4,315 STUDENTS
in four high schools in AISD
OUTSTANDING. EXCITING. AISD. MORE THAN $52 MILLION DEDICATED TO FACILITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Abilene’s future depends on its high school students. They comprise our most valuable assets. So AISD invested more than $52 million from 2018 bond funds to directly benefit these students, including the $40 million LIFT Center for career and technical education. There also will be new fine arts and athletics facilities. And something else “cool” – new air-conditioning and heating equipment!
www.getexcitedaisd.org
Pick us up at Long John Silver, Drug Emporium & Los Arcos Mex Rest | COMMUNITY | 3
AUGUST 2020
Volume 10.1, Issue 4
Office Park West 209 S. Danville, Suite B-103 Abilene, Texas 79605 (325) 701-9505 www.HispanicLifeMedia.com [currently under construction]
PUBLISHER David A. Hernandez EDITOR HispanicLife Magazine editorial@hispaniclifemedia.com ADVISING EDITOR AND ACCEPTOR OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS Amy Hernández info@hispaniclifemedia.com (325) 701-9505 Office
ADVERTISING SALES • Donna Lee (325) 518-8994 donna.lee@amclassabilene.com
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About Us
We are dedicated to serving the Abilene and the Big Country by providing up-to-date information and resources that promote healthy families and homes. We also promote our clients businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images within the Hispanic community. HispanicLife Magazine is published on a monthly basis and is owned & operated locally. Advertising rates are available upon request. While we use great care in creating our display ads, mistakes can happen. HispanicLife and the publisher are not liable for any damages arising from any typographical or mechanical errors beyond the cost of the ad. HispanicLife does not necessarily endorse any of the advertisers, products or services listed in this publication. 2020 HispanicLIfe Media
All rights reserved. No reproduction of any portion of this issue is allowed without permission from the publisher. www.facebook.com/HispanicLifeMagazine
Greetings from the offices of HispanicLife Magazine! We hope you are having a good Summer thus far; even in the midst of a pandemic. We have met so many follks in the last few months that have shared their struggles and successes with the ups and downs of life. We look to feature those stories in up and coming issues. Our desire as always is to be a hug blessing to our readers; both mentally and spriitually! Each article, in each section of this pubilcation has something for everyone. It is our deepest hope that you and your family stay safe, stay close to one another, love one another, and make the very best of every single day! With school starting up soon, many of you are having to make difficult desicions. Our hope is that you would consult God in everything, let Him open and close the doors for you. Many voices will come and try to influence your decisions; give it God first, and He’ll make all things work out for the best. For is God be for you, then ‘who’ can come against you? No one! Take the time, what’s left of this hot Summer, and enjoy your time with your family and friends, but please, stay safe and take the necessary precautions. Make long lasting memories with those you love and hold dear to your heart, as we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Stay Blessed!
Amy Hernández & the girls and all the staff here at HispanicLife
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601 Butternut • Abilene, TX Drive Thru Open
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THE
spirit
4 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
FCC Approves Dialing ‘988’ to Connect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline By BigCountryHomePage.com
Officials approved rules to establish a nationwide threedigit number for Americans to connect with mental health crisis counselors. The Federal Communications Commission rules require all phone service providers to direct all “988” calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. Since 2008, suicide has ranked as the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. During the transition to 988, Americans who need help should continue to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (1-800- 273-TALK).
Prevention Lifeline to prepare for the expected increase in the volume of calls. 1-800-273-TALK will remain available during the transition as well as after it is completed. Suicide claimed the lives of more than 48,000 Americans in 2018, resulting in about one death every 11 minutes. An FCC report to Congress in 2019 proposed establishing the easy-to-remember 988 as the “911” for suicide prevention and mental health services.
Veterans and service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing “1” after dialing or texting 838255.
FCC Staff determined 988 was the best option for increasing access to crisis resources as well as making it easier for Americans in crisis to access the help they need by decreasing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.
The two-year transition period includes the widespread network changes and providing time for the National Suicide
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of approximately 170 crisis centers.
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COMMUNITY
LOCAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS
Former Abilenian Becomes Dr. Cavazos During Global Health Crisis By Greg Jaklewicz | Abilene Reporter-News
Ryan Cavazos today is one up on dad.
Secondly, it would push him further along toward his goal of becoming a school superintendent.
Moses Cavazos, an Abilene preacher back in the day, set the bar high for his son by earning a doctorate at seminary.
After his student teaching serving as a basketball assistant at Southwestern, Cavazos taught and coached. He would become a head basketball and cross country coach, assisting in other sports.
On Friday evening, his son accepted his Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. He was one of 14 candidates, among others receiving diplomas at Wildcat Stadium.
His stops before moving to Waxahachie, where his parents now live, include Ferris, Midlothian and Rio Vista, all in or near Ellis County, where he has lived since college.
ACU has two more ceremonies (9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.) Saturday, with Hardin-Simmons’ commencement at 9 a.m. at Shelton Stadium and McMurry at 10 a.m. at Hunt P.E. Center.
He obtained his master’s degree in 2013.
DAD SET THE BAR
“I’m a competitive person,” Ryan Cavazos said, laughing. “I couldn’t let him do better than me.”
Then principal at Waxahachie ISD’s Challenge Academy/High School of Choice, a part of the WISD, Cavazos was honored in 2017 at age 38 as an under-40 resident of Ellis County.
He then turned serious. “He was my education inspiration. I have been trying to chase him down for a while. Ryan Cavazos became Dr. Cavazos, Ph.D. on Friday evening. The Abilene High School graduate today is a middle school principal in Waxahacie. Photo by Greg Jaklewicz | Reporter-News Yes, I think he is very proud of me.” Competitive? Ryan played basketball at Abilene High School, graduating in 1997. He played for a couple of years at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, coaching there a year before moving on.
Once the school day ended late in the afternoon, he simply switched to his post-graduate work. Without extracurricular activities to attend, he had quality time to devote to it, he said.
And so, when Friday’s walk-through of the inperson graduation was called off due to COVID-19, Cavazos changed his plans. He booked a tee time at a golf course in Brownwood. His playing partner was his father.
ABILENE CONNECTION
The title of his dissertation?
“The Relationships Between Exclusionary of study at the college — business, education Discipline, Race and Socioeconomic Status and religion. and Graduation Rates At 4A, 5A and 6A High Schools.” “Education made the most sense for me,” he said. Is he glad it’s done?
For almost 20 years, he has advanced in that Some will remember the Cavazos name. Mo- field, currently serving as principal at Howard ses branched out from leading a Hispanic Junior High School in Waxahachie. He joined church (Templo Buenas Nuevas) onto a wider the school district there in 2016. nondenominational path.
ACHIEVING GOALS
He also was at-risk coordinator at Abilene Getting his doctorate, he said, would accomHigh School for at least 10 years, he recalls, plish two goals. “That one,” dad said, pointing at his son Fri- and was known for his community work. He earned the Pride of Abilene award one year. Personally, it would be an achievement to be day before their road trip. celebrated by his family — wife Stephanie, Ryan Cavazos said the shutdown of schools Ryan Cavazos’s mother was from Abilene, a third-grade teacher who grew up in Waxabecause of the coronavirus pandemic in Texas and the family moved back here, putting him hachie, and their two daughters, one a high school sophomore and the other in seventh worked in his favor to complete his doctoral in the Abilene ISD. grade. work, even as it challenged “every other asHe first went to Texas Tech for a year, a great pect of life for everyone.” experience, he said. But while he thought he It represented the highest achievement in eduHe worked from home starting in mid-March, could give up basketball, he found he missed cation. it. He found a place to play at Southwestern. as did most educators. After graduation, Ryan entered the education “It was a personal challenge and a professionfield. He said there basically were three fields al challenge,” her said. Who’s the better golfer?
A MOUNTAIN CLIMBED
“I am so glad it’s over,” he said, laughing. “You don’t realize the time, energy and effort that goes into it. You’re either working on it or feeling guilty for not working on it.” He credits his wife for supporting him as first a coach’s wife and then as he tackled the doctorate. And his daughters. They were a team in this effort, he said. “The girls were so supportive. It became a family goal,” he said. “We achieve this together.” But be warned, girls. Dad has set the Cavazos family bar even higher. “No excuses now,” he said.
6| COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Abilene’s Center for Contemporary Arts to host ArtWalk:
Honk for Heroes! By Fox West Texas
Hosted by Pioneer Drive Baptist Church 2554 Barrow St, Abilene, TX
Come support our High School Choir and shop til you drop at the World’s Largest Garage Sale! The proceeds of this sale will go toward our mission trip next summer. We have a building full of goodies and you are sure to find something you need!
There will not be a Preview Sale. Friday, August 14th, 8AM-7PM Saturday, August 15th, 8AM-12PM
The Center for Contemporary Arts will host the ArtWalk: Honk for Heroes! parade at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Westgate Town Center parking lot, 4365 S. 1st St.
•Center on South 1st Street •Fire Station 1 on Grape Street •Hendrick Medical Center on Pine Street •Up Cypress Street where all other frontline workers, grocery store employees, utility workAccording to a press release from the center, the ers, etc., are invited to line up along the sidewalk parade will honor workers who have been work- practicing social distancing and wearing masks. ing on the front lines since the pandemic began. The ArtWalk mini festival takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of each Abilene residents who wish to participate can month in downtown Abilene. decorate their vehicles, create signs and other ways to show their support. The Center for Contemporary Arts will be open until 8 p.m. for anyone who wants to view the Attendees are asked to meet at the far east side of latest exhibits following the parade. the Westgate Town parking lot at 5:30 p.m. Workers will be at the following locations to see For more information on the ArtWalk event visit, and hear the parade: center-arts.com or contact Manny De Los Santos by email at manny@center-arts.com or by phone •Abilene-Taylor County Law Enforcement at 325-677-8389.
Captain Jerry Medley Retires After 47 Years With Abilene Fire Department By Dan Booth | BigCountryHomepage.com
On Friday, the Abilene Fire Department watched one of its long time firefighters walk off into the sunset. Captain Jerry Medley retired after serving 47-years with the Abilene Fire Department. Abilene Fire Chief Cande Flores says Captain Medley is leaving behind an unforgettable legacy.
The Fire Department usually leaves their radio line open for calls, but on Friday all eight fire stations in Abilene jumped on the airways to salute one of their own. “They found a way to give their respect and to kind of give their good wishes, and we did it quickly over the radio,” said Chief Flores.
