Opinion

In-page image(s)

Who would I be?

Body
My sister asked me if I could pick a life to live – not what I am doing now or who I am currently — who would I be? It’s a loaded question. Who would I be? I mean, it seems the correct answer is to say I love where I am now and I am content with my future.
In-page image(s)

Joys of homeownership?

Body
Pluto once said, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and this mother lives by the motto. There are not many home projects I won’t attempt on my own. I have fixed toilets, installed a new kitchen sink and fixtures, new lighting fixtures and even replaced a sensor in my car, to name a few. If I don’t know how to do something, I can now use the internet to find videos to guide my way.
In-page image(s)

Self-advocacy, right to stand up for self

Body
The new year means many things to various people, from city leaders to young children. It means focusing on one personal thing to work on or work toward throughout the year. This year, I have taken it upon myself to work on self-advocacy and mindfulness. As empathy is a giant part of my personality, there are times when a balance is needed between being mindful of others and being empathetic, but also standing up for what is right while advocating for myself.
In-page image(s)

Be the solution, not the Problem

Body
When I became the general manager of the newspaper in late 2022, I asked myself one simple question: how do I get to know my community better and be involved? Soon after, as luck would have it, I met Kim Halfhill of Thrive Excelsior. She asked me to participate in the Thrive Leadership Academy, and I am so thankful I did. This interactive course is a seven- week-long program that gives a new perspective on the place we call our home. We learned about community leadership, public works, health and wellness, housing, economic development and so much more. It gave me a fresh perspective on Excelsior Springs and all the good things going on in our area. I also learned that we all must work together to make this a better place to not only work but also to plant our roots and live our happiest lives.