Every Friday when I sit down to write this blog, I feel myself working hard to brush away all the clutter of the week. You know…the meetings, the conference calls, the deadlines, the worries, and my reactions to all of the above – to try to get down the essence of what matters.
 
I had the good fortune this Tuesday, ‘round about noon to be sitting in a room with some of the most passionate, committed, hard working people I know. We were there to honor a colleague who is moving on, to her next right thing. (We’re going to miss you Tracy!)
 
And I found myself, as I often do when I have the privilege of being with these colleagues, wondering at my good fortune, really at our good fortune in Michigan. While these colleagues certainly aren’t the only people, by a long strength, who are doing amazing work in early childhood in our state, they happen to be “my” people and so for me they hold an extra special place on my life list of wonders known.
 
 I say “my” people because they are the staff and contract employees for the Great Start work at ECIC. As I sat amidst the hustle and bustle of a shared lunch, I found myself looking at each and every face and in a moment recalling something they said or did that just bowled me over, literally knocked me down, with how thoughtful and important it was, and how much it helped me in my work to have them share that idea, insight, criticism, hope, dream or worry with me. Through my relationships with them I grow and learn. Thankfully they are an exceptionally kind bunch when it comes to tolerating my learning curve.
 
I share these thoughts with you because I can imagine that you also have truly wonderful and amazing folks working for and with you. If you are anything like me – you aren’t spending enough time telling people how much they help you do your work and from the heart, what their commitment and passion mean to you, as a person, as a fellow human being engaged in this hard, hard work for babies, toddlers and preschoolers, and those who adore them.
 
With my hand on my heart, I promise to all the ECIC great starters to make sure each and every one on you hears, much more often, my ardent appreciation for your work and contributions. I hope you choose to do the same with whoever matters most to you in your work just as soon as you can.