June 17, 2005 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer     

   The Alix Public Library just completed the planning process and has identified its five-year and long-term goals.  Every organization usually has some form of planning process that they engage in on a regular basis.  A process that identifies where the organization has been, where it is, and where it is going.

   Individuals too should be making short-term and long-term plans for their future.  It is good to have a direction, focus and goal so that you can stay on track as you travel through life. 

   While goals are good, often what happens is that individuals get hung up on the minute details and forget the overall picture of what they hope to accomplish.  When the details don’t appear, or react, in the preconceived manner and the right time, many feel that they are failing at meeting their goals. 

   As long as you have a destination in mind and are traveling towards it, you will get there even if life throws you a few curves, or you are required to make a detour or two.  Focus on the big picture of what you want your life to look like, and the little details will take care of themselves.

   And when life doesn’t seem to go the way you want it too, remember, your goals haven’t been derailed, you’re just on a scenic detour. 

Beth

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June 3, 2005 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer     

   I was able to sleep on my own bed last Saturday night for the first time since November 21/04.  No longer do I have to camp out on the spare bed, or on the floor...despite years of floor sleeping at Guide camps and family outings, I think my body is getting too old to enjoy that novelty for any length of time.

   While we are bombarded with slogans and admonitions to watch out that we are not ‘getting stuck in a rut’ in our lives, there are some areas in our lives where consistency is a really good thing.  A comfortable mattress is one, but by no means the only area!   

   Changing just to change rarely works, and more often than not, backfires on the person or organization making the change.  Change that is the result of a spur-of-the moment enthusiastic burst of energy can bring about less than desirable results too.

   We should be continually striving to grow and stretch ourselves, get out of our ruts, challenge and change, but that growth work and change is best done from a solid, consistent base.  The basic structure of our lives - our values, beliefs, family, etc. - should be rooted and grounded, thereby enabling us to reach and grow knowing we have the security of a safety net to fall back on.  The deeper the roots, the taller the tree can grow. 

Beth

Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14iy1_QfGcGVfl_MXMfs3TyISciSTO5SR/view?usp=sharing

To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.