When asked to describe what it means to me, I had to give it some thought, because when it came time to do it, I would just follow that old Nike slogan, “Just Do It.”
- Appreciation: It has given me a greater appreciation and understanding of all of those who came before me and continue alongside me to better our profession and our built environment.
- Discovery: It has allowed me to discover new ideas and ways to see things – I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know until I knew.
- Vocalizing: It offers me a say in those things that matter most.
- Opportunities: It has opened up so many new doors and put me in positions to actually influence the outcomes and make a difference.
- Contributing: It involves time and/or money – but the rewards and results have been tremendous and far exceed what I have given.
- Alliances: It has allowed me to develop new relationships, including some with the most unlikely groups, such as, code officials (huh?), lawyers (seriously?), and those – engineers (HA)!
- Caring: It shows I care enough about something to do it; and being able to say, “Because I care” is all I need to say.
- Yearning: It brings me such gratitude that it makes me want to do more.
So, I challenge you to determine what it means to you, and once you figure it out – “Just Do It.”
[Hint: Put the first letters of each bulleted word together and you got it.]