Ever since my son started high school in August, I have been thinking quite a bit about growing pains. I can recall from a very young age my Mom telling me that my aches and pains were just growing pains and thinking "when do these growing pains stop?" If you Google growing pains you will get hits … Continue reading Growing Pains
Why are we so hard on ourselves? And by extension, others? We are our own worst critic. I used to be harder on myself. I still am sometimes. Writing this post, for example, was difficult for me. I wondered if my inspiration to write this post was worth exploring. I worried what people would think about … Continue reading Why are we so hard on ourselves
Checking out the beautiful town of Raleigh in North Carolina for a possible future national library conference location, I have been impressed by the beauty of the land and the people. I have been people watching, talking with anyone I make eye contact with, and keeping an open mind. I had an unexpected day … Continue reading It’s how you look at it
"Keep Moving!" was this month's storytime theme at one of the preschools I visit. We talked about the importance of movement through stretch, yoga, and dance. The children had so much fun and learned how to do the sign language for the word dance. Keep Moving, has been repeating over and over in my head. … Continue reading Keep Moving
No matter what your hobby, craft, or passion - in order to showcase your talent, be true to yourself. Sometimes people say they want to 'find their voice' or they are trying to figure out what they are good at doing. The truth is we are trying to discover who we are. Here are some … Continue reading I stumbled into myself
Today marks 150 days since I returned from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Congress in Columbus, Ohio. I keep replaying my drive home and the evening of my arrival in my mind. My life has not been the same since, as my personal life has changed drastically. I spend time with my amazing … Continue reading Time to Reflect
It's the new year and I've been thinking about how we transform, how we evolve. My son has enjoyed playing Pokémon since he was 5. I especially like it since this game is the reason he enjoys reading. Evolution, as explained by the Pokémon database, "is a key part of the Pokémon games. Evolving Pokémon makes … Continue reading Transform in 2017
I recently met Jaz, a young man who will be starting college in January. I offered to help him with his student loan paperwork and a resume. When we met, I realized he didn't need my help. But he was gracious enough to listen to me and we wound up talking about his future. This … Continue reading Sharing Gifts
Networking is important - no matter what career choice you have made. I cannot stress this enough to those I mentor. What is networking? Engaging in conversation for the purpose of developing professional contacts and exchanging information. Most information I have read encourages newbies to network (new to a field, fresh out of school, new to … Continue reading Networking & Careers
This morning I was drinking a cup of hot tea and thinking about Fran. Fran was my mentor, my role model, and my friend when I was a young adult. She was the Polish cook at the church rectory in Berwyn where I grew up. I loved her like a grandmother and miss her since she passed … Continue reading We are all people
Libraries are... When you hear the word library, what images come to mind? Books. Movies. Music. Magazines. Computers. Children storytime. A Learning Center. Fun family programs, like Comicopolis @ the White Oak Library. A cool place to read a newspaper in the summer. A warm place to attend a craft class in the winter. In the beginning of each year, … Continue reading Libraries as Community Centers
Do you have the customer service blues? Or, work with someone who does? Do you dread unlocking the doors in the morning for customers? Do you breathe a sigh of relief when a customer walks away without encountering a problem? Do you find yourself hoping the next customer doesn't ask questions? Are you judging people … Continue reading Got the customer service blues?
You're Fired. Dismissed. Discharged. Terminated. Put on notice. Sacked. Got the boot. Marching orders. Pink slip. Those are words that invoke all sorts of feelings. Whether you have ever had to fire someone or you have been fired, it can be a terrible experience. Could we forget how many people Donald Trump fired on his … Continue reading Fired. Dismissed. Let Go.
When did you know what you wanted to do with your life? Are you searching for your purpose? If you are one of the lucky people who know what your calling in life is, pursue it. Some people are searching for a dream job, while others are looking for a bigger purpose in life. Those … Continue reading Living Your Dream
Lifelong learning is a phrase I often hear in my profession. It's a basic belief that you can take advantage of opportunities, formally and informally, and to learn at any age. Lifelong learning is both for professional and personal fulfillment, to improve yourself, your knowledge, and your skills. Libraries offer the perfect venue for these … Continue reading Lifelong Learning
Each interview process is different - depending on the industry, depending on the employer. You prepared a cover letter, a resume, and possibly more to get to the interview part of the application process. If you haven't already done so, it's time to investigate the company. Learn as much as you can and prepare to … Continue reading You landed an interview. Now what?
Thinking about 2015 and looking forward to 2016. After completing my masters degree in December 2014, I decided to make 2015 a year to figure out how I could utilize my experiences to help others. I started by offering to help more people - resume assistance and volunteering. I also wanted to start writing again. … Continue reading Be Beautiful
Whether you are a writer, a painter, or a librarian - there is nothing like that spark of inspiration. If you are privileged enough to attend conferences in your field, the part that is most fun is when an idea strikes you and you think "Oh! Yes! I can...." One of the best parts of … Continue reading When inspiration strikes
Lately I have been speaking to a lot of senior citizen groups. I was reluctant to state my obvious message - but I said it anyway. If a library appears on your property tax bill, like it does in my town, you are paying for library services and materials. So I ask, if you are … Continue reading Own your library card
Work can be stressful. Sometimes a situation can be so horrible, it's incapacitating. Men and women both perceive and deal with stress differently (see the attached article from WebMD). But, both sexes need to focus on practical steps. You are, after all, more than your job. You deserve to live your life without debilitating stress. … Continue reading Stressed? Don’t let your job kill you…
