The Bright Side: Inspiration for
Positivity, Motivation and Optimism

 Etiquette and Charm: A Course in Farmyard Recovery 101 Born and raised on a farm, I was more familiar with the pecking order of chickens than the finer points of etiquette. My fashion sense was limited to hand-me-downs, and my knowledge of silverware extended only to “spoon.” But I yearned for poise, to know when to raise my pinky and which fork wouldn’t get me laughed out of a fancy restaurant. My “aha” moment came courtesy of Cosmopolitan magazine. I was seventeen and mesmerized by a guide to the “perfect Cosmo lip.” Hours of practice ensued – lipstick on, lipstick off, repeat – until I’d achieved that flawless pout. My mother’s reaction? “What in the world? Don’t you think that is a bit extreme?”  Oh, Bless Her Heart! Growing up in a family of eight, we’d been raised on a healthy dose