missing a beat, the teenager spreads its wings and takes off free! I approach the edge ready to see if I can do anything to help prevent this brave person from freezing to death. Calmly, without panic or pretentiousness, a beaming, but visibly discoloured young lady emerges from the lake. Her eyes are sparkling. She smiles. By this time most by-standers have already left. Show is over. A lady approaches the young woman and whispers to her in awe, ‘You are an angel!’. Another asks whether someone could give this Heroine a lift home. I immediately jump in eager to play a small role in this extraordinary act of compassion and I run like the wind half the lake to bring the car around.

Her name is Iris and ‘luckily’ she is a winter swimmer. And while I’m giving her some hot Cretan sage tea, her mother who had also been on the scene, previously standing white-knuckled by the water’s edge, explains … ‘I travelled from Kent today to pay her a visit. We came to the lake for a gentle stroll and next moment, Iris was already diving in.’ I asked our Heroine if she knew the meaning of her name, which I had researched when looking for a prefix for the Art of Joy initiative. Without hesitation she listed all its many symbolisms: ‘irida’, the name of the word ‘rainbow’ in Greek, ‘iris’, the part of our eye to view our world as in the perspective of reality, ‘Iris’, the name of the flower and of course Iris as in the female equivalent to Hermis, the Greek goddess who brings messages from the gods to the people.

I have come to appreciate that nothing happens without a reason. So, what message had this courageous Iris brought to her audience today? I felt this was a message from the future. The next generation of leaders. A message of Hope and unconditional Love. As I put the finishing touches on my new book: ‘Live Your Truth and Lead’, Iris confirms to me once again that Authentic Leaders do exist. There is Light at the end of the tunnel! All is well, despite surface appearances.

I invite you to share your own conclusions in the space just below here. It may be worth you remembering that every thought is of value and can be a spark of inspiration for the one of us that may need it.

Dr. Alexia Mary Tzortzaki, (52-53). In 2016, I founded www.ArtofJoy.gr/en (Iris, Art of Joy) with a vision for its community to embrace the creation of an exemplary School for Young Leaders. Its aim is to cultivate leadership behaviours and initiatives founded on humane, compassionate values. It is to be an incubator and a playground for experimentation that empowers young, Lightworkers to evolve into our future Global Active Citizens who care.

For those of you that have been following my journey you may already know that I took a leap of faith almost a year and a half ago. Having left behind my house and a permanent tenure at the University in sun blessed Crete, I travelled 3500 kms with my car Libby (Liberty) wanting to reach the UK. My Soul has been my compass. After many adventures and without knowing why, I returned to my birthplace, Wales. I have the feeling that my journey is not yet over. Wales is a milestone. My good friends and virtual travel companions, often remind me that what matters is the path and not the destination. And they are right and I am deeply grateful for their companionship.

email: iris@ArtofJoy.gr

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