This week, I had a delightful moment in the car when an unexpected intersection of music and feeling came together. I was driving to work when Stevie Wonder’s For Once in My Life came on. The chorus always makes me smile:
For once in my life, I have someone who needs me.
I smile because this reminds me of a community member I deeply admire. She’s found so much joy and purpose in advocacy work that she decided this song was her song. For her, it captures the beauty of feeling needed and making a difference in community.
As I drove, I felt gratitude for her. Then, a thought struck me, and I couldn’t help myself. This year, in our work at the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, we’ve been training interns and high-level volunteers to take on leadership roles. As our community continues to grow, we’re inviting others to participate in that work.
So I changed Stevie’s lyrics for me. With gusto, I sang:
For once I can say, “This ain’t mine, you can take it.”
As long as I know I have love, I can make it.
For once in my life, I have someone who doesn’t need me.
And I laughed while I sang it.
Have you ever thought about the gift of not being needed? Being needed is wonderful, but there’s also a deep satisfaction in seeing others step up, carry the weight, and help the work flourish. It’s freeing, empowering, and a reminder that the best work happens when it is shared.
For me, it was a reason to sing boldly.
— Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 