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Georgia Gems Fall/Winter 2020

From the President

“Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way”…

This is the first tune that comes to mind as we head into winter. It is a season of compassion,
giving, togetherness, celebration and love. This old yet familiar song reminds me of those and
fills me with memories of laughter, cheer and fun times with family and friends, something I
think we all long for and miss.

What I love most about the season of winter is its purpose. “In everything there is a season”,
as an Old Testament scripture states. Winter allows the earth to go through a phase of
dormancy, a survival mode if you will a process of storing up energy to make way for the new
growth or new birth that will occur in the spring.

During this survival process, one can rediscover something about themselves, their strengths, their weaknesses or
their purpose. Through a season of adversity and challenges, one learns endurance much like that which Mother
Nature experiences. I truly believe we are in a time of dormancy in preparation for something greater.
This year many of us will have to adapt to smaller family gatherings during the holidays, but I am sure spending those
intimate moments with a few of the most important people in our lives will be priceless. Old traditions are making
way for new ones as we learn to adapt to the current times.

Much like our School Nutrition Programs, we are more than half-way through the year and look how far we have
come because we have adapted. We are currently operating in survival mode in ever changing processes, revising and
rediscovering something new about our programs and ourselves daily. Many of us have discovered that we are
survivors!

The only thing that makes this challenge different from any we have experienced before is its season. Nevertheless,
we have become even more innovative in our personal and professional lives and will endure and become victorious!

In your season of growth, do not miss the opportunity to connect to the attributes that make you who you are. This
season of dormancy is preparation for a season of new growth be it personal and/or professional. Reconnect and find
your purpose.

In this season of compassion, giving, togetherness, celebration and love be mindful to take time for those around you.
Allow this to be a season to remember, honor and celebrate those around us and remind them of how much they
mean to us.

This year, give the gift of a warm written letter not only to loved ones, but remember those who have family
members who are deployed, those in nursing homes who have not been able to physically be in the presence of
family and loved ones for months, to include our very own pioneer Dr. Josephine Martin.

As a child of a soldier whose father was deployed during many holidays, I can still remember those hand-written
letters and cards from strangers and from my father from miles away that made the season bright and cheerful. Many
of those letters and cards I still cherish. There is nothing more intimate and personal than a hand-written letter that
can be read season after season.

In all of your getting and growing this year remember that YOU are important, valuable, appreciated and YOU are our
greatest asset! YOU are the Culture of our School Nutrition Programs.

Be safe, be blessed and have a wonderful holiday season.

Tessany Lockhart – GSNA President 2020-2021