Food for Thought: Grow Like a Lobster

Sub-par performance chasing lobster for dinner made us realize that we should embrace discomfort and grow like a lobster.

NEW ON THE BLOG Grow Like a Lobster Sub-par performance chasing spiny lobster for dinner in the Florida Keys prompted introspection on personal growth and development. Lobsters are a salient reminder that growth happens when you leave your comfort zone. As humans, we should embrace discomfort and utilize adversity as an opportunity to grow. Read More From Startup Concept to Success For most entrepreneurs, few things are as exciting as taking a great product or service idea and turning it into a profitable business. But while it can be exciting to conceptualize starting a new company, there are practical steps you can take to ensure its sustainable success. Read More COMMUNITY NEWS JC’s Gourmet Sanieh (bottom right) tried JC’s Gourmet’s award-winning shrimp Chillin' Ceviche on a visit to Seaside, Florida from Texas, and fell in love with it. So much so, that she traveled back to the Emerald Coast two years later with her sights set on "copious amounts of ceviche" and took a selfie with Lisa and John! Thank you for visiting JC’s Gourmet, Sanieh, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to the Florida Panhandle! Leave a Google Review Renee Broxson Fine Art “3 Days at the Beach” is a giclée print on canvas of an original acrylic mixed-media series depicting a woman sitting under a beach umbrella. The collage pieces reflect the words and thoughts from her busy life filling the woman’s mind. Over three days, her mind becomes less and less cluttered as she relaxes on the beach. Shop Ain’t Life Cool Cryotherapy is one of many wellness services offered at Ain’t Life Cool (ALC) in Miramar Beach, Florida. It safely reduces body temperature while increasing endorphins, adrenaline, and oxygen supply. After only a few minutes in ALC’s CryoBuilt EVEREST chamber, you can burn as much as 200 to 400 calories! Additional benefits of full-body cryotherapy include an increased metabolism, and reduce soft tissue pain, inflammation, fibromyalgia, and psoriasis. Learn More Hope Walker Morgan Fine Art Hope Walker Morgan is a renowned acrylic artist based on the Gulf Coast. Her sculptural floral fine art bouquets last forever and are available in various colors and sizes, making them perfect for wedding, birthday, or hostess gifts. Shop Robin’s Bikes & Fitness In August, Robin Wilkes completed the annual Leadville Race Series' “Race Across the Sky,” which totals 100 miles on trail bikes at high altitudes and steep inclines. Over fourteen years, he successfully completed ten races (a total of 1,000 miles) within the challenging twelve-hour race limit. Robin’s rule for physically and mentally demanding challenges is: "You show up, keep up, and shut up... If you don't have anything positive to say, don't say it." Keep Up with Robin Rescue Animal Photography Pet photographer, Cynthia Cantwell, captures memories with personalized photo sessions of four-legged pups and their families. In August, Shyanne’s mom booked a “Furry Friends” photo session with Cynthia, who is based in Freeport, Florida. Shyanne is a therapy dog volunteering in Dog-Harmony’s child education and hospital visit programs and she loves to compete in scent work trials. View Photos Baird Dental Business Concepts Dentists and dental practice staff, Baird Concepts wants to hear from you! What are your current challenges and concerns? Fill out a short poll (less than five minutes) to gain early access to the results of our benchmark report of peer responses - and receive a complimentary, no obligation consultation with Sandy Baird, MBA! Take the Poll Morgan 1 Consulting (M1C) Despite hitting a three-year low of 2.9% in August, inflation is causing many businesses to feel the effects of rising product and service costs and subsequent profit erosion. Founded in 2022 by Christman Morgan, M1C provides direct consulting services to organizations (i.e., healthcare, non-profits, and hospitality) by helping them reduce cost and improve operations. Contact Christman at M1C for a no cost and no obligation consultation today. Contact Christman Sewanee Children’s Center The Sewanee Children's Center has an opening for a preschool teacher in its three- and four-year-old class beginning full-time in October, 2024. If you love children and want to work in a supportive, collaborative environment, consider applying for the position. Part-time work is available until the full-time position is open in October in Sewanee, Tennessee. Learn More & Apply Frame Gallery Gifts & Art A float frame is always an excellent choice for showcasing original paintings, like Tony Winter (University of the South Class of ‘76)’s "Morgan's Steep Springtime." Float frames are ideal for preserving the painting’s edges while casting striking shadows both within the artwork and around its perimeter. You can find this stunning piece—and its beautiful frame—available for purchase at Frame Gallery in Sewanee, Tennessee. View Favorite Frames UPCOMING EVENTS Destin, FL - Are you interested in becoming an evaluated therapy dog team with your four-legged pawtner? Visit Nancy Bown, CPDT-KA at Salty Paws Pet Boutique in Destin Commons on Saturday, September 7 from 10 to 11 a.m. for a fun meet and greet with your pup! You'll learn about opportunities to give back and the process of becoming an evaluated therapy dog team with Dog-Harmony. Register to attend this complimentary seminar at the link below. Register to Attend Sewanee, TN - Frame Gallery presents “Judy's Canyon,” a solo art exhibit of paintings from Connie Schley Keetle’s memoir chronicling the experience of losing her best friend to cancer, and the discoveries that informed her life as an artist afterwards. The opening reception is Friday, September 20, 5:00 - 6:30 pm at Frame Gallery and includes an artist talk, book signing, and light refreshments. The public is invited to attend. Learn More Housing Hub Coalmont, TN - Housing Hub presents the 2024 South Cumberland Housing Summit on September 24, 2024 from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm at Mountain T.O.P with lunch provided. At the Housing Summit, attendees will learn from invited guest speaker experts: How housing-focused organizations grow; What state and federal resources exist for future homeowners and affordable home builders; What homeowner training is required to secure affordable housing and loans; and How the South Cumberland Plateau can support the gaps in existing funding for affordable builds and homeowners. Register to Attend Sewanee, TN - The Sewanee Guild of Sewanee Change Ringers is excited to host the National American Guild of Change Ringers’ 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) October 17-21, 2024 at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The Sewanee Guild of Change Ringers encourages attendees to start planning their visit and register for the AGM. Learn More & Register Seeking Dog-Harmony Barktoberfest Sponsors Miramar Beach, FL - The Emerald Coast’s favorite doggie costume contest and social is back! Join Dog-Harmony at the 9th Annual Barktoberfest, a canine-only trick-or-treating event, at Grand Park in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. Complete with Oktoberfest libations, light bites from JC's Gourmet, music and incredible raffle prizes, this event will feature a canine Halloween costume contest. For a $15 donation (or $20 the day of), costumed pets and pawrents can enter to win prizes in the Halloween costume contest. Professional photographs of you and your canine trick-or-treater are sponsored by Rescue Animal Photography. Barktoberfest and the wonderful work Dog-harmony does in our community would not be possible without the generous support from our sponsors. Become a Sponsor Keep Florida State Parks Wild Nine Florida State Parks were recently threatened by the so-called “Great Outdoors Initiative,” which included commercial plans to develop golf courses, pickleball courts, and 350-room hotels. After significant bipartisan outcry across the state, on August 28, Gov. Ron DeSantis denied knowledge of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s “half-baked plan,” which will be “going back to the drawing board" and revisited sometime in 2025. If you’ve enjoyed a Florida State Park, consider voicing your concerns to protect Florida State Parks in 2025 in the DEP’s survey.