It’s the Journey, not the Path or the Destination

“Positive Patty” Herrera Inspires on and off the Field with Her Brand of Optimism

 By Paul Turse aka Samurai Raider

The pessimist and the optimist came to a fork in the road:  One path led into the mountains, winding its way through a rough and rocky terrain, and disappearing into the clouds; the other path led toward the river, winding its way through muddy and swampy grasslands, disappearing into a foggy mist.

The pessimist turned and went back the way he came, but the optimist threw his hat up into the air and where it landed was the path he took.

When at a crossroad in life, the pessimist sees the difficulty of the climb or fears getting bogged down in an emotional quagmire; and, not being able to see through the clouds or the fog, fears the unknown.  But the optimist does not look that far ahead and thus does not see the clouds or the fog, seeing only the immediate journey and having faith that no matter what the path, he will make the best of it.  And if the optimist never gets to the end, he may find, along the way, better opportunities that will subsume the original goal.  As Raiderette Patty Herrera says, “The beauty of life is in the journey.  Enjoy that journey.”

A key aspect of Patty’s brand of optimism is that one should not become so focused on a goal or an idea that proper perspective is lost.  Nor should one respond to the pressure of other’s expectations.  Patty explained this concept: 

“If you are so tunnel vision-- so focused-- if you're so obsessive about something, you could be totally missing out on something amazing.  I try to live day to day, and I try not to live in the future.  People always say ‘Oh, when are you going to do this…when are you going to get married?’  You know what?  When the time is right, it will happen.  For now, let me try to be here in the now--the future will come, and when it comes, I will be ready.”

Because of her special brand of optimism, Raiderette Patty Herrera serves as an inspiration to all that she meets as she journeys through life, thus demonstrating why she is known to her sister Raiderettes as “Positive Patty” and proving that in life it is indeed the journey that counts.

Not only was Patty one of the “original” Raiderettes when the team journeyed back to Oakland,^* but she was also one of the first Latinas to earn a coveted spot with Football’s Fabulous Females.  Patty has set the standard not just for Latinas but also for women in general.  She also makes a statement to individuals of all races, religions, and beliefs to be optimistic about setting and fulfilling goals.  Stepping out onto the field is merely symbolic of stepping forward on to other fields of endeavor, Patty believes.  If a member of the squad focuses only on being a Raiderette, she may miss the true concept of what it means to wear the Silver and Black.  If she follows Patty’s lead, she will concentrate on being the best person she can be, and she will then be a Raiderette.  In fact, Patty sees being a Raiderette as an extension of her life.  She constantly evaluates herself as to what she has to work on to improve in all areas-- on and off the field.  The implication is that as she becomes a better Raiderette, she becomes a better person.

Patty demonstrates that optimism and confidence go hand in hand, and you do not allow your competitiveness to interfere with compassion, especially in regard to the recent Raiderette tryouts. “When you see someone that is struggling,” Patty says with sincerity, "and it’s someone you consider your competition, you [still] root for her….  You feel it; it is a feeling inside-- you don’t want her to mess up.”

You can certainly see why Patty has won the Wanetta Horton Award, an honor that is voted on by fellow Raiderettes and bestowed upon “the squad member who most personifies kindness of spirit and professionalism.”* 

Patty’s professionalism extends beyond her Raiderette activities.  Her professional savvy can be evidenced by her attitude toward the regular jobs she has had in the past while she was a Raiderette.  In these environments, she has never tried to flaunt her Raiderette mystique, either in terms of dress or attitude.  Her daily garb is in direct contrast to the flashy uniform with the white boots.  “At work, I am real different in terms of look,” she confesses.  She wears glasses, her hair is sleeked back and she wears regular shoes.  She reminds one of Diana Prince, the alter ego of Wonder Woman.  And when you see Patty, you feel that all she has to do is spin around a few times and she will turn in to Wonder Raiderette.  (Click on Patty to view as a larger image)

Above all, in any job she has held, Patty never says to herself “Wait a minute I shouldn’t have to do this project.”  Patty realizes that she cannot expect special privileges in regard to her other jobs and expects to carry out her responsibilities like every one else.  As she explained, “I am a Raiderette….  I never have that attitude….  It’s because I’m a Raiderette that I can’t do that.  It is a hobby and passion that I love, but I try not let it interfere in a negative sense.  No, no, I try to keep it separate.”

