Lessons From The Greenhouse

I have always been unapologeticaly uniquely me (Exhibit A: my choice of outfit and props for my high school senior pic), and if people don't like me, well ... I am truthfully deeply troubled inside, but I still don't change myself to gain their approval. This is why it's been so hard for me to admit to myself that how I have judged my own worth for all these years has been severely misguided. It hit me earlier this year when I heard these lyrics in the song "Careful" by SYML: Take pride in who you are not what you do. When I heard those words it was like a grand aura took over my mind and body, with a clarifying message. THIS IS IT. This is everything you've been unknowingly working on. This is the meaning of it all. ⚘ ⚘ ⚘  Somehow through all of my life experiences, I had gotten this mixed up. I had put so much emphasis on  what I did and how well I did it that it became my only gauge of whether or not  I was good. I was constantly focusing on all of the th...

Before we dive in, let me give you some personal history that will help provide some context to the lessons to come. I grew up dreaming of becoming an architect. I built card houses, sketched house designs, and took over the kitchen table with a Lego village of my creation. In high school I started making decisions that revolved around achieving the dream. I elected every possible CAD related class in school and I attended an architecture summer program at UW-Milwaukee. I went to college, majored in architecture, got my first job in architecture, went back for my masters and then landed my dream job at a small firm. I logged my hours at work, studied for and passed 7 exams, and I did it ... I finally became an architect. Intentionally or otherwise, I surrounded myself by the profession - most of my friends (including my husband) were connected to the field. I participated in a 7 month leadership program specifically for architects. I joined the leadership for my local section of AIA (A...