Connect & Reflect

     There are many things that have moved and grown me after 25 years being in business. I have learned so much about myself and people.  One of the things I am most grateful for is the people I have encountered.

     When I started,  I was a young man in my mid twenties. I was excited, wide eyed and willing to learn.  I am presently 53 and can say that most of my favorite experiences come from encounters with folks much older than I. I can quote you some names and tell you stories about a few in particular (and I likely will in a future post). But, for now, I must say, even today, as I drove past a property of a client who had passed away several years back, I still think of them often.  The fact that I was in my twenties and often times these folks were in their 70s 80s or even 90s... I have a piece of them in my soul.  In some way, shape, or form, they impacted me.  I may have worked for them 2 or 3 or even a half dozen times. Out of this, a unique trust was born and each encounter brought with it an update on their lives and an investment in trust between client and servant.

     Some of these folks flew missions in World War II.  Some met their husbands at a dance before the war.  Some still dressed sharp on a daily basis because that’s what they knew.  Each with a story to tell.  And I, wide eyed and ready to listen, clung to this living lesson in history.  When I drive by these properties, I can often remember exact faces, tone of voice, and conversations.  I took my girls into their kitchens and have hung bird feeders on their trees. Most of all, I remember how I felt when I spent time with them.  Back then, I never seemed in a hurry to get away or back to what I was doing!! The pace was simpler, slower, and richer.  Take note, dear reader, perhaps there is a lesson here?

     If you are reading this and happen to know I worked for your parents or grandparents over the last 25-30 years please know as I drive by the homestead there is a high likely hood that they have impacted me.  I often remember the trees on the property and the jobs our team performed. But most of all, I remember the impact they had on me and how they helped me learn and grow along they way. Most importantly, it warms my heart thinking about how I felt when I was with them!!