I stopped by a remodeling client to make sure she was as excited about the progress as I was. Standing there with a tear in her eye, she uttered these powerful words. The remodel will expand her home so her son, who lives with her, can have privacy while still staying connected to caring for an aging mom. Creating an ADU made sense; however, they needed to bend the rules to accommodate their situation. Typically, an ADU is separated from the 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 paid very little and came 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?
Boise Public Library!
I left that encounter with a new perspective on my work and a new sense of accomplishment and pride. Helping bring a person’s inner positivity, creativity, and imagination back through a simple remodeling project made me beam with pride. It reminds me of the impact the exclamation point had on the Library employees! They had to up their game, as it was an outward expression of an inward passion. It also reminded me of the story of building a cathedral. 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.