After jumping in with both feet this past month in my new leadership role, I looked forward to staying home this Memorial Day weekend and taking some time to reflect. My husband and I have been talking about how glad we were to be born in the era we were. I’m not glossing over history; every era has its dark side. What has influenced me is the stories our grandparents told, the Vietnam War, conflicts in the Middle East and 911. Now the atrocities in the Ukraine. We all stand on the good and bad shoulders that came before us. Each generation has made decisions that impacted the world and the fate of its population.

As history shows, no one has ever had it easy. There is always someone in a position of power trying to gain more power at the expense of others. The world has been wrought with turmoil throughout human history. I’m not being flippant here or discounting any historical actions. I’m also not spinning into a hole of depression, even though one could understand how easily that could happen. My reflection this weekend is about consequences and integrity. About being held accountable for one’s own actions. Raising the bar for people in leadership roles. Those are the characteristics I wish the world would demand, honor and hold onto. Values that we can enforce by exercising our right to vote.

Nature’s resilience is what brings me hope and why my walks are so precious to me. I hope you can incorporate time for reflection and sort through all the craziness in the world. What we personally do and say, our actions, do matter. Especially on a collective basis. Enjoy my pics! #iluvtowalk #baxteronthego, #oregoncoast #capefoulweather #perspectivesfrommytrail