Hey Regi — I remember when I started working at a nonprofit in Ravenna in 1982. You joined the staff shortly after me. We both reported to the same executive director - Bob. There were challenges at the workplace including Bob not turning on the heat in your office area. You needed to wear a hat and gloves at work. We knew each other, before we worked together. I did notice, at work, you were somewhat uncomfortable. Your hands would shake, and you were anxious to do everything right. I remember a time you typed a full-page paper for Bob and he returned it with a big red circle. That meant you could not use white out but would need to type it all over again. You seemed distraught and anxious. You said, "Bob never seems satisfied." I was hoping you weren’t going to allow him to push you into leaving the job. What I didn’t realize at the time was, you would kick into bravery and face the music. As God presented himself over the next six months, Bob was terminated. You and I were left to keep the agency open. An agency that was sorely needed in the community. Our mission was to help individuals who suffered from alcoholism and other drug addictions, to achieve recovery. We had a very short time frame to write grants and get them approved at the regional level. Your planning and writing skills helped us save the agency. This was before you returned to KSU to become a journalist. The grants were submitted, reviewed, and approved - and the agency did not have to close. Again, your bravery was about making sure the services remained available to the community. There were many challenges along the way. That is just the nature of life and work. When things got difficult, you always showed up with pen and paper ready to capture the moment and develop a course of action. Yes, your bravery has always made the difference!!
Regina, I have loved you from the first time I found your column in the Plain Dealer so many years ago! I even cut out a few of them and kept them on the refrigerator for years!
This article of your bravery was so amazing!! Thank you for sharing it. It made me stop and think about all of my fears and some of them that I have become brave in.
The latest thing in my life where I am learning, a new level of bravery is living as a widow. My precious husband of 46 years died from Covid 3 1/2 years ago.
I was so afraid of everything at first. How am I gonna survive financially how am I gonna survive on my own? And in this new disgusting political climate, what’s gonna happen to me?
I take a deep breath and I take my challenges each day as they come… some days, I fail. But I’m doing better each day.
My bravery resume list is getting longer!! Thank you and please never stop writing!!
I share many of your fears and achievements. I was amazed at some of the items on your bravery list! My 3 sisters have been hostile toward me for my whole adult life. I'm the oldest. Over the years I was raising 4 children by myself, no child support, no visitation, nothing, My sisters were never empathetic or compassionate, and I have been sad for almost 50 years. My bravest thing was expelling one of those sisters from my life, and I'm on to the next one. Toxic childhoods breed very sad (and angry) adults.
I completely understand. I have the same kind of situation, esp. with my mother. I support you. It's mind-numbing & heart-breaking when "family", who is supposed to "be" there for you, are not. Sounds like you got everything in control.
Regina, your words struck a chord. As someone who recently relocated to rural France, I’ve found that bravery isn’t just about grand gestures but the daily acts—like navigating a new language or facing the cheese aisle with confidence. Thank you for reminding me that bravery is a practice, one I’m committed to embracing each day.
Regina you are such an example to me of how to be brave and fearless. I have been afraid all of my life about things that most people would not bother with. I tell myself one day you will be on the other side of this thing and it will make a great story. Love you
I’m close to your age and every article you write hits home to me. I’m a widow of 8 yrs. My only biological sister passed away in 2023. I have had 2 emergency surgeries for small bowel obstruction 10 months apart.
I’m having to learn who, I am again without my sister. Who do I want to be? What do I want to do for the rest of my life and with who? What do I want my life to look like?
I thought, I wanted a relationship and I do. But I have no desire to ever get married again. 39 years was good but I don’t want that again. So I need to remind myself I am brave & I can go on adventures by myself if I want to.
Thank you for sharing with us. You have been a blessing to me. I always come away with something to think about.
I love your posts and applaud your bravery. Thank you dear lady and keep doing what you are doing. Someday I would love to meet you. I am the president of Na’amat Akron and would love if you could speak to us someday. I live in Randolph and probably the only Jew around (my Irish husband converted before marrying me). I taught at SE for 40 years and now retired. G-d bless you!
Your writings have brought light into my life for decades. Thank you for bravely sharing what you are going through in all the ups and downs of your life. As you may remember, you were very kind and compassionate to me when my marriage of 31 years was ending, a few years back. Your words acknowledged the pain and were a salve for many disappointments, yet pointed me forward with deep hope and appreciation for what I had learned and all the good that would come out of this sad ending. My heart aches for what will surely be many hard challenges ahead as you live your new life, but rejoices for your courage, bravery, optimism and charity toward yourself and others. Most of all, I admire your faith. Thank you for being a "bright spot" in my life! (Quote from our beloved BB:-)
Wow! I remember when you gifted me writing stationery that said, "Fear Is Useless: What Is Needed Is Trust". I hated that saying because at age 26, I had no idea how to trust anyone, "God" & mostly, myself. I wake up fearful every day, Regina. I go to bed, fearful lately. I keep telling myself, "Feelings Arn't Facts" & "I Can Function Despite How I Feel". When I get really scared, I recite the Hail Mary & the Serenity Prayer. I could go on about how Brave I've been my entire life but maybe that'll be my first book! I have to go to my new job tomorrow at Walmart, so I need to sleep & yes, face my fear of working. You Got This, Regina. It's OK to Grieve: That's takes the most Bravery, sometimes.
