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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-ZW link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings on the first day of February, 2020.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My ONE WORD for 2020 is GIFTS.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Each year, I get the WORD that comes to me for the new year. This is my 6<sup>th</sup> year to do this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It has brought amazing blessings into my life. In turn, I’ve been able to GIFT so much to others as I see the needs for a variety of things I can do for them. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Each year the word I chose creates new opportunities in my personal and professional life. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done in the past 6 years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As for this year’s word – GIFTS – the year began with unexpected gifts and they continue on nearly every day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I do my best to somehow give someone in my life a GIFT – a compliment, a kindness, physical or spiritual help if I see that help is needed, and cooperation and affirmation of those around me. I am really enjoying what I see happening to all those I am in contact with – I see people helping one another, people getting great ideas to share with others, people serving others, and lots more. As a professor at Geneva College, our mandate was to teach our students about being a Servant Leader, by modelling this lifestyle in all we do. I continue to follow this mandate into my retirement years. It is a way of life. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am GIVING lots of GIFTS and also getting lots of GIFTS - this is the GOLDEN RULE.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I started the new year by becoming a LIFE MEMBER in the Alumni Association of West Virginia University. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time – a vow I made when I was working on my MFA there. I’ve never taken my wonderful education for granted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While raising my 5 children, and working 2 and sometimes 3 jobs, I spent 12 years of my adult life working on my degrees. It is worth every sacrifice you make and this is a GIFT that keeps on GIVING to you for your life, and beyond. I will always return to my universities what was given to me -the opportunity to study and prepare for a life of learning and giving to others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I deeply appreciate the universities where I earned my 3 degrees. I’ve supported them with financial gifts ever since I left them – and will continue to do so. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today I was writing my 293 blog post on Walking by Inner Vision. I notice that since I started writing and publishing this blog in December 2009.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I was delighted to see that 17,290 visitors have dropped in to read my articles. That is certainly a GIFT! I am most grateful for each visitor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can visit, too, and if you like my page, you can also subscribe. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> The subscription portion is on the right side of my page. It is very easy to use.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.lyndalambert.com">www.lyndalambert.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As I begin the Month of February, I am mindful of the GIFTS we all have in our life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As writers, we have the ability to do so much. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lynda<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>My Books<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/first-snow-by-lynda-mckinney-lambert/">first snow, chapbook</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Signs-New-Selected-Poems/dp/1075265436/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Lynda+McKinney+Lambert&qid=1570213785&s=books&sr=1-2">Star Signs: New and Selected Poems</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Inner-Vision-Stories-Poems/dp/B07S45ZY39/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Lynda+McKinney+Lambert&qid=1570213669&s=books&sr=1-1">Walking by Inner Vision: Stories & Poems</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Concerti-Psalms-Pilgrimage-Lynda-Lambert/dp/1929359187/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=Lynda+Lambert&qid=1570213942&s=books&sr=1-6">Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="Smashwords%20–%20get%20my%20e-book:%20%20https:/www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lyndalambert">E-books on Smashwords</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'>Social Media<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="https://www.amazon.com/author/lyndalambert">Lynda's Author Page at Amazon</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="http://www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert/">Lynda's Page at DLD Books</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><a href="htttp://www.lyndalambert.com/">Lynda's Website & Blog</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'> <b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'> </span></i></b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>