Just Keep Growing

Just Keep Growing

JKG Challenges

Forever Friends

JKG Challenges
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Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
Challenge 88

Three old friends walk into a bar and order a round of cherry cokes and a large bag of strawberry licorice for the table. The…

On Becoming Whelmed

JKG Challenges
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Challenge 84
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden

Conversations with friends, family and clients lead me to conclude that darned near every one of us is running on overwhelm.  

Work Expectations.  Family…

Full of Surprises

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Challenge 83
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
The body is full of surprises.  I just read that if all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would…

For the Love of Learning

JKG Challenges
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Challenge 82
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
A colleague described a parent-teacher conference she attended for her eighth-grade son.  Her son set the agenda, prepared the topics for discussion, and conducted the…

Quality Conversations

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Challenge 81
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden

“86.5% of the time we think we have communicated, we have, in fact, failed.” 
jeanne gladden

I’ve asserted this claim thousands of times over…

A Legacy Leaver

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Challenge 80
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
As a child, family members, friends and strangers perpetually reminded me that I was the granddaughter of Mr. Clonts, and that I needed to act…

None of my Business

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Challenge 79
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden

Just about the time I think I have mastered this life lesson… Bam!  I find myself fretting over how another person sees me, thinks of…

Use Everything

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Challenge 78
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.


“Use everything.  Be used by nothing.” Walter Starcke

I was an undergrad student for 12 years.  Twelve years. That’s how long it took to complete…

In Praise of Nothing

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Challenge 77
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.

What might it be like to find yourself with a little time of your own?  With nothing pushing or pulling at you?  No demands.  No plans. No pressure. No places to be. 

Would you feel peaceful? Or might you feel a twinge of urgency to do something…anything…. to be productive?

As a kid, I excelled at nothingness.  I remember long unscheduled summer days full of big sky…

Confidence or Competence?

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Challenge 76
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.

Confidence or competence.  Which comes first?  A chicken or egg kind of question, to be sure.  And, the answer may surprise you.  

Growth requires us to take risks.  To shine a light on our imperfections. Growth requires us to lead with confidence before we have the competence. 

It’s natural to feel self-confident when we possess competence in a particular area.  Not so easy when we are…

We, The People

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Challenge 75
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.
A 3-minute read

Perhaps, like me, you are searching for signs of America becoming great again.  Perhaps you are pleased with what you see.  Perhaps you are not. 

I wonder if we, the people, could even agree on what would make America great?  Do we have a shared vision? A set of shared values? Some worthy goals?  A set of metrics?  These disciplines drive consensus in…

Stop Trying

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Challenge 74
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.
A 3-minute read

Do or do not. There is no try.  Yoda

At least once a year, I resolve, I vow and I swear to shed those extra pounds but alas…and sigh…no dice. I’ve been trying to lose those same pesky pounds for seven years now. 

Inspired by Yoda, I stopped trying.  And, I took a step. Onto the scale.  I weighed myself.  And, entered my weight

Just a Cat.

JKG Challenges
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Challenge 73
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.
A 3-minute read

We knew it was coming.  We did everything we could to put it off.  And so did he. 

And, now we are here missing him.  And, he is there. 

Our sweet cat, Ralphie, died this week.  

Our Great Nieces and Nephews loved playing “Where’s Ralphie?” when they came to visit. Ralphie would get wind they were coming and hide. The minute the…

What the World Needs Now

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Challenge 72
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden. A 3-minute read


It’s Valentine’s Day.  A day to share the love. 

Thanks to media, social and antisocial, there are people who fit into our easy to love category. We send them likes. And hearts. And other expressions of favor. 

What about the rest of the world? Those who do not make the cut for our loving expressions.  We may dislike or disrespect them with varying degrees…

Stuck in Second Gear

JKG Challenges
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Copyright: Jeanne Gladden.
A 3-minute read

You know exactly what you want. You know why you want it. You’ve explored your options. You’ve nailed down a plan.

Now that What, Why, and How are sorted, it’s time to hit send.

You’re jazzed. So jazzed.

But wait!

A couple of tiny things…microscopic, really…. need to be handled first. These micro ends dangle like dreaded prepositions and participles at the end of an otherwise…

So Happy Together

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Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
A 3-minute read – Challenge 70


Trying to keep up with my 94-year-old mom is crazy fun. Mama Eva moves like the Energizer bunny on her rollator, exercises her mind and her body daily an makes it a point to learn something new every day. Then she teaches her new insight or skill to someone else…usually me.

Mom excels at anticipating changing situations and adapting to new circumstances ahead…

Let it Go, Let it Go, Let it Gooooooooo…..

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Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
A 3-minute read – Challenge 69
Oh My Goodness. If only it were that easy. Just when I think I’m becoming better at letting go, I find myself renting a storage unit to house the first couch my parents ever owned. The blue one. Because you never know when a family member might need a beloved 75 year
old couch.

Then there are my closets brimming with unworn clothes…

Just Keep Growing, Indeed

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Copyright: Jeanne Gladden
A 3-minute read – Challenge 68

This week’s winter storm gave me a reason to settle in, to stay put. To hang out with hundreds of desperately hungry birds feeding off our deck. To put the kettle on. To indulge in book browsing. To travel into a story of my choosing.

And to ask myself yet again, what does it mean to Just Keep Growing? After you retire…

Be The Change

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“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi

I just love a brand-new year. A time to take stock. A chance to hit refresh.

I’m not much for making resolutions, but I do appreciate a chance to do a little better. To be a little better.

Each new year invites us to take stock. Personally. Professionally. Practically. This year, my stock taking, gave way to a…

Legal & Free

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A 3-minute read – Challenge 65
Copyright: Jeanne Gladden


My wise Dad acquired a classic 1947 June-Bug Green Plymouth about the time I got my driver’s license. We named her Minnie. Unlike my best friend’s brand-new Mustang, Minnie was not cool. She was not sleek. Minnie was a tank. No matter, she was mine. If not on paper, she belonged to me in my heart.

The Old Girl took a bit of…