“His impact on our department, I mean you can’t measure that kind of experience, that kind of Chief Flores says he has years, and the fact that he is the learned a lot from Captain kind of person who is always Medley over the years, and willing to show somebody, and adds Captain Medley will tell them how things are supalways be a member of the posed to be done, and does it through example. Abilene Fire Department family. It’s invaluable,” said Chief Flores. “It is so heartbreaking to know he’s retiring “Anybody that can work in the fire service for today, but we’re also very proud of him. We’re 47-years, and not lose the amount of dedica- also congratulating him on his retirement, and tion and enthusiasm that Captain Medley had it is well deserved,” said Chief Flores. is unbelievable,” said KTAB Meteorologist and retired firefighter of 32-years Pete Beretta. Mayor Anthony Williams declared July 31st, “Captain Jerry Medley Day.”
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | COMMUNITY | 7
Interim Animal Services Director Working For a ‘No-Kill Abilene’ By John Rupolo | KTXS
Abilene’s interim Animal Services Director According to Bricker, there’s been an alarming number of dogs coming into the shelter that Mike Bricker’s motto is “no kill Abilene.” have been injured and hit by cars. “I”m changing the landscape of what we’re doing here in Abilene. We want to save lives,” They also have been receiving lots of kittens and cats. said Bricker. Bricker said he has ended the previous policy The animal group, Best Friends, has been hired by the City to run the shelter until next July of euthanizing healthy animals for space. while they find a permanent director. “Euthanasia for space is something that people think there’s no other option but that’s Bricker is the third director at the shelter in where fosters come in and that’s were rescues three years. and transports come in,” said Bricker.
If you want to donate to the shelter, you can mail in a check or drop by Animal “We’re really pushing it. We’re making sure Services at 925 South 25 Street. They are everyone knows that we’re here, what our in need of food, supplies, and cash donahours are, who our animals are that are avail- tions. He has also put an emphasis on social media.
able for adoption,” said Bricker.
8 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Pick us up at Law Enforcement Office & Cisco College | COMMUNITY | 9
Convention Center Hotel Still on Track For Downtown Abilene By Monica Meek | BigCountryHomePage
As the pandemic slows the momentum of some to work in concert with each other, this hotel’s new businesses, the Convention Center Hotel not just going to have hotel rooms, but it’s goremains on track for Downtown Abilene. ing to have convention space as well and it’s all going to be centrally located so that it actually With this continued progress, the city is also provides additional energy and growth to the preparing plans to reconfigure North Sixth downtown area.” Street and close part of it down. With this new building, it will also bring about The hotel is expected to be a DoubleTree by roadway reconfiguration. Hilton, and is currently in the design process. “This portion of Cypress Street will go from The original plan was to break ground by Sep- one way to two way. This being the front door tember, but Assistant City Manager Michael of the hotel allows people to come around, pull Rice says that may not happen. over, drop people off and then continue on and then they’ll be able to turn back to the right of “With the challenges, with the economic situa- the parking area, which will be located in this tion that’s going on today, there’s some things area,” says Rice. that we need to wait for. Things need to fall in place before we can actually pull that trig- Rice expects the process to take about 1.5 to 2 ger,” Rice says. “We will be able to draw off years to fully complete. of this synergy that allows both of the facilities
#itsyourmove
Enroll Now for Fall! More information: tstc.edu/admissions
Retirement For Ms. Olivia Olivia Rivera cared for babies at Day Nursery of Abilene
10 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
for more than forty years. Now she’s starting a new adventure. By Sandy Lowe | HispanicLife Magazine
Olivia Rivera’s childcare work started very early in her life, with her younger siblings, all eleven of them. She also had two older siblings for a total of fourteen. After various jobs she went on to work at the Vine Street Center of Day Nursery of Abilene for forty years and has recently retired. It’s no surprise that her planned retirement adventures involve family. “My sisters and I wanted to travel together while we were still healthy and able to do that,” she said. Three of her sisters, Lenora, Martha and Norma also worked for Day Nursery at its early location in Belmont Baptist Church. Olivia was born in Haskell City, but the family moved frequently during her younger years because her dad’s work involved helping farmers by driving tractors and working in the fields. Her mom ran the household and with fourteen children, that was certainly no small task. In addition to learning about raising children Olivia learned a strong work ethic. Cynthia Pearson, president and CEO of Day Nursery of Abilene, can’t say enough about that work ethic. “Olivia has a special niche when it comes to working as an early childhood professional,” Cynthia says. “She is indeed professional in her work; she is knowledgeable, thorough, dedicated, a great mentor to parents and co-workers, and “It is a joy to work with babies most important, she and be one of the first to care for puts children first. them, influence and help with She walks the walk their early learning,” she says. and talks the talk! She will be missed in so taught the children under her care, even Day many ways!” Nursery’s tiniest. She loves little ones so much At Day Nursery keeping up with children’s that she also cares for her four great-grand- developmental checklists is very important as Just as Olivia learned from her family, she children when she’s not working. is tending to their needs and exposing them
to learning, especially during their first year of life when they are changing and growing. With experience Olivia developed a reputation at for sensing when a baby under her care wasn’t progressing appropriately. “We had two babies from the same family who weren’t tracking right with their eyes,” Olivia says. “We spoke to the parents about it when we went over the babies’ development. They told the babies’ doctor and the babies’ got the help they needed. Otherwise they would both have been blind.” A person of strong faith, Olivia believes God led her to her work at Day Nursery. When the COVID-19 crisis came along earlier this year, her faith continued to keep her going. “Leave it all in God’s hands. He’s got it all under control,” she says. “I am also being smart and protecting myself, of course, washing my hands and wearing my mask, keeping hand sanitizer in my car. I use it at all the stores too.” Cynthia knew there was no need to worry about Olivia and her work when it came to dealing with the COVID-19 situation. “It didn’t phase her,” Cynthia says, “because so many of the health and sanitizing recommendations and safety measures were already in practice at our centers and were just enhanced. The challenge has been not interacting with parents because they can’t come into the centers.” An employee like Olivia will surely be missed after forty-and-a-half years of loving babies and assisting their parents. No doubt along the way, she has also been mentoring and encouraging her co-workers, who will continue to provide excellent care to the littlest of all at Day Nursery of Abilene.
Pick us up at Communities of Abilene FCU, SBDC & Lytle Land & Cattle | COMMUNITY | 11
Providing Affordable Quality Child Care for a Diverse Community
Cedar Street Center
Vine Street Center
650 Cedar Street, Abilene, TX 79601
1442 Vine Street, Abilene, TX 79602
cedarstreet@daynurseryabilene.org 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
vinestreet@daynurseryabilene.org 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
(325) 670-0002
Sherry Lane Center
(325) 672-7351
Orange Street Center
3434 Sherry Lane, Abilene, TX 79603
1450 North 17th, Abilene, TX 79601
(325) 673-1781
(325) 232-7387
sherrylane@daynurseryabilene.org 6:30 am - 6:00 pm (Monday-Friday)
orangestreet@daynurseryabilene.org 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday)
12 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Courtesy of: HispanicLife Magazine
To place your loved ones obituary or to honor them with a special message, please contact our offices at: (325) 701-9505 Email: info@hispaniclifemedia.com
Marcos G. Madrid, Jr., 76, of Abilene, Texas, passed away on July 29, 2020, in Abilene, Texas. Marcos G. Madrid, Jr., was born in Fort Davis, Texas, to Marcos Madrid, Sr., and Marcela Madrid on May 29, 1944. He married Maria Augustina Rangel on January 13, 1963, in Morton, Texas. Marcos G. Madrid, Jr., was a devoted family man, selfmade entrepreneur, job creator, innovator, problem solver, trailblazer, storyteller, and the central figure in countless networks. At age 27, with the truest of grit and brave purpose, Marcos launched the Marcos Madrid, Jr., Welding Service, his greatest and distinguished professional achievement. As his granddaughter Neely stated, “he gave everything his full attention, made the ordinary extraordinary, and brought out the best in people.” His legacies were his love for family, his unrelenting work ethic, and his incomparable joy in people. His strong working hands transformed pipe into cattle pins, a land lot into a thriving ranch and seemingly everyday items into treasures. One of his greatest gifts was inspiring people to take risks, to shatter boundaries and to pave their own destinies through entrepreneurship. During his decades of owning his business, Marcos and his teams erected and fortified notable agricultural structures throughout the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains. At the beginning and at the end of the day, what differentiated Marcos was his deep appreciation for life, his industrious nature, his kindness, and his gratitude for life’s simple pleasures: his man-made lake, his arrowheads, his bobcat, his tools, and his goats. He found the joy in everyone and everything. Marcos and his faithful spouse Maria cultivated 57 years of marriage. He paved the way for his children to pursue education and purposeful lives. Marcos G. Madrid, Jr., won the battle of life. He succumbed to COVID-19, after a courageous battle. His doctors noted, “His will to fight and live is unprecedented.” Embodying his enduring sheer will and ganas, Marcos—with the valiant and tenacious support of daughters Mary Felix and Dianna—willed himself to the family ranch home for one final night in order to leave this Earth in peace at his home surrounded by his loving children and spouse. Marcos G. Madrid, Jr. was preceded in death by his father Marcos Madrid, Sr., his mother Marcela Madrid; son Leroy Madrid; and brother Jimmy Madrid. He is survived by spouse Maria Augustina Madrid; son Mark Leroy Madrid; daughter Mary Felix Madrid; daughter and son-in-law, Dianna and Steve Bolin; granddaughter Neely Bolin; brothers Frank and Ismael Madrid; and his dog Tiger Rose. Memorials may be directed to the Mark Leroy Madrid Scholarships, awarded to high-achieving Latino and Latina business majors at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Notre Dame and Texas State University (donation link: bit.ly/MadridStrong).
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The Madrid family extends their sincerest appreciation to the caring doctors, nurses, and frontline workers of Hendrick Medical Center, the attentive Emergency Medical Technicians, and compassionate family and friends.
