Welcome to Julie's World

Julie Gagnon Prior "Ready to surf through 2020 - Island Style".

​WHAT DOES THE NAME "JULIE' MEAN?
According to sevenreflections.com, You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. 

NOW, WELCOME TO JULIE'S WORLD
One point made in the above description of “Julie” is uncertainty.  For me that biggest uncertainty is the question of if I may offend someone in my most sincere efforts in making the world a better place.  I endure great moments of struggle when I am either misunderstood or offensive in any manner.
That being said, please be sure to provide any feedback that you may have if you feel that I misrepresent anyone or anything within this column.
I am thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to share my views on life, and look forward to offering an often misunderstood yet also appreciated view that comes from “Julie’s World”.
Today I write my first column, and it is Mother’s Day, 2019.
My day was spent with family, my folks and my kids, helping my 76 year old mother prepare her amazing flower gardens for the upcoming full bloom.  Completely exhausted and in pain, I headed home from her house in Waterbury Center to Carl and Doggies in Grand Isle.
Since a dear friend in South Hero has lost her husband months ago, I have tried to stop by to spend time with her every weekend.  Last weekend I didn’t make it, and it was looking like I wouldn’t get there this weekend either.
But, as I was driving home, listening to the radio, I felt an extremely hard tug on my heart.  It was a tug that was pulling me in the direction of her space and arms.  My heart (despite my pain and head) knew it needed to stop by her place.
I called my significant other and told him that I was stopping there on the way.  With his full support; I pulled into her driveway off Route 2.
Like so many other times that I am dumbfounded by the way that the universe works; this evening was no exception.  I walked in to a huge hug and when we walked into the kitchen, she showed me her purchases from the day.  Well, another friend had let her borrow a wood burner and she had gone to a store and purchased some wood to use it on.  She knew exactly what she wanted to carve yet wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it.
It was at this point that I was so grateful that I had listened to whatever voice it was that told me to stop by.  See, I happened to have, in my car; my own wood burning set, carbon paper, and examples of creations that I had made for my friends at Robinson’s Hardware.
So, here’s the thing; anything that I write in this column is the complete truth.  I wear my heart on my sleeve and also put my stories in that same space.
I showed my friend some of my own creations and explained to her that she could do the same!  We set out to begin the process.  First, we found the “perfect” outline / drawing on Google images.  Then we printed it and I gave her some carbon paper and taught her how to tape it all down onto the wood.  I gave her the tip off one of my wood burners; a tip that is easy and smooth to use for a beginner.  
Within minutes she had created a masterpiece that she herself was overwhelmed with!  Excitedly, she talked about how wonderful of a project it is, and how she was going to continually improve it.  She expressed excitement about how it took her mind off of her troubles but also energized her because she was going to be able to make personalized gifts for others.
This, my friends, is your first exposure to “Julie’s World”.  It is a world in which I try to listen to my gut.  I try to get past my own issues and to help others; ultimately, indirectly, helping myself.
Seriously, within about 15 minutes, my friend (in deep mourning over the loss of the love of her life) wood burned this box: One of the things about my world, is that I try so hard to listen or see the signs that I should follow….
Not necessarily for myself (although it seems to always help me in ways) but in ways that help others.
That to me, helping others, is one of the greatest things that we can do as humans on this earth.

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“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” ― John Holmes.