December 31, 2019
I woke up this morning wondering what word I should pick for my focus in 2020. A "word of the year" is a tradition passed down to me from daughter Lindsey and I'm grateful for her sharing.
After a few considerations I landed on the word "clarity". Fitting with the theme of vision that will undoubtedly be written about plenty in the year 2020. I would love for 20/20 foresight as well as hindsight this year! Maybe if I focus on clarity it will help.
But the past couple years I've come up with a word only to change it in a couple days. After dwelling on the word for a bit, another one would take it's place. ('dwell' was Lindsey's word a few years ago).
It happened again - and this time after a couple hours.
In 2019 I bent the rules a little and had two words: "take action" (followed up mid year with "take control"). In 2020 I've decided that a word isn't enough - I'm going to have a Bible verse of the year.
While getting my morning "walk with God" (I'll explain in another post) I was researching a verse to go with the advice I left for my coworkers to "Live Joyfully". I came across an article with 10 verses related to Joyful Living.
Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer".
So clarity is still my word (for now) and Romans 12:12 is my verse.
How about you? Want to join the 'word of the year' club? How about a verse for the year?
Living joyfully, working heartily.
Hugh
Florida 2019
Treasure Island Resort
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Parting words...Live Joyfully - Work Heartily
What can I leave behind for my coworkers to help them remember me and more importantly give some inspiration? I started jotting down short sayings and thinking of ways I could leave behind something worthwhile. Then it came to me - Jenga!
If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you haven't played this popular game of strategy. It involves 54 wood tiles stacked on top of each other in rows of three tiles, each row rotated 90 degrees from each other. The object of the game is to see how you can remove tiles from the base and add them to the top of the tower, trying to make it as tall as possible. When the tower falls, the players shout "Jenga"!
The name "Jenga" comes from the Swahili word "kujenga" which means "to build". That seemed fitting also for Drawform at a time of rebuilding.
I've had a thousand ideas that never 'got legs' but this isn't one of those. I went to Target and bought two Jenga games, enough for each employee that works at a desk. I decided to draw the line with "office" employees because that's who I engaged with the most.
Now, what to write on the tile? Not much space to write and most of the phrases I had considered were 4 words. Lots of options but nothing seemed quite right. I received my inspiration later in the day at an unlikely place, a funeral service. My wife's aunt had died on Christmas on her 93rd birthday (pretty remarkable to come and go on Christmas day). After singing an old hymn in the service a new combination came to mind: "Live Joyfully - Work Heartily".
Live Joyfully - Romans 12:12
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer". See my next post for more about this.
Work Heartily - Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"
(Heartily = with all your heart)
I decided to split the phrase and put two words on each side of the tile. This was a bit time-consuming (but most gifts of love are made with that precious resource - time). I put their name on the end of the tile and setup the game so the names were exposed. I took some pictures of this to show how each person plays a supportive role in Drawform. Everyone is valuable and should feel valued.
(if you don't see your name in the tower it's because I only bought one game first, took the photos and had to go back and get a second game to include more friends)
The tiles were delivered to the desks of my coworkers.
I'll be sending an e-mail out explaining the tile with a link to this post.
So my friends - keep your balance! Build the tower to new heights!
If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you haven't played this popular game of strategy. It involves 54 wood tiles stacked on top of each other in rows of three tiles, each row rotated 90 degrees from each other. The object of the game is to see how you can remove tiles from the base and add them to the top of the tower, trying to make it as tall as possible. When the tower falls, the players shout "Jenga"!
The name "Jenga" comes from the Swahili word "kujenga" which means "to build". That seemed fitting also for Drawform at a time of rebuilding.
I've had a thousand ideas that never 'got legs' but this isn't one of those. I went to Target and bought two Jenga games, enough for each employee that works at a desk. I decided to draw the line with "office" employees because that's who I engaged with the most.
Now, what to write on the tile? Not much space to write and most of the phrases I had considered were 4 words. Lots of options but nothing seemed quite right. I received my inspiration later in the day at an unlikely place, a funeral service. My wife's aunt had died on Christmas on her 93rd birthday (pretty remarkable to come and go on Christmas day). After singing an old hymn in the service a new combination came to mind: "Live Joyfully - Work Heartily".