Martin Montez Barrera, 82, passed away Monday, July 20, 2020 in Abilene. Martin was born on November 13, 1937 in Abilene, Texas to the late Pete Barrera and Martina Montez Barrera. He married Maria Delia Flores on August 7, 1953 in Abilene, Texas. They were blessed with 65 years of marriage until her passing on June 6, 2019. Martin worked as an accountant. He was always willing to help a friend or neighbor and was known for his generous spirit. Martin is survived by his 2 sons, Dr. Pete Barrera and wife Martha, Cecilio Barrera; sister, Susan Burkett; sister-in-law Linda and husband Allan Trimmel; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Martin was also preceded in death by a daughter, Maria Barrera and 4 siblings. Felipe De Jesus Herrera Jr., 36, died Friday July 24, 2020. He is survived by his parents, Felipe and Dolores Herrera; his only son, Felipe De Jesus Herrera III; his wife of 15 years, Dariela Herrera; his brothers, George Herrera, Christopher Herrera, and Joel Herrera; his sister in laws, Omega Herrera, and Angie Herrera; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Felipe was born in Plainview, Texas in 1983. He graduated from Cooper High School and then started working as a Granite Fabricator. Felipe became a professional in his career and loved his job for over 15 years. He was known for his love of music, he joined a band named Tropicalisimo Fantasia in 2003. He was a big hearted man that would help anyone, had a joyful disposition, was loving and caring, and easy going. Felipe was a loyal fan of soccer and loved spending time at his son’s soccer games. Even in his final days, he worked his way to make us smile and loved us very much. When asked a few days before his death if he was ready he said “yeap” What a day of rejoicing when he was reunited with his Lord and Savior. His life was not always easy but he always knew how to smile through the storms and battled like a champion.
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‘America’s Largest Indoor Water Park’ in Round Rock Announces Its Opening Date By Priscilla Aguirre | MySA
“America’s largest indoor water park” will open Nov. 12 in Round Rock, according to a news release by Kalahari Resorts. The “authentically African-themed” Wisconsin-based company announced its plans in 2016 to build its first property in Texas. In 2018, it broke ground at its Round Rock location. The company said Sunday in the release that the construction process is on track for its opening date. Kalahari Resorts, which is known for its massive indoor water parks, operates three properties in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. According to the company, the Round Rock location will be the largest in its business and in the country. The site, which will be located off of U.S. 79 just across from Dell Diamond, is a $550 million, 350-acre complex that will include 20 indoor pools, 30
waterslides, 975 guest rooms and five restaurants. The massive building will also have three acres of outdoor pools as well as a rock-climbing wall, an adult grotto swim-up bar, a 23foot LED projection TV screen and an 80,000 square foot adventure park. To highlight its “African-theme” design, the company installed 22 life-size sculptures - 12 elephants, seven zebras, a mother and her baby rhinoceros and a cape buffalo. It took 15 months to complete the structures as each stand about 10feet tall and weigh around 10,000 pounds, according to the news release. The company estimates it will hire 700 employees. Open positions include lifeguards, managerial staff, culinary staff and information technology work employees. Virtual career exhibitions are hosted every Wednesday by Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area.
Pick us up at Taqueria Riojas & Texas Workforce Center | COMMUNITY | 13
14 | COMMUNITY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Dyess AFB’s 317th Airlift Wing Welcomes New Commander By Dyess Air Force Base
Col. James G. Young, 317th Airlift Wing incoming commander, formally assumed command of the 317th AW from the outgoing commander, Col. Jeffrey Menasco, during a change of command ceremony at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 24, 2020.
also flew 80 percent of all the Air Force C130J combat missions over the past year, and recently piloted one of the 24 aircraft from Dyess AFB alongside nine aircraft from Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, in the largest formation flight in C-130J history.
Young joins the 317th AW team after serving as the commander of the 86th Operations Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He led the largest and busiest C-130J Super Hercules and operational support aircraft squadrons in the Air Force that provided the European and African theaters with airlift and aeromedical evacuation support.
As Menasco leaves for Scott AFB, Illinois, he will never forget his time as the 317th AW commander.
“The C-130J aircraft is an incredible platform, but it’s useless without the men and women who generate and execute combat power,” Young said. “I’m proud of this team and what all of you have accomplished over the last two years under Menasco’s leadership.” During his time at Dyess, Menasco helped implement changes for the 4/12 deployment cycle. The new deployment rotation enables the Airmen at Dyess AFB and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas to focus on full-spectrum readiness allowing the Airmen to be fully trained to execute any mission. The 317 AW Airmen
“It has been an honor to serve alongside each of you during my time here,” he said. “Thank you for everything that you and your families have done in service to our nation. It’s truly humbling to serve with all of you.” As the 317 AW commander, Young is responsible for organizing, training and equipping 1,200 personnel who operate, maintain and sustain Dyess’ fleet of C-130J aircraft that are engaged in worldwide combat and humanitarian aerial delivery operations. “We are the modern war horse that consistently gets the job done with excellence whether it’s stateside or downrange,” Young said. “I look forward to serving alongside this team and advocating on your behalf as your commander.”
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | COMMUNITY | 15
Media Release for Free Opening in and Reduced-Price Meals September
Torchy’s Tacos By Jamie Burch | KTXS
Torchy’s Tacos is scheduled to open in Abilene the “first week” of September, COVID-pending. “There’s nothing we love more than bringing our DAMN GOOD tacos and queso to new fans!” said Hannah Atteberry with Torchy’s. “As of now, our Abilene location is on track to open the first week of September.” KTXS first reported in September 2019 that the Austin-based chain was coming to Abilene.
Torchy’s originally planned to open in the Shops at Abilene in May. But construction was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crews were back at it last month. As long as crews don’t run into any more COVID-related delays, the store should open in about a month. “We continue to follow the current CDC recommendations and government restrictions for restaurants related to COVID-19, which will set our timeline accordingly,” said Atteberry. Torchy’s is currently hiring for back of house team members, front of house team members and bartenders.
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By Texas Deparmtent of Agriculture | Abilene ISD Sylvia Alaniz | Student Nutrition Department | Meal Benefits Coordinator
Abilene Independent School District is work- Unexpected Circumstances ing with local agencies to identify all children If a household member becomes unemployed who are categorically and program eligible. or if the household size increases, the houseAbilene Independent School District will no- hold should contact the school. Such changes tify the households of these children that they may make the children of the household elido not need to complete an application. Any gible for benefits if the household’s income household that does not receive a letter and falls at or below the attached current income feels it should have should contact Sylvia Al- eligibility guidelines. Starting on July 20, 2020, Abilene Independent aniz, Meal Benefits Coordinator, 241 Pine St, School District will begin distributing letters to Abilene, TX 79601 -325-677-1444 ext. 8152 In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Departthe households of the children in the district of Abilene about eligibility benefits and any Any household that wishes to decline benefits ment of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions actions households need to take to apply for should Income contact.Eligibility Sylvia Alaniz, Meal Guidelines forBenefits Determining Free and Reduced-Price Benefits participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibitthese benefits. Applications also are available Coordinator, 241 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 Effective from July 1, 2020 ed to from Junediscriminating 30, 2021 based on race, color, national origin, sex, at 241 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 and/or your - 325-677-1444 ext. 8152 disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights acchildren’s school. Abilene Independent School District announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.
Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits: Income 1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels Categorical or Automatic Eligibility 2. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) Program Participant 3. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster 4. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start
Family Size
Annually
Monthly Reduced
Twice per Month Free
Reduced
Every Two Weeks Free
Reduced
Weekly
Free
Reduced
Free
Free
1
$16,588
$23,606
$1,383
$1,968
$692
$984
$638
$908
$319
Reduced
$454
2
$22,412
$31,894
$1,868
$2,658
$934
$1,329
$862
$1,227
$431
$614
3
$28,236
$40,182
$2,353
$3,349
$1,177
$1,675
$1,086
$1,546
$543
$773
4
$34,060
$48,470
$2,839
$4,040
$1,420
$2,020
$1,310
$1,865
$655
$933
5
$39,884
$56,758
$3,324
$4,730
$1,662
$2,365
$1,534
$2,183
$767
$1,092
6
$45,708
$65,046
$3,809
$5,421
$1,905
$2,711
$1,758
$2,502
$879
$1,251
7
$51,532
$73,334
$4,295
$6,112
$2,148
$3,056
$1,982
$2,821
$991
$1,411
8
$57,356
$ 81,622
$4,780
$6,802
$2,390
$3,401
$2,206
$3,140
$1,103
$1,570
$89,910
$5,266
$7,493
$2,633
$3,747
$2,430
$3,459
$1,215
$1,730 $1,890
9
$63,180
10
$69,004
$98,198
$5,752
$8,184
$2,876
$4,093
$2,654
$3,778
$1,327
11
$74,828
$106,486
$6,238
$8,875
$3,119
$4,439
$2,878
$4,097
$1,439
$2,050
12
$80,652
$114,774
$6,724
$9,566
$3,362
$4,785
$3,102
$4,416
$1,551
$2,210
+ $691
+ $243
+ $346
+ $224
+ $319
+ $112
+ $160
For each additional family member add:
Income Eligibility For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out free and reduced-price meal application and return it to Sylvia Alaniz, Meal Benefits Coordinator, 241 Pine St, Abilene, TX 7901, 325-677-1444 ext. 8152. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information: 1. Names of all household members 2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member 3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number” 4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct Categorical or Program Eligibility
+ $5,824
+ $8,288
+ $486
Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year. Determining Eligibility Under the provisions of the free and reducedprice meal policy, Sylvia Alaniz, Meal Benefits Coordinator, 241 Pine St, Abilene, TX 79601 -325-677-1444 ext. 8152 will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Scott McLean, Associate Superintendent, 241 Pine St, Abilene TX 79601 325-677-1444
tivity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 8778339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_ cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Texas Department of Agriculture | Food and Nutrition Division Income Eligibility Guidelines Chart | April 15, 2020 | Page 1 of 1
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EDUCATION
LOCAL SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY NEWS
AISD Announces Partial Rules for Games at Shotwell Stadium This Season By Evan Nemec | KTXS
High school football games at Shotwell Sta- Season tickets for Abilene High and Cooper dium this fall, like most everything else in will not be sold this year, and AISD is still 2020, will look different. working on its protocols for how it will sell tickets. Abilene ISD superintendent Dr. David Young announced some of the district’s new pro- The home team’s band will sit in the visitors cedures for handling crowds on a zoom call stands in order to make more seats available Wednesday afternoon. on the home side.
parent who also enters with a ticket. AISD will not allow parents to drop off young students and pick them up later.
While the UIL is allowing stadiums to fill up During the Abilene High v. Cooper, and Cooto 50% capacity, Shotwell Stadium will use per v. Wylie games, the home team’s band will a 39% capacity limit for games this season. move to the concrete walkway under the video scoreboard behind the north endzone. The visAISD spokesperson Lance Fleming told iting team’s band will sit on the visiting side. KTXS that works out to roughly 5,700 people, but also includes marching bands and Another new rule is elementary and middle pep squads, which means the total for fans is school students can only enter the stadium closer to 5,000. with a ticket, and must be accompanied by a
The first football game at Shotwell Stadium is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25 when Abilene High hosts Amarillo Tascosa.
