Royal Spirit Alive!
How to be a Beacon in a 40-watt World

Yeast is the heart of the bread making process. It’s what makes dough rise and achieve its light texture after baking. Other essential ingredients include flour, salt, eggs, butter/shortening, yet it is the yeast that makes dough rise and gives home-baked bread its wonderful taste and aroma. Some people are the yeast, the essential ingredient that lifts relationships to a higher level, helps others over the rough spots, and sparks creative outcomes.

May is National Senior Citizens’ Month. It’s the perfect time to get acquainted with the “yeast” behind the Triad’s leading senior resource guide. Meet Jill Willis, Publisher, Senior Living Resource Magazine, NC Triad Edition.

Y.E.S. (You Expressing Spirit) Showcase

You’ll spot Jill’s zest for life and spontaneity the instant she walks in a room. It’s a glow in her eyes, a shimmer in her smile, the New York pace of her walk. Moments into a conversation, you know she chafes at the status quo, thrives on creativity and is a multi-track idea spout. Her every action shouts ‘what if, how can we, let’s try it.’

Jill’s embrace of untethered creativity is anchored in her Rotary exchange student experience. From a shaky start in her host country of Sweden, Jill chose to rise above and stick it out.

“Part of what you promise to do as a Rotary exchange student is learn the culture and develop in it,” says Jill. Using her passion for music and her cheerleading skills, Jill turned homesickness into service to others. With Hollywood producer flair, Jill organized, directed and performed in her adopted high school’s first musical. She organized and trained the first handball cheerleading team. In return, she discovered the power of tenacity, love for her country, and an ability to thrive in new situations.

Today, Jill’s passion and creativity bring vibrancy to Senior Living Resource Magazine. Her vision is a publication that showcases comprehensive lifestyle options for seniors. “I love to write almost as much as I love to sing. Being able to take your passion and put it where you work - I’m very blessed.” Passion and creativity also bring a sense of urgency to Jill’s tenure as President of Triad Retirement Living Association (TRLA), a membership organization of senior service industry professionals.

For Jill, though, expressing her passion and creativity has a more heartfelt, long-lasting purpose – her spouse, her eight-year old son and five-year old daughter.

“If you can bring your passion into the life and world around you, and it brings you joy, eventually, that joy goes to your children and your husband.
I’ve learned if I don’t have that passion, my family isn’t going to either.”

Jill’s tips so you can find your passion and “rise above:”

	“Pay attention to what is happening around you because the smallest thing may be pestering you but that may be the biggest opening to what is your passion.”
	“Give yourself applause. Be happy with what you’ve done and don’t rely on getting appreciation and applause from anybody else.”
	“Find your Higher Power…make it the center of your life.”

You, too, can be the person to rise above existing challenges, elevate relationship dynamics, express your creativity and blaze new trails. Choose today to be the "yeast." If not you, then who?

For more information on the Triad Senior Living Resource Magazine contact Jill Willis at jmwsrlvg@triad.rr.com, or P.O. Box 6327, High Point, NC 27262; 336-887-1184.