Tag: JoyReturns

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The Future of JoyReturns & OgleOhio

Michele Kearns

For most of Lent, I have toyed with the idea of pressing the delete key on both JoyReturns and OgleOhio (my photo-blog).  I simply did not have the words, nor pictures,  for blog posts.

Why did I not have the words?

Since January I have been working as a loan officer at a small local credit union.  I love this job.  However,  it is over-whelming the amount of systems, policies and procedures I must learn.  Most days I am mentally and physically beat.  The brain is so tired I am unable to think of anything to say.

It is not only my blogging suffering but the freelance writing I was doing for Jennasis and Associates  has gone away.  There are no words for my friend Jennifer.   I submitted a list of ideas at the beginning of the year for her website but lack the words to give those articles life.

Resigned

Also I submitted my resignation as a GriefShare Co-Facilitator when this 13-week cycle ends and no longer participate in the church’s weekly prayer group.

My Calling

I feel called to somehow, some way keep JoyReturns going because by ceasing to blog I quit:

  • Providing support and encouragement to widows.
  • Educating those not grieving about grief.
  • Working on changing society’s perception of widows (we are worthless).

So this blog will stay in existence.

Future

Here is what I am going to do:

  • OgleOhio will be a bi-weekly blog (every other Tuesday) starting today.  A new category will debut on 4/16 entitled “Steeple Chase.”  It will be pictures of different steeples through out Ohio.  I got the idea after attending my great-aunt’s funeral in January.  Debuting at a later date will be “Gizzy-boo’s”  which will be pictures of different Gazebo’s through out Ohio.   (Gizzy-boo’s are what my nephew’s called them when they were growing up.)
  • JoyReturns will be a 3 times a week blog. You will find a new article every Tuesday (God willing) and Weekend Wisdom on Saturday and Sunday.  Worse case scenario, JoyReturns will become a weekend only blog.  It is easy to find uplifting scripture, quotes, sayings and poems for publication.

Thank You

Thank you to my new and long-time readers for your continued support during my hiatus.  Having new people following JoyReturns helped me decided this blog needs to carry on.

I pray God will bless all my readers with abundant joy.

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A Special Announcement: JoyReturns’ Future

Michele Kearns

This is a post I never thought I would write, after all my mission of changing the way society sees widows is not done.

However, writing blog posts has been a struggle due to changes in my life. Therefore I have decided to take the rest of the Lenten Season off. During this time I will be reviewing all options including:

  • A permanent change in the posting frequency.
  • Reviving the Joyful Jems Newletter instead of this blog.
  • Hitting the delete button on JoyReturns and focusing solely on the sister site – OgleOhio (a photo blog)
  • Hitting the delete button on both JoyReturns and OgleOhio.

Writing JoyReturns has brought me great joy and I have met wonderful people during the past two years.  However, lately I do not have the words for blog posts.  Hopefully during this time off God will give me the words to continue writing.   Society still turns it’s back on widows and it is my mission to make sure society sees widows as I do,

a wiNdow of opportunity. 

March 

There will be Easter Weekend Wisdom in March but no posts Monday – Friday.

As always, you are welcome to leave your comments or email me at micheledotkearns@joyreturns.com (spelled out to avoid spam).

Thank you for your support.  I hope to see you Tuesday April 2nd with fresh, new material.

God bless you.

Michele

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Life’s Full Of Escalator Speeches

Michele Kearns

We need escalator speeches for different scenarios besides a job search.

Blog

If you blog, you need an escalator speech for your blog.  This should be longer than your tagline but shorter than your 30 second elevator speech.

My name is Michele Kearns and I write the blog “JoyReturns” which is a tool I use to reorient people’s beliefs and perceptions about grief and widowhood by sharing my good, bad and joyous life adventures since becoming a widow.

Photo-Blog

My name is Michele Kearns and I am the photo-blogger behind OgleOhio.com, a site dedicated to showcasing various scenic, mini-vacation sites through-out the “Buckeye” State.  Every Tuesday I give you a mini-Ohio vacation via one of my photographs.

Your Own Business

My name is Michele Kearns and I am a career coach specializing in helping widows reintegrate themselves back into their jobs so they can perform up to the standards their company requires as quickly as possible.

(That is just an example.  I am not a certified career coach for anyone else, only myself.)

Volunteer

My name is Michele Kearns and I am a volunteer with Golden Retrievers In Need, affectionately known as G.R.I.N.  It is my personal mission to help the organization in any way possible so we can find “forever” homes for displaced goldens.  My current project is securing donations for our annual Golden Gala, which is our biggest fundraiser.

George Clooney (or any other stud you want to hook up with)

My name is Michele Kearns and we should “hook up” because I’m a real woman with real life experiences under my belt and not a stereotypical Hollywood starlet looking to further her career.

Others

I am sure there are other scenarios in life where “escalator speeches” would come in handy.  You just have to apply this technique to the appropriate areas based on your life’s circumstances.