High school students must have tickets and a student ID to get into the stadium. All AISD students will still be able to buy reduced-price tickets on campus.
Cooper and Abilene High will square off against each other the following week.
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Yes, Kids Should Be Going Back to School in the Fall By Joseph G. Allen | Opinions, The Washington Post
I’ve spent more than 10 years as a forensic investigator of “sick buildings.” The stakes were often extraordinarily high: a hospital where four people had died and hundreds were at risk; a factory where workers were at risk of getting an irreversible respiratory disease called “Popcorn Lung”; a military base where housing was suspected in the deaths of 11 infants. In all of these investigations, I was asked, “Is it safe to go back in the building?” If, after the appropriate controls were in place, my answer was “yes,” I always paused for one final gutcheck question: Would my answer be any different if my family was involved? When people ask me whether schools are safe during the coronavirus pandemic, I ask the same question: Would I let my kids go back to school in the fall? The answer is yes. Let’s first acknowledge a hard truth: Widespread school closures come with devastating costs. First, school closures are creating “virtual dropouts.” Twenty percent of Boston high school students didn’t log into class in May, and only half of the elementary school children in Philadelphia made daily contact. Even those with access to computers who do check in are not learning in the same way. This will increase our country’s education gap and exacerbate racial and social inequalities — with impacts that will persist for years. Second, school closures impact kids’ health. Students who are out of school are more likely to be sedentary and experience weight gain. Many also lose access to hot meals; millions of children rely on federal programs for free or reduced-price meals. Third, a disproportionate burden of working from home is falling on women. Many are now working two extra jobs: household manager and home-schooling supervisor. This widens another gap in our society, as working women risk either dropping out of the work-
place or face career advancement challenges and the use of hand sanitizer. that many men, and those without children, •Clean the air indoors. Start working on airwon’t have. cleaning now. Schools should find out how much fresh air they can bring into their buildFinally, lockdowns put children at greater risk ing. Increase the ventilation rate if you have a of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. mechanical system and open windows if you Full stop. don’t. Supplement that with higher-level filters and consider getting portable air purifiers Now for the good news: Kids are at lower risk for your classrooms. from complications of covid-19, and basic • Physically distance to protect individual risk-reduction control measures are working. health. Do your best to maintain six feet of separation in classrooms, but don’t keep kids On children, a study in Switzerland confirms out of the classroom just because there isn’t what we have known for some time: School- enough space (remember, hospitals don’t age kids have extremely low infection fatality physically distance; they rely on other conrates. Of the thousands of children found to trols). have been infected, not a single one died. •Socially distance to slow transmission chains. Keep classes operating as subOn prevention, we are seeing that in many groups and separate these groups as much hospitals, the number of infections of front- as possible. This can help prevent miniline doctors and nurses has dropped way outbreaks from infecting the whole school. down. Why? Strict controls are in place focusing on just three things: mask-wearing, hand- Make no mistake, there will be outbreaks washing and air-cleaning. in some schools even with these measures. Whether we open schools will be determined To get our kids back to school in the fall, we by our risk tolerance as a society. What will can start with similar strategies and then build we accept for schools? If the answer is “zero in additional controls. My team at Harvard put cases,” that will require us shutting schools together a report on risk-reduction strategies for another year. The costs of that approach that can keep kids safe. A few important rec- are too great, especially when there are provommendations: en risk-reduction strategies at hand. • Create a culture of health, safety and shared responsibility. No single control strategy alone is sufficient, and no single individual is solely responsible. Reopening schools safely will require changing culture to a “healthfirst” mind-set with everyone playing a role. • Stay home if sick. Students with symptoms should be sent home immediately or quarantined in an open and well-ventilated space. • Wear masks, with breaks built into the day. Students, teachers and administrators should wear masks to and from school, in common areas and in classrooms when physical distancing is not possible. Schools should create “mask-free” time to reduce fatigue. •Wash hands frequently. Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces all day long is impractical. The better approach is frequent hand-washing
Let’s also be clear that it did not have to be this way. Many countries around the world have shown that there is a way to control the number of cases. In the United States, we have so far failed to put necessary systems in place. I wish it was different. We can continue to push for things to get better — and maybe our government will course-correct. Until then, we must forge a path forward with the reality we have, not the one we want. Joseph G. Allen is an assistant professor of exposure assessment science, director of the Healthy Buildings program at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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Sparks Fill TSTC Welding Technology Lab This Summer By Ben Barkley | Communications Specialist, Texas State Technical College
Sparks from welding torches were a daily oc- the long run. currence this summer at Texas State Technical College’s Breckenridge campus. “This is a career in which you can actually work for yourself,” he said. “I have done that Students have been completing labs in prepa- with some projects after class.” ration for entering the workforce when they receive their certificates. But the work does Instructor Stephen Hope said his goal is to see not stop once the torches are laid down. the students succeed. For Ethan Hammond and Zane Fitch, a career “It has been exciting to see all the students path has been blazed. come in and know little to nothing about welding. To be able to help them understand the “TSTC has helped me fundamentals and see with more than just the students succeed is learning to weld things. such an amazing goal,” They have helped me he said. write a resume and given me advice on Hammond said the how to approach job Breckenridge campus interviews,” Fitch said. has the perfect learning “I know what to expect environment for future during a job interview, welders. thanks to the people at TSTC.” “We have 30 (welding) bays here, and it runs That knowledge was efficiently,” he said. one of the reasons “Our class is small, but Hammond chose to atthe work we do pays tend TSTC. The Cisco off. I think people innative said having terested in a welding someone help in the career should consider job interview process coming here.” was important. Hammond was drawn “Because of TSTC, I Zane Fitch started taking Welding Technology classes to the Breckenridge have my resume built at TSTC after working with his brother-in-law on a campus because it ofjob site. HIs training has enabled him to create bar- fered the program in right now,” he said. becue pits for friends. (Photo: TSTC) a small town like his Fitch said he first hometown of Cisco. found interest in welding while helping his brother-in-law on a job site. He said TSTC “This is a nice campus for the community. I was the route he wanted to take because of wanted to go to a smaller campus, and this was the hands-on training. the one that caught my attention,” Hammond said. “I decided that I wanted to go to school and Hope said he appreciates the work the students get a certificate. I knew that would open up put in and knows the ultimate goal is at the end more job opportunities for me,” he said. of the program. “Working for TSTC has been such a wonder“The hands-on approach offered here is great ful experience. The greatest part is being able for us. We are able to learn things and put our to watch the students graduate and pursue their knowledge to use.” new careers,” he said. Hammond has already put some of his skills Registration for the fall semester is underway. to use by welding barbecue pits. He knows For more information, go to tstc.edu. that this career path will benefit his family in
22 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Contactless School Supplies Drive Delivers Over 200 Backpacks to Children with Disabilities across West Texas By Lexis Greene | FoxWestTexas
The PEN Project, a local organization that serves families with children of disabilities across the Big Country put a new spin on school supplies drive, by bringing supplies to the doorstep. “There would be no contact, I would just drop it, knock on the door and that would be it,” said Jamie Thomas. Jamie Thomas, Regional Coordinator for the PEN Project said the contactless drive came about after they decided not to hold an in-person drive due to the pandemic. On Wednesday, Thomas and her family made their rounds across west Texas, from Abilene to San Angelo, Ozona, and Del Rio. “A few parents did ask if we could meet, so their child could say thank you, and they could thank us personally,” says Thomas. According to Thomas over 200 backpacks were donated to the project, and they were filled with supplies, as well as informational pamphlets to nearby resources for families. “Seeing the excitement of the parents and the kids, made that 12-hour drive, absolutely 1,000 percent worth it,” says Thomas. The school supply drive will continue next week to finish their deliveries. For more information on how to donate or receive a backpack visit the pen project on Facebook.
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2020-2021 UIL COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Guidelines
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) is presenting modifications to the 2020-2021 UIL calendar and updated COVID-19 risk mitigation guidelines, set to take effect August 1, 2020. Changes to the public health situation may necessitate changes to this guidance:
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | EDUCATION | 23
Registration Now Open For FCA 7-on-7 Football Season By Andy Penney | Big Country FCA Area Director
Big Country FCA and FiveWide Football are ever, individual signups are permissible. Inexcited to announce that registration for the dividual players who sign up will be placed together to form a team. 2020 season of 7-on-7 football is now open. This season, games will be played on Monday To register for the 2020 season, please follow nights at Lee Complex in Abilene beginning the registration instructions below: September 14. 1.Visit fivewidefootball.com 2.Select the “Athlete Registration” tab There are two divisions available: 3.Select age division by clicking appropriate •3rd - 4th grade “Register Now” tab •5th - 6th grade 4.If you have an existing parent Below are a few account from a additional highprevious league lights for the seaor season, please son: log in to your ac•Seven Week count. Season 5.If you do not •September 14 have a parent acOctober 26 count, you will be •All Games on asked to setup an Monday Nights account: •Each Team Plays 6.Enter parent inTwo Games Per formation first Night (usually 7.Enter player inback-to-back) formation second •First Games Begin at 6:00 p.m. 8.Once account is setup, you will be redirect•Devotional Time for Teams Each Week ed to the appropriate page to complete regis•Jerseys Provided •All Games Played at Lee Complex in Abilene tration. •Player Registration: $100 Questions: Please contact Andy Penney, Big Players/families are encouraged to create a Country FCA Area Director, at apenney@fca. team and sign up as a team if possible. How- org
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TSTC Nursing Instructor Wants Graduates To Be Equipped, Passionate By Ben Barkley | Communications Specialist, Texas State Technical College
Texas State Technical College Nursing instruc- “We highly emphasize passing the National tor Lisa Van Cleave has one goal for graduates Council Licensure Examination. We want to of the program in Sweetwater. prepare our students to pass the exam the first time they take it,” she said. “We want to turn out safe RNs who are highly equipped and passionate,” she said. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas had 251,253 registered TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science nurses as of September 2019, the latest statistidegree in Nursing at its cal information available. Sweetwater and HarTexas leads the nation in lingen campuses, and the number of registered Van Cleave said 34 nurses, according to the students are enrolled at U.S. Bureau of Labor the Sweetwater campus Statistics. this summer. She expects The COVID-19 pandemto have 35 enrolled this ic has led to more interfall. est in nursing, which has always been a “Our program in profession that changes Sweetwater is different with the times. because the students are Nursing instructor Lisa Van Cleave’s goal is to coming in as LVNs,” TSTC “Everything seems to be turn out passionate and equipped nurses following Van changing on a daily basis graduation. (Photo: TSTC) Cleave said. during this pandemic,” Van Cleave said. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Van Cleave said she hopes more licensed vocational “It has helped us in the fact that we are able to nurses consider becoming registered nurses. get a better look at our curriculum.” “Once you become an RN, that opens the gate TSTC also offers a certificate in Vocational wider for you professionally,” she said. Nursing at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. For more information Van Cleave and her fellow instructors are com- on the Nursing program, visit https://tstc.edu/ mitted to student success. programs/nursing.
