Novel experiences, like navigating the COVID pandemic, create opportunities to illuminate the creativity and flexibility of individuals and communities in surprising ways. Concepts once imagined as impossible become achievable and people prove themselves resilient and persistent. A willingness to consider strategies in a new light creates a new normal and life continues to happen. From …
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.
Sunday to Monday Gap
Admittedly, my intrigue radar blipped when as the research for neighborly love and hospitality led me to Tom Nelson’s book entitled The Economics of Neighborly Love: Investing in Your Community’s Compassion and Capacity and his challenge to think about love, investing, and vocation in an entirely new light. As a professor attempting to guide emerging …
Just Okay
If you have not yet witnessed the recent AT&T advertising campaign which uses the slogan, “just ok is not ok,” click here to visit a website featuring the doctor scenario. While the humorous and effective ad campaign has my brain considering the various situations where I prefer not to settle for Just Okay, I could …
Bump the Lamp
Other than working in women’s retail for a short period of time in high school, very few of the jobs I’ve held would be considered working in customer service; however, over the years, I’ve come to believe that most of us actually engage in more hospitality opportunities than we realize. Although the responsibilities described in …
Too Many Choices
The anticipation of this night has been building for a full calendar year with the opponents being decided only a few weeks before. It’s the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship between Clemson University and Louisiana State University, and there are about ten minutes remaining before kick-off. Picking up the slender television remote, I scroll …
Good, Better, Best
Once upon a time there was a retail and appliance store called Sears (sadly there are only a few locations remaining) where almost every single item we ever owned was purchased. Every appliance in our home had a Kenmore label purchased with a Sears employee discount. This retailer was so prominent during the 70s and …
Rent to Own
Growing up I remember television advertisements which claimed the tagline “Rent-to-Own” as a marketing ploy; and a quick search of the Internet leaves me to believe there remain a few stores which still offer this service, but it appears the interest has waned. With the current options for transferring payment through technology like Apple Pay, …
Flourishing Filter
How do you know when you’ve made a good choice? What criteria do you use to evaluate a bad choice? How did you choose the brand of toothpaste that squeezed a colored glob of goo on your toothbrush this morning? Assuming that you participated in that daily ritual this morning, the answer you provide may …
Water Stations
Listening to a message this morning on my walk presented by Dave Shields at Menlo Church, I was enlightened to consider missions and church attendance in a new light. As a person who relishes practical and applicable sermons, this morning’s epiphany was extremely relevant even though it was not the main theme of the presentation. …
Flourishing Thinking
On this journey to examine ways to equip and engage Gen Z, specifically in the college classroom, much of my interest has zeroed in on processes such as active or experiential learning activities such as gamification, virtual simulations, and student-created content. As I’ve pondered what strategies might be successful in my classes, research on tinkering …
Flourishing @ Life 