 A vintage alarm clock. Those of us who dedicate our energy to the act of care in all of our forms understand the role of time. Central to "professionalism" exists our interaction with time. We spend time, waste time, earn time off, because time is money. But is it. How exactly? Work pauses when a student sits across from you, crying. A patient. Client. In the course of our work, time required to care too often goes unrecognized. Yet, this same care outlined and demanded by mission statements and President's speeches call us to care. But workloads ignore this crucial element of time. Care requires time, and we must re-examine time beyond immediate financial gain: its true value.
And what does patience and urgency look like in rooms where decisions are made on behalf of others? Introducing urgency causes us to oversimplify and ignore the valid role of emotions. Those who slow down process to inject emotions are labeled, you guessed it, "unprofessional". The real definition of an emotional reaction is "rational". Complex questions require time. What is the harm in slowing down especially when spaces of advocacy? When someone hears, "You're late," those two words literally change a person. We don't stop to help a person in need when, if given time, our nature prevails and help is offered. So we ask you, what would happen if you slowed down? Comment below: "Where in your life do you need to slow down?" Exhale and imagine you have all the time you need. Because you do.
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These last few years felt like they deserved their own names and who am I to not oblige? 2022 was the Year of Timing (aka The Year of Rhythm), and last year told me that 2023 needs to be all about me: Me time, me shine...I was like, "Whoa," because even now, with five month's practice, it still got that layer of self-centered, sticky ego taste. But why?
Why hide our jewels from the world, especially when others helped with our mining, gem selection, cut, and a pristine polish? We must know how to celebrate each other, and why. So why not practice telling each other the specifics (aka "Buy my mixtape!"). Full stop. When we make good work, especially with the assistance of so many, it must be shared. Equity shares what is good and that tastes waaaay better than "self-centered". This is my work for 2023: Balancing my desire for humility with my command to share what is good. Since November 2019: Hundreds attended the monthly circles, dozens contributed to the creation of the very first community created and evaluated equity assessment tool and process with proven success (orgs anonymous), supported contractors with $200/hour work on their own time, and a colleagues who showed me love and support with their ear, shoulder, time, and expertise. So shiny! Here, promoting my "Self" actually means "Us". And look at what we've built, it's the future and we've rebalanced it to prepare for us all. Welcome. That's Equity. - Julia Ismael, Head Architect of Aspirations Julia@TheEquityConsortium.com |
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