Maybe This Is It

Discovering Purpose Through Donuts, Laughter, and the Power of Caring

Last week was my birthday. I came into the office like any normal day, but something felt different. My staff had decorated my office. There were donuts, cookies, nachos — even lunch brought in for everyone. I was surprised, humbled, and honestly a little emotional. But this story isn’t about birthday snacks.

For the last couple of months, I’ve been playing around with a theory — my own theory. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but something happened that gave it weight.

See, I’ve always had this mentality when it comes to work: No one cares.
No one really cares if you work 50 hours a week, or if you complete every task on time, or even if you come up with a brilliant idea that cuts the workload in half. Most people show up, do their job, get their paycheck, and go home. That’s just how it is.

So I started asking myself: If no one cares, what do I care about? Why do I keep showing up?

And then something shifted — something magical.

I began to focus not just on the work, but on my people. My staff. I’ve always cared about them, but now I started seeing it in a different light. What could I do to make their life better — not just at work, but maybe even at home? Could I lighten their load? Could I make their day a little easier? A little more joyful?

I’ve always tried to do this in the past, but lately it’s come into focus more clearly. It became less about tasks and more about people.

That’s why my birthday meant so much.

Along with the decorations and food, they gave me a card. Inside were messages that all had a common theme:

“Thank you for caring.”
“Thank you for making this a great place to work.”

It hit me — that’s what matters. That’s what I care about. That’s what they care about too.

What most people don’t realize — even upper management — is how powerful it is to truly care for your staff. I’m not just talking about checking boxes or fulfilling basic duties. I mean really going out of your way to make life better for them.

And here’s the wild part: productivity goes up without saying a word.
People start showing up — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. They enjoy the environment. They feel safe. They laugh. They connect.

Even though I work in the public sector, and yes, our job is to serve the public, my focus is on the people I work with every day. The work always gets done. But what matters most to me is that my staff feels like their eight hours at work are not wasted.

I want them to laugh. I want to hear joy in the office. I want to know they feel seen and supported.

And on my birthday, the fruit of that labor showed up in full color.

I’ve always wrestled with the idea of purpose. What am I here for? But maybe... just maybe... this is it.
Maybe caring deeply for others, creating a place where people feel valued and appreciated — maybe that’s the purpose.

And if it is, I’m okay with that. In fact, I’m more than okay.

Because it turns out, someone does care after all.