A couple of months ago I agreed to voluntarily chair a committee that requires monthly duties. These tasks include creating and updating charts, writing letters, setting up meetings, helping create agendas, and traveling to meet with other groups. I was reluctant to accept this responsibility. The reason I did so was because I realized that no one else was available to fill the position. The amount of work seemed onerous to me. I was anxious about how much time the new job, unpaid even, would take. The whole thing felt like a burden, a new weight on me.
Yesterday I met with a colleague to go over the scope of the responsibilities and the specific tasks. I voiced my trepidation about the amount of time and work that this new responsibility would take. Her response was understanding and gentle. I remember thinking that I should really listen to what she would say, as it could make a big difference in how I handled this new set of responsibilities. Now I will share that the position is for a church organization. This helps to put her response in context. She said, and I paraphrase, “Look on this (work) as a ministry, and remember the service and support that you are giving to others and how important it is.”
A light went on, and in my head I translated this wisdom into my layperson’s language. I said, “Oh I will make this fun.” At the time, I knew exactly what I meant, although in hindsight, fun was not the right word to capture that meaning. In the title of this blog entry I used the word zest. That gets closer to my meaning. (The American Heritage Dictionary’s second definition of zest is “ spirited enjoyment; gusto.)
Let me unpack what I realized. Along with a change in attitude, which I have written about in an earlier blog (2.27.2017), two other changes are necessary for the onerous to become a zestful experience. First, I will have to reflect on my time allocations. I will probably have to give up another activity. I’m fortunate that I have the freedom to do so. And second, when there are requirements of this new work that I am not sure about, or that I don’t know how to do, I need to recognize this and ask for help. I have a tendency to wrestle with difficult-for –me tasks as if I had to figure them out all by myself. No more of that.
Reflecting now on my upcoming new responsibility, I feel much lighter, more nimble, and, actually, I’m looking forward to the challenge. This change opens the door to a new perspective expressed in these questions, what will I learn? And how will I use my expertise to be of assistance to others?