Learning experience

Last week was a tough week. Not one, but THREE of my valued colleagues retired or resigned. The colleague who retired is someone whose ideas, insight, and wisdom I have long valued. I will miss being able to talk with her, plot, plan, whinge, enthuse, gaze at the big blue sky… On her last day, at her farewell morning tea, she shared some advice she’d once been given – “Be bold.” Don’t always take the easy way out. Don’t be content with things just because that’s the way they have always been. Question, and if you have a good idea, work with it, even if it’s difficult.

The other two colleagues resigned to go on to bigger and better things. (Or maybe just different things.)

I don’t often think about it, but those of us in full-time paid employment spend so much time at our workplaces that our colleagues have a big part in our lives. I’ve been very lucky in that I have great colleagues. I’m sad that these three colleagues have left but I’m telling myself that this means that I will get to know new colleagues. Who knows, their replacements may be just as inspiring and fun to work with…