Page 3 - 2018 December

The Pause that Refreshes

Phyllis A. Harmon, DTM

Editor/Publisher

Time is fleeting . . .or so Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would have us

believe. But then there is the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland who is
constantly checking his watch and muttering “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall
be too late!” Is time fleeting? Shall I be too late? Or am I just slowing
down as time passes me by? Here ‘tis nearly the end of December and

my time is definitely running short as I put the finishing touches on
December’s issue of Voices!
Do you feel like the clock is speeding up? That you haven’t time
to breathe as your cares and responsibilities keep you running to and

fro? If so, then it’s time to step outside your daily routine and simply
pause for a moment or two. It doesn’t have to be for long, but enough
to clear your head and reconnect with yourself. The folly of every day
life has a way of distracting us from what’s most important—taking

care of ourselves. When is the last time you actually thought about EDITORIAL
yourself first? No, that is NOT a selfish thought—it really is important
to take care of yourself so that you are around to take care of those
you love. Do it! Stop right now (after you finish reading this editorial),

close your eyes, take a deep, bellyfilling breath of air, and ever so
slowly breathe it out. Feel the tension melt away. Once you’ve done
this simple, life-preserving exercise, dive back in to whatever turmoil
you were handling.

The gift of self-preservation is yours to share. Regift it—I
won’t mind. Wishing you the best of the holidays. May they
be filled with many quiet moments.
See you next year!

Volume 5 Issue 2 August 2018 Monthly Columnists 2018-19 Officers
Publisher Donna Stark, DTM District Director Administrative Manager
Phyllis Harmon, DTM John Rodke, DTM John Rodke, DTM Bob Pugh, ATMS, CL
Emilie Taylor, DTM
Associate Publisher Leanna Lindquist, DTM Program Quality Director Public Relations Manager
Brenda Parsons, ACS, ALS Terry Beard Emilie Taylor, DTM Lauralee Norris, IP3
Lauralee Norris, IP3
Senior Editor Club Growth Director Voices! is published monthly by District 7
Phyllis Harmon, DTM Harvey Schowe, DTM Cate Arnold, DTM Toastmasters. First issue published August
James Wantz, DTM 2014. Submit articles or contact us at
Associate Editor Future Stars Gavel Club Finance Manager voices@d7toastmasters.org
Leanna Lindquist, DTM B. Lee Coyne, ATMS Karen Semprevivo, DTM
Paul Fanning, DTM

VOICES! |DECEMBER 2018 3