Yazoo, Mississippi—If reading those words fails to bring to your mind a rich southern drawl sharing the stories of Marcel Ledbetter and coon hunting, then you did not have the same rich childhood that I did growing up in the 1970s. But guess what? You do not have to miss out, because you can Just …
Category: Gratitude
Appreciative Examen
Are you a math person or a language person? Perhaps, like me, you might rate yourself somewhere in between, similar to what is described in a previous post about being a Lark, Owl or Third Bird. Providing information in a numerical format seems easier for me to remember, but words also matter. Ask me to …
Transplanted
One of the charming aspects of being an academic is that you are often surrounded by experts in a variety of fields and disciplines from healthcare to soil science! Like others on campus, I can be guilty of gushing about subjects I find intriguing, whether that involves the dimensions of wellness, Unreasonable Hospitality, or Appreciative …
Aging Gratefully
On a July afternoon in Southern Germany in 2022, as a few in our travel group waited for a bus departure after visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, we were given the opportunity to witness a lady embracing the idea of Aging Gratefully. On her third adventure to see the Passion Play at Oberammergau (which only occurs every …
Aging Ugly
“Smooth skin means nothing if your heart is rough.” This statement by Heather Creekmore in Aging Gratefully brings to light the fact that we often have a choice on whether we are Aging Gratefully or Aging Ugly. Creekmore describes an encounter with a woman whose face is etched into her memory. “Yes, it was wrinkled. …
New Kentucky Home
Weep no more, my lady! It’s now been one month since the second moving truck (the first one broke down and they had to reload a new one—don’t even get me started on the phrase If it can go wrong, it will) pulled into the long white driveway of my rental house in Campbellsville. After …
Next Time
Just in case you have never noticed, I’m not adept at saying goodbye. If we don’t hug when parting, or experience a verbal goodbye, it’s completely acceptable to me because it truly means that I will be seeing you again. Perhaps I should commence offering the phrase, “Next Time” in place of “goodbye” because the …
Grumbling to Grateful
Except for some disappointment that one area of my life did not really turn out as I had once dreamed, I would mostly describe myself as an optimistic, hopeful, glass-half-full type of person. However, without a clear explanation as to what has changed in the last few years, I’m experiencing a bit of a struggle …
Unrealistic Expectations
Imagine scanning social media one morning and coming across the headline Jones Steps Down as Sports Information Director. Not necessarily an attention-grabber for most readers, but this press release was being shared by respected colleagues in the field of what is currently known as athletic communications, mostly in efforts to draw attention to the Unrealistic …
Contented Souls
Are you ever saddened by an occurrence that really has little or nothing to do with your life personally, but for whatever reason, stirs emotion inside of you? If you answer in the affirmative, I’d be curious for you to share your story with me sometime. Being fairly certain that your story will differ greatly …
Flourishing @ Life 