February Editors Alley

So how can we turn this month of drudgery back into the month of love and rediscover our passion for our work? I know you don’t have much free time right now, but let’s take one moment to ponder this question.

If you were lucky like I was, you had the pleasure of kicking off the month of February at the 2023 CSMFO Annual Conference in Sacramento. And what an amazing event it was! We went from one session to the next, expanding our knowledge and developing the tools to tackle the challenges ahead of us. We were inspired by the passionate keynote speakers who remind us why we get out of bed every morning and do the things we do. We swapped stories at coffee breaks and cocktail receptions, and connected with a community of professionals who are all struggling with the same issues and are here to support one another. And we sat in awe of the amazing group of dedicated and passionate volunteers who gave their time and efforts to ensure that they provided the best possible conference experience to our membership.

So, while I may have returned from Sacramento to few hundred emails and a dozen voicemails, I also returned with a sense of purpose. And sometimes during the most stressful times, we just need to stop and remind ourselves that what we do really matters to our communities, even if our efforts aren’t directly visible to the public. That third nutrition audit of the year helped secure the funds that provided tens of thousands of meals to our seniors during the pandemic. That late night infrastructure board meeting will ultimately result in safer streets and new playground equipment for our kids. And that budget that will eventually be balanced will provide a year’s worth of services to our residents and businesses while building reserves to protect our communities from future economic challenges. The value of our work is evident everywhere we look, from the light switches that work to the ambulance that shows up when we need it to the kid discovering new books at the library. I think my cold finance grinch heart grew three sizes just now.

Lastly, as long as we’re in the month of love, let’s give a little bit of that love to ourselves. Finding your passion at work is important, but an unbalanced life can quickly turn that passion into resentment. Maybe February doesn’t provide the days of leisure time we had during the holidays, but surely there’s a weekend or a few evening hours in which you can find some time for the things that bring you joy and make you whole. For me, it’s anything from reading to my daughter at bedtime to heading to the mountains to ski some fresh powder after those winter storms. Whatever it may be for you, remember to stop, take a breath, and give that bit of joy to yourself. You can’t pour your heart and soul into your community without filling it up occasionally.

Yes, my friends, February is one tough month, but its days are numbered and spring is approaching. Keep reminding yourself of your purpose and your passions, and the winter storms will subside before you know it.