I recently braved the cold to visit the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN. This wildlife sanctuary/museum – located on the banks of the Mississippi River – led the charge to designate the bald eagle as America’s national bird. While the eagle has been a U.S. symbol since it was featured on the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, it wasn’t “officially” our national bird until President Joe Biden signed a bill into law in December.

Typically, I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Recently, I chose to trade in my two-year-old “WTF” mantra for “Stay Alive in ’25.” It’s time to try more things that scare me. At the top of that list was holding a snake. The other day, I didn’t want to embarrass my son in front of his herpetology colleagues, so I sported an “oh shit” smile and gently grasped a snake with both hands. Despite my apprehension, it felt rather invigorating.

Do you ever wonder whether it’s worth it to take another step? Recently, I pondered that very thing as I stared at the switchbacks on the path above me. I was tired, and my husband and I had already trekked trails along the Columbia River Gorge between Oregon and Washington. What was the point of one more viewpoint?

Dark clouds developed during a recent getaway to the shore. The early evening sky was such a stunning sight even though it could mean changing our sunbathing plans for the weekend. You could say the dichotomy between a threatening sky and a sunny one is a bit like the practice of public relations. One day, a crisis looms in the distance that could damage the reputation of a company or an organization. Another day, the sun shines brightly on a product launch or fundraising campaign.

How do you decide which path to take with your communications? As a communicator and hiker, I like to have options. Please don’t tell me there is only one way to go. On a recent hike in Costa Rica, I had choices. Pass through the tree, go around it, or turn back. I chose the second option since I didn’t want to encounter an eyelash viper. Think about your alternatives the next time you create a communications plan.

What a thrill to sit at a piano that Elvis Presley played. The King of Rock and Roll tickled these ivories to record more than 200 songs at RCA Studio B in Nashville. And some of his early hits were taped on a single track. That meant the recording session wasn’t over until everyone in the room performed perfectly at the same time. Talk about creativity, collaboration, commitment, and attention to detail.

Since it’s Women’s History Month, this sign at an antique market – “Evaluation Center For Disturbed Women, Ward B” – hit a nerve. Yes, we women are “disturbed” about how we are treated at home, at work, and in the world at large. While much has changed for women since these signs adorned the walls of former mental wards, much has remained the same or worsened for those of us with two X chromosomes. If you think I’m mocking mental illness, I’m going to stop you right there.

My lucky streak ended this week with a pink line on a COVID test. Now I belong to the club I painstakingly avoided since 2020. The good news is my husband has completely recovered from COVID symptoms and I’m starting to feel human again. Almost. I’m waiting to see what happens after taking my last dose of Paxlovid. Wish me luck. I have decided not to let one positive test result turn into a negative.