Month: November 2024

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Things to Do and Places to See When Taking a Trip Down to Nashville

Have you ever been to Nashville? If you have not, then you should consider it. If you’ve never been to the South, then what are you waiting for! Nashville is an incredible city and one of the most fun places to visit south of the Mason Dixon line.

The list of reasons to visit Nashville is extensive, but the following are some of the best reasons to make a trip to Music City.

Do you like to eat breakfast? Chances are, you do and if you do, then there is no better breakfast to be had in the United States of America than at Loveless Motel in Nashville. It is a little bit of a trek from the main part of the city, about a 25 minute drive outside of the city, but the drive is scenic and the food is that good. The place is well known for their biscuits and fried chicken and is the best brunch I’ve ever had.

Sorry just some more thoughts on the Loveless biscuits. They are worth the trip to Nashville alone. Ok, maybe not, but they are the best biscuits that I’ve ever had, and every one of my southern friends agrees. That’s got to count for something.

If pancakes are your thing, then Pancake Pantry is another great breakfast option. The sweet potato pancakes are incredible, as is everything else on the menu. The place is well known for long waits, so bring a newspaper to help the time pass. It is worth the wait.

Downtown Nashville is unlike any other city. The bright lights, country music, karaoke music help create a unique atmosphere. If you find yourself in downtown Nashville, be sure to visit Printer’s Alley, an off the beaten path alley with great bars. The Hard Rock Café is also located downtown and is situated right along the Cumberland River.

Nashville may be best known for the Grand Ole Opry. The unofficial home of country music, the Grand Ole Opry is a legendary venue that every country great has visited. If you are in town and love (or hate) country music, it should be at the top of your to-do list.

Vanderbilt University is another selling point of Nashville. The campus is a ten minute drive from downtown Nashville and is a beautiful area. If you are into nature or trees, another selling point is that Vanderbilt is a national arboretum.

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Adventures of the Irritated Development Professional

In my wanderings through the nonprofit sector I have found two important Truths:

  1. Your mission is your greatest asset
  2. Your second greatest asset is your staff

Volunteers, donors and staff want to work with your organizations for two reasons: they love your (secretary, Executive Director, CEO, board member, case worker, etc), and/or they believe in your mission. I don’t believe it is possible for a nonprofit to survive, especially now, without sticking closely to its mission and treating employees with respect and reverence. Capitalizing on these two assets will provide incredible strength and fortitude.

Almost all nonprofit leaders are mission driven. To be quite frank, no one goes into social services and nonprofits because of the great pay. They are there because they want to believe in what they are doing, and the mission of their organization defines that. It makes for incredibly motivated and loyal employees under the right circumstances.

I was discussing these points with a friend who works as a development professional for a rather large nonprofit outside my vicinity. I may be biased, because I know the work my friend is capable of, but her boss is doing a fantastic job of running off any talent she could hire by refusing to recognize the second Truth. Instead, this stubborn ED has refused to capitalize on the talents of her employees, ignores suggestions and ideas (or steals them without giving any credit) and generally acts superior to everyone around her. Subsequently, her staff turnover rate is pretty impressive. Employees will tolerate this insanity because of the first Truth- they love the mission, but only for about 6 months.

While every industry has those bad apples, in the nonprofit world it is especially devastating because it means the nonprofit will suffer in the long run. If the nonprofit suffers, you can bet the beneficiaries of their services will suffer as well. How awful to think the bad decisions of an executive can have such a tangible negative impact on the lives of those in need.

Sometimes I think executives (in general- not just nonprofits) forget that the mark of an outstanding leader is not what he himself has accomplished, but what can be accomplished without him. A good boss should be able to take a vacation and come back to an organization that is humming along as smoothly as before he left. I have seen this elusive situation with my own two eyes, and it was the direct result of positive, supportive and competent leadership coupled with a strong work environment, incredible staff and a fantastic mission. If you were to ask the executive in charge of that organization how he was able to manage such a feat, he would tell you how great his employees are and that he prides himself in finding great talent, deflecting all credit to his staff.

As you read this, I hope you remember two people- your best boss and your worst boss- and what you were able to learn from both situations. Sometimes a bad example can be just as educational as a good one- and it does leave us with interesting stories!

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What Should Be Common Knowledge For Diabetics – Food Can Help You Control Your Disease

There is one thing that should be common knowledge for diabetics. Food can help you control your disease. And yet for many type 1 and type 2 diabetics, food that is eaten may not be linked to how easy it is to control blood sugar and keep the disease under control. Many people do not see the impact that our diet can have on our health but for diabetics, food and their disease are inexorably linked.

There are two types of food for diabetics: the food items that they should be including in their diet, and the food items that should be left out as much as possible or, at least, eaten in very small amounts on an infrequent basis. By learning which items promote good health a type 2 diabetic may be able to reduce the amount of insulin they need to take and may even be able to eliminate it.

For a type 1 diabetic, they will never be able to eliminate the need to take insulin but they will often be able to maintain better control over their blood sugar levels and stave off some of the side effects such as blindness or impaired circulation.

What Foods Should Be Included In A Diabetic Diet

Fresh fruits and vegetables are nutrient rich and are therefore worthwhile to include in any diet, regardless of whether you are diabetic or not. Some good options include arugula and spinach. Dark green leafy vegetables can be great foods for diabetics to include.

Foods that are high in fiber such as whole grain bread products can also be good choices for any diabetic patient’s food intake. Although any food will raise blood sugar, foods that are high in fiber can help stave off sudden fluctuations and cause raises and decreases to become more gradual and easier to handle.

What Foods Should Be Eliminated From A Diabetic Diet

Just as there are some foods that should be included in a diabetic diet, there are also foods that need to be avoided as well. These include items that are full of chemicals. Many processed foods have high levels of sodium, refined sugar and nitrates in them. They are also low in natural fiber and this can cause problems for blood sugar levels.

Speaking with a dietician who is familiar with your medical history will enable you to find out which foods you should be eating and which you should be avoiding.