Front Yards

Driving around the neighborhood, I always notice the front yards of houses; some with great landscaping in full bloom, and others with not much appeal. Some even used as driveways over old gravel packed down over the years.

I would often wonder to myself why anyone would let their property decay so much. I would imagine in what shape were the rest of the house and yard. Then one day I had the opportunity to visit that neighbor. They had left a sign directing me to meet them in the backyard. As I maneuvered through the uneven gravel, headed round the side and opened the gate, I was met with a rich, deep green lawn, bright flowers and stepping stones to lead my way. What a stark contrast to what the world sees from the front!

My neighbors apologized for the note; and mentioned that they spend almost all of their time in the backyard and can't always hear when someone is at the door.

We live in a world of resumes and Twitter and blogs and email and meetings and phone calls and front yards. A world where many of us were taught to always put our best foot forward. And so, we look at those front yards......and make our judgements.

Yet isn't it more a matter of what our 'backyards' look like. The place we spend most of our time, our passions - the place which truly reflects who we are and what we care about?

A well written, well 'landscaped' resume may get a second look, or even a third; but it won't tell you their passions, who they really are or whether they would be a good hire.....or a good friend or neighbor.

It's time we started to look around those front yards. That's where we'll find the real gems.

Enjoy the day!

Copyright 2009 Joel A White