Today I was at the CPRS conference and as I saw people I knew I couldn’t help but smile. After a day of workshops and social gatherings I thought about how lucky I was to be in such a great industry. When I go to work I am juiced (on most days) about seeing my co-workers and running programs for the kids and families in the community. It wasn’t always that way.
Not long ago I was working as a front office manager at a nice, limited service hotel in San Diego, CA. While I liked my front desk staff I dreaded going to work. Whether it was mean and ungrateful guests, a crazy General Manager, my frustrations with the head of maintenance or the corporate office telling me to oversell the property, I wanted out of there, and I couldn’t understand why I had left the recreation field to go back to the hotel industry.
I have friends that are in business and/or sales and make twice what I do (or more), but they hate their jobs – with a passion – and work obscene hours. What kind of life is that? They look at me with envy in their eyes, but they are living just within their means, driving the latest model BMW, living in the largest place they can afford, and going out as much as possible. They wouldn’t dare leave a lucrative job to follow their heart. It’s sad. I am so grateful for what I have, and being around people like you remind me of that.
There are a lot of things I love about the recreation community, but my favorite part is the people, my colleagues…you all. So (raising my imaginary glass) here’s to us and our choice of careers.
