It’s Labor Day weekend in the United States. Labor Day was created to honor the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country.

It’s a good time to consider why you work.

• Do you do something you love?
• Are you working for a cause you care deeply about?

I hope so on both counts!

No matter how much you love your work or how much you believe in your cause, it’s a pretty safe bet that you are also working to generate the income needed to support your life.

So how is that going for you?

Is your job supporting your life? …Or is your life supporting your job?

I’m asking because I know many people with a strong work ethic, that love what they do and have a deep desire to contribute to a greater good.  What they don’t realize is how easy it is to give so much to their jobs that they no longer have a life.

Once upon a time, I had a job that allowed me to do something that I loved, every single day. I knew that I was making a difference and I constantly received great feedback from my boss.  …All of which drove me to do more and more and more and more…

“ Titles, recognition, financial gain, authority, and toys can be a great rewards OR life altering temptations.

Before long, my life revolved around my work.

From the moment I woke up in the morning, until my head hit the pillow, in my dreams, and in the moments I woke up in the middle of the night to make notes or send emails… I talked about work, thought about work, lived at work, and loved work.

Admittedly – My husband was doing it too – so we were giving each other unspoken encouragement and permission to keep investing our time in our workplaces.

Without realizing it we gradually gave our hearts, our souls, our brains, and our health to our jobs.

Everything else: God, each other, our home, our family, our friends, our church, our community – all faded into the background as our lives literally existed to serve work.

Our decreasing energy and random health issues were some of the many caution lights that appeared along the way that we missed.

Eventually we earned that hard way that:

“ Investing EVERYTHING you have in one place is never wise.

Yes – Do quality work that you are proud of.

Yes – Be a great team player and to be willing to make occasional sacrifices to support the business that supports your life.

But never put “All of your eggs” in one basket!  

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Check out this recent post from Alli Polin:  7 Signs You’ve Lost Yourself as You Climb the Corporate Ladder

Image Credits:  iStock

One year later as I reflected on that season in our lives, the thoughts and feelings came back in a flood of emotions.

In order to fully share that experience I have to take you back in time…

I grew up in a little town in rural North Dakota.  A town so small we had no stoplights and no 24-hour grocery stores, and the closest mall was a 90 minute drive away.  (The entire county today has approximately 9,000 people in it.)

In spite of the small size, the people there are committed to creating  “cultured” events for the community.  One of those events takes place each December.

For months volunteers come together and practice Christmas music.

Then just before the holidays the community packs into an old gymnasium that has been transformed.

As a child I remember a slightly run down, musty and sweaty smelling building that suddenly became a magical stage, filled with risers, candlelight, angelic voices and dozens of fresh evergreens that were so strong their fragrance would fill the entire building.

For a couple of hours we would be surrounded by music that you would never expect to hear on the plains of North Dakota.

Each year the concert finale would be a song that has become a favorite, Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus…

Now back to 2012 -just before Thanksgiving, as we were preparing to move to a big sandbox on the other side of the world:

We knew when we said yes to this adventure that many of the freedoms we had always enjoyed would not exist there.

So as our last Christmas in the USA approached, I found myself savoring the things I typically love at an even higher level and wondering what our next Christmas would look like.

Then in early December our church choir and a local orchestra gave a concert that very much resembled the community concert I had grown up with.

As I sat there willing every cell in my body to soak in the music, several thoughts ran through my mind:

• First I hoped with all of my heart that they would sing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus.
• Then I found myself grieving my future ability to sit in a church and hear this music.
• Then I realized I would not even be able to walk through a mall, or down a street or go to a community event and have this music playing in the background.

As my heart was so overwhelmed with sadness I choked, and tried to hold the tears in.

Suddenly the negative thoughts turned positive as I realized how blessed I am to have known this kind of freedom.

And then realized that although I always thought I appreciated my freedom, I hadn’t really understood the gift I’d been given.

And then as much as I tried, I could no longer hold back the tears…

As I finalized this post one year later:

• I was in a land that looks like a time-machine blended the middle ages with the present day.
• In spite of the limitations of the land, technology allowed me to play that cherished music.  As I did, I closed my eyes and imagined that I was sitting in that gym surrounded by familiar faces and the intense smell of fresh pine.  Remembering what it was like to be in a place where I could freely celebrate with others in public places.
• Although I was deeply missing the treasured parts of this season, I was also thankful beyond words for the understanding I was gaining.

For those of you who live in free countries and can practice the faith of your choice, without fear of arrest or execution.  For those who can walk through streets or malls or sit in restaurants or go to large public arenas and hear that music playing:  Please close your eyes, let that music move you, and savor it like you’ve never savored it before.  You’ve been given a gift that some people will never experience on this side of heaven.

Please share:  What has change taught you this year?

For those of you that want to enjoy that favorite song, check out the YouTube Video below.

image credits:  The Hazen Star, iStock

]]> https://consultgiana.com/what-has-change-taught-you-this-year/feed/ 16 https://consultgiana.com/willing-to-exchange-our-lives-for-your-freedom/ https://consultgiana.com/willing-to-exchange-our-lives-for-your-freedom/#comments Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:30 +0000 Chery Gegelman http://consultgiana.com/?p=1061

A Veteran, whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America, for an amount up to and including his or her own life. Unknown

This Saturday is Armed Forces Day.  In honor of the men and women that have written a blank check for their lives in exchange for our freedom I asked several friends to help us understand their choice…  Adonis Phillips, Joseph Pullen, David Groce and LaDine Roth Cravotta are Veterans, Cathy Herring is a mother of a Veteran.