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Family Starts Petition to Rename Abilene ISD School in Honor of Fallen Soldier By Daniela Ibarra | KTXS
An Abilene family is pushing Abilene ISD to DeLaGarza believes having his cousin’s name rename Lee Elementary after a Cooper High on the front of the school Fernandez attended graduate who was killed while serving in the would be extremely special. Middle East. “I can’t even put a value on that,” said an Sgt. Reuben Marcus Fernandez enlisted in the emotional DeLaGarza. “It’s that that would Army shortly after graduating and wanted to just mean the world to us.” make an impact. By renaming Lee Elementary after Fernan“He wanted to know how he could help you dez, his family believes students could learn first. And then in turn, he was going to ask for his story and treat him as a role model. nothing,” said Ruben DeLaGarza, Fernandez’s cousin. Fernandez was killed on October 11, 2008 in Iraq. He was 22-years-old. “You knew it was always possible because we knew where he was, and we knew the risks involved,” said DeLaGarza. “But we never thought it would affect our family and we never thought it would hit home.” Last month, Abilene ISD announced they would consider changing the names of four elementary schools named after Confederate soldiers.
“It’s our job to keep him alive in our hearts, and to make sure that this community doesn’t ever ever forget who he was, what he stood for, and ultimately what he died for,” said DeLaGarza.
Fernandez’s family created a petition at KTXS reached out to Abilene ISD about the Change.org to rename Lee Elementary is his petition. honor, which has collected just under 900 signatures. “The Abilene ISD school board - which has the ultimate decision regarding this issue “It has nothing to do with politics, it has noth- welcomes all points of view in this discusing to do with race.” said DeLaGarza. “It has sion,” said the district. “The conversation renothing to do with anything else other than the garding policy surrounding school names will fact that this is a local hero, who should have continue at our Aug. 6 workshop and again at his name put on that building.” the regular meeting on Aug. 10.”
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YMCA of Abilene
Reopening Pool August 10 By Jamie Burch | KTXS
The YMCA of Abilene will reopen its pool on Monday, August 10. The pool has been closed since the YMCA closed March 20 due to an executive order from Governor Greg Abbott to stop the spread of COVID-19. The building reopened June 8, but the pool did not because locker rooms were still restricted by mandates. During the COVID-19 closure, pool upgrades were completed, including installation of a new heater system, painting the starting blocks, diving board, guard stands, benches, units and the stripe around the walls of the pool, and deep-cleaning and pressure washing the deck and grout lines. Pool temperatures will be cooler than normal because the newly installed heater is not turned on yet. As an extra precaution, the Y is not offering a towel service and asks members to bring their own. Please observe social distancing in the water and locker rooms. Hours are limited to 7-10 a.m. and 4-6:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. Upon check-in, members should be prepared to sanitize hands, have a temperature check, sign an updated liability waiver, take an updated picture, and update draft forms.
30 | EDUCATION | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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FAITH&FAMILY
SPIRITUAL AND FAMILY ADVICE
The 5 Hardest Conversations You’ll Have with Your Kids By Timothy Diehl | AllProDad
I knew I was in trouble. I’d asked my 13-yearold son to go for a drive and we got milkshakes. He was suspicious. Just going on a drive to get milkshakes? I started the conversation hesitantly: “Well, bud, I wanted to talk with you a little about, um, well…sex.” Immediately, he pulled his hood up over his head, hunched his shoulders, and started drinking his milkshake. Not exactly the beginning I hoped for. But being an engaged dad means talking to your kids about hard topics because life is full of complexity, disappointment, and struggle. Here are the 5 hardest conversations you’ll have with your kids and how to do it.
1. Sex - The best advice I can give you for this
Easy answers don’t help. But sitting with your those experiences and what questions they child in the sadness and holding him or her can raise. And then have open and candid conversations about how what you know might cause be really helpful. you to live differently. 3. Suffering - Why do seemingly innocent people suffer? Philosophers and theologians 5. God - You may or may not believe in God, have debated this for years. In fact, the book but inevitably, the topic will come up. As a parof Job is all about this question. And what ent, it’s your responsibility to instill in your does this ancient book have to tell us? In the child the values you want them to have. But if end, the author seems to say, “The answer is you, like me, want your child to believe in God, beyond you.” In my opinion, this is a helpful framework for us as our kids ask difficult questions. Avoid giving easy answers and definitely avoid trying to pin the blame on someone. It’s best when your child notices the painful reality of suffering to simply acknowledge it, applaud your child’s compassion, and ask if there is some way you might be able to be a part of alleviating that suffering.
is to start early. My wife was an early adopter of the idea that talking to your kids about hard topics should happen early so that when they’re older, it feels normal. Unfortunately, I dragged my feet, which made this much more difficult than it needed to be. Start early. Encourage questions. Be honest. It will only be as awkward as you make it. And, finally, have grace with yourself. If your parents didn’t do 4. Racism - I’m white, so I have a very particular perthis with you, it’ll be awkward. Embrace it. spective on this and can only 2. Death - For some of us, it’s the death speak from my vantage point. of a pet. For others, it’s the death of a family I realize there are a variety of other needs and member or friend. Of course, this can vary in perspectives in this area. For those of us who are its intensity, depending on how close the child white dads with white kids, we need to emphais to the one who dies (and how close you are). size to our kids the need to listen to the stories My first experience of this was talking with my of people whose experiences are different than kids about the death of my dad. First of all, be ours. In short, we need to model and cultivate honest about your own grief. Pretending you’re empathy. Allow your child to ask questions. Be holding it together does nothing for your child quick to say, “I’m not sure.” Share ways you’ve except teach him or her that grieving is weird. noticed prejudice in your own heart and ways Secondly, avoid easy answers. Especially you’ve had to change. Read books with your avoid abominations like “It was God’s will!” child that introduce different cultures and exor “Heaven needed another angel.” Please, no. periences. Talk about how your kids feel about
here are a few suggestions. First of all, be honest about what you really believe. Secondly, allow them to ask hard questions. Nothing should be off-limits. And be willing to admit when you don’t have an answer. Third, use books and other resources to encourage conversation and to articulate things you may struggle to express. Talking to your kids about hard topics is—hard. But it’s good and necessary work. You won’t do it perfectly. You don’t have to. But you do need to do it.
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I’m Still a Princess
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By Melissa Sharlett-Vinson | Christian Business Women’s Network
As we were driving to the park yesterday, my grandson and granddaughter were having a conversation in the back seat. I wasn’t really listening at first so I don’t know what 5 year old Sophi said, but her brother, who is a year older, strongly declared “that’s a lie! You’re a liar, liar, pants on fire!” Her reply was “I am NOT a liar! I am a princess!” To which her brother very matter-of-factly responded to her “ you’re not acting like a princess”. Immediately, that precious, beautiful, impulsive, temperamental, adorable little girl tearfully replied, “but I AM a princess, right Mimi?” Yes, you are, Sophi!
an old memory of pain, and out of that we react in a way we didn’t expect. We are short with our spouse, yell at our children and oversleep and miss church. Suddenly we feel like a failure. We begin to question ourselves and how God sees us. We become ashamed and we do what Adam and Eve did - we hide. We curl up in bed and cry alone. We avoid church and people because we’re afraid of judgement and condemnation. We think God is disappointed in us and doesn’t want to be with us.
This is when the lies of the enemy can take hold of our thoughts and we have to make a choice - believe them or cast them down. 2 What you do does not change who you are. Corinthians 10:5. And we must renew our minds by learning and believing what God That moment in the car today was such a says about us. Romans 12:2. sweet reminder to me of who I am. I confess, I haven’t acted like a princess, a daughter of Daughter, you are still a princess! Nothing the King, lately. I have struggled with some has changed. God still loves you and adores old wounds, said some unkind things, gotten you and wants to be with you. This, prefrustrated and angry, and felt like a failure as cious one, is called grace. There is nothing a woman of God. But ladies, what we do, is you can do that will change His heart for you. not who we are. You are not the mistakes you’ve made or the perceived failures of your past. You ARE a We have times when we feel good about our- Princess! You are the daughter of the King of selves and our walk with Christ. We’ve held Kings, a joint heir with Christ, blessed, adored it together, stayed strong and treated everyone and highly favored. You are stronger than you with grace and love. We’ve read our devo- think and more beautiful than you can imagtionals, spent time with the Lord and been in ine. church; and we feel confident in our relationship with Him. No matter what you have done, what you think or how you feel, you are STILL a princess! And then there are days in our life when we I pray that you become just as convinced of struggle with controlling our thoughts and our it as little Sophi is - she’s going to do great anger. Someone says something that triggers things for the Kingdom!
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Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | FAITH AND FAMILY | 33
How to Turn Your Pain into Purpose
GRATIS
ALIMENTOS DE VERANO
PARA NINOS
By Mark Merrill | Helping Families Love Well
My dad was an incredibly talented man. I actually think he could have been president of the United States. People loved him and I adored him. He gave me a love for the outdoors. He taught me the importance of family and relationships. We shared many deep and philosophical conversations. But we experienced heartache together as well. As far back as I can remember, my dad was an alcoholic. I remember lying in my bed at night, tears welling up in my eyes, not knowing if my dad was going to make it home. Where is he? I worried and wondered. Did he die in a car accident? Then, during the day, there were always questions. Is he drinking today? Can I bring friends home or not? Should I believe him when he promises not to drink anymore?
riage, and fatherhood. What is your purpose? How can you turn your pain into purpose?
What is the source?
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Maybe you have experienced the pain of cancer, losing a job, financial problems, divorce, or addiction. That dreadful source of your pain can be used for good. Your pain can grow into an empathy-fueled purpose and passion to help others.
Share to encourage.
Acknowledge your pain. The painful experiences or conditions in your life you want to put behind you or ignore are exactly what you should share with others for their encouragement and for your growth. Your pain can be used for good.
Role model.
