ICB News - From the Desk of the President

A Message From The President of IAODAPCA . . . . . . . . . .

Valerie Arnett, CAADC
Of Landscape, Change, and Possibilities!

Who of us in the past many weeks has not noticed the ever changing landscapes around us? The intense and oppressive sun, humidity, and heat has caused our yards, flowers, plants, shrubs to morph into things that are at times unrecognizable! Wilt proof products don't even seem to help these days.

Another type of landscape, the field of addictions and treatment availability, is also being assaulted much like our verdant landscape and there doesn’t appear to be any Wilt proof products to help. So, as I thought about what to write while being aware of the changes in 'landscapes' a favorite book of mine by Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D. came to mind; The Fall of Freddie the Leaf! A wonderful little book about the changes of landscapes (our lives) through the experience of little Freddie, a leaf, seemed to be a starting point for me. "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress." - Charles Kettering "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts the sails." - William Ward

Freddie's story begins in the Spring; a time when temperatures feel so good and so right; when there are many lovely other leaves on the tree to keep him company, support him, answer his questions; when the winds of time are gentle and non threatening; when the sun is a friend; and when 'humans' enjoy and are thankful for the leaves and trees.

As the landscape changes with temperatures and winds causing many of Freddie's friends to leave him, he begins to question and wonder why, and ask what's happening. Freddie's story finishes in Winter when he lands on a clump of snow, still not knowing what lies ahead! He did not know what would eventually take place; the emergence of Spring; the utilization of 'him' in the soil, for the growth of the very tree that supported him! "We cannot become what we need to be, remaining what we are." - Max Depree

Like Freddie, we can stay the course even not knowing or understanding every detail of the winds of time, the changing of the temperatures that feel oppressive, and the dropping away of 'other leaves' (support systems). "Kites rise highest against the wind---not with it." - Winston Churchill

We all need to stay the course, do what we can do, not fear the changing landscapes and not abandon the landscapes because our wilt proof product doesn't appear to be helping. This is merely a time and a season. Our professional 'landscape' will be renewed if we remember, "We cannot become what we NEED to be, remaining what we are." - Max Depree

So, I want to encourage each of you with this; "Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it. That is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear." - Dale Carnegie

Sincerely,
Val Arnett, President

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