Yesterday I was looking through photos and videos from the last year. It’s almost unbelievable how much has happened, not necessarily because so many major things occurred, but because it feels like yesterday we were in January, and now all of a sudden it’s the end of the year.
This year has been a hard one in many ways. And yesterday, as I walked through so many photos, video clips, little moments… I saw over and over again the amount of laughter and fun we had. All these tiny pieces of life that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I’ve thought a lot this year about how things often exist at the same time, the both/and of life. Life can be incredibly hard and beautifully sweet all at once, and I feel like this year entirely sums that up. This was a beautiful and hard year professionally. This was a beautiful and hard year personally.
That’s probably true for many of you, too. When I looked through so many pictures, the thing I kept coming back to was how grateful I am for the relationships, not only through this industry but also with the people I get to work with. I know I probably say this every year, but the people who make Dragonfly what it is are some of my favorite people in the world.
They’re the people I Marco Polo and voice text on hard days. When the lighting is bad, and I haven’t washed my hair in far too long. People I’m just grateful to walk through life with, and especially grateful to serve couples with.
I was looking for a bit of a theme when I pulled all the photos together, not really for any particular reason other than things just look better with a theme (it’s a problem), and I just kept coming back to the people. The people: our couples, their families, the planning teams, and everyone we get to work with on a professional level.
At the end of the day, it all comes back to the people we work with. No matter how image-driven our work is, none of it matters without them.
As it is every year, one of my favorite parts is seeing the collective good we did together. Do I wish we did more? Always. But it’s truly my favorite part of being a business owner to know that I have access to resources just to help. See a need and be able to help. The age old “It’s Better to Give” still rings true.
The antidote to hopelessness is helping. And while that’s certainly not always about money, in a world that runs on coin, it really does make a big difference. Today, I got to play Santa for Hussein and Moussa. A pair of siblings in Pennsylvania who wrote letters to Santa, and frankly, it was the most fun thing I’ve done all week. While I was desperately shopping for Moussa’s request of a Saquon Barkley jersey (yes, I had to look him up) that would arrive on time (much harder than you might think). I have all of you in my head. Who you would want to surprise, what we should get them, and how excited they’ll be. It is a group project, not only because of you but with you as well. When I tell you I’m having fun with this, you literally have no clue. It is hands down my favorite thing.
As a company this year, we have donated to support victims of the fires in California, the horrific floods in Texas, and our local libraries here in Cleveland. We’ve donated to support public school teachers across the country and the Autism Speaks organization. We’ve donated to World Central Kitchen, which is on the ground providing meals to families in Gaza. And we’ve worked with Convoy of Hope, supported independent journalism, and the American Immigration Council.
This year, we have traveled to two countries and six states, and celebrated so many beautiful days that were made possible by incredible professionals and the kindest couples. Ultimately, it’s never been about the photos or the film. It’s about the relationships, the trust, and the people who let us stand beside them on the days that deserve to be remembered.
Thanks for letting us celebrate with you.
