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Lead the Way

My last Leadership class was on Wednesday, and the focus of this class was Recreation. We visited a number of parks and recreational facilities, as well as our local Water and Sewer Authority, and Wallace Dam, which separates Lake Oconee from Lake Sinclair. Although the cold, cloudy day – and the forecast of rain – drove us indoors for part of the day, we still managed to get outside for many of our planned activities. For one of them, we were divided into two teams, [...]

By |March 13th, 2022|Accountability, Columns, Success, Values|Comments Off on Lead the Way

A night-time clean-up

I was doing housework in my sleep last night. Not doing it, exactly, but dreaming about it. Apparently, we were having company, and in my dream I had just finished vacuuming, and cleaning the mirrors and windows, and was in the process of sweeping the floor. Thankfully, I woke up before I had to scrub the toilets. I don’t recall ever dreaming about doing housework before, and whenever I wake up remembering a dream vividly, I like to try to figure out what in my [...]

By |January 21st, 2022|Accountability, Columns, Family, Health and Well-being|Comments Off on A night-time clean-up

A Powerful New Phrase

The only language I’m fluent in is English, although I know a handful of words and phrases – like hello, goodbye, good morning, good night, please, and thank you – in half a dozen or so other languages. And, thanks to watching Sesame Street with my kids when they were small, I can sing the numbers one to ten in Spanish. There are limited times and places I have the opportunity to use this knowledge, but I just learned a new phrase in Japanese that [...]

By |January 15th, 2022|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being, Quotes and Sayings|Comments Off on A Powerful New Phrase

First Thing in the Morning

I’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about what New Year’s Resolutions I want to make this year. I’ve got several in mind, and just decided on my main one. I’ve written in the past about the power of “First Thing in the Morning.” For many people, first thing in the morning is the most productive and efficient time of day. I have many examples of that in my own life. I used to roll out of bed and plop myself in front of [...]

By |December 31st, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being, Holidays, Writing|Comments Off on First Thing in the Morning

An Unusual Day

It was an unusual day, to say the least. I spent a fair amount of last Wednesday morning at the police station and in court. And I spent part of the afternoon in the sheriff’s office. I was also in the city and county administrative offices and, for good measure, the county animal shelter – which is right next door to the sheriff’s office, although I don’t think they’re related. I hope you’ve already assumed I wasn’t taken to any of these places by the [...]

By |December 6th, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Making a Difference, Quotes and Sayings, Values|Comments Off on An Unusual Day

A Class Act

There were 14 of us in the class. Some, especially those who grew up in this area, already knew a few of the others, but I was among those who knew no one else before beginning the class. By the end of the first class and the weekend retreat, however, we were all well acquainted, and more excited than ever about what we were going to accomplish. I wrote about this class a few weeks ago. It’s a Leadership program sponsored by the Chamber of [...]

By |November 15th, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Gifts and Talents, Making a Difference|Comments Off on A Class Act

Back to School

I don’t know if it has anything to do with the students I worked with and wrote about in my last blog, or the college students I – along with several other members of my Toastmasters club – recently helped prepare for a career-oriented Elevator Pitch competition. But I’m getting ready to go back to school – sort of. And I’m really excited about it. Also, just a little bit nervous. Like many people, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and have always enjoyed the [...]

By |October 15th, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Values|Comments Off on Back to School

Stay safe and strong

Rarely have I ever used my column or blog for a public service announcement, especially one on a controversial topic, but I’m going to make an exception this week. If you haven’t already done so, PLEASE get vaccinated against COVID-19. If not for yourself, then for your loved ones, for your children and grandchildren, for your friends and neighbors. The people who would miss you most if you succumbed to the disease, and the people for whom your heart would break if you lost them [...]

By |August 21st, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Family, Health and Well-being|Comments Off on Stay safe and strong

One More Time

At first it felt like I was living in a parallel universe. But now it feels – as Yogi Berra once famously said – like déjà vu all over again. I’m talking about the coronavirus, of course. Once my husband and I were vaccinated, it still took a little while for it to feel natural to go out without wearing a mask. Or to go anywhere other than for essential errands and appointments. But as people started getting vaccinated in greater numbers, and cases of [...]

By |July 31st, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Health and Well-being, Quotes and Sayings|Comments Off on One More Time

A Welcome Road Trip

We spent two days driving, then two and a half days at our destination, and another two days coming home. Some people might question whether the time we spent there was worth the time it took to get there and back. Under other circumstances, I might agree. But not this time. We were visiting our grandkids. My husband and I got our second vaccination in mid-February, and waited the recommended amount of time to allow the vaccine to come to full strength. Then we hit [...]

By |March 20th, 2021|Accountability, Columns, Family, Health and Well-being, Travel|Comments Off on A Welcome Road Trip