Lessons Learned

With less than a week left as President of our Business Women's Group I am reflecting on the year that I am leaving behind me. What a year it has been!

It wasn't enough that I was stepping way out of a comfort zone and taking on a task that I was not sure about. It has definitely been an experience of learned lessons. Some expected and some not expected or surprised at the outcome.

I think the biggest lesson I have learned is some people are just not comfortable moving forward. Technology, new ideas, and just changing what has been done for years hinders that process a lot. I am not a personality type that just goes with the flow. If I set my mind to doing a task I want to complete that task the best way I can. But, if you don't have an entire group behind you it is a far harder situation to complete.

I set some high goals and expectations at the beginning and I feel I definitely scared off a lot of people either due to my approach, some would call it western bias or just the fact that our group has taken a turn in another direction. I would have loved to been able to run with my ideas but it seems they were only my ideas and a few others. The majority of the women are happy just sticking to their current rulebook. Unfortunately, that limits our group and will eventually change in the wrong direction.

A big thank you to those who wanted changes and we did make a few. Some said little steps are better than no steps at all. This possibly is true but you have to listen and sometimes I felt I was talking on deaf ears. You can't please everyone, but its not about pleasing its about changing with results. At some point I realized your really not hurting me but hurting the group in general.

It was an experience and I hand things over to a very capable woman. I look forward to seeing what's on my horizon and I am enlightened by the experience.

The Best is Yet to Come

I seem to remember this statement in a song by Frank Sinatra but also this was a part of the Easter story at church today.

I find myself grappling frequently with my religious beliefs and it usually takes a anecdotal story to make me feel a little bit better and make me think a little harder about what I truly believe. With society and the world issues what they have been lately it sometimes makes you feel defeated. Every time the shoe drops you wonder what is going to happen next! Yes I know some of you will say this is just life, but we all have to admit life gets harder and harder to function through.

Today at church, pastor told a story about an elderly lady who loved Easter, spending time with family and having a wonderful meal on the big day. After everyone would finish eating the main meal she would never forget to tell them to keep there fork because "the best was yet to come". So it was rather fitting when this lady passed on to heaven she was buried not with a flower or religious symbol in her hand but a fork. Many at her funeral had a brief chuckle because they knew what that fork meant to her.

Easter was always enjoyable as a child. I always got dressed in my spring dress, with a hat, new shoes and knowing that after church I could hunt for easter eggs and hopefully receive a basket with some goodies inside. I passed on that tradition when my kids were little. Next year I am sure we will color eggs, hunt for them and continue that tradition with our grandchildren.

I guess it is true "the best is yet to come" both for future Easters and when we go to the next life. Happy Easter everyone!!

Earth Day-Green Day Go Hand in Hand

We have a lot of holidays and special days in a calendar year. Birthdays of Presidents, family members (of course they are only considered national holidays to those who have them) Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day well you get the idea.

But one day that seems to get more and more attention with the popularity of recycling, being green or whatever term you choose to use is Earth Day. With the advent of technology; recycling, or being "green" has become second nature to many people around the country/world.

I can remember growing up that we experienced several water shortages in California. I guess to be fair my Dad was a early pioneer of our families recycling projects. We caught water when it did rain in barrels and recycled the water from the washing machine to flush our toilets. We also used our bathwater too. To some that sounds horrible but to him it was a way of life. When we weren't allowed to water our yards we used the water to rinse the dishes. We didn't use the clothes dryer very often but hung the clothes on the line in the yard.

My grandparents did a garden every year until my grandfather got sick and could no longer do so. Every summer from age 12-14 I walked around the neighborhood with a friend and collected aluminum cans, and that extra money paid for the extra school clothes that I wanted to buy on my own.

I was used to recycling cans and plastic regularly so when we moved to Missouri in 1997 and found that there wasn't a program in Sedalia I was shattered. I felt guilty every time I threw any recycled item into the trash and thought what a waste that they picked up trash two days a week. Up until they finally did start a program here in town recently I would recycle items an since I knew that they did recycle were my son lives (an hour away) I would cart items when I went to visit him. Too some that sounds stupid but it gave me the piece of mind that I was doing something.

Everyone needs to go to their local landfill and see what we throw away. It is sad. Call it western bias as an editorial in our local paper stated this week; people are just too lazy to take what becomes second nature to do. It is actually very simple.

When I wrote down all that I personally recycle I was pretty proud: tin cans, plastics, cardboard, cloth shopping bags (most of the time in lieu of plastic) I have several items that I take to a office they give to early childhood participants(oatmeal containers, papertowel/toilet paper holders, old frames,)all junk mail is shredded and all recycled, I am considering composting for my container garden, the list can go on and on.

Another goal this year is to replace a tree I had to get rid of with another. Whatever little amount adds up and for me it makes me feel like I am doing my part..Shouldn't you be part of Earth/Green Day too?

Every Book Can Still Tell a Story

It doesn't matter how long the information super highway grows, there will always be a need or yearning to hold a book of any kind in one's hands. At least there will be in mine. I haven't jumped to purchase a kindle, nook or whatever the new devise is called. I love to go and walk through bookstores and also through my local library. Aisle after aisle in total silence. Be it author, picture or by a recommendation there is something about turning each page and wondering what will come next, the smell of the paper and the feel between your fingers to me is relaxing.

So on tonight's news it touched my heart to see a story about a young man of eighty named Bill Strong.

Books who have been in families for generations and generations or not. He takes his variety of tools and supplies and revitalizes books for many more generations to come. Thank you Mr. Strong for the work you do. Go to www.strongbookrepair.com and read his interview that appeared in Princeton Town Topics.

Life back to the written word. Isn't it wonderful.