A shot of professional inspiration during a “gray” season.

Gray is a popular interior design color these days. It “works nicely” with a lot of complimentary colors however when it is the dominant color, it can dull the senses. Much like, too much of anything can produce imbalance, overwhelm or even keep one “stuck” in a certain situation.

I love living in southeastern PA where we experience, embrace and celebrate four diverse seasons. I can navigate multiple cold winter days in the teens when they are balanced by bright skies. That sun, ever potent provider of vitamin D and brain stimulator which releases endorphins, keeps me in balance. Being honest here, this is the fourth day of either light rain or gray skies. It is feeling heavy about now and I am pulling happy strategies out of my proverbial “life tool bag.” Wearing a bright peachy orange tee shirt, neon green socks, cornflower blue printed scarf and my happiness pendant, a gift from a precious friend 😉 Brilliant music by Bruno Mars, Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder blaring and the drapes in the office are wide open, allowing every bit of light to bathe my work space. Thinking about a dear lovie who does all of the above plus turns up the space heater in her office for that complete body wrapping element and uses a Key West screen saver image to soothe her eyes.  PLUS uses that location as her weather update, even though in reality she too lives in southeastern PA and is sharing the same gray spot lingering in our current zone. Now, that is creative!

Our workplaces can become gray, clouded, and heavy and our professional motivation takes a dive. I witness this in the MEPAP class when students are struggling to survive in harsh work environments, strewn with pressure, judgement and healthcare trying to operate at warp speed.

I ran into a colleague, an accomplished leader, Activity Director Certified and caring heart who has committed fifteen years of service. She shared privately that she is down, dismayed by the negative work culture and the pressures it brings. Scarce support from corporate, pressure to “perform” for upcoming survey, working short across the building with very little positive, nurturing provided. How can one serve others when individual vessels have been depleted?

I see this across the long term living spectrum. Great educated, heart centered souls, committed to serving elders stretched beyond human capacity.

Respectfully, corporate “there is more to life than increasing its speed.”

In that moment I encouraged her not to lose heart, that her contribution is important and that collectively we, as a profession, must uplift and nourish one another.

I encourage you to call a colleague, use a life line and ask for help in the moment. Then, when you are nourished be available for some else.

We are a small but MIGHTY profession, on a mission.

We CAN and WILL keep rising to honor every person served and honor the WHOLE person.

Activities are the glue that holds organizations together. Don’t lose your mission or resolve. We’ve got this. We’ve got one another.

Until we meet again, stay brilliant!

Nancy Richards Founder, CEO Activity Pathways

Your mentor for impactful leadership & creating meaningful connections through the power of activities