Five Reasons Why I Work
Work has picked up lately. More specifically, travel for work has picked up lately.
When I’m not on the road, I work from an office in my house. In my yoga pants.
Travel means putting on big-girl clothes like the rest of you do every day. Makeup. Shoes.
I have to look like a real live human being. And sit in conference rooms and draw on whiteboards and lead conversations and make decisions. That takes a lot of effort, and to be honest, some days I wonder if it’s worth it.
I wonder why.
Last February, I was honored to meet Laura Wilson of Strings for Hope.
Laura makes wearable art from broken guitar strings and donates the profits to feed the hungry. Laura’s passion for beauty, saving the environment (strings can’t be recycled because they’re mixed metals) AND for feeding the hungry/addressing poverty here and abroad really pulled at my heart.
And starting today, Laura and her friends will be selling their wearable art at Bonnaroo!
I wear one of Laura’s bracelets when I go to the office now. Sure, It looks cool, but more importantly, it also reminds me…
There’s a reason I work.
I work not for my ego or my passion for managing projects or for SharePoint; no, I work as a fundraiser for the dreams of my heart.
- I work to give my kids opportunities they never would have had in Ukraine.
- I work to keep them insured and to fill up the college fund.
- I work to sponsor kids in Mexico and India.
- I work to give like no one else.
- I work to leave the world a better place than I found it.
Thanks for reminding me of that every day, Laura.
Why do you work? Leave a comment… And then go visit Laura’s website and buy something. Buy a lot of somethings. And send her your old broken guitar strings.
Photo credit: Macomb Paynes (Creative Commons)
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
I needed this today! Thanks for sharing. I love what Laura is doing! So excited for her. I am working for very similar things, but in the summer, when the kids are off and all the neighborhood seems to be having fun, it can be really hard to remember why I work! Love your posts.
The sun is out, there’s a light breeze, the fish are frolicking in the pond….and I’m sitting on conference calls all day. Maybe I should wear the bracelet when I’m home too?
“I work as a fundraiser for the dreams of my heart.” That is an absolutely knock-your-socks-off incredible line! Thank you Christine!
Thanks, Ben! I’ve heard similar statements from people a lot smarter than me…in fact, I think you’ve said something pretty darn similar. Keep supporting your dreams, too!
Thanks for the sweet words. I hit the stage with Strings for Hope that I couldn’t NOT do it. It’s worth every minute.
Laura, your whole story is so inspiring to me…I’m feeling that same “can’t not do it” thing!