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I can honestly say that “Game on” is pretty much a mindset for my husband Don and me. It’s how we approach everything in our lives. Our respective careers as a former detective sergeant in law enforcement and school board executive in Michigan kept us busy, but we’ve always taken on more. In addition to his police career, Don worked security at our local high school and also taught school safety and security to school boards around the state for the Michigan Association of School Boards. I worked at a college and decided go back to school and earned not one but two degrees in Interactional Design and Leadership. I then taught various courses for many years while serving on the school board. In addition to that, I owned a horse business where I taught therapeutic riding. I started as a volunteer at another farm, but eventually the business just came to me. I guess you could say we had full plates but kept going back for more.

 

Later, when our children moved out of the house, and we retired from our posts, Don and I bought an RV so we could explore more of the country. “I tell everyone to travel as much as you can,” said Don. “Seek out areas unknown to you, discover new things and meet all types of people. You won’t regret the experience.”  

 

In 2019, we decided to move to Pinehurst for a variety of reasons. The best one is that three of our five children were living in North Carolina by then. In addition to being closer to them, the state offers so much – great weather, the ocean, beaches and mountains. So much to explore and enjoy.   

 

When we got settled, one of the volunteer organizations we started working with is Prancing Horse, a therapeutic riding center for a wide range of people with special needs. We also got involved in Angela Zumwalt’s well-known Pet Responsibility Curriculum for 4th Graders throughout Moore County, and eventually I began teaching courses to students. And we’re looking forward to discovering new experiences in the future. 

 

If Don and I have any pearls of wisdom to share, it’s these:

 

Be deliberate and diligent in finding what gives you purpose. It could be learning a new language to hiking in Peru and anything in between. If volunteering interests you, first think through what causes might be the most rewarding. Importantly, consider the type of role you want and time commitment you can offer. Then have an open mind and heart. It’s exciting and gratifying to know where you could belong and make a difference.

 

You owe it to yourself to get as much out of life as you ever have. Paraphrasing the late Anthony Bourdain, “Get the cream sauce. Have a Negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person sitting next to you. Make sure to check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride.”

 

Lastly, start your self-discovery sooner than you may have been considering. “Some day” is a chronic disease that you’ll take to your grave.

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prancing-horse.org

mcprc.org

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