Choosing Gratitude as 2020 Fades

I opened up LinkedIn today and saw this great article by Aaron Blank, a Seattle colleague. Aaron wrote about gratitude and giving grace to one another as we close the book on this year. And then he listed things for which he is thankful. So, transparently acknowledging I am stealing Aaron's idea:

I am grateful to be part of an organization that is doing something to help kids in this difficult time. I joined League of Education Voters as the CEO a year ago after long wanting to be the CEO of an organization that helps youth in under-resourced communities. And I am grateful for this job every day. We work with communities to advocate for kids, especially those who have for so long been disproportionately impacted and are only more affected during distance learning.

I am grateful for my staff and board, who work hard, care deeply and have navigated through these incredibly difficult days together, keeping focused on the goal of helping kids.

I am grateful for the education community, which has shown incredible kindness since I joined my organization a year ago. The community is full of dedicated, hardworking and passionate leaders that I feel so fortunate to work alongside. From Equity in Education Coalition to Graduate Tacoma, from College Spark to WaStem, from College Success Foundation to Technology Access Foundation, from El Centro de la Raza to Treehouse. I cannot count all of the talented and inspiring thought-leaders whom I have met in the last year. I appreciate your advice and counsel and look forward to what we can do together.

I am grateful for our donors and supporters who help our organization thrive, even in difficult days, from the Gates Foundation to Microsoft, from Pemco to Kaiser Permanente to Boeing. We would not be able to do this work without your generosity and belief in the league.

I am grateful for Seattle 4 Rotary, which I recently rejoined. Having a place to gather with others who put "service above self" helps me navigate these challenging days. And I am also grateful for the array of conferences and seminars I attend all of the time (virtually, of course), making me a better leader and helping me improve.

I am grateful I am trying to own my own role in a racist world and do better. I am trying to work on being a more powerful anti-racist and help others come along with me. I have joined discussion groups and book clubs, brought in help at work and am constantly trying to acknowledge where I can do better. Let me know if you want to do any of this work with me in 2021.

I am grateful for my dear friends, whom I do not get to see these days. I miss going to lectures, concerts, theaters, fundraisers and other events with you. COVID-19 is not easy on compulsively extroverted people, but I know we will see each other again. We will see theater. We will sing, raise money, celebrate holidays and more. I miss you though!

I am grateful for living on an island. During this pandemic, I have been able to work remotely (I live on an island near Seattle), which I know is a privilege. I have been lucky to take many calls while walking to try to improve my health and am grateful for all of the colleagues who have been patient with me as I navigated dropped calls. I am also blessed that I live near the water, so this year I was able to take up kayaking. It has helped me finally try to focus on my own fitness and also provided peace in turbulent times.

I am grateful I was able to go back to school at University of Washington after a 35 year break to complete my long-delayed Bachelor's. I have been attending school on the weekends for a year now and will be getting my Integrated Social Sciences degree in March. I am especially excited about my focus of study around Institutional Racism, which has given me time to really focus on this critical issue. It has not been easy at times to juggle with my job, but I cannot remember the last thing that made me so proud of myself. And I am already planning next steps for my Masters! It's never too late to learn.

I am grateful for my family's health, including my father, who had a difficult Fall, and my wonderful grown children, who make me proud every day (as well as my 2020 "colleague", my husband who has been trapped in this house with me, working remotely in the next room).

Finally, as we head into the holiday season, I know many people like to support good causes. A few that I would recommend: https://educationvoters.org/donate/ is my own organization and we would be honored to have you become part of our work. I also support Mary's Place, which helps to make sure all children have shelter in these cold days. Please support their No Child Sleeps Outside campaign. Finally, I also support Treehouse, which helps youth in foster care, and they would appreciate your support.

2020 has not been easy. 2021 is not going to magically be any easier. But I am also very aware that it has been much easier for me than it has for others. And I am grateful.

Lauri