Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1514778
| THE COLONY NEWS | FEBRUARY 2024 | 3 From the Desk of Kathy C. Stevens, Secretary As I write this message, I reflect on the whirlwind that was 2023. Last year, I lost a dear friend to cancer, had surgery to blast a kidney stone, had to move Dallas (my horse) three times due to unexpectedly weird circumstances, all of this while still trying to enjoy life and serve on the Board. I concluded that I'm not special. ese are just life experiences that all of us go through – some good and some not so good. One way that I keep joy in my heart is to be grateful when I get "through" and come out the other side. I know people who get stuck, and they are so unhappy. e Colony is not run by one person. e Colony includes a property management company, a seven-member board, several advisory committees, legal counsel, tax and financial consultants, a landscaping contractor, and a security firm. A big part of this team is made up of volunteer residents who have a passion for helping and making a difference. ese people understand the process by which issues are brought up, evaluated and acted upon. Decision-making is not easy or done impulsively. e effort includes hours of collaboration, and sometimes healthy arm-wrestling. Each of these people brings a unique perspective to issues that arise in a property of over 100 acres with 1,586 homes. It is a daunting task. And the issues are never black and white. Each decision has a domino effect that impacts the entire community. Without information on all sides of a topic, a resident may not understand the how and the why and react to the decision based solely on emotion. I wish this were different. I will agree that life is not easy these days, and sometimes it takes a toll. I'm trying to change my thinking when things happen. I can't change my circumstances, or change the people I don't even know who send me emails spewing mean-spirited words telling me what a horrible person I am. I can only change how I feel about the situation and how I can move forward with grace. ere are so many good people in e Colony and so many things to be grateful for. ose are the things I choose to focus on. When I feel a little beaten down, I say to myself "I can do whatever I need to do through Christ, who is my strength." Difficult situations arise in everyone's life. Our attitude toward these situations is more important than the challenges themselves. I wish e Colony Peace in 2024 and the discernment to know the truth. Be well, Kathy.