Those that know me, know that I love my job. There’s a lot to love, but when it comes right down to it for me it’s about being part of something bigger. It’s what most people want. That’s why the mob mentality works so well, it’s where people derive hope, it’s why people find a group of friends, it’s how people get into cliques. Motives vary, but in most ways that people become a part of something — they are exactly that, a part of something that is bigger because there are other people who take part. They are a part of the whole. We know, as a people, that power can come behind numbers, the more people, the more efficacy something will likely have (that paired with successful leadership).  

What makes my job so great, and the days that are truly great are the days that I realize that not only am I a part. I am not simply that, I am making something bigger. I am shaping something bigger. That something bigger, is me. It’s us, it’s what we do. I’m not jumping on any bandwagon. I’m not a part of a style or a trend. I am a designer, but more importantly I am a contributor in the studio. And what makes me realize that it’s something bigger than me, are those with whom I work. We get along well, very well, in fact. Outside of work, it’s unlikely I would have ever spent much time with them. Inside of work, we mesh, and when we go outside of work – we mesh. I bring my own ethos into the studio. A set of values that I hold dear, and that is one large part of the studio. I’m fortunate that my ethos jives well with that of the studio, but sometimes I think that’s because my ethos is the studio’s ethos, at least in part. It’s my set of values, my bosses ethos, and that of my coworkers. It just so happens that what we believe is right, and important, becomes the soul of the studio. 

Think of it as a mission statement that aligns with the heart of every employee, when we are in our best selves. Even if that changes, so does the present and the future of the studio. It’s magical. It keeps my life vibrant on the deepest level. I couldn’t be more grateful to have a position where I do, doing what I do, and working to be better every day.

Fall is one of those seasons that sneaks up on you. I know it almost seems like all of them do, all in their own way. But I always forget about fall, I always forget how lovely a season it is. I always expect spring to be a respite from the cold. I expect the first snow to fall and then melt away. I expect the long, hot days of summer. But it’s always fall that I forget. I always forget about wearing my big down vest from the 70s, and double-layering a long sleeved tee with a short sleeved shirt and going out and being just a little bit chilly. I always forget about how you get to wear a scarf without a jacket. The light breezes and the leaves changing. It’s the pleasant forgetfulness that I love so much. It’s like a brilliant and fun memory that someone reminds you of, and you remember it like the day you first experienced it. You remember that feeling. Fall reminds me of playing in the leaves. It reminds me of going to soccer practices and having it just cool enough to not be overheating after an intense drill. It reminds me of sitting on the sidelines to sports games. 

I’m not exactly sure if it’s summer that distracts me. Or if, in the past, it was the beginning of school, or the idea of work, that would keep my mind off of how much I loved it. And being forced, or finding a way to be outside – that’s the biggest gift of all.