My Coin Has Three Wheels

A message from Heather...

As we’ve shared recently in our blogs and through social media posts, we have a wall of images in our office that represent our teammates’ “Coins”. This display has become a great reminder for all of us of the depth of our full-time staff and our team of Expert Facilitators, and what we all value.    

In this week’s Blog, our colleague and dear friend, Heather Wells, gives us a glimpse into her values, and shares some of the currency beneath one of the images she chose.   

Heather is a retired Army Sergeant Major and experienced intelligence professional, with a wealth of expertise cultivated over 31 years. Throughout her service, spanning numerous deployments and roles within the DoD, Interagency, and Special Operations, she refined her abilities in teamwork, communication, and collaboration. She holds certification as a Business and Professional Coach from the International Coaching Federation and a Bachelor’s in Administrative and Management studies from Excelsior University. Heather lives in Raeford, NC with her husband Jason, and spends as much time as possible with her three children and three grandchildren. 

We’re honored to have Heather as part of our Game On Expert Facilitator team, and appreciate the experience, care, and humble authority she brings into every room she enters.  

- Steve Shenbaum 

Three scooters lean against a fence. 

One belongs to my oldest grandson. One to my middle grandson. The third one is mine - GiGi’s. 

I didn’t realize it at the time, but those three scooters would become one of the most valuable Coins I’ve ever carried. 

After more than three decades in intelligence and special operations, I became incredibly comfortable living in a world of facts, plans, timelines, and consequences. The work mattered, and I loved serving. But somewhere along the way, my funny bone stopped getting much exercise. Then one day, I bought a scooter. It wasn’t about transportation, it was an invitation. 

The scooters gave me a way to step into my grandsons’ world instead of watching from the sidelines. Suddenly, we weren’t separated by generations. We were simply three people racing around the park, laughing at nothing in particular. Every wobble, every sharp turn, every “Catch me if you can!” reminded me that joy doesn’t have to be earned. Sometimes it simply must be accepted. 

Those little boys invited me into their world. In that world, I wasn’t a retired Sergeant Major or an intelligence professional. I wasn’t the person responsible for solving the next problem. I was simply GiGi. 

Without ever realizing it, my grandsons taught me something I didn’t know I needed to learn, which was to stop counting the moments and start filling them. I will always be grateful for my years of service, because they shaped who I am and gave my life incredible purpose. But this season has reminded me that purpose and play aren’t opposites. They belong together. 

Three scooters leaning against a fence may not look like much to most people. To me, they’re a reminder that the best Coins aren’t measured by what they cost or how impressive they appear. They’re measured by the connections they create. Mine just happens to have three wheels.