Mitch Carnell » Articles

Thankful Thursday – Carol Carnell

Mitch — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:01:08 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday and every day, I am thankful for my wonderful wife, Carol. Of course, it will soon be Valentine’s Day and she is uppermost in my heart and on my mind. She gave me my life back. Carol grew up in Huntington, West Virginia and attended Marshall University before moving to Charleston, SC. She graduated from what is now Charleston Southern and then obtained a Master’s degree from USC. She then went back to USC for thirty more. She taught at Brookland Cayce High School for many years before I came onto the scene. We were introduced by Germaine and John Carney. She bakes an out-of-this-world almond pound cake, which is off limits for us now and her macaroni and cheese is fantastic. She is the proud mother of Tawnya who is married to Chris Pike. After moving to Charleston, she taught at Morningside Middle School and finished her 28 year career at West Ashley High. She sings in the choir at First Baptist Church which she loves. I have made a traveler out of her and we both love cruises. Carol enjoys retirement better than anyone I know. She is an excellent and hardnosed proofreader. On this Thankful Thursday, I thank God for bringing Carol into my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize the importance of someone to our lives and to let her or him know of our gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now Plus Two – 34 – 35 – 36

Mitch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:01:11 +0000

34. Be loyal.

Go home with the person who brought you.

Stick to your commitments.

Nurture your friendships.

35. Be 100% present.

Shut out all distractions.

Focus on this moment.

Attend with your entire being.

36. Be on time.

Make it an absolute.

Plan ahead.

Start early.

Reward yourself.

Thankful Thursday – Pat and Hack Ezell

Mitch — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:22 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for the gifts that Patricia and Melvin (Hack) Ezell bring to my life. This highly involved, energetic couple provides an example for us all. Pat is a native of Arkansas and Hack hails from North Carolina. They have both retired from distinguished careers at the Citadel. Pat was Assistant Dean to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and Hack was Professor of Health, Exercise and Sport Science. In 1997 Pat was selected as the employee of the year. They are devoted parents and grandparents. Both are deeply involved in the mission of First Baptist Church. Both have served as chair of the diaconate. Hack has chaired the Long Range Planning Committee. They both help arrange Joy Club trips and sing in the senior choir. They both prepare the annual Joy Club Luncheon for the Hamrick Lectureship. Hack is greatly involved in the Gideon Society and serves as the FBC representative to the Charleston County Baptist Association. Both are involved in promoting the programs at Bonnie Doom Conference Center and the FBC beach house. Thinking about all they do makes me tired. Both taught at Mars Hill College before arriving in Charleston. Both have graduate degrees from the University of Tennessee.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to recognize the importance of someone to our lives and to let her or him know of our gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now Plus Two – 131 – 132 – 133

Mitch — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:44:45 +0000

31. Be inclusive.

Enlarge your circle of friends.

Seek those who are left out.

Overcome your prejudices.

Make it easy for others to meet you.

32. Be interesting.

Expand your horizons.

Try new things.

Cultivate interesting people.

33. Be likeable.

Be a friend.

Withhold judgment.

Be genuine.

Thankful Thursday – Denise Gwinn

Mitch — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:01:28 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for my niece, Denise Gwinn – “DeNiece.” Denise was married to my late nephew, Danny. Denise is the wonderful woman that helped him turn his life around. She watched over him during his long illness. Most of all she loved him and is the mother of their son, Wesley. She is a warm-hearted, no-nonsense, and hard-working person that can always be counted on. She is a committed Christian. Her pastor and church were fantastic during Danny’s illness and his death. I was amazed by their response. Wesley is fortunate to have a mother who is as committed to him as she is although he can’t get away with much.. His welfare is always uppermost in her mind. Denise is a fun person to be around. She has a great sense of humor. On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for the presence of Denise Gwinn in my life.

Thankful Thursday is a day set aside to honor someone special to our lives and to let her or him know of our gratitude. Develop an attitude of gratitude. Say Something Nice; Be a Lifter. You will be glad that you did.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now Plus Two – 128 – 129 – 130

Mitch — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:01:27 +0000

28. Be honest.

Speak the truth.

Do the truth.

Expose fraud.

29. Be hopeful.

Believe in yourself.

Believe in others.

Believe in tomorrow.

30. Be humble.

Others have had great successes.

Others have made great sacrifices.

You are no more or no less important than anyone else.

Thankful Thursday – Roger Carl

Mitch — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:02:29 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am grateful for the presence of Roger Carl in my life. He is the taller half of the Paula/Roger group. Roger hails from New Mexico originally. He is in Charleston after living in Texas, Missouri, and Tennessee. He is very talented and versatile. He sings in the choir at First Baptist Church and plays in the hand bell choir. Roger is an amazing photographer. He has taken pictures all over Europe and China. He is a computer wizard who recently has utilized his skills helping schools and orphanages in China. Roger teaches an adult Sunday school at First Baptist Church – the not-so-fast class. I am in his class and we study the Bible verse by verse. Most of us will not complete the study materials at our present pace until we are well on the other side of the curtain. Roger and Paula travel extensively visiting cathedrals, attending organ concerts, and taking pictures of historic gardens. We usually have lunch with a group on Sundays after church. This remarkable couple brings a high standard of excellence, class and ethical standards to whatever project they tackle. It would be hard to over- estimate their contributions. On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful that Roger Carl is part of my life.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now Plus Two – 25 – 26 – 27

Mitch — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:28:56 +0000

25. Be friendly.

Speak to people.

Smile at people.

Introduce yourself.

26. Be generous.

Don’t be a miser.

Include everyone.

Share.

27. Be helpful.

Be Present.

Contribute ideas.

Be supportive.

Pitch in.

Thankful Thursday – Paula Carl

Mitch — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:03:43 +0000

On this Thankful Thursday I am thankful for the gifts that Paula Carl brings to my life. Paula and Roger comprise a great couple, but Roger will be back next week. Paula grew up in Missouri. She graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She comes from a family of ministers. Somewhere in her pilgrimage she met and married Roger. They eventually migrated to Nashville where she formed great friendships in the church music groups. She is an accomplished musician. She composes and arranges music. She is an organist, a singer and a conductor. She is an in demand organist playing at numerous churches throughout the lowcountry. She directs the senior choir at First Baptist Church and James Island Baptist Church. These choirs have performed at the Hamrick Lectureship and they routinely visit nursing centers where they are always greeted with great enthusiasm. Paula and Roger are great travelers and have visited tons of gardens, cathedrals, organ concerts and castles all over Europe. They are devoted members of the National Trust and have an appreciation for all things historic. Paula is an extraordinary hostess and relishes all things blue. Both bring a love for the history, traditions and worshipfulness of First Baptist Church of Charleston. On this Thankful Thursday, I am grateful for the many gifts Paula Carl brings to my life.

168 Ways To Communicate Better Now Plus Two – 22 – 23 – 24

Mitch — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:17:12 +0000

22. Be empathetic.

Experience the joys of others.

Experience the pain of others.

Experience the struggles of others.

23. Be enthusiastic.

Be eager.

Be supportive.

Be excited.

Be energetic.

24. Be fair.

Be honest.

Be open.

Listen.