Lisa Gray

As a kid did you ever just stand in a circle and spin until you were so dizzy that it was a relief when you finally fell?

I was reading a little something about the difference between being fearless and being brave. I am not fearless, never have been. I can remember a time going off to swimming lessons in a town that still doesn't have a heated pool. I used to stand at the side of the pool shivering with goose-pimply skin for what felt like hours willing myself to just jump in already into the cold morning water. It's silly, of course. There was nothing to fear about cold water except the cold.

Everyone is either fired up about their New Year's resolutions or steadfast in their avoidance of making them. As always, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle. The benefit to getting older is that if you have been paying attention to yourself and you listen to yourself, you really can set yourself up for success because you recognize exactly what you are working with.

Since December 14th, I have been carrying around a heavy heart. It seems some people want to talk about it and others avoid it at all cost. Facebook is equal parts silent and loud. But talk we must because I believe as former Minnesota Teacher of the Year, Katy Smith, does that we are indeed at a tipping point. Katy says this: