u003cpu003eu003cemu003eBy Executive Director Claire Lougeu003c/emu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pexels-francesco-ungaro-1170070-scaled.jpgu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-11824 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pexels-francesco-ungaro-1170070.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/au003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eThere’s a parable about a woman who walks by three men working on a building site, each doing the same thing.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eThe woman asks the first man what he’s doing. “I’m hauling bricks,” he says.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eShe asks the second man what he’s doing. “I’m building a wall,” he states.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eShe asks the third man what he’s doing. “I’m building a cathedral,” he answers.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eThe men are all performing the same action, but their answers show how differently they are framing their purpose.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003ePurpose, according to author Daniel H. Pink in his book u003ca href=u0022https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/u0022u003eDriveu003c/au003e, is one of the three essential elements to feeling motivated and happy in our work roles. That motivation and happiness tends to be the fuel we use to sustain our long-term efforts and drive ourselves forward.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eIn every job, there are tasks that can feel menial, tedious, or grueling. In our sector, many of us can find it hard to make a direct connection from everything we do to a specific, positive impact on a child or family, or a specific, visible change.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eLike building a cathedral, our work takes dedication to values, ideals, and a vision of what we want to create. Our ‘cathedral’ is an Arizona in which all families have what they need to nurture their children. Where children are protected from harm because we have collectively created the conditions for families to thrive. Where children are safe with their families.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eBeginnings – like new years, the starting or re-starting of projects, or the launching of a new legislative session, can feel daunting. Keeping ourselves going in the work of building a better Arizona for kids and families is challenging. There’s so much to care about, to address, to change, to advocate for, and our voluminous to-do lists can feel like a massive pile of heavy bricks to haul.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eBut remember, we’re building a cathedral. One purposeful brick at a time. They take a while to build. They take planning. They take vision. And most of all, they take many, many people often doing unglamorous, grueling tasks. We each have a critical part in creating something monumental.u003c/pu003e
