I'm reading Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft. Yesterday I read a chapter about growing. He emphasized the importance of being a lifelong learner. He encouraged leaders to ask questions, read, write, and do everything they could to continue growing. He talked about how learning and growth gives us energy. As I read, I realized how true that is.
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In Tiny Village, there was great resistance to change and new things. They did not encourage learning and growth, and did not understand my enthusiasm for it. As a result, I didn't do much learning, I think I was chronically depressed my last few years there.
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When I moved here to Capital, I had to begin learning and growing. I'm working with PowerPoint for the first time. I'm being asked for new ideas. I'm loving every minute of it, and I'm amazed by how energized I am. Yesterday we were away from home for over 14 hours. When we finally got home a little after 9:00, I worked on filing and taking care of the papers that were piled on the desk in my study. This morning I was up at 5:30, and after showering and getting dressed, started working in the kitchen. We were a the church by shortly after 7:00. I'm excited about the things I will be working on today.
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I am so grateful to be in a place that is stretching me, a place where I am learning and growing. I feel younger and have more energy because I'm being challenged. In Tiny Village, I was bored. Someone gave me a mug once that said, "Please hassle me, I thrive on stress." It was quite appropriate.
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Today I meet my Capital area colleagues for the first time. Daughter and I get to go check out a program for her. Hopefully we will like it and it will be a good match for her. I have another meeting here at the church this evening. Hopefully I will have just as much energy to do something around the house when I get home this evening.
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Today, I'm thanking God for calling me to a place that will stretch me to learn and grow.
2 comments:
I hope the program is a good march for your DD. Have you read Rachel in the World by Jane Bernstein? If you haven't I highly recommend it. The author is a single mother of two adult daughters, one of whom is legally blind and developmentally delayed. She describes her struggle to find a good home for her daughter, who, at 23 desperately wants to live on her own but who needs constant supervision. I think you can relate!
It's wonderful that you've found a place where you can stretch your wings after wandering in the desert (figuratively speaking) for what probably seemed like forty years.
I'm not familiar with that book, I'll check it out. The program looks like it will work. Hopefully she can start next week, going 3 days a week at first, hopefully up to 5 eventually.
I am very grateful for the call to this congregation and community. I'm having a blast!
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