Hello...It's Been a While!

Hello! It’s been a while since I posted anything. I think the last time we were discussing working with our spouses. I’m sure that brought up some interesting conversations amongst yourselves!

As far as what’s been going on lately—the first 7 months of this year have been challenging for me. In fact, I almost feel like I lost them. Between surgeries that I had to have; family emergencies; and friends dealing with recent deaths; I wondered if I would catch a break. It seemed there was always something unexpected (not good either) around the next corner. However, while I was on vacation, on the beach, I had time to reflect. I love being on the beach. I think it is the best place to “reconcile yourself.” Although just a side note; Florida is hotter than normal this year! Laying in the sun I thought about everything I just described, and considered them all as “challenges.” They were challenges—but what I realized on that beach was they were opportunities as well.

The opportunities were so much more than the challenges. I just had never looked at it that way. For instance, I was in the hospital twice, in ICU. It was awful in so many ways. I hated depending on others for everyday necessities. But I learned what a true blessing it is to be able to walk, shower, eat, and care for oneself. This was an opportunity for me to really appreciate the most basic abilities of life—which I had taken for granted.

Close members of my family were involved in accidents that could have easily ended their lives. Thankfully they survived. During those touch and go moments, I didn’t care about the small things. I just wanted them to live. I learned what is important to care about and what really doesn’t matter: whether or not one goes to college, what one chooses to do for a living, where one chooses to live is of no importance if they aren’t here.

My mom broke her hip during this time. She recuperated at my house. I have to say it wasn’t easy. Two weeks of being at someone’s side isn’t easy. I realized it wasn’t easy for her either. Getting older is not a fun experience. Things that you used to do are no longer easy to do even though your brain thinks they are. Being dependent on someone else can strip one’s identity (or dignity). I now better appreciate why being older and alone is hard.

Not surprisingly, I learned I have an incredible company. It survived even though I wasn’t involved as much as I should have been. I learned they don’t need me…at least not all the time. I have surrounded myself with incredibly smart, passionate people that want this company to succeed. I don’t need to be “hovering” over them every day to grow. They know what to do. That was an amazing revelation. While many leaders may feel the need to be involved in everything, I know I don’t have to be. This company ran so smoothly while I was busy dealing with my life, you probably wouldn’t have known I was “dealing with my life.” We had some “downturns,” during that time, but we made it through. I have learned what having a true team looks like—it is about carrying the load when someone else can’t carry their own out of care and consideration for each other and the overall mission.

It's been an interesting first half of the year. I wouldn’t say it was ideal, but I wouldn’t say it was horrible. I would call it an opportunity to grow. I’m looking forward to what the rest of 2022 has in store for me!

For now,

Angela