When Ms. Leslie Tomlinson of the Junior League of the Shoals came to speak in forum, I learned so much. 

I mean, I knew this night would be promising when Vince Brewton taught us the plural of "spouse"--"spice." 

That's right.

Let me start with a story.

Freshman year, some friends and I were young and ambitious and wanted to be involved on everything on campus. We attended this meeting for a volunteer organization only to find that there was a fee--nearly $50--to enter. Like, what? Paying to volunteer? Does this strike anyone else as madness? They may have had reasons for this fee, but I didn't stay to find out what. Why make volunteerism more difficult?

Ms. Leslie Tomlinson, Junior League of the Shoals, talked about something along these lines. She took an active role in resisting an old Junior League rule that women could no longer work for Junior League once they reached a certain age. What's better, she succeeded and got that rule removed in this area. I liked this about her. She stepped on toes in the process of doing what she knew to be right. 

She also talked about how we could resist what she called "stagnancy" in our own lives.

"You can be the stick in the mud," she said,
"but why would you want to?"

Hm. Interesting thought, Ms. Tomlinson. I mean, I could think of one reason, and that's ease. Many of the decisions we make can be boiled down to a fundamental battle between conviction and comfort. For Ms. Tomlinson, conviction has prevailed.