P2P

106 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 M E M B E R R E S O U R C E S Peace in the Storm In 2021, there has been much to reflect on and let's face it, it is difficult to reflect on 2021, without reflecting on 2020. The two seem to kind of go together. With this deep reflection I typically ask a big question… 'How have you grown?' That question caused an audible sigh and a visual chest heave and shoulder raise as I typed. How have I grown? What can I take away, educationally, from this year? When I look back at 2020, what I learned was very personal. I learned to value the time I have with friends and family; to savor the moments that take place. Don't miss experiences or memories being made, and remember sometimes a tomato plant is actually better, it is lemon balm. My 2021 Opened with a bang: six weeks of personal Covid, deaths of family and friends to Covid, discussions on vaccinations for Covid, shifting of events for Covid, changing how we, here at ILTA, do events because of Covid, learning to be more safe while trying to be engaging because of Covid, learning to shift quickly and make multiple plans for the unexpected, because each month brings something new. Covid, changed how we do business. It changed education. It changed how events are conducted. These things, especially how we meet in person, will be forever changed. This means we will, for some time, continue to plan multiple events in pieces, for a single execution because, planning for the 'WHAT IF?' is real. So, in this time of stressful change, more work than hours, staff changes, priorities and demand… how have I grown? Patience. Calmness in the midst of the storm. Always looking for new solutions, in case the course of action needs to change. Peace, In the midst of the Storm. Whether we will be tossed about in a storm, or just getting rained on, my survival pack has definitely taken on new gear and so has my mind. 2022 offers possibility, but with it, we bring the savor of 2020 and the strategic survival gear from 2021. You may ask yourself, why are you doing X (fill in the blank). Rest assured, there is a survival tactic, or gear assessment that is taking place with that change. Because as we move forward into 2022, all decisions have a thorough checklist to ensure we have covered the 'what if's'. These are exciting times, and where else in our history have we been given this opportunity? Let's hope it's the only time, but being in this time, we are sure to shine, even if the clouds are dark and gloomy and the rain pours down, we have a lantern that will brightly light the way. ILTA by Dawn Hudgins Dawn Hudgins VP of Service Delivery ILTA At year end, I always like to conclude with a hearty reflection…

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