September begins the Reading Months
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Wake up and Read!
Library Week, which highlights the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians, was in April. School, public, special, and academic libraries took part.
Sadly, statistics show fewer people are reading books. Unfortunately, that’s been true since the mid-1950s. According to research, the problems in the 50s were radio, television, and music. The 21st-century issue is social media. Both are really the same problem.
To motivate people to support and use libraries, the American Library Association (the ALA) and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit organization in 1954 called the National Book Committee (NBC), which plans a yearly National Library Week.
The very first theme for National Library Week was “Wake Up and Read!”
The focus for Library Card sign-up month is “a library card hits all the right notes.”
Books do entertain, teach, and provide escape. And, most importantly, books are FREE at libraries. All you need is a library card.
The library has always been one of my favorite places. My library card is one of my most prized possessions. I love checking out books or downloading eBook editions. I’m currently reading Karen White’s That Carolina Summer.
I also use Libby, the library app, which allows free downloads to Kindle. Check Libby out here: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby. Your library card serves as your account.
Do you have a library card?
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09, 2026
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09, 2026
Suicide-the stigma and prevention
This is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Suicide doesn’t really get a lot of press, though it has been a problem throughout human history. Suicide rates are increasing and, in recent years, it has become something of an epidemic.
Did you know…
- 5.5% of U.S. adults have serious thoughts of suicide each year.
- Suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of over 49,300 people.
- Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34 and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44.
- There were over two times as many suicides (49,316) in the United States as there were homicides (22,830).
Until I started researching this topic for this blog, I didn’t. Even more staggering statistics can be found here: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide#part_2558
Suicide is particularly problematic because people with suicidal thoughts feel as though they can’t speak to others due to the stigma surrounding suicide.
“Suicide loss survivors” and friends and families affected by a suicide too often have feelings of shame that prevent them from talking openly. Those feelings of stigma are not unique to suicide but to all forms of mental illness.
In 2020, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line phone numbers were combined. The following year, the FCC expanded 988 Lifeline services to text.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories.
Educating ourselves about mental illness and suicide can be the first step toward reducing the stigma and the statistics.
- Know the Warning Signs and Risk of Suicide
- Preventing Suicide as a Family Member or Caregiver
- Being Prepared for a Crisis
This Suicide Prevention Month, help spread the word:
Post about Suicide Prevention.
Learn to recognize warning signs.
Walk, run, or fundraise.
Support an organization. Donate or volunteer.
Share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Number.
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What are your trigger dates?
Friday was a difficult day for many. It was for me. Even though it’s been twenty-five years since 9-11 happened, my memories are vivid.
Certain personal dates can trigger flashbacks. Other dates, whether we were directly involved or not, do too. These dates can bring on emotions for me.
- November 25, 1963 Kennedy Assassination
- August 22, 1966 Whitman shooting from the University of Texas Tower
- January 28, 1986 Challenger Explosion
- November 9, 1989 Fall of the Berlin Wall
- August 31, 1997 Princess Di dies in a car accident
- April 20, 1999 Columbine High School CO shootings
- September 11, 2001 September 11 Attacks
By far, 9-11 is the most vivid even though it’s been twenty-five years. I sat at home drinking coffee in our sunroom with the Today show on TV. I stared in horror as the second plane hit the towers, with the first building burning in the background.
I couldn’t turn off our TV for days, filled with concern that my Army Reserve husband would have to deploy to fight whatever evil had breached our borders. Selfish, maybe, but a reality for military spouses.
Maybe 9-11 or one of the other listed dates stirred memories for you too.
No matter what date or anniversary triggers you. Let’s claim Virgil’s quote pictured below on the wall at the 9-11 Memorial in New York City. It’s true for any trigger date.
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09, 2026
Happy Labor Day!
Today is Labor Day, as I’m sure we all know. It seems late. Blame the calendar. This year, September started on a Tuesday, which pushed the first Monday to the 7th.
New York City celebrated the first Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, following the plans of the Central Labor Union. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1894, it became an official federal holiday celebrated with parades and speeches.
These days there aren’t many speeches or parades.
Most of us think of Labor Day as the end of summer and celebrate with cookouts instead. We forget what the day is truly about — honoring the workers of America.
Maybe as you celebrate today, pause and say thank you to all the workers.
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
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09, 2026
A Guide for Creatives to Manage Business and Keep Their Passion Strong
A Guest Blog by Jenna Sherman
Creative freelancers, designers, writers, photographers, illustrators, and other artist entrepreneurs often watch the work they love get squeezed by the business side.
Pricing decisions, unclear agreements, past-due payments, scattered admin, and constant self-promotion pile up until creativity feels like a luxury instead of the point. The result is familiar: stalled momentum, second-guessing, and a sense that the business is running the art. A few grounded basics can flip that, turning the business into a steady support system for the work.
No-Drama Business Basics for Creatives
When the business side is lightweight and predictable, it stops stealing attention from your ideas. Use these three basics to reduce decision fatigue, protect your time, and keep projects moving without losing your spark.
- Set a pricing floor (then price the project, not your mood): Set a minimum you won’t go below: your target rate, plus average expenses, plus a 10–20% buffer for revisions and “one more thing” requests. Quote in packages (Good/Better/Best) so clients choose a scope level instead of negotiating your value, and build a “rush” or “extra rounds” line item into the price so your boundaries are already baked in.
- Use a one-page contract that covers the real landmines: Skip the legal novella and cover what actual scope, timeline, payment schedule, revision limits, what happens if the client pauses or cancels, and who owns what rights until payment clears. Treat contract review templates as a checklist to personalize for each job, not a document to write from scratch every time.
- Track money in 15 minutes a week (so you’re not guessing): Pick one day, set a timer, and log income, expenses, and receipts in one place using 5–8 categories-materials, software, travel, marketing, taxes. Fewer than 30% of visual artists surveyed maintained organized financial records related to their art practice, so showing up weekly already puts you ahead.
Build Leadership-Level Business Skills Without Losing Your Voice
For some creatives, an MBA is a practical way to sharpen finance, marketing, and operations skills without losing your creative identity. That training can strengthen how you price, streamline workflows, and build systems that hold up long-term, and it can make the less-fun parts, like contracts and taxes, feel far less intimidating. If you’re juggling client work while you learn, you can earn an MBA online without pausing your career to build that confidence behind the scenes.
Business Basics FAQs for Busy Creatives
Q: How do I market myself without feeling salesy or spammy?
A: Pick one channel you can show up in consistently and share proof, process clips, before-and-afters, or outcomes. Marketing is shifting fast enough that 61% of marketers say AI is driving major disruption, so a clear point of view matters more than a “perfect” strategy.
Q: How do I set expectations with clients without sounding rigid?
A: Use friendly, specific language: what you’ll deliver, when, and what you need from them to proceed. Send a short recap after calls so both sides can say “yes” to the same plan.
Q: Can templates and automation help without killing my creative spark?
A: Yes, because they protect your attention. Think of business process automation as setting up repeatable steps for repeatable work, not automating your art.
Build a Simple Business System That Protects Your Creativity
Creative work starts to feel heavy when the business side is scattered and always demanding attention. The fix is simple and repeatable: a few foundational tools, clear boundaries, and a calm monthly review that keeps decisions small and consistent. With that structure in place, growth becomes more predictable, and your systems can evolve without burnout or starting over. A small, consistent system keeps your art free and your business steady.
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Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She created Parent-Leaders.com to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources.
Take a minute to visit her blog for helpful tips.
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