Dec. 21, 2017 -- Last week it snowed in my home state of Mississippi and much of the surrounding area in the deep south. Schools and businesses were closed, and normal life came to a halt as towns were blanketed white like they rarely see.

I was lucky enough to enjoy this southern snowfall through my family. My niece Kaiya, who lives in Alabama, sent me a photo of her snowman, complete with a silk scarf, and a video of the snowball fight with her dad, my brother Timothy.

My older brother, Thomas, sent me early morning pictures of his snow-covered yard, and my sister Tansy called as she was stranded in the Georgia traffic! Back home in Mississippi, my dad was upset because he didn’t get any of the beautiful snow from above. 

What we take for granted in Northeast Ohio--and even grumble about come March and April--was a rare joy for those in the south.

In the midst of the holiday season, there are many things that we can take for granted, losing sight of what’s most important in life. We rush around to find the perfect gift or send the perfect holiday cards, taking for granted the spirit behind our efforts. But it is the giving of ourselves that seems to be most important to me during this season.

As I normally do, I’ll be traveling back home to Mississippi over our winter break. I hope to focus my time on giving myself as a daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, and friend.

I encourage each of you to do the same over the break...relax, reflect and remember the importance of giving yourself to your loved ones.

Thank you for all your efforts to create a culture of excellence, and a culture of giving, in CH-UH. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

 

 

 

Dr. Talisa Dixon

Superintendent, CH-UH Schools