Welcome to 2024

“New Year, New Me.”

“Out with the old, in with the new. “

“This year will be different.”

“I will start on Monday.”

Yeah yeah, whatever. This isn’t one of those posts. I mean, it is because it’s New Year’s Day AND Monday, but that’s just a coincidence.

I am not consistent with the blog, but I still think it’s important. I’m not dwelling on the past. I’m not looking back. I’m not looking at what I didn’t do, personally or professionally. It’s not about what I didn’t accomplish last year. It’s about reflecting on the good times (and bad) of last year, the last few years, etc. It’s recognizing patterns, rediscovering (or better yet, accepting) who I am and moving forward with that.

“Photography gives you the opportunity to use your sensibility and everything you are to say something about and be part of the world around you. In this way, you might discover who you are, and with a little luck, you might discover something much larger than yourself.” — Peter Lindbergh

I rediscovered my why for Scouting last year. (If you haven’t already, read through the previous entries) As much as I am a photographer, I am a Scout as well. Once an Eagle Scout, Always an Eagle Scout. I am always looking to help people. It’s who I am. It’s what I do.

I’m not a person who makes resolutions to change myself for the New Year. I do have goals to work on this year, some of which are an extension of last year. Just because the calendar changes, doesn’t mean that my motivation or reasoning is different.

My vision is to use my passions for people, the outdoors, and photography to build a better world where people are self-fulfilled and being their best selves.

Inspiring Others

This is going to sound like a copy of a post several months ago. (Leading and Learning) It is, but it isn’t.

Being an adult in Scouting can sometimes be WAY more challenging than being a youth in Scouting. As an adult, we know so many things already. We know what skills we have (or don’t have). We know what it feels like to be embarrassed or self conscious about trying new things. We know what it feels like to be judged. Don’t get me wrong, the youth have all of these same feelings too, but somehow they don’t let them hold them back the way adults do. For as outgoing and extroverted as I am, I hate being the “expert” or the one in charge. I really don’t like having everyone look at me as the authority. I’m the same as you, I just happen to be on the other side.

I was reminded of this again a few weeks again at a BALOO training that I was once again Course Director for. This course was about the same size as the last one, but had so many different challenges. (Ask my staff, I was a little frazzled as we got closer to training weekend). As always, the staff and I rallied and put on a great training session for the adults.

How do I know it was great? Not only from the surveys, but from an email I got from one of the participants. With their permission, I have taken a few key remarks from them:

“Your willingness to accommodate her with her social anxiety went a long way…This was her 1st training with Scouts. She had a great time…Another positive note is she is looking forward to IOLS next fall. Again everytime someone asks her how was it she says it was great!!” — anonymous

That right there. That is why we do what we do. If our staff and the other participants could make her feel this welcome, included, and engaged, think about what she kind of influence she is going to have on the youth in her unit. (Note that IOLS is a similar training at the troop level, a step up from what she did with us) Not only did she have a great time, but she is ready for more.

It’s been said before but I think it needs to be repeated: “We are all here because we have the same heart.” That’s it. Couldn’t say it better. All we (the leaders) do in Scouting is for the youth. If we help adults along the way, that is just an extra bonus.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F. Kennedy

I certainly think that with feedback like that, we are embodying the Scouting spirit and truly living by it. Continue to change lives.