Monday, January 13, 2020

A New Year: A Better You
by Kirby Swinney
Wise Owl

The new year brings a time for a fresh start; new ideas, new attitudes, new directions and a reflection on where we have been and where we want to go. When I sat down to write my latest quick note article, I started coming up with a few words that I felt were relevant to what I wanted to write about. Surprisingly, all ended in "ate." Maybe I was hungry? After all, the new year has brought on a diet! Seriously, the suffix "ate" means having the appearance or characteristics of. It also indicates the product of a process. Here are the words that I chose to discuss (listed alphabetically). Do you possess these characteristics? If not, the new year is a good time to consider a change for the better.

Advocate

Anticipate

Delegate

Educate

Innovate

Motivate

Relate

Self evaluation is sometimes scary but also a great way to take a closer look at not only where you are but where others see you as being. These questions are just a few that came to mind in just a few minutes. There are many others that may need an answer in order for you to do a thorough inventory of where you are as the new year and a new semester begins. I encourage each of you to take a few steps back from your world and take a fresh look from the outside looking in. It can only help! Happy Belated New Year to all!

Kirby SwinneyKirby Swinney graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1982 with a degree in instrumental music education and retired in 2014 after teaching band for 30 years in the Oklahoma communities of Weleetka, Dewey, Choctaw and Shawnee. Kirby joined the Palen Music Center team in OKC in 2014.

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