I have this interaction I keep going back to. It was one of those conversations that linger and, usually around 2:00 in the morning, I finally wake with the perfect response. Someone was out visiting the farm and they happened to walk by one of my gardens in the heat of a Saturday in July. From my typical summer pose (on my hands and knees weeding), I received their greeting: “Wow. That looks like a lot of work.”
This isn’t an uncommon phrase in my current professional endeavor. Whether it is the rather large gardens (yes, plural) or hours of processing fresh produce or a beautifully presented dinner entree, “that’s a lot of work” seems to pop up. And I hear no malice in that statement. It doesn’t offend me. I can say from personal experience: it is a lot of work.
There hasn’t been a great moment to give my 2 AM response. But ever since that sweaty moment in the middle of the summer two years back, I have wanted to ask, “But aren’t the things that are worth having always ‘a lot of work’?”
Those extremely special things we strive for: marriage, education, children, successful careers, art, home ownership . . . the list goes on. Not one of them comes without extreme effort, long hours, and back-breaking commitment. I think I will be so bold as to say: if it doesn’t require a lot of “work,” it might not really be that valuable.
When something comes easily, it is easily taken for granted. The journey and the process, for me, adds to the value. I think of the gifts I’ve been given over the years that have been made by hand. They simply mean more, don’t they? You know that someone has spent time investing with thoughts of you. They have labored to make something worthy of the occasion. The feelings of love, respect, and (dare I pun?) cherishing which come from that gift are overwhelming.
So yes, it is a lot of work. Feel free to emphasize that in capital letters as you envision the literal blood, sweat, and tears that have gone into the start of this business. (Although never in the actual food! Just to reassure everyone!) I am still holding on to see where this journey will take me. But, no matter what I end up doing, I hope it is a lot of work. Because I never want to deliver anything less than this amount of passion, care, and determination.
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