About Lois Morgan

Synopsis

Lois Morgan decided she wanted to express her views more widely than just to family and friends. So, in order to do that, she needed to expand her audience and the best way to do that seemed to blog. Not knowing how, she hired a friend, Laureen Quick, laureenq@thetransformationaljourney.com to teach her to blog and use Facebook. Along with using that media, she has become active in both local and national politics because she cares deeply about the future of her children and her grandchildren. Primarily, she is concerned about:

• The distribution of wealth and its effect on the development and sustainability of a strong middle class in the United States.
• The quality of public education and the growing inability of individuals to reason and think for themselves.
• The loss of principles in the U.S. as a democratic republic and the growing political power of America's wealthy elite compared to the overall citizenry.
• The lack of compassionate and strategic thinking in our political leadership. 

Growing Up Lois

Lois, born and raised in Nampa, ID and now living in Boise, was the youngest of four sisters and one brother. Her family was poor so they spent a lot of time together at home playing games and reading.  Under the influence of an older brother, she grew up a tomboy, preferring sports to dolls.

Her German parents were not very good at communicating and setting boundaries. One of the teachings that confused her as a child was the fact that her father was aggressive and her mother was passive. For years, Lois struggled with low self-esteem and being passive and then overreacting. The messages she got from her parents about her worth as a person were not positive.  Her father, in particular, told her many times he was sure she would get pregnant, marry and be divorced by the time she was 18.  In her 50’s, she took a student to an “Assertiveness Training” class to get him help. She was the one who got help. She was surprised to find that there was a healthy middle road to communication and applying that knowledge helped her gain more self-confidence.

College, Family & Beyond

When she was 19, she married Don Morgan in her junior year at Northwest Nazarene College. Don taught social studies at Melba, ID and Lois taught English in Meridian, ID.  After three years of marriage, she and Don started their family.  They have four adult children: Carrie and Lorri (children Jake and AJ) who live in Boise, Terri who lives in California with husband Jerry and daughters Sarah and Morgan, and Jack who lives in North Carolina with Laura and their son Fleet. 

Eventually Don and Lois moved to Iowa and then Pennsylvania for work where Lois earned a master's in Communication at Clarion University of PA. She did not like living on the east coast, so when she and Don divorced, she moved back to Boise as quickly as possible.  She continued teaching at the high school level until the working conditions drove her to get a master's in counseling, and she became a counselor at Meridian Academy.

Many people have influenced her life. In her personal  journey, three individuals influenced her to see that it is possible to be the person she wanted to be: Dr. Ralph Earle--a Bible translator and professor who believed that all people are beautiful in their own way, Rae O'Kaishi--a fellow teacher who was personable, creative and insightful, and Mrs. Hartley--a loving older woman who accepted everyone. A few of the famous people Lois respects are Jane Austin, Martin Luther King, Jr., Joan Baez, Bernard Baruch, Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Shirley Chisholm.

Lois Today

In her adult years, Lois began working very hard at overcoming her hang-ups and learning to feel good about herself.  Eventually she came to realize that almost any problem can be overcome if a person is adamant about not being a victim and searches for ways to grow into a self-actualized person.

Today, Lois thinks of herself as a spiritual being.  She strives every day to grow into a healthy person--mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  Learning to love is a top priority. As she explains, "I was raised to be critical of almost everything so I have to continually work on being more accepting and loving."

While she was a parent of young children and a teacher, Lois knew that she wanted to be politically active on issues such as lobbying for healthy food in public schools and better student teacher training, but she was just too overwhelmed.  Now that her children are grown and she is retired, she has a chance to become politically active.

When she is not volunteering to help elect a senator or advocate for improved education laws or picketing ALEC and Allen & Co., Lois spends time with family and friends, reads, and exercises, among other things. The most important people in her life are her children (who have helped her become a more honest person), her grandchildren and her extended family--three siblings still living and many nieces and nephews and their children. She also enjoys a rich fellowship with her friends.

When asked what she would like to teach her family and friends, Lois replies, "I probably can't teach them anything as that turns most people off, but I would like my life to be an example of a loving, caring, authentic person and hope to influence people that way."  

To her blog readers, Lois says: "Have a fulfilling life. Get out and volunteer, be active in helping our world be a better place to live, cherish family and friends and everyone you meet especially little children, laugh a lot, and be kind to everyone (I'm working on it)!"