On my computer reside some unpublished drafts of a series about First Day Experiences in various situations, and I share a little on this topic in earlier posts such as The First 48 and FDE: College Athletics, but today the focus is on a positive opening day to a new semester that occurred this week …
Author: Julie Powell, Ed.D.
With over 30 years in higher education, I have a passion for seeing people, not only succeed at life, but to flourish in their God-given space personally, professionally, and spiritually.
Stuck In-Between
I’m truly hoping that none of my neighbors were so fascinated with my lawn-mowing prowess that they were glued to their window watching me sashay across the front yard only to find myself Stuck In-Between a large, metal utility box and my lawn. Yes, this was one of those moments when you are completely aware …
Burn the Ships
As mentioned previously in the post entitled Teach Me, I am struggling to learn the lesson that when God repeatedly places a concept in front of me, I am to respond with, “Lord, what do you want me to learn from this _____?” Rarely is the blank filled with the noun “song,” but I’m accepting …
Digital Philosophy
Within me exists a tension between what I am discovering on this pilgrimage to determine the characteristics of a flourishing life, and the realities that our current culture (along with a very real enemy) is doing everything it can to stack the odds against us flourishing in any area, whether it be personal, professional, or …
Keeping Score
Life is not a game, so why are we continually Keeping Score? Pondering this weighty issue reminded me of a time many years ago when I was teaching an adaptive physical education course, and while we were playing a game in the gym, one of the student athletes, by the name of Mary Kosco Greer …
Tough Seasons
Life is hard; as anyone with the ability to read this blog can attest to, and most things worth achieving usually demand a great deal of sacrifice in order to develop fruitful rewards. On this journey to attempt to identify the behaviors and characteristics that lead to the Habits of a Flourishing Life, I cannot …
Reclaiming Conversation
After walking across campus this week under blue skies and abundant sunshine, I returned to my office and reflected that there was a little more spring in my step for some reason. Again, this buoyant feeling arose while leaving the celebration of the Top Dawg Awards, even as the rain sprinkled down from above. What …
Ball in the Cup
Who in your life is a great storyteller? Whose name comes to mind when you visualize the character with the ability to turn a phrase, to retell an incident (even one where you were present) that comes so alive with each word that you find yourself enraptured in the narrative of your own experience? Getting …
Narration Needed
As a solo traveler, I am thrilled when I locate an app like GyPSy Guide which provides “GPS narrated audio tours with stories, local tips and directions, along the route. All the benefits of a guided tour, freedom to drive yourself.” Listening to voice guidance through the car’s speakers on the Icefields Parkway in Alberta …
You Are Important
You are welcome. You are safe. You Are Important. Please picture this scenario. You and a friend are seated at a restaurant and that friend physically removes their phone from the table, placing it in a place to avoid distraction. Or perhaps, they make an intentional choice not to look at their wrist while engaged …
Flourishing @ Life 