Skip to main content

Miracle of Community



As the year comes to an end, I find the current work I'm in also ending in a way by morphing and evolving into something new.  It will take on new associates to understand the current project in order to move it forward.  This is a time of great patience on both sides and usually some compromise.  Sounds a bit like a marriage, doesn't it?

Since it's more than just two people I tend to think of it as the community of people who are participating in the hand-off of sorts.

During one such meeting yesterday to familiarize more people with the work there was much resistance and confusion.  Those of us in the understanding part did our very best to exhibit patience and continuity in explaining it. It was a coming together of sorts.

Let's back up four months.  Those same people that are all on the same side of 'giving' the work to the next group were all in their own camps - resistant to coming together and many times resistant to me!  It felt like high school - where the jocks were in one group, the brains in another, the stoners, etc … and now this group of disjointed people are all the seniors welcoming in the freshman.

We nod and wink at each other knowingly.  Yes, we didn't always get along but we have something rather significant in common, and now we need to prepare the next group to take the baton.

That overwhelming feeling came over me yesterday during a conversation after the meeting.  I am one of the seniors in this case, welcoming the new class.  As usual, previous to this ending I didn't reside in any of those groups, but a random group of outsiders that saw my own path and followed it.  I had a role that was singular, and moved between the groups of different skill sets ensuring that each had what they needed to accomplish their deliverables.

This community, I'm referring to is shared by all of us in the work.  We believe in what we've accomplished.  We're proud and willing to share.  And in the coming together of our efforts, laying our differences aside we've accomplished great things!  And the time has come to bring others along.

So instead of a pot-luck dinner in a community hall, or a hazing incident as would happen in high school we set up meetings to socialize.  And make no mistake, there are the nods and winks that occur between us, united us in a way we hadn't seen possible.

This unity, this community was a miracle on the stormy path yesterday.  It made me very grateful!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#BeBrave

I found myself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable place this week.  It's taken me days to process what occurred, how I responded and how I'm choosing to move forward. In a professional environment, during an ordinary 3pm de-brief meeting I found myself being verbally attacked and disrespected by a bully.  I remained calm, spoke my mind carefully and respectfully.  It was surprising and over the next few days became increasingly unsettling. There were others in the room, and no one spoke to support me.  It has struck me as so odd, hurtful and profoundly unacceptable. Like any good drama episode written by Aaron Sorkin or JJ Abrams, let's rewind to 8 hours earlier. Once again browsing new selections in iTunes for my running mix.  I know, I get bored easily, huh?  I love how the music motivates me so I'm always on the lookout for new and upbeat songs.  I came across a feature for the new Sara Bareilles album streaming for free this weekend, so I b...

How to get out of an EPIC funk!

This morning I woke to a funk.  Yes, mine.  Reasons to me were relatively clear.  Relationships in my life that are not working.  Lingering fear.  Dissatisfaction in my primary relationship.  To be honest seems like the same stuff that's been hanging on for the last six months. Today felt heavy.  Too heavy for a holiday. How do I push through it?  Cause it seems that I'm unable to go around it. Again. A holiday means every one is home with me.  So solitude is not really the answer.  But writing is. So how did I get out of an epic funk this morning.  I got honest with myself.  And I cried.  Cause feelings hurt.  And people disappoint.  Yet somehow, someway life moves on. I got honest with myself by writing about it.  Detailing what was troubling me into this place and what I saw as the way out.  I gave myself permission to be honest.  Even though it wasn't simple or fascinating.  ...

Be yourself

Sometimes things just hit me like out of the blue and I wonder why didn't I think of that sooner!?  And after the realization settles in I'm at such peace.  This has happened several times recently at work with all the lessons I've amassed over the last 8 months of a project that is coming to a close.  I honestly didn't realize that I learned so much, or that I was actually putting those lessons into action. I find that I evolve at an interesting rate.  Sometimes it feels as though nothing changes, and other times it's like I don't even remember how things used to be.  And all the while I've maintained that I just need to be myself.  Although I've changed over time through the lessons, the core of who I am remains the same. And that's a great feeling.  To not have to turn myself inside out to fit.  It not only allows me to be authentic, but feels so true deep inside.  I say what I mean, I mean what I say and I know how to say it as to...