By Melyn Johnson, Main Street Guymon director
Looking at the mentor suggestions that I have been listing for the past few weeks, there are some that really hit home. Like hit me between the eyes.
Believe in others. We need to be a positive influence on people to help them reach higher with their goals. Where I can mess up is that I think people have to do what I want them to do. What needs to be done is to help them attain what they want to accomplish. And there are some people who can say something positive while still giving you advice for change. Lou Nelson is that way. I will always listen to Lou because she doesn’t stomp on my toes … or ideas. We should all be a bit more Louish.
Don’t always talk about yourself. Wow, can you visualize that person you always avoid at the store because you’re going to hear all about their perfect children again, or maybe the one who likes to tell you about their hemorrhoid surgery? Dorothy Countryman always asks what I’m working on, how I’m doing and then she listens and responds. We should all be a bit more Dorothyish.
Have you been avoiding me? Really, I promise to be a little less self-chatty.
Exercise your mind. IQ means nothing if you have let your brain die. Do a crossword puzzle. Get into a planning session and brainstorm. Read a book that teaches you something. Having a conversation with Sara Richter is always interesting and if I keep my mouth shut, I always go away knowing something new. Take someone interesting to the park and hear what they have to say. Discuss something that you don’t have your mind set on. We should all be a little more Saraish and learn new things.
Share good news. Every day find something wonderful to share with someone. Someone different, maybe. Find out about your friends that have accomplished something and share the news. Celebrate together. Jada often has inspiring little things to tell when we get to visit. She says good things about people or good things they have done. Sometimes good things not as good people do, too, I suppose. We should all be a little more Jadaish.
There is some good news that I have been sharing today. There is a watermelon on the vine in front of the office! Yes. Roger McKinnon who is a wonderful neighbor and helps water my plants, showed it to me. Life is good.
With these things in mind, go and call a friend. While you’re talking, share what you’ve recently learned, share good news about someone, don’t talk continually about yourself, and be encouraging and believe in what they’re working on. You can tell them about my watermelon, if you want.
The Main Street Shutterbugs do a wonderful job of these things when they meet on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Not about telling about my watermelon, but those other things. They learn and teach about their cameras and techniques, they share their photos and experiences, and they support one another. You should join. They meet from 10 am to noon at the Main Street office.
Also on this Saturday Carla Stewart, who was raised at the Sherhan plant is coming to bring her new book. The first one was wonderful and I sincerely believe the next one will be too. She is local. She has accomplished much. She tells a great story. And it’s time to share how proud we are when someone accomplishes something like this. Come to the Main Street office, 116 NE Fifth, between 2 and 4 pm. It you don’t know her, it is time to meet her.
And at 2 pm is the perfect time to exercise your mind. It’s a Scrabble Tournament at Urban Bru. Now, I’ve been in one and I’m here to tell you that you do not have to be a word guru to play. It is fun and entertaining. People are creating, not competing!
Lots happening. Lots to do. Lots to do better.
See you on the bricks.
