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Books

James by Percival Everett - Book Review

Don’t you love it when a book, movie, or story catches you off guard? “I see dead people…” Indeed you do, Haley Joel Osment. James by Percival Everett isn’t a ghost story, but it has a similar effect, forcing you to

Life

Meditation: Suffering - on Crossing the Bridge When We Come to It

In his Letters to Lucilius, Roman playwright and philosopher Seneca wrote: "We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." That hits home. Seneca isn’t dismissing or denying the reality of suffering in the world. Instead, he’s pointing out a familiar human

Life, Wellness

Meditation: Fairness, or Getting What We Deserve

We think we want life to be fair, but in reality, we don’t. What we actually desire is an easy, comfortable life—one free from pain and drama. We assume we want a fair life because that would mean achieving those

DALL·E 2024-12-12 16.54.09 – A simple illustration of a mentor figure guiding a group of diverse young individuals aged 10 to 25 in a modern, relatable context. The setting is min

Books

10-25 The Science of Motivating Young People - Book Review

Kids these days, am I right? We’ve all heard it, and most of us have probably said it. As a coach of students and young adults over the last 20 years, I know I have. Kids today are different from

Books, Wellness

Book Review: Outlive

Assumed/Intended Audience: This post assumes the reader is interested in improving his/her overall health and wellness, especially how we can live long and health lives. Author Background/Experience: The author is not a medical professional but a public health expert with years

Wellness

Meditation: New Beginnings

There is something powerful about new beginnings. I am someone who is motivated by streaks. I enjoy chaining together different activities to see how many times in a row I can perform better. This can be a double-edged sword because

Wellness

Meditation: Enough of What I Need and Less of What I Want

In Western culture, the path to happiness is often paved with the desire for more possessions, attention, and influence, believing that having more will bring satisfaction and meet the needs of our hearts. But what if the opposite were true?

Wellness

Memento Mori: An Ancient Strategy for a Disciplined Life

In a world that incessantly promotes the pursuit of eternal youth, wealth, and happiness, the concept of "memento mori" offers a refreshing and insightful perspective. The Latin phrase that translates to "remember that you will die" is a stark reminder

Wellness

Meditation: Creating Balance

We often need to be more precise when discussing work-life balance. We commonly speak about finding or seeking balance, recognizing that achieving it can be elusive. Life's competing priorities naturally pull us in different directions. To some extent, that's normal.

Wellness

Meditation: What if the Opposite Were True?

Sometimes, when I find myself trapped in unhelpful thought patterns, I deliberately shift my mindset by asking a crucial question: "What if the opposite were true?" This question allows me to reframe my perspective, especially when my thoughts tend towards

Wellness

Meditation: Words as Hammers

Our words are like hammers. With hammers, we can build and beautify, or we can demolish and break down. We can direct these word hammers towards ourselves just as easily as we do towards others. For most of us, words

Wellness

Strength Training: Why It's Important and a Simple Plan

Strength training isn't just for muscleheads or gym bros; it holds value for all of us, especially as we age. On average, individuals tend to lose between 1 to 3% of muscle strength and 3 to 5% of muscle mass

Wellness

Meditation: Gratitude

One of the ways we build contentment in our lives is through practicing gratitude. When we focus our attention on the people, places, and things we are thankful for, we momentarily shift our focus away from ourselves and allow someone

Wellness

Meditation: Contentment

Contentment can often feel elusive. We commonly grapple with a sense of lack or an excess of satisfaction, teetering between the two extremes. Learning to be content means finding that sweet spot in between. But how can we achieve this

Books, Wellness

The Circadian Code - Book Review

Assumed/Intended Audience: This post assumes the reader is interested in improving his/her overall health and wellness, especially looking into why we sleep and how we can sleep better. Author Background/Experience: The author is not a medical professional but a public health

Books, Wellness

Why We Sleep - Book Review

Life

The Story Behind the Bike Videos

About a year ago, I sold my truck and began riding my bike to work. I had several reasons for doing it. I wanted to save some money and be more environmentally conscience and driving a full size Silverado and its

Wellness

Approaching Fear and Doubt

On a recent commute to work I was thinking a lot about fear and doubt. It strikes me that fear isn't necessarily a bad thing. Fear can motivate you. Fear can keep you sharp. Fear can focus you on what's

Books

Encouraging the Heart - Book Review

Assumed Audience I'm writing to leaders who enjoy reading and are interested in doing the type of self-reflection necessary to improve their relational abilities. Author's Intentions I have over 20 years of experience leading teams in non-profit, ministerial, small business, and

Life, Wellness

Learning to Be Present in the Moment

A skill I am intentionally developing is learning to be present in the moment. This is not something that happens naturally for me. It is something that must be carefully cultivated. You recognize instinctively when you are in the presence of

Life

A Wet Adventure on The Florida Run

Last year Jennifer and a friend ran the half marathon at The Florida Run at Colt Creek State Park. She didn’t really train for it and let’s just say her performance wasn’t really representative of what she can do. So

City, Life

Stepping Down As Mayor

In November, I announced that I was stepping down as the mayor and from the City Commission of the City of Bartow. It was one of the most difficult decisions I have made. After a long process, I was selected as

City

11th Annual Mayors' Roundtable

Last week I had the privilege of participating in the Mayor's Roundtable sponsored by Polk Vision. Once again the event was held virtual due to the pandemic but was live-streamed on YouTube. See below to watch the event. This event

City

Bartow Master Plan First Draft Now Live

After several rounds of community input, the first draft of Bartow's master plan is now available. This is a day we have been waiting on for a while and it is finally here. Today the city commission gathered in a

City

Commissioner's Report - April 19

Tonight's meeting of the Bartow City Commission will be heavy on alternative water sources. We will also take up an issue with the Police Officer's Retirement Trust Fund. Alternative Water Sources On tonight's agenda are a couple of items related to the

City

Commissioner's Report - April 12

In this week's Commissioner's Report, I share a brief update about serving on the Bartow Airport Authority and my thoughts on the election results. Election Results I am thrilled and honored to have been re-elected to serve a second term on the

Books

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain - Book Review

George Saunders' newest book, "A Swim in the Pond in the Rain" has the feel of auditing a Russian Literature class. And, that is by design. My first exposure to George Saunder's writing was Lincoln in the Bardo - a book that I

City

Commissioner's Report - April 5th

Here's your Commissioner's Report for the week of April 5th. After a couple of weeks off, we resume our regular City Commission meetings this evening at 6 pm in the Commission Chambers of City Hall. Below is a brief outline

Life, Wellness

Seven Habits I'm Using to Become a Better Me

I've heard it said that variety is the spice of life, but I must confess that I am a creature of habit. The good news is that I'm not alone. We all are creatures of habit, whether we realize it

City

Commissioner's Report - March 28 to April 3

No commission meeting this week, so today's Commissioner's Report is concerned with a couple of meetings I held recently on Civic Center Pool and the proposed pedestrian bridge project. By now I'm sure most people are aware of the work

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