Embracing Limitations: Finding Strength and Purpose in Hard Times
For four years, I was honored to receive the MVP award for my work in the tech community. This award recognized my dedication and expertise, but this past year was very hard for me because of my health. Through these challenges, I learned a lot about embracing my limitations and finding strength in tough times.
A Year of Health Problems
This year, I faced many health issues. I had surgery to remove my gallbladder, was unable to sleep consistently for ten months, and struggled with mental health. I had to go to my doctors and my therapist to get the help I needed. These problems made me realize I needed to take care of myself first, even if it meant slowing down at professionally. It was hard to accept that I couldn’t do everything I used to, but it was important for my recovery.
Impact on My Professional Life
When my MVP award wasn’t renewed this week, it felt like a loss. I had worked hard to achieve it, and it was disappointing to see it slip away. I knew when I had applied it would take a miracle to get re-awarded due to lack of activity last year. But this experience reminded me that titles and awards aren’t everything. My value comes from who I am and what I do, not just my achievements. This time has helped me focus on what really matters and to appreciate the smaller successes in life. It also taught me to be kind to myself and to recognize that it’s okay to have setbacks.
Focusing on Volunteering
During this tough year, I found a lot of joy and purpose in volunteering. As the president of the board of Foster Family Alliance of NC, I continued to help foster kids there and through the Guardian ad Litem program while support mental health causes elsewhere. Volunteering made me feel fulfilled and kept my perspective on what is truly important. Helping others has always been important to me, but this year it became even more special. It showed me that real impact comes from serving others, not just from professional success.
Volunteering also gave me a sense of community and belonging. It reminds me that I am not alone in my struggles and that there are always ways to contribute, no matter my limitations. Being involved in my church and other community activities has been a source of strength and motivation.
Embracing Limitations and Finding Strength
Accepting my limitations doesn’t mean giving up. It means understanding my boundaries and working within them. It means knowing that my worth isn’t tied to my productivity but to my ability to keep going and adapt. This mindset has helped me get through my health challenges and made me stronger. I’ve learned to listen to my body and to prioritize self-care, which has made a big difference in my overall well-being.
I’ve also realized that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. Reaching out to friends and professionals for support has been crucial in my journey. It has taught me that we all need a little help sometimes, and that’s perfectly okay.
Looking Ahead with Hope
As I move forward, I will focus on my health and well-being while continuing to support important causes. Embracing my limitations has given me a deeper sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to making a positive impact. I plan to continue my work with the DEI Virtual Group, TriPass, WITspiration, WIT Virtual Group, and other community activities that I am passionate about. I will pick up presenting and blogging again when it fit within my boundaries.
Being an MVP was a great honor, but this past year taught me that our limits can make us stronger. I am grateful for the support of my friends and community. I am determined to keep making a positive impact, no matter the challenges. When we embrace our limitations, we find the courage to keep going and the wisdom to see that our greatest contributions often come from our hardest times.
Here’s to finding strength in adversity and making a difference, one step at a time. Let’s continue to support each other, embrace our limitations, and find strength together. We can all make a difference, no matter our challenges.
You’re still an MVP in my book!
Thanks ray.
Hi Tracy,
I hope you are okay.
Leaving the MVP Program turned out very well for me. It meant I could look at other technologies and I wasn’t trapped into the Microsoft ecosystem. It also meant that other vendors could start to work with me because they do not always trust MVPs – they think you will pass information back to Microsoft.
It will feel like a loss but ‘future you’ will be glad that ‘current you’ is going through this point. You will get your life back to do what you are passionate about. You can’t let someone in Redmond decide your worth.
Sending warm vibes,
Jen
As you pointed out your health and well being is most important. If you aren’t well then you can’t help others. I echo what was stated earlier you are still an MVP. Speaking from someone who has had my own mental health issues I salute your courage to face them head on . God bless you Tracy. When you are ready to present again you are always welcome at Chicago Data Professionals.
You’re still an MVP to the rest of us who follow you.
You may no longer be recognized by Microsoft as one of their MVPs, To those of us that know you, you still are and will probably always be an MVP. You’ve had a tough road for as long as I’ve known you and yet you still do amazing things for yourself, your “kids” via Guardian Ad Litem, your volunteering in the local community and the world-wide mental health community
I still write quite a bit, and your personal story and mine will never make it into my fiction… The things that we’ve actually lived through would be rejected as “ridiculous” or unbelievable by readers. Our lives also prove that truth is FAR stranger than fiction.
As always, take care of yourself my lady. Try to keep the cat under control as best as possible. You know how to find me when you need someone!
Hang in as it could get worse before it gets better.