THE LOOP
Olivia

Show Up

Last night while watching a Keanu Reeves movie with a bunch of high schoolers and racking my brain for something to write about for the loop, my boy Keanu threw down some wisdom with the following phrase: "What I've learned from you all is that really one of the most important things in life is showing up."
 
Consistency is a trait that can be hard to come by. Life gets busy, things get hectic, and when push comes to shove it can be hard to follow through sometimes. But when I stand back and look at my life and think of influential figures that have really shaped who I am today, my first thought isn't my favorite designer or speaker or author. The people that stand out by a mile are the people who consistently chose to show up for me. Regardless of whether they felt they weren't their best self or were too busy or tired, they still showed up and that simple act alone has had a profound impact on my life. 
Simply showing up holds so much weight in the lives of others. I challenge you to show up for the people in yours! Follow through with those commitments. Volunteer somewhere and make a habit of it. Be there for your friends and family, even when it's hard. Write a far-away friend a letter. It may make more of an impact than you know
In other news, HAPPY THURSDAY! Look how close we are to a three day weekend:

 

Courtney

The Things You Learn From a 3 Year Old

Recently, while babysitting one of my nephews, we got to play with all of his new toys he got for Christmas. He was especially proud to show me his brand new (surprisingly realistic) garbage truck. You see, his dad is an Operations Manager for Waste Management. Even though he doesn’t actually drive the garbage trucks, my nephew has associated every iconic green and dirty truck with his dear old dad.

 

I stopped picking up pretend garbage outside of lincoln-log houses to ask my nephew “Will you be a garbage man when you grow up?” and to my amusement he replied sorrowfully “No, my daddy says I can’t be, but I reeaaalllllyyy want to be one.” I tried not to laugh as I offered other potential career opportunities, including a fireman or policeman.

 

Now, obviously a dad just wants the absolute best for his son, and I’m sure my nephew’s aspirations will change over the years, but I couldn’t help but feel for the little guy in the same way I do for some adults.

 

In conducting interviews, I run into people on a daily basis stuck in jobs they aren’t passionate about, and it’s always like a light bulb switches on over their head when you discover what they really are passionate about, whether it’s art or health coaching or their families; you name it, I’ve heard it. Running into these people makes me extra grateful that: 1. I’m doing what I’m most passionate about, and 2. that I’m in a company that loves to help people discover their passions and strengths, and gives them opportunities to utilize them.

 

If you’re not doing what you’re most passionate about today, I would encourage you to take a step towards that. Be active in looking for where you can apply your passions here in this company and outside of it. Have conversations with your manager about where you want to be in your review, and if your dream is to drive around a big green truck and pick up people’s garbage, by all means, get going. We’ll support you!

 

Nery

Story Time with Nery

Crowley is one of those magical places; a rare place where the wild still overpowers the developed. He was a young boy making his way west in search of an untamed land and adventure. One of the most memorable ones was the time he met a girl. 

He had been exploring the many naturally occurring hot springs in the area and had been invited to join a group of friends to one nearby named boardwalk. As the sun began to set, they made their way out into the arid desert landscape in search of this hydrothermal activity.  We all settled into the warm water; the dark night sky gleamed with the inconsistent light of countless stars. The smell of sage and the wonderful company was what he thought would be the most memorable part of this night, as slowly they all began to leave. 

He hung back from the group waiting for the girl he had just met; in hopes of spending more time with her. As they walked slowly back to the car, the night was going just as he had hoped.

All of a sudden, they hear rapid footsteps approaching them. A large dark figure misses them by a few feet. There was no bravery in the young man's voice nor confidence; he let out what could only be described as a shriek as he asked, "what was that!" They both stood frozen, unsure of what to do as the dark figure circled its way back around. Its deep heavy breathing giving them a clue to what had just attacked us. The Bull now ten feet away, still just a black figure against the night sky, drags its foot across the hardened desert floor. 

They ran. The bull charges behind them, its speed unnatural as if fueled by their fear. It would criss-cross the path they were running on stumbling over the boards. as it closed in, a heavy thud rang out; in the darkness, the bull had tripped over the boardwalk the two were running on allowing them time to get away. 

Exhausted from their narrow escape, they sat on the hood of his car laughing late into the night in a little town named Crowley.