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by Brian Fogle, President & CEO

“Go for the good.”

And so here we find ourselves in December. December 2019, no less. I’m not sure how we got here so quickly when I was just thinking about all the things I needed to do last spring.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday and even Giving Tuesday are in our rear view mirror now, as is our most recent event. The Humanitarian Award luncheon has been a seasonal favorite of mine for decades. It is such a warm, reflective event to see people like this year’s recipient, Jill Bright of the Diaper Bank of the Ozarks, so humbly talk about her selfless work. The event and the award help me prepare for the season (along with the Hallmark Channel).

One of my favorite authors is Robert Fulghum — a classic storyteller. I was looking for another document just this week, and stumbled across something I’d saved that I think is a good reminder of what is truly important this time of year:



My advice is to just get simple-minded for a few days.
Overthinking the season is toxic — and will poison your spirit.
Good is good.
Go for the good. Look for the good. Notice the good and praise it.
Try being as good as you can.
A lot of good things are going on this time of year.
Be part of that.
Don’t be a victim of the dark side of human craziness that also gets loose at this time of year. That’s not all that’s going on.

Getting together with friends is good.
Singing with friends is good.
Laughing and hugging and kissing are good.
Giving those you love a present that makes your affection clear is good.
Giving something to those in need is also good.
Decorating the house is good — candles and incense and some fir branches in the house — and a music box is good.

Going outside late and night and looking at the stars is good.
Being hopeful for a few days at least — that’s good.
Cookies and pies are good.
Slowing down and taking life easy for a few days is good.
Reflecting on what’s good about your life is good.


Here’s wishing all things good for you this holiday season, and thanks to each and every one of you for helping us achieve our mission of enhancing the quality for all citizens in our region.

Happy Holidays!

Brian Fogle is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

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