The San Jose State University* graduate has longed to use her public relations major to work for the Raider organization when her Raiderette career comes to an end.  Well, she did not have to wait until she retires, for Patty’s professionalism has not gone unnoticed by the Raider organization.  Thus, she has recently begun a new career as a liaison between the Hispanic community and the Raiders.  Her mission is to initiate awareness within the Hispanic community, not just of the team or the Raiderettes, but of the franchise’s many charitable activities and neighborhood events.  Not only will she rely on her diplomacy to get the word out to the public but also on her fluency with the Spanish language.  Her recent column, “Raiders en Español,” written in Spanish, is a new feature on Raiders.com.  So, Patty finds herself in a unique position:  a journey, if you will, back and forth from the football field, where she will still be cheering for team, to the main office, where she will be campaigning for greater interest in the Raider activities. (Click on patty to view as a larger image)

Patty has sustained the effort to balance her celebrity with her profession.  How does she keep up the intensity to continue to keep the experience from becoming stale?  Patty provided this insight:   “I treat every thing that I do, like it was my first time ever experience.  I don’t take it for granted….” This attitude symbolizes the essence of optimism: to believe that even the same repeated experience has the potential to create a new revelation and to become a fresh and profound phenomenon--  in other words, to become a new journey. “You’re only going to have one shot at life.  So make it your best,” she maintained.

Part of making it the best for yourself is also making it the best for others.  Thus, Patty and the Raiderettes have a duty to volunteer for at least ten public service or charitable events during the season.  Patty explained that while the Raiderettes wear pretty uniforms and show external beauty, it is the internal aspects that distinguish them from the ordinary pack of beautiful women.  Patty firmly believes that it is an honor to be a Raiderette and that the job goes beyond glamour and wearing a uniform.  “We touch people’s lives,” she said with commitment. 

Sometimes the journey of a Raiderette is an emotional odyssey, as Patty learned when she visited a cancer hospital as part of her charity responsibility.  There, she met a twenty-year-old man.  Although terminally ill and his body being slowly eaten away by the tragic disease, his eyes lit up when Patty and Raiderette Wendy Barman came to visit.  When they entered the area, all were enthusiastic; it was something “straight from the movies,” Patty recalled.  “You see these steel doors open, and you see twenty people, like nurses and doctors, all excited to see you….  Meanwhile, you have the biggest lump in your throat.”  She held back her tears and greeted the young man with the typical Raiderette charm and smile.  “And inside, oh, my God, I’m crying,” she admitted in a compassionate tone.  “And when I think about it, oh!  When I left there, I was like, oh!  I can’t believe it.  It was tough, but you had to put on a face.”  

It is the emotional journeys like these that cause Patty to reflect on all the positive things in her life.  Yet, although she is an optimistic person, Patty is human and, quite naturally, does have moments when she gets discouraged.  “Don’t get me wrong.  I have days when I think ‘poor me,’” she readily admitted.  Then, of course, she snaps out of it and says to herself, “what the heck are you thinking?”  But then, she remembers how lucky she is to be able to strive toward her goals.

Much of Patty’s positivity comes from her supportive family; however, there is also the support from her Raiderette sisters, who all bond together in a concerted effort to keep up the faith no matter how difficult a situation they may find themselves in.  Patty recalled the tour in Bosnia, another journey where she and a group of girls found it a job, not just to raise troupe morale, but also keep Raiderette eyelids up.

During this tour, the Raiderettes put in 16- to 18-hour days, traveling to the various encampments, where they would perform and entertain at night.  After the late evening performances, they still took time for autograph sessions long into the night, not returning to their bunks until one or two o’clock in the morning, only to rise at six o’clock to put on makeup, fix their hair, dress, and, above all, maintain the Raiderette image.  Patty explained that no matter how they felt or whatever the logistical situation, the daily mission for the two-and-a-half week tour was “glamour, glamour.” 

