By Janet Burns
Over my late husband’s desk was framed calligraphy on parchment that said. “The Main Thing is to keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.” He had had it since before we met in graduate school. I did not think much of it at the time; somewhat silly, really. It was just one of the ever-popular 70’s items in lovely print to hang on a wall.
Over the years, as I would notice it in his office, it grew on me. After he died last year, I have begun to reorganize our home it to make it more workable for me. I hung that piece of calligraphy over my desk where I can see it as I work at my computer.
I have taken it to heart, both in my personal and in my work life. It has helped me focus. That framed statement already has gotten me though a lot. It makes the complexities and challenges of life seem a little simpler. In my personal life it means I will find time for church almost every week, I will write notes to people who are hurting, I will eat healthy and I will organize one part of a closet and one type of thing at a time, not try to do it all at once That is it for now. Things that are not the “Main Thing” simply have to wait. It saddens me how many things I should have thanked Mark for – and did not, but that is for another time.
What does “The Main Thing is to keep the Main Thing the Main Thing” mean to us at ACHR?
If we look at the ACHR Mission Statement and our history at ACHR, we could say any of the following: “The Main Thing is to help children, families and clients.” “The Main Thing is to provide good service, so we need to be well-trained act accordingly.” “The Main Thing is to advocate for the needs of others.” “The Main Thing is to help children and adults become more resilient.” You can probably add to that list.
For myself, I have decided that, right now, with all that is coming, like it or not, the Main Thing is to work together smoothly and with respect for all, to meet ALL rules, regulations and laws the agency must work under, on time, every time and as efficiently/effectively as possible so that we will be here to do the things in the paragraph above.
Why is that the Main Thing? If each of us in the agency does our part in fulfilling that Main Thing, everything else will follow. We will have up-to-date complete records, buildings and buses that are kept up, clean audits, provide good child/family/client services including advocacy, all done with caring and support of one another.
The “fallout” will be that because the things above happen we will receive compliments, get and keep full enrollment in programs, positive audits, and good evaluations (both programs and staff). As individuals, we will be happier because this will be a more positive place to be. Parts of these things already are happening. Let’s work together to make it ALL happen.