Hangry Community
"So Jordan, can you tell me about an area of growth you're working on?" This question almost always comes up during a job interview. I will answer something like, "An area of growth that I've identified in my career is that I'm learning to reconcile the limits of my professional capacity with my self-driven expectations to produce daily, monthly and annual results."
Or something like that.
However, the truth I never revealed to employers is this; I get hangry. I eat a very early breakfast, and the result of this habit is that by 11:30, I'm starting to get hungry. If I haven't started to eat by noon, I'm ok, but I am now a ticking time bomb. By 12:30, I will be irritable if I have yet to have a bite to eat. In the tragic event that I have not eaten lunch by 1:00 PM, I am now a potential work hazard. I may be in a meeting, but I can't hear anything or focus. I transform into an ugly hangry monster of a leader. I have staff members that will leave snacks on my desk and then come back 15 minutes later, knowing that I'll calm down after I've accepted their offering.
Suppose I answered the question about an area of growth like that. In that case, the interviewer might ask me, "What are you currently doing to manage this growth opportunity?". The answer is simple: I bring a big lunch to work and try to eat on time.
My answer to the hanger. My sandwich. Usually, bread, turkey, ham, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, mustard, and mayo.
I am fortunate. As far as I know, I've never been required to go a day without food. I grew up in a good home where we always had something to eat. Even when I went through some rough patches in my career, I've always been able to pull together an affordable meal.
Now, if I'm not going to be at my best with one missed lunch, I can't even begin to fathom what it's like for someone trying to be their best when they haven’t eaten a good meal for days.
I'm sensitive to the fact that many in our communities struggle to buy groceries. Struggling in a season where everyone wants to be at their best. I'm not an expert on food security and nutrition issues. I don't have a magic bullet solution to resolve this for all who hunger in my city. I wish I did.
Here is what I do.
I give what I can, when I’m able.
At this time of year, charities need cash; if you have some, please consider giving. Find an organization that's feeding your neighbors who are struggling. A hungry community is never at its best. I get that there are systemic issues around hunger that require entire shifts in culture, but let's not let that stop us from doing what we can in the moment.
Even if it's a little. A fed community is peaceful, and we can all use more peace these days.
Friend, thank you so much for reading. May you find an opportunity to give this week!