Yes, It’s Worth It!

Nonprofit Director Offers Thoughts On Daily Living

Someone asked me the other day if it’s all worth it.

They saw me on a day that I was particularly frustrated about something or another. It was hot, and I was running late, and was stressed, and when they asked me…well, in that moment, I wasn’t sure it was worth it.

Because this is hard. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s not hard to build a dream from the ground up. Its early mornings, late nights and never enough time in between. It’s missing your family and spending too much time with your volunteers. Its too many bills and not enough pay checks. It’s some people not knowing your business’ name and others dragging that name through the mud. Its broken air conditioners, dirty floors, stuck doors and drawers and sweat from your pores and my God, what is it all for?

Stop. Breathe. Look.

What do you see?

Look past the frustrations. Look past the money, time, sweat and tears. Look closer and you may see that the building blocks of your dream are pieces of your life. They are carved out one hour at a time, lovingly placed, and then stuck together with mortar made from determination and will power.

What do you see?

You see friends and family who are helping keep the lights on and the doors open. You see volunteers who go above and beyond to shine your dream up and present it to the world. You see members of your community who have made these four walls their home. That’s when you realize that you have built something that will outlast you.

You and your band have created a small organized sound in the midst of the chaotic clanging of the universe, the echo of which will reverberate into the next generation. By determinedly tossing your small pebbles into the pond of eternity, you all have created waves that will continue to lap against the shore long after you are gone.

What do you see?

You see your legacy.

And suddenly, the answer is clear: of course it’s all worth it. You may be merely a cog in the wheel that never stops turning. But because you lived and worked and toiled, you have made at least a small difference in the world.

Yes. It’s worth it. When you think of it, what could be worth more?