Ryan's Thought for the Week 1.22.25

Happy Snow day! My wife, Katie, and I spent the last 4 days decluttering the house. It was overdue since the last time we did any meaningful sorting of some spaces was back in 2018 when we moved. We found some “long-lost” items and discovered things we didn’t realize were collecting dust in a closet. We laughed a lot at our past selves who had questionable judgment when it comes to discerning the value of an item. I also learned that Katie will nearly always find a gift card or cash when she’s going through old bags. I wish I were so lucky! What’s stuck with me as we hunker down in the house as the snow slowly melts (and refreezes) outside, is the sense of freedom and creativity that’s returned. Katie mentioned it after our first big project was complete: “I can feel my creativity returning!” The put-off tasks were gone and new ideas and projects could bubble up, freed from the weight of “this drawer has got to get cleaned out but I can’t do that right now.” I have felt a similar sense of freedom as I’ve reduced the “clutter” at work. I am grateful for this incredible team. Over the past few months I’ve been growing more comfortable with letting go of tasks and projects I’ve held for a long time. When I started in this role 6 years ago, I was prepared to take on the “30,000 foot view” of the executive director and spend most of my time planning for the future. Then 2020 happened (and 2021, 2022,...) and I needed to lead a little closer to the ground. As we plan for our summer staff, I’m excited about what’s in store for these young folks as they grow at Camp. Regardless of where we land, I know that the dedicated team that shepherds Camp throughout the year will be able to create something beautiful. I look forward to seeing what’s next!