By KATIE ALLEN
K-State Research and Extension
COLBY – Although Ron Willis has met many people in his travels throughout the United States, he recalls four individuals from his childhood who taught him early on about being a person with integrity and compassion.
Those people included his grandfather, a wise man and retired railroad engineer who completed school through the eighth grade.
“He always taught me that in the business of helping other people, what we had living in our hearts was more important than diplomas hanging on a wall,” said Willis, who believes that to this day despite the fact that he holds an education specialist degree from Fort Hays State University and has served as a mental health consultant throughout his adult life.
Others on that list include a teacher who helped him through his second year of kindergarten, a high school librarian who remembered him with a birthday card every year of his four years of high school and a high school track coach who taught him to save a little back for the finish line.
“I was an awful miler,” Willis recalled. “I usually came in toward the last of every race. But, my coach said, ‘No one will remember years later where you finished in a race, but they will remember how you finished.’”
“Finish well!” is the theme for an upcoming event open to seniors, their families and their caregivers. K-State Research and Extension will sponsor the event, titled “Full Circle…an Aging Expo.” It will take place Friday, April 24 at the Colby Community College Student Union in Colby, and Willis is one of the featured speakers.
Willis was born and raised in Concordia, Kansas, but he currently lives in nearby Jewell. He is the founder of Green Porch Swing Productions, through which he has recorded seminars, developed writings and presented inspirational speeches to people across the country about living by what is in the heart—something his grandfather taught him from a green porch swing as a child.
“I’m a storyteller,” Willis said, “so I believe that we hold people’s attention better when we use stories—personal examples and the like—to make our points. My grandfather, who was a real storyteller, always told me that I should have a point for their heads and a picture for their hearts, so they are apt to walk away knowing at least one thing they need to remember and focus on to make a difference.”
While presenting at the Full Circle expo, Willis plans to engage all participants in some way. For those who care for seniors, he plans to talk about how to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue, which he said are two major struggles for caretakers. Some of the ways to protect against these struggles include not letting the sun go down on our anger with another person, knowing our triggers that allow us to stay encouraged, and understanding the importance of maintaining our integrity and finishing well.
“Most people will say in listening to me that they maybe didn’t learn anything new, but they were reminded of things they had learned along the way and kind of forgot about,” Willis said.
In addition to Willis, a variety of other speakers will present information as part of the expo. Charmane Kandt of the Neuromuscular Wellness Center at Fort Hays State University will focus on exercising and being active to achieve optimum health. Other session topics will cover death and grieving, knowing your health history, financial matters for seniors, estate planning, memory and making reading more fun.
Registration is $30 per person or $50 for two family members, and the pre-registration deadline is April 17. Registration at the door is $35 per person and will take place until 9:15 a.m. the day of the event. Registration at the door does not guarantee lunch. The program will be from 9:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Contact the K-State Research and Extension Northwest Area Office for registration and program information at (785) 462-6281.
To learn more about Willis and Green Porch Swing Productions, visit www.greenporchswing.com.
