My monthly columns tend to be part reflection, part current event, and part whatever spark of inspiration I hope readers take with them. They’re also what neighbors, fellow parents, and acquaintances discuss with me most.
Perhaps it’s that our readers enjoy something more personal from those who usually stick to the facts. Or maybe they appreciate some life experience being woven into the pages of the newspaper.
This month I’m pivoting with a lighter topic, but one that hopefully continues to land with our readers.
When United Way of Metropolitan Dallas recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, civic leaders, philanthropists, and local celebrities flocked to Fair Park for the event. The Taste United Food and Wine Festival featured local samplings and a cooking demonstration by Chef Dean Fearing.
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders made an appearance on the blue carpet (the color representing United Way), and Howdy worked the step-and-repeat like a seasoned pro. Blake Shelton kicked off the concert at the Cotton Bowl.
With her signature charm and candor, Jennifer Hilton Sampson, CEO of United Way, addressed guests at the patron party. Yes, the same Jennifer Hilton who was president of my chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Baylor. She and my big sister, Shelley Davis, were this magical combination of friend and mentor.
Meanwhile, I was the English department nerd reading Wordsworth on the rooftop of Burleson Hall, wondering if anyone else thought iambic pentameter could be life changing.
Jennifer and Shelley showed me that leadership could be strong and soft at the same time, and that “cool” didn’t have to cancel out “kind.”
Which brings me to my run-in on the blue carpet with the hilarious Dallas influencer Chris Kahle. If you don’t get the correlation, go check out his social media posts — specifically his spot-on sorority girl spoofs. (No cause for worry, my KKG sisters, it’s all in good fun.)
But the Nov. 15 evening showstopper — the act that filled the stadium with throngs of screaming fans like it was 1999 — was the queen of pop herself: Miss Jackson.
Yes. The Janet Jackson.
Her energy? Limitless. Her vocals? Ageless. Her dance moves? Let’s just say I was out of breath trying to keep up.
Growing up on the Mamas and the Papas, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, and The Rolling Stones — thanks to the musical influence of my dad — I like to think I know a great performance when I see one.
Hers was iconic, unapologetic, transcendent. She sang every hit. She danced her soul out. The stadium stayed on its feet for hours, fueled by nostalgia, adrenaline, and pure magic. When she launched into “All for You,” the stadium practically levitated. For a moment, we were all teenagers again, singing along like we were transported straight to Rhythm Nation.
Nights like this remind me why I write these columns. It’s witnessing 30,000 strangers become a single, swaying, singing unit. It’s remembering that while news informs us, experiences transform us.
So, here’s my monthly takeaway with equal parts wit, folly, and wisdom, balanced on the fulcrum of experience.
Find a moment that makes you feel alive. Dance, even if your knees protest. Reconnect with someone who reminds you who you were at 18. Celebrate something — anything — with abandon. Fill the new year with good stories, good music, and good people who lean into the nostalgia and keep dancing with you long after the encore.
And when in doubt, take a page from Janet’s playbook — and make it “All for You!”
Author
