A proliferation of self-help styled books has blanketed the market – a seemingly endless stream over the past three decades. They come from all corners of the globe. They are offered by everyone, from respected educators and esteemed writers to redeemed born-agains and stand-up comedians. Some are pithy and densely written while others are light and breezy. Many are worldly-based and of late, many are personal, somewhat vain and narcisstic exposes. I think the most educational ones are those that reveal life-lessons gained through real-world experiences – both good experiences and bad ones.

One common theme that jumps out from any thumb-thru of this genre is that you should always follow your bliss and find your passion.

The question is – how in the heck does one find their passion? Where do you start looking? Where do you go? Do you go it alone or take along your friends? Will it be out there to be found? How will you know it when you find it? Are there any short-cuts to take? How much time should you plan on looking? What do you do once you find it? Will any of the process be blissful? Are you lesser of a person if you can’t find it? Have you failed your destiny without it?

Simple-mindedly, I always thought you were born with an inner, innate passion – and that some folks were and some weren’t. This conclusion can be easy to reach when you consider a child-prodigy or an athletic prowess – one whose never-ending practice and all-consuming attention to their craft defines their being. If this is so – where does it leave us “regular folks” – those of us that try out all sorts of things along our life’s travel-path?

Living in Florida has many benefits that we all enjoy and living here in North Florida has an extra benefit – during our annual hurricane seasons. Being part of the most western coastline on the Eastern Seaboard, our area has historically proved to be naturally sheltered from most storm activity. We reside in a sort of cove – nestled to the west of the Gulfstream’s steering currents. Those warm currents, tracking south to north, well offshore of us – tend to help steer the paths of passing storms away from us. For over 100 years, direct hits from major storms have been rare in the North Florida / South Georgia coastal zone.

Still, I have always advocated that each of us should know enough about the subject to be educated, stay vigilant and remain calm – each time the weather-entertainers start beating their drums. Over the decades, it seems that any storm-source from the television is overblown and hyped to the limit. Weatherpersons want to entertain more than educate – even though all of their reports are framed in the purpose of generating a sense of readiness.

Take for example the early tracking of Hurricane Irene. In the first 48 hours or so of reporting, the projected landfall moved from the Georgia / Florida state line, to Brunswick, to Savannah, to Charleston and then on to Myrtle Beach. The next morning, when landfall was moved up towards the Outer Banks, the national radio weather reporter closed out his segment with the following: “Residents in Florida are making preparations and getting ready”. Then they threw the microphone to a fellow in Miami (yes, Miami) who was interviewed at his local hardware store as he bought shutters and plywood. Now mind you – as the landfall continued to move north and east, the track continued to move east – so that the folks in Miami could spend their weekend at the beach drinking pina-coladas.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, 8/30/11, researchers say, “Taking in the sights and sounds of nature appears to be especially beneficial for our minds”. At the Rotman Research Institute in Toronto, researchers are studying whether interacting with nature can be therapeutic for relieving anxiety. University of Michigan research shows that performance on memory and attention tests improved by 20% after study subjects paused for a walk through an arboretum. The researchers found that cognitive performance improved after a “nature break” – and they weren’t talking about a trip to the restroom.

The research also found that for those folks not living in or near a nature-filled environment, that a quieter city street with interesting natural elements to look at, such as containers of plants and street trees, could do the trick.

Although I am no scientist – I do know that our St. Augustine golf course community is the exact kind of place that will let you unwind, relax and even boost your mental performance.

When we planned the 6,300 acres of World Golf Village, we set aside over 2,775 acres (44%) of naturally forested mixed-hardwood lowlands and uplands. These forested lands have been recorded in Conservation Easements, to be protected in their natural state, in perpetuity.

The Neighborhoods of the World Golf Village is structured as a traditional planned community – without the burden of a Community Development District (CDD) taxing entity. As such, the Neighborhoods have been “turned-over” to the independent Boards of Directors and residents for each Neighborhood.

The process of turn-over – from Davidson Development, Inc. the original Master Developer and their clients, IT Land Associates, LLC and SJ Land Associates, LLC – to the individual Neighborhoods, has its inherent challenges. Issues of common area maintenance, safety, security, financial stability, amenity operation and asset protection are all important activities that must be monitored and managed by the volunteer residents who choose to help lead their Associations.

On all accounts – the transition to the homeowner leadership is on a great path. The Associations have recognized the unique attributes of their community and are making every effort to protect the defining elements of their neighborhoods. A real sense of collective stewardship has emanated. Residents are coming forth, with pride, to look after and care for their investments.

Major neighborhood collector roads, which served the community for the first 13 to 14 years, are being milled and re-surfaced – using monies from the various Home Owner Association (HOA) repair, maintenance and reserve funds. Royal Pines Parkway and WGV Boulevard have both recently been fully renovated and re-surfaced.

For over 150 years the intersection of S.R. 16, Nine Mile Road and Pacetti Road has played a prominent role in the commerce of central St. Johns County. Today it offers a fantastic opportunity for a business, looking to capitalize on location, location, location.

The intersection was the hub of the original Mill Creek hamlet – the center of timbering, turpentine harvesting, cattle farming and agricultural enterprise. The crossroad was the jumping off spot for a “corduroy road” that ended with a landing at the confluence of Mill Creek and Six Mile Creek and provided access to a collection of logging encampments. For decades, loggers harvested prized-trees and turpentine along the tributaries of the St. Johns River. From Mill Creek, logs were floated out Six Mile Creek – bundled into log rafts – then steered down river to the big mills in Jacksonville. One day, I found a pair of original, perfect condition, hand-thrown, clay turpentine pots along the remnants of the old corduroy road.

Closer to the turn-of-the-century, the crossroads-area became the center of a thriving and productive farming community. Gladiolus flower farms and nationally-renowned potato farms spread over the region, interspersed with cattle-raising businesses. The County and the region produced quality goods that were shipped throughout the country.