Becky VanLoon, National RFL Lead
“When in April the sweet showers fall
That pierce March's drought to the root and all
And bathed every vein in liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;”
--Geoffrey Chaucer
In my vernacular, "March is rough, but April showers, bring May flowers." I used that idea for the graphic above (and for what’s coming in May). As I thought more about it, I realized this concept applies to much more than weather and nature.
How often in our lives do we experience “showers”—sometimes even downpours—when it feels hard just to put one foot in front of the other and get through what we need to do? And then, later, we see that those rainy moments prepared us for something new or better.
Back in January, I encouraged you to think about what makes your Relay special...what makes it unique. This April, I want to encourage you to keep doing that, but also to reflect on the “showers” your event has experienced in the past. This could include challenges with your committee, fundraisers, or the event itself. Are you using those experiences to help you grow into what’s next, or are they holding you back?
Sometimes growth means consulting an expert like long-time Relayers or ACS Staff Partners. Sometimes it means adding fertilizer, like inviting new volunteers of all ages or welcoming fresh ideas. And sometimes it means improving the soil by changing one thing for the good of the overall event.
This spring, let’s not view April showers as something negative. Instead, let’s see them as motivation—and ask ourselves how many May flowers we can grow next.
If you ever need any assistance in finding someone to help you in your growth, let me know...I know a few people ;)
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