UNLV Hotel College alumna Jayne L. Garrett is determined to help her readers see the lighter side of life. There's no question that her two small-format books address her mission. Lighthearted Living contains 99 pages of humorous verse about common subjects, with an occasional anecdote or cartoon for a change of pace. Menopause salts the rhymes in its 69 pages with word puzzles, as well as the occasional wise aphorism.
Garrett, a former UNLV homecoming queen nominee, says her decision to make a positive difference in people's lives was the result of life-changing events, starting in 2000 when her mother died. "It made me stop and take notice of my life," she says. Then in 2002, while consulting at a corporation that was downsizing, she was asked to work with employees left behind at the company.
"One night I realized that coaching is all about the energy that I bring to the client. Since many employees were in turmoil, it was important that I bring positive energy to the meetings to assist them through the transition. I made a conscious choice to lighten up."
That choice led to the formation of her company, The Lighter Side of Life, LLC. "My vision for this company is to bring smiles, chuckles, and feel-good moments through a series of lighthearted products."
The idea for Menopause, her first book, came while she was having coffee with a few friends. "One started to heat up (hot flash), and I casually asked her if she has hot flashes often. Surprised, she looked at me and asked if it was OK to talk about it." Garrett assured her friend she was not alone with her problem and that women were increasingly open about their symptoms.
"As the group of women opened up and started to share their 'horror' stories, I grabbed a pen and started making notes. Being a lyricist for years I began to play with words that captured the highlights of our menopause conversation. A few asked if I was going to do something with the poems I created. That is how the book evolved."
Because many menopausal women complain about forgetfulness, Garrett included the word puzzles for mental exercise.
Garrett calls her time at UNLV "memorable." She was president of the Hotel Sales Management Association student chapter, and active on many committees to support the student-run Hotel Association. While Garrett says she determined to be a positive force in people's lives after the life-changing events of 2000, former Hotel College Dean Jerome Vallen remembers her as a student already in positive mode. "She was a very effervescent, happy student with good leadership skills," he said. "You could be sure she would carry things out."
