What is it about change that makes it so scary? Is it the unknown? Is it that it’s better the way it is? Or maybe, it’s easier the way it is. Perhaps knowing what you have is better than fearing what you don’t, even if what you have isn’t that great. Regardless, there are two facts about change: 1. It is inevitable. 2. Most people don’t like it.

One of the most visual examples of change in the Lowcountry is the beach. The daily changes are remarkable. One day the beach will be spotted with hundreds of washed-up jellyfish and the very next day, there’s not a jellyfish to be found. What made all the jellyfish arrive one day and not the next? How can there be such profound change from day-to-day or hour-to-hour?

It’s February, and I’m still feeling guilty for not taking some cookies or a pie to my neighbors over the holidays. However, I should also feel guilty about not even knowing some of my neighbors. In my defense, I’ve only lived here 17 years. Lame, right? But being social goes both ways. I didn’t receive any cookies or a pie from them either.

That’s not the point.

This kind of thinking helps no one, and two wrongs don’t make a right. I take full responsibility. After all, I am healthy enough to walk over to say hi, and I’m not shy. There is no excuse for me not to know my immediate neighbors’ names and recognize them in the grocery store. What’s even worse, I know many of their dog’s names—Cinnamon, Buddy, Bell, Lola, Cowboy.

Love yourself.
God wasn’t having a bad day
when He made you!

Since love is what makes the world go around, I don’t feel bad about adding one more article about love to the February writer’s love fest. After all, love is serious, as it truly is the eternal burning fuel that illuminates humanity.

I believe we come to earth for one purpose: To love. Everything we do while here is a journey to discover a deeper meaning of that purpose and evolve as beings through love.

Years ago, I started on a weight loss journey that was life changing. During that time I lost almost 75 pounds. Over the past four years I have gained 25 back. Not bad, but I want to get them off because I don’t like the way I feel. I remembered a letter I received from a reader that had an impact on me, and that I wrote about when I first lost all the weight. I pulled it out to read it again and I’m glad I did. It inspired me…again, and I hope it will do the same for you.

I promise IT will be mentioned in millions of editorials and articles ad nauseum. What exactly is IT? Resolutions. One can hardly say New Year without thinking resolution. Writers will argue why we should set resolutions, or why we shouldn’t. They will give us step-by-step directions on how to set them, the top 10 most popular resolutions in case you can’t come up with your own, and, of course, advice on how to keep them (as if they have kept their own resolutions). I was born in September, and if my memory serves, four months later I resolved to lose weight.

In looking forward in 2019, when it comes to resolutions, I say do what you want. If setting one helps you stay on track and feeds your desire to succeed, do it! Why wouldn’t you? However, if your track record for resolutions is fairly dismal, like mine, just skip going through the motions and avoid setting yourself up for failure. Regardless of what you do, I want to encourage you to look back before you look ahead.