On the Mayor's Mind

Shoreline Mayor Shari Winstead

On the Mayor’s Mind

10.6.14

By Shoreline Mayor Shari Winstead

Last week I was talking to a friend about how busy October is. It seems like October used to be the “transition” month, where everyone settled into their routines, and even enjoyed the change of weather (especially when it’s the Indian Summer that we are so blessed to have in the northwest.) 

Now October is just as busy as every other month, especially in my family, where we celebrate three birthdays - my Mom, my daughter-in-law, and myself. I love birthday months, because it gives everyone in our family a reason to get together, share a meal, catch up with each other and just enjoy each other’s company.  

October is definitely my favorite month, because of what it represents to me. Renewal - it marks another year of my life gone by, and another year starting. And every year there is something special to look forward to.

Even though I’ve hit what I consider the “half-way” mark of my life, it sometimes takes me by surprise about how much better my life is as I grow older.

Everything I was told when I was younger is actually true. I do have more self-confidence, and I do worry less about superficial things. I also have more concern about living a meaningful life.  

Recently I attended a Healthy Worksite conference (in my capacity as a project manager for my “day-job”). The morning keynote speaker was one of the best I’ve ever heard, Dr. Victor Strecher, author of a book called “On Purpose”.

My Grandmother used to tell me that every person’s life was a book waiting to be written, and Dr. Strecher has used his life story to help others contemplate and hopefully figure out - not what their purpose in life is (as so many books have been written about), but rather how to live your life on purpose, with meaning and intention, to live the best life you can. 

One great thing about this book is that it is written in comic-book style, and takes less than two hours to read and digest. It will leave you with great tools to figure out what is really meaningful to you, and how you can live your life on purpose.

The secondary title of the book “Lessons in Life and Health from the Frog, the Dung Beetle, and Julia” - well, you just have to read it to understand what that means and why it is so relevant. I will tell you that Julia is his daughter, and although it’s a story with a sad ending, it’s one that will give you pause to think about what you have, and why you shouldn’t waste a minute of this beautiful life.  

I wish you a wonderful Autumn, and hope you have a chance to go for a walk, visit one of our great parks and enjoy the changing colors of the leaves and the crispness in the air, or that you find the time to take a deep breath and enjoy what’s around you.

And if you find yourself with a couple of hours to do a little light reading, I highly recommend On Purpose.