5 Year Anniversary

My team did the kindest thing for me at work this week.  It was my 5 year anniversary at work and they planned a surprise zoom call that they called "Urgent Escalation".  But when I jumped on it was all of them wishing me a happy work anniversary.  Then each of them took turns telling a story, memory or impression when they first met me.   It warmed my heart and filled my cup like nothing I have ever experienced at work. 

These folks mean the world to me and I really care that they are happy, learning and fulfilled.  And what they told me is that they feel it.   One of them told me that I went around the room at one of our Summits and said something I appreciate about each of them.  And when I got to her I said that I appreciate that she is a "quiet thinker".  She said she had never been so seen and heard at work before that.

There were tears from everyone.  And the last one was from Rick, who was my first coworker before I started building the team to the 14 people it is now.  He brought up a picture of me holding his baby who is now almost 5 years old and talked about all the things I have supported him on in his personal life.  There was not a dry eye in the house.

People always pressure me to retire and they can't understand why I don't.  This is the reason why.  These are amazing human's that I am surrounded by at work.  99% percent of the time work gives me energy.  The other 1% of the time, things like this happen.