“We must get beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” – John Hope Franklin, Professor

I almost saved this quote for another day. Seems like I should have a bigger trip to tell you about if I am going to use such a bold quote. Seems like it should at least require an airplane ticket. But, I am certain that is not what he meant.

I looked at the words of Professor Franklin for a long time. You should too. Chew on them for a bit and see what you taste. Something is telling me there will be different things for each person. I know what I see and I can pretty much bet that it isn’t the same as most. Neither is yours. Go ahead – look again.

I think the reason each of us will see a different message is due to the dynamic nature of the underlying call to action – have a free, complete thought, get out of your comfort zone and make somebody’s life better. That middle part is my favorite – go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore. As each of us walk on our own journey, there is always a nice footpath of typical. On either side you have paths not often taken. The trip off the beaten path can lead to those places you have always wanted to be, but never thought you would go.

Today I want to encourage you to challenge your own boundaries. Consider the things you don’t consider because they don’t fit into one of your “to-do” categories. Think on that idea you pushed back because it was “too big.” Recall that person you know needed a word of encouragement and give them a call. It’s not weird – it is human.

It’s Toastmasters Ya’ll

It is official. The Richmond Hill chapter of Toastmasters International has chartered. We are no longer a group attempting to get our legs about us. We are a full fledged organization. And it happened with exceptional timing.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared the week of April 27 to May 3 Toastmaster Week in throughout the state. He must have known we were chartering and wanted to do something real nice to welcome us in.

I talk up Toastmasters a lot. Why? Being able to talk to 5 people or 5000 is an important skill. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked, mishandled or avoided. Toastmasters provides a great environment to hone that ability. There is lots of instruction, support and practice.

We would love to have you join us. We meet every Monday morning, 8:30am at Magnolia Manor. The coffee is hot and the company is phenomenal.

“One of the things that has helped me as much as any other, is not how long I am going to live, but how much I can do while living. ” – George Washington Carver (1864 – 1943)

NEWS ALERT – Life is finite. Even if time is infinite, our opportunity to occupy it in this life is not. Some of us are shocked by this revelation. Others of us know it all too well. All of us should consider the idea far more often.

Contrary to what logic would suggest, our positive impact on our surroundings is not directly proportional to the amount of time we were afforded to spend in it. There are many loved ones taken too soon, some before adulthood, whose brief encounter into our lives has left a fingerprint on our heart that is unquestionably life altering. Others, full of years, could not say the same.

The interesting thing is people will often get busy because of the shortness of the day, throw up their hands up at the lack of time or prioritize the trash out of a daily list of “to dos.” Few people fling their arms around the life that is theirs and commit to effecting change in the time they are allotted without reservation or guilt.

Today I want to encourage you to fling your arms around the life that is yours. Are you more/less busy, capable, resource ready – whatever – than somebody else? Who cares? You are uniquely equipped to do that thing which you were created to do. And it is in that thing where you effect the change you always wanted to see. Embracing the time that is now is far more effective than chasing after the time not promised or harboring guilt of time lost. The best way to honor the past and the future is with an exceptional now.

Special Message from Deborah Crespo

With well over a million cases of cancer diagnosed each year, chances are that you know someone personally affected by this disease.

For my husband, Alberto, this chance became a reality 10 years ago when he met my father. Their relationship grew from “The Talk” on the porch with my husband as the new son-in-law, and continued with discussions about the similar, “unique” personalities of their wives.

In 2002, my father’s battle with cancer ended. My husband carries on the fight each year in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life®. This event is about celebration, remembrance and hope, as well as, to raise money to help fight cancer.

He participated in the Relay For Life® this past Friday, however; you can still make a donation. The hope I have in supporting this effort is that another wonderful husband, somewhere, will not have to walk in honor of his father-in-law’s memory, but instead continue to have the privilege to walk with him side by side.

To make a donation in support of Alberto Crespo in the Relay for Life® visit the website: Educate yourself and find resources about cancer at the American Cancer Society’s website.

This Turn Around Tuesday is dedicated in loving memory to Gregory Cross. He is my friend in life and the thereafter.

“Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.”

- Helen Keller (1880-1968)

They say things happen in threes. They also say they are “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” That statement suggests that things happen in pairs. I am betting most of us have had times where things happen in bushels, tons, and in quantities measurable only by stars in the galaxy numbers. Two’s and three’s would be cake. We like cake.

Unfortunately, we don’t get to schedule strife, chaos, unforeseen or surprise. Those guys have already hacked into your datebook and can pencil themselves in whenever they want to. Sometimes they just effect your world at large. Other times it is just business. Occasionally, they get real personal. It gets to be a true test of character when they orchestrate the epic trifecta that encompasses all three and seems to last forever.

