Tuesday, September 3, 2013
From: Vanessa Aron
Welcome to SMPS 2013-2014. The year to Go Live!
I have been in a very reflective state-of-mind for quite a few weeks it seems. Now more than ever I am so thankful and fortunate for the people in my life and the opportunities I have been afforded. In short, I’m feeling pretty lucky for what I have.
Life is hard. It’s hard for everyone. Some are more equipped to handle and conquer their hardships better than others. Some have built-in support systems through family and friends, sheer motivation and gusto, coworkers and resources.
Yet there are others, no less important than you or I, who find themselves at the Cleveland Foodbank, transitional housing or even left to survive on the streets and rely on the charity of others and public services for support. Regardless of situation or circumstance, we all at one instance or another ask the same question; 'how did I get here?'
Life is a voyage. Sometimes it’s rough, sometimes not. Situations can change in an instant – winning the lottery, a diagnosis at the doctors office, generosity of others, accidents, etc. Yet for long-term situations, like one's career, the answer to 'how did I get here?' is found in small incremental steps and opportunities that present themselves over multiple dates, months, and years.
For the positive, it’s about saying yes to opportunities. It’s about taking risks; realizing action needs movement; it needs energy.
When the opportunity to join SMPS was presented to me more than five and one half years ago, I agreed with what little knowledge of what or where it would lead me. Initially I attended the luncheon events — writing it off as an afternoon out of the office where I would awkwardly and typically fail to navigate networking with others successfully.
After several months as an SMPS passerby, my manager at the time approached me on the subject of volunteering for a chapter committee. ‘Everyone is wondering when you are going to get more involved,’ he said. ‘Well who is they and volunteer how?’ I retorted. If my response sounded snarky, your perception is accurate. I found attending SMPS events more panic-stricken and completely isolating than it ever should have been. I was lost in a crowd and I wasn’t exactly eager to get involved at that time. I did not see the purpose.
It wasn’t until a friend of mine and former, fellow Kent State University alum approached me about my involvement or at the time, lack of involvement with the chapter committees. ‘Just come to a meeting and you can help me out with membership,’ she said. It helped that one of my contemporaries approached me. It was more personal, less intimidating and I agreed (saying yes to opportunity).
Reflecting back on that yes as I sit here today, reviewing the succeeding steps that followed, I find myself more involved, invested and inspired in and about the organization, my fellow board, committee teammates and our chapter/society members.
I went from a skeptic to SMPS NEO’s number one fan, cheerleader and supporter. Although I still find networking to be intimidating, I look to change it into an opportunity to make those who potentially have the same apprehension a little easier, less stressful, more fun and enjoyable.
On Sunday September 1st, the first official day of my chapter leadership, I was inspired by my younger brother who recently went skydiving. Along with two friends, we were at my favorite coffee bar in Cleveland called Rising Star. Making our way through a channel of conversation topics, my brother's recent skydiving saga was brought up. ‘I could never.’ ‘You didn’t!?’ ‘What was it like??’ We all inquired, eagerly anticipating the adventure-filled story about to come our way. ‘It was a forty second free fall and six or seven minutes of of sailing slowly to the Earth…I’m glad I was wearing a sweatshirt because it was pretty cold up there…’
From his consideration to the landing, he spoke of the ultimate freedom he felt and the confidence and energy he now has toward any obstacle.
As I made a short rebuke ‘I could never do that because of XYZ…’ my brother so aptly replied ‘I had the same thought and then questioned it. ‘Why wouldn’t I go skydiving? I am either going to live, or I am going to die. Why not go for it?’ And so he did. And he was right. And I was left reflecting on 'what if?' What if someone drove me to a airfield and walked with me to go jump out of a plane. Would I do it? He was right, 'you’re either going to live, or you are going to die.' It’s pretty simple. You can either decide to take the risk, or accept complacency.
Now I am not planning to jump out of plane anytime soon, but I am taking September as the month to ‘do one thing each day that scares me.’ It probably helps Eleanor Roosevelt's quote ‘Do one thing each day that scares you’ is printed on my Lululemon lunchbag, along with other inspirational notes I often regard when I am preparing my meals. (What a great opportunity for a daily reminder?)
So I am challenging myself to take risks, to try new things, experience life and live. Neale Donald Walsh also said it best; ‘Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.’ For me, September 1st included a new dining experience at a Korean restaurant in Parma. On September 2nd I decided to start writing more, blog and sign up for a ballet class.
Now my question to you SMPSer’s and readers: what will you do today? What risks are you going to take? What opportunities in this life are you going to say yes to? Big or small actions indeed are risks, take energy and require movement. So make your move, do it today and pass on the inspiration. Go live.