Hey Regi — I remember when I started working at a nonprofit in Ravenna in 1982. You joined the staff shortly after me. We both reported to the same executive director - Bob. There were challenges at the workplace including Bob not turning on the heat in your office area. You needed to wear a hat and gloves at work. We knew each other, before we worked together. I did notice, at work, you were somewhat uncomfortable. Your hands would shake, and you were anxious to do everything right. I remember a time you typed a full-page paper for Bob and he returned it with a big red circle. That meant you could not use white out but would need to type it all over again. You seemed distraught and anxious. You said, "Bob never seems satisfied." I was hoping you weren’t going to allow him to push you into leaving the job. What I didn’t realize at the time was, you would kick into bravery and face the music. As God presented himself over the next six months, Bob was terminated. You and I were left to keep the agency open. An agency that was sorely needed in the community. Our mission was to help individuals who suffered from alcoholism and other drug addictions, to achieve recovery. We had a very short time frame to write grants and get them approved at the regional level. Your planning and writing skills helped us save the agency. This was before you returned to KSU to become a journalist. The grants were submitted, reviewed, and approved - and the agency did not have to close. Again, your bravery was about making sure the services remained available to the community. There were many challenges along the way. That is just the nature of life and work. When things got difficult, you always showed up with pen and paper ready to capture the moment and develop a course of action. Yes, your bravery has always made the difference!!
Regina, I have loved you from the first time I found your column in the Plain Dealer so many years ago! I even cut out a few of them and kept them on the refrigerator for years!
This article of your bravery was so amazing!! Thank you for sharing it. It made me stop and think about all of my fears and some of them that I have become brave in.
The latest thing in my life where I am learning, a new level of bravery is living as a widow. My precious husband of 46 years died from Covid 3 1/2 years ago.
I was so afraid of everything at first. How am I gonna survive financially how am I gonna survive on my own? And in this new disgusting political climate, what’s gonna happen to me?
I take a deep breath and I take my challenges each day as they come… some days, I fail. But I’m doing better each day.
My bravery resume list is getting longer!! Thank you and please never stop writing!!
❤️🌹
I share many of your fears and achievements. I was amazed at some of the items on your bravery list! My 3 sisters have been hostile toward me for my whole adult life. I'm the oldest. Over the years I was raising 4 children by myself, no child support, no visitation, nothing, My sisters were never empathetic or compassionate, and I have been sad for almost 50 years. My bravest thing was expelling one of those sisters from my life, and I'm on to the next one. Toxic childhoods breed very sad (and angry) adults.
I completely understand. I have the same kind of situation, esp. with my mother. I support you. It's mind-numbing & heart-breaking when "family", who is supposed to "be" there for you, are not. Sounds like you got everything in control.
I’m a few years older than you and not near as brave…looking back I recognize that
I pushed back, spoke up, and felt a wee bit successful. But oh how mighty we would have been if we’d only known how much smarter we were than “them.”
Regina, your words struck a chord. As someone who recently relocated to rural France, I’ve found that bravery isn’t just about grand gestures but the daily acts—like navigating a new language or facing the cheese aisle with confidence. Thank you for reminding me that bravery is a practice, one I’m committed to embracing each day.
Incredible and inspiring! 🙏💕
Regina you are such an example to me of how to be brave and fearless. I have been afraid all of my life about things that most people would not bother with. I tell myself one day you will be on the other side of this thing and it will make a great story. Love you
I’m close to your age and every article you write hits home to me. I’m a widow of 8 yrs. My only biological sister passed away in 2023. I have had 2 emergency surgeries for small bowel obstruction 10 months apart.
I’m having to learn who, I am again without my sister. Who do I want to be? What do I want to do for the rest of my life and with who? What do I want my life to look like?
I thought, I wanted a relationship and I do. But I have no desire to ever get married again. 39 years was good but I don’t want that again. So I need to remind myself I am brave & I can go on adventures by myself if I want to.
Thank you for sharing with us. You have been a blessing to me. I always come away with something to think about.
I love your posts and applaud your bravery. Thank you dear lady and keep doing what you are doing. Someday I would love to meet you. I am the president of Na’amat Akron and would love if you could speak to us someday. I live in Randolph and probably the only Jew around (my Irish husband converted before marrying me). I taught at SE for 40 years and now retired. G-d bless you!
Regina,
Your writings have brought light into my life for decades. Thank you for bravely sharing what you are going through in all the ups and downs of your life. As you may remember, you were very kind and compassionate to me when my marriage of 31 years was ending, a few years back. Your words acknowledged the pain and were a salve for many disappointments, yet pointed me forward with deep hope and appreciation for what I had learned and all the good that would come out of this sad ending. My heart aches for what will surely be many hard challenges ahead as you live your new life, but rejoices for your courage, bravery, optimism and charity toward yourself and others. Most of all, I admire your faith. Thank you for being a "bright spot" in my life! (Quote from our beloved BB:-)
I’ve you, Regina Brett! You speak to my heart - every. single. time. 🩷☮️🩷
carolbaileyfloyd.substack.com
Wow! I remember when you gifted me writing stationery that said, "Fear Is Useless: What Is Needed Is Trust". I hated that saying because at age 26, I had no idea how to trust anyone, "God" & mostly, myself. I wake up fearful every day, Regina. I go to bed, fearful lately. I keep telling myself, "Feelings Arn't Facts" & "I Can Function Despite How I Feel". When I get really scared, I recite the Hail Mary & the Serenity Prayer. I could go on about how Brave I've been my entire life but maybe that'll be my first book! I have to go to my new job tomorrow at Walmart, so I need to sleep & yes, face my fear of working. You Got This, Regina. It's OK to Grieve: That's takes the most Bravery, sometimes.
You're my hero!!! I love you!
You Are a Warrior as long as I’ve known you ! Maybe you weren’t aware of it back then, but we knew, we saw it !❤️❤️
Wishing you more blessings than your heart can hold as you travel the road of life ahead of you.
You are a thriver❣️