Today is my birthday. I am now 66. And I am very spirited at the prospects of making a difference in this world, both in the coming years (as I have very big plans for what Keri T. calls “my Third Act”) but also in this very issue of Uncommon Sense. Let’s unpack this one.

A lot of people, especially in business circles, talk about the need to be strategic. Yet many of these same people only have a vague sense of what is involved in strategy. I take a stab at explaining some things about it in the Self-Development Column.

June is, among other things, Pride Month. I suspect most of us try to ignore it, as it only pertains to an extremely tiny part of the population. I have some questions for the LGBT community about the need for Pride Month. You can read my questions in The Elephant in the Room column.

From Ara’s Journal is meant to be a column where I can speak as a person (not as a teacher, not as a businessman). Taking a cue from a recent book I read, I not only share some thought-provoking content by the writer, but I try to add some of my own color around some important ideas.

The World of Words column is a keeper because it actually improves the way you come across based on the way you speak and the words you use. The better and more elegant your vocabulary, the better your reputation becomes. Doors open for you when you sound intelligent. Take advantage of this column and use it to your betterment.

OK, let’s get started.

Ara Norwood