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Taking stock of all we have to be grateful for

It’s that time of year when we pause, take stock of our lives and consider what should make us thankful. That’s a pretty easy task for me — I always try to be grateful for what I have and avoid taking things for granted. So, when I look for the positives in life, I find many of them. First and foremost, I am thankful for the family and friends that surround me. From my husband, Mike, to my brothers, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces and mother- and father-in-law, I am grateful to have them all. I am also thankful to have a fairly small but longstanding group of close friends. ...

Be thankful and don’t be afraid to let it show!

At this time four years ago, I was in a wheelchair after rupturing both quads playing soccer. I went through surgery to re-attach the muscles and couldn’t put any weight on either leg for weeks. The occupational therapists did a great job teaching me how get to dressed and undressed. They had a special tool to help me put on my own socks. The OTs also taught me how to slide from my bed to the wheelchair, slide from a wheelchair to the toilet and slide from my wheelchair to the passenger seat of my car. I was determined to go to the Outer Banks with my family for Thanksgiving that ...

A letter to Ohioans from OneOhio Executive Director Alisha Nelson

For decades, Ohio, like every state across the country, has been hit hard by the effects of the opioid epidemic. Thousands of lives have been lost due to substance use disorders and thousands more continue to struggle with this disease still today. As the pharmaceutical industry begins to pay out lawsuit settlements as a consequence of its role in the opioid epidemic, our state has come together in an unprecedented way to fight to abate this crisis and save lives as one Ohio. Just two months ago, I was honored to be appointed to serve as the OneOhio Recovery Foundation’s first ...

Appreciating our veterans this weekend

As we mark Veterans Day this weekend, my thoughts turn to the veterans I know and the kind of people they are. First to come to mind is my dad, the late Jim Compston. Dad was just a teenager when he left home bound for Europe and the battlefields of World War II. His reasons were simple — America was fighting to stop the spread of evil and he needed to do his part. For the rest of his life, he continued to work hard and stand up for what was right. He rarely talked about his service, but it clearly shaped the man he became. Five of Dad’s six brothers and two of Mom’s also ...

Help make our system work — get out and vote

What will you be doing this Tuesday? It’s a weekday, so it’s quite likely that many of our readers will be working. Younger folks or non-traditional students might have classes to attend. Retirees may have an appointment scheduled or have plans to do some yard work or other tasks. I, myself, will be working that day. It will definitely be an evening shift, so I might be able to run some errands or complete some chores before heading to the office. But there is one thing I will definitely do, no matter what — I will visit my polling location to cast my vote. Ever since I ...

Effective leaders develop teams for success

Lynnda is continuing to heal and get stronger. We see the oncologist in late November to discuss radiation therapy, which is typical after a lumpectomy. Before her surgery we were invited by the President of the Virginia Manufacturers Association to their annual gala in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was a fun black-tie event. Lynnda was happy to make the trip because we had a nice long visit with our grandson, his wife and Lynnda got to hold our great-granddaughter for the first time. They live in Hampton Rhodes close to Williamsburg. We also attended the annual Women in Manufacturing ...