Columnists

Here we are at the door of a brand new year and for me that means new dreams, new ideas and a whole new set of goals. I realize not everyone likes setting goals. In fact, most of my social media feed the past few weeks was filled with reasons not to compile a list…

When we eclipsed the shortest day of the year just a few days back, I felt my typical sense of relief. You can’t get to spring, after all, if you don’t turn that corner at the winter solstice. Yes, optimism is powerful, considering what it really is. Optimism is a feeling, only as real as…

The new year has a way of sneaking up on us. One day it’s December, full of cookies and Christmas lights, and the next day the calendar flips to January like someone slamming the book shut on the entire year. There’s something almost comical about the confidence of it all, as if life changes instantly…

Were you one of the many thousands of people that said, “This season is too busy!” Or maybe . . . “Read my lips and repeat after me! Next Christmas is going to be different in our home. We are going to slow down! We are going to be more giving to others!” Then in…

I haven’t seen many ducks but it is duck season and I can’t wait to go out with my Lab to try to find some. If you have never owned a Labrador, you have missed out on one of the greatest things in life, and if you have never watched ducks come into decoys on…

I have attended several high school basketball games in the area since the season began a couple of weeks ago. During one of those contests, I said to myself, ‘ I can’t believe I haven’t coached one of these in over 15 years.’ It seems like yesterday in some ways – but in another real…

Right now in the Ozarks, there are eagles everywhere, and each spring more and more of them nest here. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you know where eagles nest, and it is very easy to see them. I found a new eagles nest this week, and counted about a dozen different birds,…

Unhappy people will snatch every possible opportunity to convince you to be miserable with them. I offer the following as proof: Look objectively at our society. The unhappy folks have turned social media into a panic room of outrage, and imaginary world where nobody is getting a fair shake, where everyone is suffering and where…

How do you motivate people? I have listened to folks who were motivational speakers – quite a few of them, actually – in my lifetime, and they always left me feeling ready to make sweeping, positive changes in my life. But something else usually followed these initial feelings of inspiration… I tend to go right…

“Memories of childhood memories sparkle brighter each year.” – Unknown A few weeks ago I was wasting time on YouTube when I came across a video about forgotten Christmas traditions from the 1960’s and 70’s. Oh my goodness, I wasn’t expecting so many wonderful memories to flood my mind! As I sat and watched the…