I dropped in on a remodeling client to ensure she was as excited about the progress as I was. Standing there with a tear in her eye, she uttered these powerful words. The reason for the remodel is to expand her home to enable her son, who is living with her, to have the privacy of his place while maintaining the connectivity of caring for an aging mom. Creating an ADU made sense; however, the rules needed to be bent to accommodate their situation. Typically, there is a separation between ADU and primary residence, especially when a second kitchen is involved.
The Ripples We Cause
I was looking for confirmation of the speed and professionalism and the promise of a better space after dealing with the inconvenience of the disruption to the daily routine, but I got a bunch more to chew on. This client spun my head around, “What do you mean?” I asked. She said Her son was in the dumps; nothing was going right. COVID had messed up his employment, and although he had a new job, it was at minimal pay with minimal responsibility. This project has him daydreaming about what he will do with the space, Making him happy and excited again. “He just got a substantial raise, and I believe it is all related,” she said.
How Uplifting Is That?
I left that encounter with a new perspective on my work and a new sense of accomplishment and pride. Being involved in bringing a person’s inner positivity, creativity, and imagination back with a simple remodeling project made me beam with pride. It reminds me of the impact that the exclamation point had on the employees of the Library! They had to up their game as it was an outward expression of an inward passion. It also reminded me of the building of a cathedral story. This put my thoughts into a sharper focus on a more relatable situation.
What Every Parent Wants
I was reading a story about the importance of positivity and resiliency. Still, it is a beautiful feeling to be a part of a child’s return to positivity from a cycle of negativity and depression. It is a fantastic thing for this mother to share. As I roll around it a bit, I share the love with my team as they do with me. Constantly elevating the importance of what we do is an incredible responsibility and duty to society that we take seriously and wear like a crown.
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Although not all projects have such a profound effect on clients, it is sure is nice to be reminded that the outcome of our profession can help people improve their lives.
Mark, thanks for then note. I believe that no matter what we do, (unless we are just putting things back to the way they were after a flood or fire) we inject a bolus of improvement. Not all clients grasp that and therefore are oblivious. The memory of the past pain quickly passes and the new reality is just the new normal. Life is so busy that there is no time for appreciation. A thoughtful client realizes upon reflection how meaningful the project really was. This could take years to happen. This is why I appreciated this story of instant gratification so much. Never underestimate the power of your work. As a paramedic I recall getting more credit than we deserved on some calls and none when we really deserved it. I figure it all comes out in the wash.