…by Julie Clark Robinson “An optimist is the human personification of spring.”  -Susan J. Bissonette Every day I wake up a little more giddy than the day before. Steaming cup of coffee in hand, I challenge my slippers to take on the dew and head out the door to see, literally, what\’s new. I give a nod of acceptance that the daffodils – whose emergence a few weeks back felt more glorious to me than any 4th of July fireworks show – are on their way out. I wonder if my neighbors think I\’m nuts. “Of course they do,” I tell myself. We\’re the family who moved in,... Read More

…by Prill Boyle We\’re all afraid. If we\’re not anxious about getting senile or going broke, we\’re worried that our children will start using drugs or that we\’ll end up as one-hit wonders. It doesn\’t matter how accomplished, brilliant and beautiful we consider ourselves. Fear comes with the territory of being human. And the better we are at navigating through it, the more comfortable we feel in our skins and surroundings. Facing fear also goes hand-in-hand with realizing our dreams. That\’s why for the past six years, beginning the morning I got the... Read More

When you think of Rhode Island, the first thing that may come to mind is the colonial charm of its island town of Newport. But if you haven\’t been to the capital city of Providence, you\’re missing out on a city that has enough big-city attractions to keep any urbanite happy, but with the small-town feel that makes you instantly feel right at home. I\’ve been to Providence several times and I never fail to be won over by the friendliness of its residents, the top-notch caliber of its thriving arts scene—from galleries to museums to theater—to its first-rate restaurants—and... Read More

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God\’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ. – Ephesians 1:7-9 niv As children, my brother, sister, and I looked forward to visiting our grandmother during the sweltering days of summer. Dad would drive along the winding gravel roads, with me getting sicker by the moment, until we finally came to her small house, deep in the hills of Kentucky. Every evening... Read More

American Idol judge, Simon Cowell, periodically remarks about the “it” factor when assessing contestants. It seems to be one of those nebulous, undefined and subjective attributes one either has or doesn\’t have. And it falls into the category of you-know-it-when-you-see-it. He\’s right. You do know it when you see it and that\’s true in the workplace, too. Some people call it passion. And while that\’s part of it, it goes beyond the intense driving focus associated with passion. When I think of the hundreds of people I\’ve hired in my career, there was... Read More

Business owners find themselves pondering a sale of their business for many reasons. Sometimes, it is because they really had not considered or developed a secession plan and, as they near retirement, a sale of the business can be a good and profitable option. In other cases, a secession plan has been developed, but just doesn\’t work out. For instance, the owner\’s children or other principals of the business decide they wish to pursue a different career. Sales of businesses are also contemplated as a result of bids for the business from a competitor or larger company. You may ask,... Read More

Are there unique factors to consider if you\’re a single, female retiree? The answer is yes. Even if you\’re part of a couple now, remember that divorce, death, or the break-up with a significant other can change your status. Since women live an average of seven years longer than men, your chances of being single at some point are considerable. So, let\’s take a look at some areas you may want to think about if you\’re single now, or may be single in the future: Psychology. On the plus side, if you\’re single you only have yourself to consider when making many life... Read More

How would you like to play a little game with me? Walk outside your home, condo or apartment and take a stroll around the block. Now enter through the front door as if you have never been in this home before. What are some of the things you know instantly about the occupants of this house? My home reveals, for example, that I have pets. You simply can\’t miss my Golden Retriever\’s toys scattered about the floor…or my cranky cockatiel\’s seeds sprayed everywhere. If you think about it, every time you go to see a movie or watch a play or turn on the TV, you know a great deal... Read More

Because of a crisis, my sisters and I had to move our mother into an assisted living which also meant emptying out her home. Unfortunately, as almost always happens when there\’s a crisis, the timing couldn\’t have been worse and, because of our work schedules, we had 1 week in which to do it!! While my parents were the most organized people you could imagine and my sister and I worked well together, one week wasn\’t nearly enough time to sort through the “stuff” my parents had accumulated throughout their 50 years of marriage and certainly not enough to make good decisions... Read More