Priorities

This is adapted from an email I wrote to Team Green, with a few edits and modifications to make it a decent blog post. I felt it was appropriate to share these thoughts with my fellow Team Leaders, and I'd like to share them with you, too. My original plan was to share them a week ago, but there are a few things that were more important (read below) to take care of than sitting down and writing a blog. In all honesty, this is the first time I've had to sit and relax that wasn't at work or in a van in the past two weeks! It's amazing how quickly life moves when you're on the go, and that's why I am writing this post. You'll see, read on.

I read a little blurb in a newsletter a couple weeks ago that really spoke to me and that helped me navigate myself through Transition. For those that don't know, Transition is the week between rounds when we're on campus. It's supposed to be time for us to regroup and dive into NCCC culture and remember what being in this program and having Units and a campus support system is all about. For me, and probably others, it feels like a whirlwind of a week full of  schedule changes, team switches, and countless curve balls thrown in our direction without even a little “head’s up!” to let us know to expect something. 

With all of these twists and turns and ups and downs, I was constantly reminding myself of what is important versus what is urgent. Is it urgent that I get my clearance packet done before my scheduled briefing time? Yeah, probably. Is it urgent that I get my PAR done so my team can have funds before we depart for Round 3? Absolutely. But is it important that I stop to say “Hi” to my team members, and to Team Green, and to give hugs when comfort is needed, and try to share smiles and little moments throughout our limited number of days together? You bet it is. Is it important that I spend an extra ten minutes with my team after dinner instead of heading straight back to work? Yes. It IS important. Which is why the PAR, or the clearance packet, or some of the other urgencies can wait a minute. We are all here to make a difference in the lives of others, and support each other and our teams and the entire Corps to the best of our abilities (note: this includes taking care of yourself. you can't do your job if you ignore your own well-being). Do both work and teams need to be attended to? Of course. We ARE here to work and we have expectations to meet. But if something more important comes up, that’s okay. We what we need to do. And we have each other when things get rough, and the important things are what help us navigate through the stresses of the urgent. Take care of yourself, take care of each other, and you'll find a way to get through everything else.