About Kelly Greer

Kelly Greer, publisher of Gwinnett Magazine, is a consummate optimist and firm believer that the best is yet to come for all of us. Kelly has ditched her business suits and pantyhose in pursuit of living out the purpose and destiny she has been called to lead. A gifted encourager and "mostly" recovered control freak, Kelly's focus lies in helping women discover (or rediscover) their passion, purpose and joy for living -- but not as our current society defines it, but rather as our Creator does. When not annoying people with her talk of destinies and adventure, you can find her living out her dreams in Buford, Georgia.
Kelly Greer

Letter from the Publisher

The signs are everywhere. Spring Break planning. Little League sign-ups. Warmer days, bluer skies and some new green sprouts and colorful blooms. And yeah, yeah, yeah… a little pollen is on the uptick, too, but let’s not let that get us down. It’s almost spring!

As excited as I am about all that spring brings, I am reminded, as we hopefully leave flu season and now flirt with allergy season, about the importance of personal health in our day-to-day lives. As it’s been said – when you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything. Truer words have never been spoken.

So in the spirit of spring and new beginnings, check out our special Healthcare Leader Profiles and the online Healthwire to learn the scoop on all things health. New patient services, fascinating treatment innovations, techy health gizmos and a bit about the professionals who care for you when you’re the patient. It’s nice to have so many quality services available to keep us in good shape and tuned up for the season ahead, so read up and be ready!

 
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Kelly Greer

Anybody seen my big girl pants?

Wow, the hits just keep on coming. Work challenges, personal challenges, relational challenges, spiritual challenges – my challenges have challenges! Somewhere along the path these last few weeks, I’ve lost my way. It’s scary how quickly and easily that can happen. One week, I’m rocking along in a sea of skittles, rainbows and butterflies and the next, my little red wagon of hopes and dreams lay in waste along the side of the road. My wheels have flown off and my precious cargo is strewn into the streets of despair and regret.

Gosh, what a drama queen! Or more accurately — what a hormonal drama queen. (You can send sympathy letters to my husband David at the address below!) I know better than this. I know life is a marathon not a sprint. I know to expect roadblocks in the journey. I know, I know, I know… so why don’t I live what I know?  Here is my latest self-discovery, which will probably be no discovery at all to anyone who really knows me:  I am an all or nothing girl.  At first glance, I wear that label proud. After all, that’s how things get done right?  It’s all about commitment and making stuff happen. Being sold out to your goals and dreams. Being “all in” for a cause or need.  And while there is certainly is a place for that mindset – it’s a recipe for disaster if you apply it to how you approach life overall.

 
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Kelly Greer

Overwhelmed

I woke up at 2 a.m. this morning. This seems to be my new “normal” these days.  Whether it’s a sign of the times or my welcome into menopause (less the hot flashes, thank you Progressive Medical Center), 2 a.m. is my new 6 a.m. Apparently, this is also the preferred time of day that fear and doubt and worry come knocking on my mind’s door. Kinda makes sense, don’t you think? It’s dark, quiet and they have my undivided attention. It’s three against one.

But I noticed something very different today. They came knocking and I greeted them more like I do the pine straw guys that show up at my house every Saturday morning. (Come to my house and you’ll see why we are tops on their list!) I am cordial. I listen and then I politely tell them, “Not today.” And so it went with my fears. It just so happens though that my fears aren’t as understanding as the kind, yet persistent pine straw dudes.  My fears didn’t like my response and began to knock louder… they were throwing “what if’s” on top of “what if’s”… they reminded me of every current challenge in my business and personal life… and added a few more I hadn’t yet thought of for good measure.  When that didn’t move me, they made it personal, attacking all my shortcomings and any failures they could dig up from the past (which were ample).  But instead of crumbling and doing my “usual” act of working myself into a frenzy and ultimately, a state of defeat and exhaustion, I just smiled. I had their number.

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Kelly Greer

Happiness vs Joy – What’s the Difference?

I don’t know about you, but the last few years have been quite a ride.  And not exactly a fun one – more like the egg-scrambler ride at Six Flags that starts out seeming like it’s going to be OK, then by the end you are trying not to throw up on your friend.

By nature of my business, I get to visit with all sorts of people on a daily basis.  For the most part what I see are two scenarios:  The first is the person that is just flat out exhausted.  They are working harder and harder for less return and are pretty much running on empty and at their wits end.  The other type I see are people who despite the current economic conditions are having some success; they are setting goals and achieving them.  But when I dig a little deeper, I learn they are feeling like the whole process is a little hollow and not quite the elation or deep satisfaction they were hoping for.

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Kelly Greer

Where Does Passion Come From?

I’ve been getting that question a lot these days…
Passion comes from having a high degree of purpose and meaning in what you do.

So where do you find purpose and meaning?

What do you do if purpose and meaning have “left the building”?

How do you get it back?

What if you feel like you never really had it to begin with…ever.

Experts tell us to look within

Or look outside

Or ask the universe

Or just work harder and quit thinking about it

Or figure it out on your own

Or set some goals

Or make it happen

Or settle

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Kelly Greer

This may be the most important column a parent will ever read

by Kelly Greer

A few weeks ago, I had the honor and privilege to sit across the table and share a meal with Diena Thompson. At first, Diena seemed a lot like me — an everyday gal, the mom of a seven-year-old daughter, hard working with a free and loving spirit towards life. But I quickly discovered our lives were very different. On October 19, 2009, Diena found herself living every parent’s worst nightmare when her seven-year-old daughter Somer went missing. Two days later, Somer’s body was discovered in a Georgia landfill.  We met at a reception in support of local non-profit, Keep Georgia Safe, and the 60 minutes we spent together was one of the most surreal hours of my life.

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