by Vickie Henderson, Miss November 2016

SHOULD I WEAR THIS HAT?

Every night when I plug my phone into the charger, I savor the fact that I quit setting an alarm two years ago. Nevertheless, the sun rarely beats me up. My addiction to coffee drives me out of bed and I’m a gulper, not a sipper. Not much about my day is typical except I make my bed, eat breakfast, take my meds and brush my teeth. I know you’re glad to hear that. Mostly, I change hats all day.

I check my calendar then often sit on the porch with my bible, journal and of course the oversized mug of coffee. Nothing satisfies me more than checking tasks off my to-do list, though I flagrantly ignore stuff I don’t want to do.

Ten hours a week I’m back in my work clothes and wearing my CMO (chief medical officer) hat. It’s a new role after not working for two and a half years, but it fits perfectly. Oddly, the smell of the hospital is comfortable and familiar. No doubt it’s because health care professionals work intense, long hours and require continually flowing pots of coffee which permeates every hallway. Did I mention I’m addicted to caffeine?

I wear a ball cap to play golf. Wearing my social hat, I catch up with a friend over a plate of food or the swish of jets in the nail salon. When I practiced medicine, I never had time to wear that hat. Wearing my bike helmet again makes me happier than it should.

My alter-ego, Vickie Petz Henderson, has a whole closet of various hats. I wear my blogger hat to create posts and graphics. I wear my broadcasting hat to interview authors, writers, musicians and ordinary people with extraordinary faith stories on “My Journey of Faith Radio.” My own author hat is on the shelf for now as I wait to hear from a publisher.

My favorite hat is attached to a microphone. My dad says I was born talking, so public speaking suits me. From my report cards, my teachers didn’t always see incessant chattering as an asset.

The only typical in my day is connecting, because I love people. After all, that’s how they will know.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)