You are a role model to your children whether you want to be or not. They will watch the way you handle the pain in your life. Show them by example how to rely on God and others. Teach them that pain does not have to My father’s drinking caused pain in his life make us angry, bitter, or hopeless. and my life. But I have tried to turn my pain into purpose, to share what I’ve learned about Show them, and yourself, how to turn pain not just alcoholism, but relationships, mar- into purpose
NO ESTA OBLIGADO A REGISTRARSE! SITIOS DE ALIMENTOS DE VERANO 2020
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34 | FAITH AND FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
The Pressure of Plans
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
By Madison Bloker | boundblessings
You feel it almost every day. The pressure to have plans. You feel it from social media, from Joe and Sally down the street, from your family, your friends, and even from yourself. It seems like everybody’s got some grand plan in their back pocket.
May I remind you that God, the Creator of this universe, even took a day to rest, and there’s a reason He calls us to do the same. You will drive yourself absolutely bonkers if all you do is go 100 mph. Take a break from the constant striving and just breathe for a sec. You are not lazy because of a Sunday nap. You are not behind because you choose to watch an episode of Fixer Upper. You The pressure of plans can are human. Take a breath, and give yourself some stop you dead in your time to rest. tracks. It can be quite defeating to feel like you’re Genesis 2:2-3 “By the seventh day God had fina failure simply because ished the work he had been doing; so on the sevyou don’t have plans for enth day he rested from all his work. Then God the weekend. Or because blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because you don’t even know on it he rested from all the work of creating that where to start with your he had done.” five-year plan. Or because it seems like everybody’s got their plans figured out but you. Quit comparing If you’re constantly concerned with other peoHeck, I even felt that this past weekend when our ple’s plans, you will never be satisfied with your plans had to totally change thanks to a broken AC in the camper. We wasted precious time by watching those around us post about their wonderful weekend adventures that went perfectly according to plan while sulking that ours didn’t.
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And if we’re not careful, this pressure can keep us from fully embracing and finding joy in the current moment, so we must do all that we can to learn a heart of contentment no matter what plans come to pass and what plans don’t. So to the one who may not have their plans all laid out for the next five years, next month, next week, next day, or even the next hour, let’s dive into some ways we can give up this pressure and instead step into the purpose of the moment we’re in.
Reach out
So often we find ourselves sulking or feeling bad because we see all the fun things people are doing and wonder why we weren’t invited or why they don’t like us. When we have this mindset, we start playing victim and can fall into the trap of bitterness. We can’t be afraid to be the ones to reach out. Call someone up! Invite them in! Take them out for coffee! Sometimes we forget that we can be the ones to initiate going out and doing something. I think you’d be surprised at how many false narratives you play out in your head if you took the time to reach out to those people who didn’t invite you or “don’t like you” and simply invite them in. Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Accept rest
In a culture and society that is constantly go, go, go, it can feel like we’re failing if we’re simply choosing to sit our butts on the couch and rest.
front of me… Engaging all the senses can get us into the present moment and help us focus on what’s in front of our own two eyes and under our own two feet. Try it sometime. Feel the sunshine. Listen to the birds. It may just recenter your heart and mind. Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”
Practice gratitude
A while back I was in a job I did not like. I would struggle going to work each day, but a practice I got into the habit of doing was picking out three things that I was grateful for and thanking God for them on my way to work. This very habit can help you focus on the good things in your life rather than sulking in all the bad. Be thankful for the plan God does have you stepping into today, and verbally express your appreciation for the good stuff in your life at this very moment. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ask & knock
If you find yourself constantly discontented, maybe it’s time you ask God where He wants you. So often we can get trapped into thinking that we must live our lives a certain way because the world tells us to. Or have plans because the world wants to own. You can’t keep looking at what your neigh- make them for us. bor or family member or Sally down the street is doing and constantly wonder if you’re keeping up Ask God to show you where He wants you. Ask or doing as much. Because quite honestly, “keep- Him to open the right doors. You might have to ing up with the Joneses” will quite literally drive wait in the hallway for a while, but I guarantee a you mad. There will always be someone out there grand door will be opened right before you. Just with better things, better looks, better jokes, and keep knocking. better plans, so you have to learn how to understand that you were not created to compete against Matthew 7:7-8 “Continue to ask, and God will them. You were created to create community with give to you. Continue to search, and you will them. To encourage them. To love on them. To find. Continue to knock, and the door will open invite them in. for you. Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And When you’re so focused on the plans of those whoever continues to knock will have the door around you, you miss out on the very plan God opened for them.” has you living out today. The bottom line is that if we focus on the plans 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one of others and how ours don’t measure up, we will another and build one another up, just as you are always feel bogged down by that pressure. But if doing.” we start choosing to be present, to give ourselves some grace, and to not be afraid to reach out and Engage the senses knock, we might just learn to be content with the One thing I’ve been doing lately when I find my- very plan God has us in today. self discontented or focused on the wrong things is focusing on engaging all my senses. I breathe in and smell the air around me, listen to every sound, focus on what I’m touching, look up at what’s in
No Nibbling on “Fake Ferns”
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | FAITH AND FAMILY | 35
By Kristie Carpenter | Blended Mom Moments On my front porch, I have a couple of tall planters with fake ferns in them. A friend noticed a grasshopper tightly clinging to one of the fronds. I felt such compassion for this little critter. He just didn’t have a clue that the plant he thought was a feast, was actually a fake. It looked lush, green and healthy, but, -- probably after his first chomp -- he was completely befuddled and disappointed. I’m also wondering if he continued to nibble on it, would it make him sick?
relationships at all. I am going to tell you that God is God. The Bible is completely full of stories of living and doing things God’s way -- the best way. The Bible is full of stories about the consequences of doing things on your own -- not because God is mean -- but because He is holy and we have to realize that His ways are higher than ours.
So, my hope is that you will get to know God by God uses all things to get my attention. He used opening the Bible. Our smartphone apps make this grasshopper. You see, this easier than ever. My we can be so naive about husband is listening to the what we are nibbling on Bible on his way to work. -- not only into our mouths I enjoy an app called Solid -- but our hearts and minds Joys, a devotional from as well. John Piper. I’m also at my desk every morning with Second Timothy 4:3-4 a Bible open, asking for says, “For the time will God to reveal Himself to come when people will not me through my reading or put up with sound doctrine. a ladies Bible study. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather You choose. Pick somearound them a great numthing alive, real, healthy, ber of teachers to say what life-giving. Be discerning. their itching ears want to If someone is “scratching hear. They will turn their your ears,” be careful! ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Don’t be deceived by what you think looks good – because you don’t want to be nibbling We have embraced the “God is Love” and “God on fake ferns! is Good” aspects of religion and our beliefs, but dangerously, we have diminished the realities of Blessings in Your Blending! a jealous God who will have no other gods before (Editor’s note: Women’s Him. We have also forgotten that He is a Holy author, speaker and menGod that will not only provide and protect, but tor Kristie Carpenter, aka will course correct and discipline us as well. Many times we want to be able to justify our sin to God, as if we can negotiate with Him without considering the consequences of our sin. Many times, we want to skew the Word of God to fit our life choices. Again, manipulating the Bible text to conform to our terms. These words may be a bit troubling for some of you. I certainly don’t want to say what “itching ears” want to hear -- that won’t help your life or
The Blended Family Mom, has been a blended family/stepmom since 2004; her blended family currently includes four children and four grandchildren. Follow Kristie on Facebook (facebook.com/theblendedfamilymom), Twitter (@BlendedFamilyM), and Instagram (theblendedfamilymom). Her books - “The Blended Family Mom,” and “Blended Mom Moments,” are both available on her website at www.theblendedfamilymom.com).
36 | FAITH AND FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Our Role in Temptation By Greg Laurie | Senior Pastor, Harvest Christian Fellowship
Where does temptation come from? Many of us would say that it comes from the devil. There’s truth to that, of course. But even if the devil just took a month off every year, we’d still get ourselves into trouble. All of us will be tempted at one time or another. The apostle Paul wrote, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT). Yet there’s something we need to recognize: we play a key role in our own temptation. James tells us, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14–15 NLT). In this verse James breaks down the steps of temptation for us. First, we’re drawn away by our own desires. The temptation comes to mind and we say, “I’m not going to do it, but I’ll just take it for a test drive. I’ll kind of think it through. What would it be like?” But then we take the bait, which makes us responsible. And we’re under its power, and frankly we’re enjoying the experience. There’s a momentary euphoria in sin. Next, the problem is already in full bloom because we effectively bit on the hook. Then we’re enticed and drawn away. And ultimately that gives birth to sin. We play a key role in our own temptation because the devil needs our cooperation in this area. And where there’s no desire on our part, there’s no temptation. Remember, it isn’t the bait that constitutes temptation. It’s the bite.
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Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | FAITH AND FAMILY | 37
5 Common Ways Parents Neglect their Kids By Andrew Linder | AllProDad
I was recently in a local fast-food restaurant and sat directly behind a father and daughter at the table in front of me. I couldn’t help but notice that the only time the father talked to his little girl throughout their entire meal was when she started to reach for something under the table, and he snapped about how she should know better because of how dirty it was under there. Otherwise, he was on his phone or just stuffing his face and totally disconnected from this beautiful little girl right in front of him. Even her attempts to engage with him were unsuccessful. She turned around and looked at me multiple times. You could tell she was begging for someone to pay attention to her. Sadly, I’ve seen this same scenario far too many times, and I’m often left asking myself the question – Are we
3. To-Do Lists
We all have them, whether mentally or on paper. And there’s always a tension between the time we spend getting things done and the time we spend investing into our kids. Yet it’s still an easily justifiable way that we often neglect them. Solution: Remember that the to-do list will never be the ‘done’ list. No matter how much you get done, there will always still be more to do tomorrow. So don’t let those tedious things steal from you the most important things.
4. Work
When time at work starts taking over or simply eating into our time at home, it’s usually our kids who take the greatest hit. We come home tired, shortfused, and on empty. And our kids not only get the left-overs of our time, but of us. Solution: Leave work at work. When it’s time to be home, be present. As best as possible, don’t take work home with you, and when you do have to, wait until those kid-free moments to do it.
5. Pride
raising a forgotten generation? Parents, we are falling captive to parental neglect of our kids without even realizing it. Here are 5 common ways that parents (and especially dads) neglect their children. Are you guilty of any of these?
Sadly, one of the most common reasons many parents neglect their kids is because they’re too afraid of maintaining their image, and of what other’s will think of them. They’re too busy ‘adulting’, and so they don’t get crazy, go all out, or make themselves vulnerable with their kids.
1. Devices
Solution: Forget what others think. Dance with your daughter, run through the sprinkler with your son. Don’t let petty, prideful excuses rob you of memories with your kids that you’ll one day wish you’d have made.
