Georgia Magazine - July 2011 - (Page 5)

www.georgiamagazine.org (800) 544-4362, in Georgia; (770) 270-6500 GEORGIA Magazine, the largest-circulation monthly magazine in the state, is published by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (GEMC), the trade association for Georgia’s 42 consumer-owned electric utilities. On average, more than 500,000 members welcome the magazine into their homes each month. Georgia’s notfor-profit electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to more than 73 percent of the state’s land area serving 4.5 million residents. For more information, visit www.georgiaemc.com. EDITOR Ann Orowski, CCC ManagIng EDITOR Jennifer Hewett, CCC assOcIaTE EDITOR Victoria Scharf DeCastro PRODucTIOn cOORDInaTOR Steve Jacobs assIsTanT EDITOR Kevin Braun assIsTanT EDITOR Jim Jess EDITORIaL InTERn Amy Saxon cOnTRIbuTIng WRITERs Sarah Bakhtiari, Roy L. Brown, John Bruce, Connie Cottingham, Lynn Coulter, Margie Fishman, Deborah Geering, Pamela Keene, Heather Teilhet, Bill Verner, Blake Warenik cOnTRIbuTIng PhOTOgRaPhERs Amanda Busby, Sunny Cochran, Lynn Coulter, Bill Durden, Celeste Echols, Lisa Patsios Faircloth, Stacey Fields, Nancy Heffernan, Chris Hornaday, Jackie Kennedy, Robb Maag, Rebecca McWilliam, Ann Orowski, Derek Shane, John Zuli aDvERTIsIng REPREsEnTaTIvEs ‘What do I do now?’ W By Paul Wood President/CEO, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Laurel George, (404) 541-0628; Laine Kirby Wood, (770) 289-5700 Country Market, (800) 626-1181 National naTIOnaL aDvERTIsIng REPREsEnTaTIvE DEsIgnERs Trudie Thibodeaux, Kerstin Weis Mary Wellman, (770) 270-6981 subscRIPTIOns 2011 aDvIsORy bOaRD Amanda Busby, Erin Cook, Lynn Coulter, Romanous Dotson, Jeff Ferguson, Chuck Grace, Robert Herman, Jamie Hulsey, Jennie Lacey, Ophelia McCain, Ted McMillan, Lynn Price, Neal Shepard, Heather Teilhet, Jere Thorne, Tony Tucker gEORgIa EMc OffIcERs chaIRMan Neal Talton, Flint Energies vIcE chaIRMan Alice Mallory, Coweta-Fayette EMC sEc.-TREasuRER Randy Crenshaw, Irwin EMC PREsIDEnT/cEO, gEMc A. Paul Wood GEORGIA Magazine (USPS-473120, ISSN 10615822) is published monthly by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., P.O. Box 1707, 2100 East Exchange Place, Tucker, GA 30085. Periodicals postage paid at Thomaston, GA, and additional mailing offices. POsTMasTER: Send address changes to GEORGIA Magazine, P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085. Printed in Georgia by Quad/ Graphics. Acceptance of advertising by GEORGIA Magazine does not imply endorsement by the publisher or Georgia’s electric membership corporations of the product or services advertised. GEORGIA Magazine’s LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN, OR OMISSIONS OF, ADVERTISEMENTS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES TO THE ADVERTISER’S BUSINESS, SHALL IN NO EVENT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WAS OMITTED OR IN WHICH THE ERROR OCCURRED. hen you are young, there is no shortage of advice from parents, teachers and friends on which career to pursue. You wonder, “How did they become so certain of what is right for me?” And heaven forbid you should choose something that doesn’t meet their expectations. There were two brothers in my hometown—one, a dentist, the other, an insurance salesman. Both were successful, but in private conversations with family members, each would point to the other and say, “Too bad he’s not happy in his work.” I vowed never to let that happen to me. But how do you determine the best career path, especially when family is pointing you strongly toward a profession that commands immediate respect and financial security? Once, if you said you wanted to be a musician, a naturalist or even a car salesman, your family might look askance at you, as if your DNA had misfired in some horrible way. Some families may have that view still. Their concern is usually expressed this way: “How on earth are you going to make a living?” or more bluntly, “Who is going to pay the bills?” There’s no telling how many artists and authors have been discouraged from pursuing careers they would “love.” Many reach retirement and still wonder if they have chosen the right path. To them I offer several suggestions: First, it’s never too late. Every step you have taken is a step toward that which you can be, even now, if More online at www.georgiamagazine.org you have the courage to go there. Notice that I said “courage,” not “discipline.” If you have the courage to start, personal interest will take over, and discipline will soon follow. Second, let your natural curiosity lead you. Allow your interest to become all-consuming. If you wish to speak more than one language, immerse yourself in that language. If you like photography, start snapping pictures. If you want to write a novel, start writing. Third, work on something that has been hard for you in the past. Writing novels is hard. Reading novels is not. It’s OK to worry about the final product, that it won’t be good enough. Indeed, if you don’t worry about the project, then it is not hard enough. My advice applies to every stage of life—early, mid-life, later. You only have to start. Decide to do something that is of interest to you, and master it. If it’s carpentry, make something. If you like art, paint anything. But make sure it’s hard enough to stretch you. If those two brothers were still around, I would urge them to forget the advice of those who only wanted to shape their lives in some “accepted” mold. Keep your mind open, your curiosity deep and focused, and have fun. You may find that your retirement is not the beginning of the end time of your life, but the beginning of a new life altogether. In a few years, look for me on the PGA Tour! Like reading “Viewpoint”? Order Paul’s new book “It’s My View”; details on page 38. 5 July 2011 http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiaemc.com http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - July 2011

Georgia Magazine - July 2011
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Georgia’s Energy Outlook
Special Energy Report
A Jewel Against the Sea
“A Special Blessing”
Your Own Backyard
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Gardens
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - July 2011