When I asked each one why they served I received a variety of answers: 

More than once, these former soldiers emphasized how much they believe in our nation’s freedom and how much they valued being a part of being something bigger than themselves and how much they valued the camaraderie.  Additionally…

• Adonis said that being a Marine was the only thing he ever wanted to be.
• Joseph and LaDine spoke of the funds to go to college.
• David spoke of the family tradition

When I asked what the hardest thing was that each one faced the answers were echoes of each other. 

The hardest thing I faced while serving was being away from my family.  I missed the births of both of my nieces (Korea for my oldest niece and Italy for my second niece).  I missed seeing them grow up and missed being able to spend time with them in day to day life.  They have grown into such beautiful young ladies and I missed allot of it.  For me, being in a combat zone is nothing compared to missing my family.  LaDine

The hardest thing I faced was the family separation.  I found out that my wife was pregnant with my son while in Southwest Asia during Desert Shield/Storm.  At that time my only goal was to get home safely to see my son born.  Adonis

Being away from family.  There were many instances in which I missed special events in my family’s life because I was some place other than home. Joseph

The hardest thing I faced was deploying to Operation Desert Storm and not so much in fear of going to war, but the thought of never seeing my wife and newborn son again.  David

The hardest part for me was when he deployed. We were not allowed to know where he was going and might not hear from him for awhile. I knew he was a highly trained soldier, but war is war. I even did CR to help me with my fear. Some days my faith was bigger than my fear, but I had many days that my fear was bigger than my faith. Those were Psalm 91 days.”  Cathy

“ Deployment tears your heart in two, only reconnected at homecoming. —UNKNOWN

When I asked what the most rewarding part of serving was.  The responses varied again. 

• Service to others.
• Developing others.
• Watching those you invested in grow and succeed.
• The travel and the global experience especially for the kids!
• The camaraderie.
• The people you meet!
• Knowing that what you are doing is keeping your friends and family safe.

When I asked what they learned lessons in life and leadership resonated:

Discipline and teamwork to be humble and to not take things that seem trivial for granted.  Adonis

I learned to communicate on an extremely high level. Dealing with people from such an extensive diverse background really opened my eyes and enhanced my communication skills. I learned we don’t live in a “one size fits all” universe and adjusting as you go is necessary to success. I learned that being a leader takes an enormous amount of learning, training, and thought. You have to get in front of people and ask them to do what you yourself are willing to do. I learned that we all share in success in failure by our actions. Actions are definitely louder than words and action should always be the highest form of example.  Joseph

I learned that friends can often be more important than family. I found that Veterans will bend over backwards for each other, and that’s a relationship that rarely exists in Corporate America. David

I learned to listen and be more understanding of people and their situations.  I was raised in a very small town in the midwest and hadn’t experienced much until I joined the Air Force.   I’ve met so many wonderful and diverse people over the years because of my service.  My time in the Air Force has also helped me to be more compassionate for others. We all have no idea of what people have been through in their lives and as a supervisor, I had to learn to always keep an open mind about the people I would encounter.  LaDine

I learned that some soldiers give their lives, but others give their minds. I learned that PTSD is very real and common for so many of our soldiers and vets. My son is finally healing, but he had to come to the conclusion he needed help before that healing process began. Cathy

The most important question I asked these people who were willing to exchange their lives for our freedom was,  “How can civilians do a better job of understanding and supporting Veterans and their families?” 

 Did you know that many studies indicate that 92% of military families felt that the civilian population doesn’t understand or appreciate their sacrifices?

Remember that the liberties you have are because of them.  Joseph

Get to know them. Adonis

Never pretend that you really understand what a veteran has gone through.  David

The best thing a civilian can do is listen to the Soldier and appreciate the sacrifices they made for our country.  David

I needed so much during his service. For someone to tell me that they were praying for him meant so much to me. A hug, a smile, a card, or a simple thank you kept me going. It still means a lot to me to see someone showing honor and pride for our soldiers. When I see one in public, I make a point to tell them thank you.  Cathy

As a Veteran, I still go up to other Veterans and ask them to share their best and worst day of serving in the military.  It helps opens up the door for conversation and allows the Veteran to share their stories.  I feel proud and honored when people do it to me, so I hope that I do the same thing when I do it to others.  LaDine

Today as I sit in a country where I can’t choose what I want to wear when I go out in public, where I can’t drive, where I can’t openly discuss my faith, and where websites are sometimes blocked.  I appreciate more than ever that the little things we take for granted in the U.S. are not a reality for the rest of the world.   

Will you seek out a veteran today, thank them for what they have done for our country and ask them to share their stories?

This story would not be complete without thanking the people in my life that are Veterans.

My Husband Jim was deployed for 14 months when we were still newlyweds.  (You were so worth the wait!)

My Dad Bill.  (I am so proud of you!)

Both of my Grandfathers.

Nearly all of my Uncles – and there are a lot of them!  (With special recognition to my Uncle Larry who volunteered to go to Vietnam in my Dad’s place when I was born early and was hospitalized for a period of time.  Words will never be able to convey the meaning of that gift.)

To numerous cousins and many dear friends.

Your service inspires me.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Image credit: Microsoft

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