Hard work will pay off eventually!

It was hard not to compare the service learning we did today to work that I have done in the past; but I know that I won’t be getting paid for this work, and that is ok. It is just hard not to compare the similarities, due to the similar tasks that were completed including: weed eating, pulling weeds, and watering trees. When you are getting paid to work, a big job seems never-ending, but somehow it seems ok because you will continue to get paid until the job is done. When you are doing volunteer work a big job could seem never-ending too, but when you have a big group to help share the responsibilities the job seems more manageable. I can understand how the project management appreciates the help. The project would not be where it is at now, without the help of the countless hours from volunteers. Through various volunteer groups, the project has become manageable, yet will still be a work in progress for many, many years.

The problem with people and time is that they want to see instance gratification. I too am guilty of thinking this way. I want to know what I do has an impact, and I hate to say it, but sometimes want to see the impact right then. When I start to think this way, I have to remind myself that everything good takes time to build, to grow. The same goes for the restoration project. There is definitely not instant gratification, other than we helped someone, because we cannot see what impact it will have right now. We have to understand that it takes time for the trees to grow, which will then shade the creek, and this will establish a more adequate habitat for things to live and grow. Hard work will pay off eventually!