We all have an Opportunity to Open our Ears and Listen
By Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director
The word picked me. I did not pick the word. In fact, several months ago, it came to me and there was never any argument over it at all.
For the team at United Way of Charlotte County (UWCC), they know that I ponder over my word of the year for quite some time. And often I am known to actually pick two words. However, for the 2024 word, that was not the case.
It’s always highly anticipated when we announce our word for the next year at our annual staff Christmas party. Everyone shares what their word from the past year has meant to them, and then announces their new word and its intentions. Even our awesome office volunteers share their words. Often, we have duplicate words and this year was no exception when someone else shared the same word that I selected. It’s exciting and thrilling to listen to everyone else’s word. Collectively the words for 2024 are challenging and very intentional.
In 2024 my word is LISTEN. Last year my word was SEE and I was able to see beyond anything I could have imagined. Water was my other word but that’s a story for another day.
I struggled with how to write this column for weeks, thinking of my word, listening for clues, but nothing was coming to me worthy of the sharing. My inspiration came after taking a trip to the ancient streets of Italy (a bucket list item for our family and planned for a year). As I saw the old buildings in Italy it’s hard not to ‘experience’ them- the reverence of the people towards them in that beautiful country and in each little town. I think of Sunseeker, the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center and the landmarks of Englewood and Murdock Circle, looking for an expression for its future. The past and future converging.
Probably one of my weakest places in leadership is truly listening. In the journey of UWCC, we have been coming to a place of listening. Aspirations for bold horizons call for listening to our community - to our Kids Thrive moms - to the community of clients we serve - to our donors. For the buildings and the walls, the history of Charlotte County speaks to us.
We all have an opportunity to open our ears and listen to each other, to the future, to who this community will be 50 years from now, 100 years from now. What will the people 50 years from now say about us and how we cared for our people and our community, our generations? I do believe they will celebrate what we build in each other and around us.
Maybe we listen to one another this year. May I listen to my family, my daughter, my husband, and to each of my team members. May I listen to the needs of Charlotte County and be a contribution to everything that is to come.
If you’re curious about the other words of the team, each one is an expression of their dreams for this year. Staff and volunteer words are: authentic, discernment, eliminate, fortitude, health, intentional, mindful, relationship, transformative, serendipity.
At that I ask you what is your word? Who do you want to be for others? Who do you want to be for yourself? Pick the word and claim it. We’d enjoy hearing from you. Share your word and what it means to you. Simply visit unitedwayccfl.org/2024words
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.