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(for all of you I've met along my journey or am traveling with...)
My friend Rhesa's birthday's coming up on August the 17th. She's getting perfunctory birthday greetings AND unexpected well-wishes from everyone in the team. The "pansit" (for long life, of course!), chocolate cake and pizza have all been bought and eaten and who knows? Maybe a delivery of a bouquet of roses and a singing telegram won't be far off (heeheehee). It's surprising that she's realizing only NOW how much we appreciate her presence and how the whole team benefits from and is energized by her cheerfully helpful self.
And sometimes that's all that really keeps us grounded and steady in our workplaces. I know that I'm not doing that "thing" that I'm really passionate about yet, my "Life's Work" as I sometimes call it, but I am unceasingly grateful for the opportunity of being able to do work that gives me time to do the "extra" things that keep me happy and help me grow as a person. I consider myself lucky since I work with people who just accept me for who I am - strengths, quirks, shortcomings and all. I feel that one of the major reasons why I sucked ("Truly, madly, deeply", as Savage garden sang it) at other past jobs was that I felt insecure and a total oddball. I didn't feel all that much appreciated nor accepted and the littlest criticisms would unhinge me.
I really think companies should look into this "Corporate EQ Component", the Acceptance Factor, if you want to call it that. There's something freeing about feeling accepted and appreciated. It just unleashes your creativity and promotes an abundance mentality. I feel this with my team, WWTE-JetBlue and Expedia Manila in Peoplesupport, Inc. Feeling free to be just who you are just makes you want to accomplish goals, start new projects and help out the team more. Think about how much would get done and how many targets can be reached just by having a more accepting and open-minded corporate culture!
As my friend Anj pointed out before, you don't have to be doing the "big" things for you to feel your life ultimately has meaning and purpose. You do what you can in your own little corner of the world. And if that little corner of your world is accepting, fun and engaging, so much the better for you! Not all your plans may be in place, not everything may be comin' up roses for you, but when you're comfortable in your own skin where you are, you can just take it from there.
"Working towards a cherished dream is much like traveling to a distant land.
Reaching the destination can truly be a rich reward.
But what is experienced along the way,
what the journey requires and reveals -
these are also to be treasured."
- from a Hallmark "Thoughts to Keep" card of my Ma
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