This certainly ranks as one of the most common ways that parents are neglecting their kids. They have their eyes glued to a device in their hands rather than their kids right in front of them, to the point that they’re not just faced with the issue of distracted driving, but distracted parenting. Solution: Put the devices down. Do we really need one more picture, or do our kids really just need more of us?
2. Distractions
And it’s certainly not only devices that are distracting parents from their kids, but many other sometimes wellmeaning things like hobbies, television shows, and the busyness of everyday responsibilities. Solution: Say no to the distractions. Prioritize your priorities. Saying no now doesn’t mean you have to say no forever. Just make sure you get things in the right order. Your kids should come first.
They are only young for such a short time. So remember, your children are not an inconvenience, but a once-in-alifetime opportunity.
40 | FAITH AND FAMILY | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
HEALTH&FITNESS What You Need to Know About Sleep Apnea By Medical News Today
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which an individual’s breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Symptoms include daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, and restless sleep. The involuntary pause in breathing can result either from a blocked airway or a signaling problem in the brain. Most people with the condition have the first kind, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea due to a signaling problem is known as central sleep apnea (CSA).
•It removes unwanted mental health changes tion, such as a stroke or heart failure, recent ascent to high altitude, or the use of pain relief from apnea or lack of sleep. •It prevents cardiovascular changes caused by medication. the excess strain of improper breathing. When the airway becomes completely blocked, the snoring stops and there is no Symptoms A person with sleep apnea may be unaware of breathing for a 10-20 second time period or their symptoms, but another person may no- until the brain senses the apnea and signals the tice that the sleeper stops breathing, suddenly muscles to tighten, returning the airflow. This gasps or grunts, wakes up, and then goes back pause in breathing is known as apnea. to sleep.
A common symptom of sleep apnea is dayThe person will unknowingly stop breathing time sleepiness due to interrupted sleep at repeatedly throughout sleep. Once the airway is night. opened or the breathing signal is received, the person may snort, take a deep breath, or awaken Additional symptoms include: completely with a sensation of gasping, smoth- •restless sleep or insomnia •difficulty concentrating ering, or choking. •loud snoring Untreated sleep apnea can lead to potentially •waking up several times a night to urinate serious health complications, such as heart dis- •awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat ease and depression. It can also leave a person •morning headache feeling drowsy, increasing the risk of accidents •irritability •heartburn while driving or working. •decreased libido and erectile dysfunction
Fast facts on sleep apnea
•Around 1 in 5 adults have mild symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while 1 in 15 have moderate-to-severe symptoms. •Approximately 18 million Americans have this condition, but only 20 percent have been diagnosed and treated. •Menopausal and postmenopausal women have an increased risk of OSA. •Sleep apnea is an independent risk factor for hypertension (high blood pressure). •While sleep apnea is more prevalent in those aged 50 years and above, it can affect people of all ages, including children.
Treatment
Sleep apnea is a common problem associated with decreased overall health and a higher risk of life-threatening complications, such as motor vehicle accidents, difficulty concentrating, depression, heart attack, and stroke. Depending on the cause and the level of apnea, there are different methods of treatment. The goal of treatment is to normalize breathing during sleep. Normalizing breathing has the following effects on apnea: •It eliminates daytime fatigue.
A person is more likely to have sleep apnea if they have a large neck circumference. This is greater than 17 inches for men, and greater than 15 inches for women.
Causes
Risk factors
Supine (flat on back) sleeping, obesity, chronic sinusitis, large neck circumference, recent weight gain, menopause, large tonsils or adenoids, Down syndrome, smoking, family history of sleep apnea, recessed chin or large overbite.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle modifications are essential to normalizing breathing, and they are critical first steps in treatment. They include: alcohol cessation, smoking cessation, weight loss and side sleeping Other treatment options include: •Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy: This is the frontline treatment for sleep apnea. It keeps the airway open by gently providing a constant stream of positive pressure air through a mask.
Various factors can contribute to the blocking •Surgery: There are various surgical proor collapse of the airway: cedures for OSA that can widen the airway. Muscular changes: When people sleep, the Surgery can be used to stiffen or shrink obmuscles that keep the airway open relax, structing tissue, or remove excess tissue, or along with the tongue, causing the airway to enlarged tonsils. Depending on the extent of narrow. Normally, this relaxation does not the surgery, procedures can be carried out in a prevent the flow of air in and out of the lungs, doctor’s office or a hospital. but in sleep apnea, it can. •Mandibular repositioning device (MRD): Physical obstructions: Additional thickened This is a custom-made oral appliance suitable tissue or excessive fat stores around the air- for individuals with mild or moderate OSA. way can restrict the airflow, and any air that This mouthpiece holds the jaw in a forward squeezes past can cause the loud snoring typi- position during sleep to expand the space behind the tongue. This helps keep the upper cally associated with OSA. airway open, preventing apneas, and snoring. Brain function: In central sleep apnea (CSA), Side effects of an MRD may include jaw or the neurological controls for breathing are tooth pain, and potential aggravation of temfaulty, causing the control and rhythm of poromandibular joint disease. breathing to malfunction. CSA is usually associated with an underlying medical condi-
42 | HEALTH | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Abilene COVID-19 Survivor: “Am I gonna wake up if I go to sleep?’ By Daniela Ibarra | KTXS An Abilene man who battled COVID-19 hopes his story will encourage others to take the virus seriously. “It’s nothing like the flu,” said Ruben Castro, who recovered from the virus about two weeks ago. “It’s ugly, very ugly. It’s painful.” The 37-year-old was one of hundreds in the Big Country who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. A steam inhaler was one of the only things that helped Castro, who had a tough time breathing -- one of symptoms of COVID-19. “You could take out the trash or something and it felt like an hour long workout,” he said. Castro has no idea where he contracted the virus. Although Castro said he tried to be cautious, he got sick when he let his guard down. “I hope that I didn’t cause somebody to get very sick because I very well could have,” said Castro. Besides soreness, aches, and fatigue, Castro said one of the worst effects of the virus was feeling powerless. “It was very scary,” he said. “I was thinking a lot like ‘man, am I gonna wake up If I go to sleep?’” As a grandfather, Castro was terrified of COVID-19 taking him away from his family. “I’m super grateful that I didn’t end up in the hospital on a breathing machine,” said Castro. Castro hopes his story will help encourage others to take the proper precautions to avoid going through the same pain he did. “You could, you know... either save somebody’s life or save somebody from having to feel terrible at home, going through all these things and possibly, you know, you might even save yourself from it,” said Castro.
Connecting The Community of Abilene & The Big Country
Hendrick Blood Center Providing Donors with Free COVID-19 Antibody Testing By Jamie Burch | KTXS
Hendrick Blood Center is providing donors Donors will receive a test result notification with free COVID-19 antibody testing. letter by mail, approximately 5 -7 business days after a successful donation. If the doAnyone who donates at the blood center or nor’s antibody test is positive, Hendrick Reone of Hendrick’s mobile blood drives will be gional Blood Center may contact the donor to tested for coronavirus antibodies. explore eligibility for donating convalescent plasma. The antibody test is a blood test designed to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus Individuals should not donate blood if sick or that causes COVID-19. This test is not de- believe they were recently exposed to COVsigned for the diagnosis of acute infection, ID-19 or other illnesses. Donors are required but can be used as an indicator that an in- to feel well and healthy at the time of donadividual has been exposed to COVID-19. tion. For more information or to make an apHowever, more experience is needed with the pointment to donate, please contact Hendrick test to know whether it is specific for SARS- Regional Blood Center at 325-670-2799. CoV-2 coronavirus, and is not picking up past exposure to other types of coronaviruses. It Sinclair Cares: Roll up your sleeves should not be used as proof of immunity. The In recent weeks, hospital demand for blood COVID-19 antibody test will be performed in products has grown by 30 percent. addition to all FDA-required testing for blood donation. Our parent company Sinclair Broadcast Group has partnered with blood centers across Currently, all indications are that antibody the country like Hendrick Regional Blood means recovery after infection. The evidence Center in Abilene & Vitalant San Angelo, for supports a very small window of infectious- Sinclair Cares: Roll Up Your Sleeves. Togethness, starting a few days before the onset of er, we can help prevent another blood shortsymptoms and not lasting long after fever age as hospitals resume surgical procedures & is gone. In addition, scientific evidence has patient treatments that were paused due to the not indicated any risk of transmission of any COVID-19 pandemic. coronavirus through blood transfusion. COVID-19 is a virus that is spread through re- If you’re healthy and feeling well, please spiratory droplets and not through donated schedule your next blood donation in Abilene blood. or San Angelo in the days and weeks ahead. For more information, go to ktxs.com/cares.
Pick us up at China Star, Abilene Public Library & Martinez Barber Shop | HEALTH | 43
Your Health is Our Top Priority - ALL of Your Health
At Tim Martin, MD Family Practice we recognize your health is more than just your symptoms and a diagnosis, so our approach is to see and treat you as a whole person - physcal, mental and emotional.
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3 Quick, Easy Ways to Boost Your Brain Health By Rose Hayes | ShareCare
Whether your days are less mentally demanding now that you’re retired, or you’re so busy you don’t even have time for sudoku, everyone can benefit from these simple brain-boosting tips.
damage. These effects benefit your memory indirectly by helping your heart.”
But walking also supports your mind directly by boosting neurochemicals like dopamine and epinephrine, he continues. Your brain We spoke with Iftekhar Ahmed, MD, a neu- needs these chemicals to function and recall rologist from Research Medical Center in memories. Kansas City, Missouri, to learn easy, sciencebacked ways to keep your mind razor sharp. Get more from your walks by inviting friends or taking along a furry pal. Strong social conAsk about cholesterol checks at nections may lower your risk of depression your next doctor’s appointment. and anxiety, boost your confidence and inKeeping your cholesterol within a healthy crease your capacity to learn new information. range—not too low and not too high—can help stave off dementia. Read more; join a book club. “With cognitive function, if you don’t use “You need some cholesterol to protect the in- it, you can lose it,” says Ahmed. Continuing tegrity of your brain cells,” says Dr. Ahmed. education at every age may protect against de“If your total cholesterol drops too low, your mentia and even slow its effects. brain cell membranes could break down.” One group of researchers found that older “On the other hand, if your cholesterol goes adults who read regularly, visited libraries and too high, the small blood vessels in your brain kept up letter writing were less likely to excan get closed off, blocking the oxygen supply perience brain changes related to Alzheimer’s. to your cells,” he continues. “This can damage Adults who performed these activities most brain and nerve cells, putting you at risk for often had about 14 percent fewer plaques and memory loss and neurological problems.” tangles—the protein clumps that build up in the brain as Alzheimer’s progresses—than Here are the safe ranges for cholesterol: those who read less often. HDL, “good cholesterol,” above 60 LDL, “bad cholesterol,” between 60 to 100 “Read on a daily basis; try to interpret and Total cholesterol between 140 to 200 write down comments about what you’ve read,” recommends Ahmed. “It’s important to It’s important to get routine checks if you take stay involved as much as you can, especially cholesterol-lowering drugs like statins, or if in retirement. Combining a social group with you’re at risk for heart disease. reading or exercising can be very beneficial.”