Live Joyfully - Romans 12:12
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer". See my next post for more about this.
Work Heartily - Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"
(Heartily = with all your heart)
I decided to split the phrase and put two words on each side of the tile. This was a bit time-consuming (but most gifts of love are made with that precious resource - time). I put their name on the end of the tile and setup the game so the names were exposed. I took some pictures of this to show how each person plays a supportive role in Drawform. Everyone is valuable and should feel valued.
(if you don't see your name in the tower it's because I only bought one game first, took the photos and had to go back and get a second game to include more friends)
The tiles were delivered to the desks of my coworkers.
I'll be sending an e-mail out explaining the tile with a link to this post.
So my friends - keep your balance! Build the tower to new heights!
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Thanks for the memories!
Wow, I haven't posted here in seven years!
But I have some news to share and decided to revert back to Blogger because it's time to reflect on the past - I'm retiring from full time employment.
After 40 years in IT (well, it started as DP - Data Processing and changed names several times along the way but we'll call it Information Technology for now) I'm stretching my wings to see what the good Lord has in store beyond the walls of a manufacturing company.
Those 40 years spanned across 4 decades, nipping the corners of 6 (I'm counting the fact that I'll be working in 2020 part time in IT). From 1979 to 2020, an interesting era in computing! The number of changes in technology across that time is remarkable.
https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1979/ This link is to a history of computing by decade.
Ten years at ODL (Ottawa Door Light) in Zeeland https://www.odl.com/
Thirty years at Drawform (now ITW Drawform) http://www.itwdrawform.com/
I poured a substantial part of my heart and soul into these two organizations. I hope my contribution helped them and more importantly helped the people I worked with.
A special "thank you" to my peers for making 40 years go by so quickly and put so many great memories in my 'pocket' to take with me.
Another special "thank you" to Larry Mulder and Ron Griffith. Owners of the two companies at the time I was hired. Each made me feel especially welcome and valued. It's great to see these men on the street yet today and be able to get a hug or firm handshake.
I started this blog around 2008 because it was "the thing to do" back then.
And called it "More Than IT".
Because Information Technology has been a large part of my life - but life is SO much more than IT!
And I've decided to stick with that theme in the days ahead. I've started "More than IT LLC" and will be developing a part time business under that shingle.
Stay tuned for more about that adventure. And please stay in touch using whatever method works best for you!
But I have some news to share and decided to revert back to Blogger because it's time to reflect on the past - I'm retiring from full time employment.
After 40 years in IT (well, it started as DP - Data Processing and changed names several times along the way but we'll call it Information Technology for now) I'm stretching my wings to see what the good Lord has in store beyond the walls of a manufacturing company.
Those 40 years spanned across 4 decades, nipping the corners of 6 (I'm counting the fact that I'll be working in 2020 part time in IT). From 1979 to 2020, an interesting era in computing! The number of changes in technology across that time is remarkable.
https://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1979/ This link is to a history of computing by decade.
Ten years at ODL (Ottawa Door Light) in Zeeland https://www.odl.com/
Thirty years at Drawform (now ITW Drawform) http://www.itwdrawform.com/
I poured a substantial part of my heart and soul into these two organizations. I hope my contribution helped them and more importantly helped the people I worked with.
A special "thank you" to my peers for making 40 years go by so quickly and put so many great memories in my 'pocket' to take with me.
Another special "thank you" to Larry Mulder and Ron Griffith. Owners of the two companies at the time I was hired. Each made me feel especially welcome and valued. It's great to see these men on the street yet today and be able to get a hug or firm handshake.
I started this blog around 2008 because it was "the thing to do" back then.
And called it "More Than IT".
Because Information Technology has been a large part of my life - but life is SO much more than IT!
And I've decided to stick with that theme in the days ahead. I've started "More than IT LLC" and will be developing a part time business under that shingle.
Stay tuned for more about that adventure. And please stay in touch using whatever method works best for you!
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Home is where the heart is - right?
After nearly twenty two years living at 2661 Meadow Drive, we have decided to downsize. When Shelly and I designed our simple, traditional house we were thinking mainly about our three beautiful daughters and decided to have all our bedrooms on the second floor.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
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