Hard. Difficult. Challenging. Exhausting. Overwhelming.Nope. I am not talking about the pandemic.These are the adjectives I am hearing over and over from nonprofit leaders describing what it is like to manage their teams right now.

Okay…so the last few months have been completely crazy for everyone.

I read an article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy this week written by Joan Garry, a consultant, author, and speaker who has been called the “Dear Abby of Nonprofit Leaders” for her advice.

Remember the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child”? Its origins are traced back to African cultures and possibly even the Bible according to some researchers.

Recently I’ve had multiple conversations (some that included tears) with people who are feeling burnt-out, exhausted, and pulled in lots of different directions.

If you know that our younger son is a collegiate runner, then you probably have heard me say. “Runners run.”Runners run when it is hot, cold, raining, tropical storming, sleeting, or snowing.

2020 kicked us in the knees, leaving us a little shaky and rather vulnerable. Everything has changed. Uncommon times call for conscientious examination of who we are and our personal and professional core values.

Lately I have been binge-watching reruns of The West Wing on Netflix.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with restoring and renovating properties. The older and more rundown, the better. My current house is the fifth property I have basically taken apart and put back together.