Much of the camaraderie was displayed during those times of extreme exhaustion, where the Raiderette sisters tried to not just keep each other from nodding off but also to maintain esprit d' corp.  One night-- or early in the morning to be exact-- after a late performance, the troupe was returning to their quarters and kept up the enthusiasm by singing “oldies but goodies,” to the amazement of the tour manager, who apparently underestimated the energy and enthusiasm of the Raiderettes.  It seems the young women had gone well beyond the call of duty, doing their best to maintain their extremely positive attitude.  “We were tired at times,” Patty said, “but we made a point that we were all going to enjoy the experience at the same time.” 

In fact, the gang had a little slogan, which they still use: “Girls, same time, same time.”  Patty cited this example of how the slogan came into play:  “We were watching a movie and we were getting drowsy and Adrianne [Harris], one of our veterans said, ‘Girls, same time!  We’re not going to bed until we all watch the movie…keep your eyes open, open-- we’re all going to bed at the same time.’”

While the Raiderettes get the opportunity to travel throughout the country and to far away places, many of us feel that our journey through life is a dead end.  Patty, however, believes that if you perceive your life to be going nowhere, there will always be the opportunity somewhere down the road or in the future to re-direct:

“Life is all about balance.  I’m a firm believer that you have to be balanced--spiritually, mentally, psychologically-- in every aspect.  And sometimes in our life, the balance tends to go to one side.  When that happens, you have to say ‘w-h-o-a!’  And you have to have to lead it back to the other side.  But I think what’s important is being aware of the fact that sometimes you are not balanced, and taking measures to actually to get back to feeling that balance your life.”

The problem may be that some people are pessimistic or negative about their journey's end through life, so they do not see the potential of the journey.  Patty believes that some people don’t take time out to nourish themselves mentally, physically, spiritually, or emotionally, and then it may be too difficult to adjust.  Patty offered this advice:  “So, be conscious of the fact that you need balance in your life.  At least I can speak for myself.  It is very important to me.”

Patty says that she is the kind of a person that is noted for seeing things in terms of their positive side.  “My girlfriends …try to bring me down to reality.  ‘No, Patty, the food really is horrible.…’  And I’m, ‘W-el-l-l…’  I always try to look at the positive of everything.”  However, Patty is human, she readily admits, and sometimes, it is difficult to maintain the positivity.  “But sometimes, I’m, ooo!, a flat tire, right now.  How positive can that be?  But I always try to look at the big picture….”  Because when it comes to taking the right path,  “it’s all in how you interpret the information,” said Patty.  

Patty tells how once on the way to the airport to catch a plane to Arizona, she had forgotten her ticket, so she had to return home, but on the way, her car ran out of gas.  Yes, she was annoyed at the time because her plans were disrupted.  But the incident-- misplacing her ticket and neglecting to keep her tank full-- gave her time to reflect and perhaps to slow down a bit.  Indeed, it turned out to be a symbolic journey:  a car with an empty tank lacks balance and maybe Patty’s priorities were out of balance and she was running a bit on empty.

“This was telling me something…And, you know what, it was a good thing,” she says.  “It happened for a reason and I’m OK with it.  “I’m glad I had the weekend off to just relax.”  Patty had time to fill her own spiritual tank and found time to find that balance that was, perhaps, starting to shift to one side.

While it is a hectic and exciting life for a Raiderette, Patty acknowledges the fact that it is only for a short time; thus, she wants to be the best she can during the time that she has.  “But someday I am just going to be Patty Herrera,” she said with humble resolve.

Indeed,  just being Patty Herrera, filled with optimism, would be a worthy goal for any one.  And to know that no matter how much fame and success that Patty will achieve in her life, it is reassuring to know that she will always be “Patty,” with all of her personality, humility, and her positivity.  And later, in her career and in her life, should she come to a crossroad where the destination is not clear, you can be sure, she will just throw her hat into the wind and enjoy the journey-- but with a full tank of gas, of course! 

Raiderdrive would like to thank Patty for graciously giving us the opportunity to interview her, and we would like to extend our appreciation to Mary Barnes and the Raider organization for making this interview possible.

Notes:

All Patty Herrera quotes are from two Samurai Raider interviews, one conducted in person on May 19, 2002, at the Oakland Hilton, and a second interview conducted telephonically on August 2, 2002.

 ^*Patty Herrera, Raiderettes.com (http://www.raiderettes.com/bio.asp?id=15).