Today I want to encourage you to laugh, cry, sing, dance, run, sleep, shout. Do any of these expressives regardless of whether those around you feel it is “appropriate.” There is no doubt that sometimes it just feels like “too much.” But, as long as we are still breathing, there is still hope. I challenge you to take full advantage of that hope, turn your day around and take somebody with you. The best thing that can come out of a Tuesday is a better Wednesday.

6000 Women Hand Up

A Working Woman in Need (AWWIN) will be hosting the first Capital Campaign Kickoff for “The 6000 Woman Hand up Challenge” on next Friday, April 18 at the Coastal Georgia Center in room 115 at 6:00PM.

The kickoff is free and open to the public – men and women alike. There will be light refreshments and maybe a few surprises. Media partner, Skirt Magazine, is getting the word out and donor lists are getting ready to appear on the AWWIN website.

AWWIN is also gearing up for their Third Annual Father’s Day Golf Tournament presented by Skirt Magazine on June 13th. The tournament, along with “Savannah’s Top Ten Working Women of The Year” Awards Gala on September 12, is part of this year’s “Hand Up” Challenge.”

“The vicissitudes of life require that you set your goals as high as possible. Never ever give up. And for pete’s sake, if you are not happy with your life, do something positive (POSITIVE) and not destructive, to change your expectancies.” - Dr. Judy Halliday

April’s Word of the Day

Vicissitude - a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance…a fluctuation of state or condition…usually beyond one’s control.

Yes, Dr. Judy, I had to look that one up. And while many people before you have said, “set high goals,” the insertion of the word “vicissitude” takes it to a whole new level.

Many of us have our mind wrapped around the need to create goals and dreams that cause us to aim higher than ourselves. Most of us are comfortable having one or two lofty goals. But few of us are prepared to hold on to those ideas when it is impacted by an unfavorable event outside of our control.

Far too many of us allow ourselves to be shaped and defined by our circumstances. Often times, we feel unable to maintain any consistency while engrossed in situations we cannot control. Instead of being the person we want to be, we settle for being the person that life creates for us.

Today I want to encourage you to be the person you want to be regardless of circumstance. Failure is imminent when we allow ourselves to be beholden to circumstances we don’t control. it is quite another thing indeed when we harness the power to define our own reality.

Remember the Rainbows

I don’t mind telling you that bringing attention to the Remember the Rainbows foundation is not my favorite thing to do. I can’t even begin to imagine what it is like to lose a child.

But whether or not we like to talk about it is not the issue. The fact is that parents have lost their greatest gifts to childhood cancer. I am overwhelmingly grateful to those who stand in the gap and provide support and outreach to these families.

You can find out more information about visiting their website. You can provide your support by participating in their annual fund drive. Special thanks goes to Jennie Brewster for donating her time and efforts to such a special cause. May our families never need them and thank them so much for being there if we ever did.

*Today’s quote was found at Dr. Judy Halliday

“If you stop this fight I’ll kill you.” – Rocky Balboa, Rocky I (1976)

The first quote for Turn Around Tuesday was actually from Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

However, for the year anniversary, I thought we we would go to issue two and bring back the perseverance of Rocky. The interesting thing is that, looking at them together this way, I see a relation between the two that I had not noticed before.

I often consider what motivates people to move through the hard moments. What convinces people that going another round, seeing the fight to the end, is a good idea? Where does that inner strength come from?

For many of us, I think it is a great imagination. It is the ability to visualize where you will be if you do, in fact, make it through the road block that is currently in your way. It is the mind’s eye that allows us to see that the gain of the journey is greater than the difficulty in travels.

Today I want to encourage you to imagine where it is you want to be. Wander in your mind for a bit what it looks like. How does it smell? What does it taste like? What do you feel like in that place? Hold on to that idea. When you think it is time to throw in the towel, consider all that you may be missing out on.

Celebrating a full Year of Turn Around Tuesday!

Wow! I can hardly believe a year has gone by. It has been an amazing time and I want to take a minute to thank you all.

When I started TAT, I will admit I hoped it would go well. Really, why else would one start a project hoping otherwise? I knew I wanted to distribute a message that was both real and inspiring. I wanted to be able to talk to people in a real way that recognized the obstacles but encouraged success.

What I didn’t quite expect was the way that intention came back to enhance my own Tuesdays. You all have been generous with your encouragement. I appreciate it more than you know.

I am looking forward to year two and I extend to you the same offer that I did in the beginning. Join me for coffee, feel free to add to the conversation, and contribute topics you would like to see discussed. Turn Around Tuesday would be nothing without you.

This week in history
• April 1, 1700 – April Fool’s Day popularized by English pranksters
• April 2, 2005 – Pope John Paul II dies
• April 3, 1860 – The Pony Express Debuts
• April 4, 1968 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated
• April 6, 1896 – First modern day Olympic Games held