Go for a 30-minute walk.
Another winning combination for brain “Walking has several health benefits,” says health? Play a video game that challenges you Ahmed. “It can improve your agility, lower mentally and physically at the same time, like your blood pressure and heart rate, increase Wii Fitness. your circulation and protect against artery
Pick us up at La Familia Mexican Restaurant & YMCA on State St. | HEALTH | 45
What to Do If You Think You’re Having a Stroke By Olivia Delong | SahreCare
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability in adults. The key to surviving stroke and reducing disability is to act fast at the first signs of stroke. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Treatment should be given within three hours of the first symptoms to reduce long-term disability.
Signs and symptoms
If you think you or a loved one is having a stroke, remember the acronym: F-A-S-T. F-Face: face drooping, an unusual smile (one side of the mouth droops), numbness A-Arms: weakness, numbness, trouble walking S-Speech: slurred speech, inappropriate words or silence T-Time: time to call 9-1-1 Severe headache or trouble seeing in one or both eyes, along with one of the above signs, can mean a stroke. Even if you’re not sure, if you have symptoms, play it safe—see a doctor.
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While you wait for the medical team to arrive, lay your loved one down flat. “Gravity actually makes some difference in the amount of blood flow that’s getting to your brain. When there is a blocked blood vessel in the brain, you’re not getting the same amount of blood to that area, but other blood vessels can get blood there through other routes,” says Wagner. Lying flat on the ground may make the symptoms better temporarily and prevent some of the brain from being damaged while you wait, he adds. 10418243
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“The biggest piece of advice I can give is to call 9-1-1 immediately, and let the operator know it’s a stroke,” says Jeff Wagner, MD, a neurosurgeon and the Stroke Program Director at Swedish Medical Center in Denver. And as soon as the symptoms start, check the time, so you’re able to tell the medical team, he says.
Don’t drive yourself
You might think it’s faster to get in the car and head to the hospital on your own, but it’s better to wait for the medical crew. “The paramedics . . . can start doing treatments that can make a difference on the way to the hospital,” says Wagner. The most effective stroke treatment is a blood thinner and clot-busting drug called tPA, or alteplase. It’s most effective if given within three hours after symptoms first start. That’s why it is critical that you get to the hospital fast.
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BUSINESS&CAREER
Top 7 Tips for Becoming a Small Business Owner in 2020 By Brittni Abiolu | Small Business Brain
Around half of all small businesses fail within their first five years of opening. If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own business, don’t let this statistic scare you. Instead, think about what you can do now to make sure that your business succeeds in the long-run. A lot of what makes a business successful comes down to a strong foundation and start. If you’re interested in becoming a small business owner, keep reading for the best tips.
before you sell or advertise anything. Research your state and local government requirements. Many will require you to register your name as an official business. You’ll also want to apply for an employer identification number for tax purposes. At this point, you’ll also decide if you want to run your business as an LLC, partnership, corporation, or nonprofit. If you fail to register your business, you as a person are liable for anything for your business. That means if your business were to fail, debt collectors could come 1. Find Your Niche - Successful small busi- after your personal assets. You want to keep your ness owners are the ones that find their own business and personal life as separate as possible niche. You don’t want to open a breakfast cafe to protect yourself. if your neighborhood already has four of them. You wouldn’t want to start an online boutique selling products that a more popular store already sells. Instead, you want to find a product or service that is unique and has a high demand. If you want a brick and mortar shop, think about what needs aren’t being met in your location. If you’re opening an online business, find a product or angle that separates your business from others on the internet. 2. Create a Business Plan - Once you know what your business is going to be, you need to create a detailed business plan. First and foremost, this means coming up with the identity of your business. Decide on your business name, what you plan to sell, and your ideal target customer. From there, you can think about the smaller details. Consider how you will produce the items you’re selling and how you plan to sell them. Will you assemble your products on-site and sell them from the storefront? Or, will you buy products from a wholesale company and resell them in an online format?Write down your big and small business goals as well. This will help you keep track of you how well your business is doing.
3. Register Your Small Business - One
of the most essential tips for small business owners is to make your business legal. You want to ensure that your business is properly registered
4. Get Your Finances in Order - Now
that your business if official, you can start to think about the finances. The first thing to think about is how much funding, if any, you’ll need to get your business running. Do you need a small business loan to purchase the storefront or to buy your initial equipment? Or does your business require little to no initial funding? Add up all your necessary costs and see how much money you’ll need. It may take a few months before you start to make money, so be sure to take operating costs into consideration as well. Once you know how much money you need, you can secure the proper financing. And while you’re at
it, don’t forget to set up an official business bank account!
5. Use Advertising and Marketing -
To be a successful business owner, a lot of your time and effort will go into advertising and marketing. Since you’re a new business, you need to build your customer base from nothing. Start to advertise your business locally. Create a social media presence and invite your friends and family to share your business pages. Hold a ribbon cutting with your local chamber of commerce and invite the local media to feature your business. Once you start to get a good following locally, you can focus on more targeted marketing efforts. This could include a website with SEO marketing or direct mailings to your customers.
6. Collect and Listen to Customer Feedback - A business won’t succeed
without happy customers. Once you start to get your first customers, you need to collect feedback to ensure that their needs are met. Send out surveys to your customers and see what they liked or disliked about your business. Give them a small inventive, like 10% off, for completing the survey. Then, once you receive feedback, you need to actually listen to it. Don’t be offended if someone leaves a negative review. Instead, consider what they are saying and think about what could have changed their experience.
7. Never Stop Learning - If you’re still
wondering how to be a business owner that succeeds, the key is to never stop learning. As a business owner, you should always be on the lookout for great entrepreneur advice. You can’t enter the business world thinking that you know everything you need to know. The market is always evolving, and you need to be willing to evolve your business with it. Be sure to follow fellow business owners online, read business books, and listen to educational podcasts. Make it a goal to learn something new about the business world each week.
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48 | BUSINESS & CAREER | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
Workforce Solutions Resumes In-Person Assistance by Appointment at All Locations Across West Central Texas By Alyssa Goodgame | Marketing & Communications Specialist, Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas
Workforce Solutions office locations across West Central Texas have resumed in-person services to customers by appointment only. A full slate of virtual services to workers, employers, area families, and child care providers also remains available. The Abilene Workforce Center located in the Enterprise Building is accepting appointments MondayFriday during regular business hours of 8:00am-5:00pm. Workforce Centers in Brownwood and Sweetwater are accepting appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Snyder Workforce Center, newly located at College on the Square, is accepting appointments on Mondays and Wednesdays. All appointments must be scheduled in advance by visiting www.wfswct.org and clicking the red “Make An Ap-
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pointment” button located along the right side of the screen. Additional services are available on the Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas website including live chat, job openings, virtual workshops, orientations, and how-to videos. Phone lines are also open for customers to call (325) 7954200 or toll free (800) 457-5633 for assistance or to schedule an appointment. Local Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas staff are dedicated to connecting Texans with the support and information they need, while protecting the health and safety of customers, staff, providers, partners, families, and communities in the wake of COVID-19. Precautions include sneeze guards, reconfigured public access stations, social distancing, regular deep cleaning, and sanitation using electrostatic sprayers. Face masks are also encouraged and can be provided to customers upon request. Visit www.wfswct.org/covid19 for more information on health and safety protocols, center operations, workforce and child care guidance, and resources. The Workforce Solutions of West Central Texas Board is charged with oversight and policy-making responsibility for local workforce and training programs. We are committed to strengthening the economic vitality of our 19-county region by investing in the success of residents and businesses. Our assistance and expertise are provided to both the job seeker and the employer. Visit our website at www.wfswct.org. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available, upon request, to individuals with disabilities. Relay: 1-800-735-2989 (TTY) / 711 (voice). This program/service is funded 87% with federal funds and 13% with non-federal funds.
After working in multicultural and international enrollment for 14 years, he is now a full-time instructor of marketing and international business at Abilene Christian University. He is a member of University Church of Christ where he attends the bilingual service, teaches children’s classes, and serves as one of the co-chairs of the missions committee. Born in Mexico City, Daniel grew up in Cancun, Mexico. After high school, he moved to Abilene to become an international student at Abilene Christian University. He is married to Yukari from Japan, and together they have two confused Texan girls and a new baby boy. PRESENTING: Positioning defines where your product stands in relation to others offering similar products in the mind of the consumer. However, many companies do not pay attention to their position in the marketplace. We will talk about strategies to influence a favorable marketing position.
For more information call 325-704-0383 or visit us at www.venturecall.com
A Look Into Year One By Veronica Fuentes | Director of Committees for the Abilene Chamber of Commerce
Now that I have a full year under my belt, I’d Were these events telling me I made the wrong like to share with our valued partners what it choice? has been like to serve you all during the past year. The following Monday, our team gathered for our first Zoom meeting. Our fearless leader, On Monday, July 8, 2019, my professional life Doug Peters, encouraged us to speak our fears officially took a 180. I was excited and ner- out loud, ask the questions that were weighing vous, but ready to take on whatever this new on us, and then gave us the encouragement we chapter of life was about to throw my way. needed. I had been active in the Chamber’s young pro- Doug told us this was the perfect time to show fessional program, and thought I had a good our members and the business community grasp on how the Chamber serves our com- exactly what the value is of our organization. munity, but I quickly learned He said now’s our time that it was so much more to show those who may than what I had previously never have previously thought. Honestly, my first understood the value of six months are still a blur. our 112-year-old organiThere was so much to learn, zation just what makes so much new information to our Chamber stand out soak in, and I was repeatedacross the state. ly given the advice of, “Get a few events and programs And we did. We went to behind you – you’ll know work. what to expect.” We reached out to our And just when I thought I members to ask how we had a solid grasp on how to could help. Some wantnavigate this new position ed to talk about their something unexpected hapconcerns, others were pened. requesting help to understand what local/state/federal governments Enter COIVD-19. News was beginning to were saying, and some wanted to know how come to us from across the globe, about a they could help others. pandemic. But this could not affect us here, right? We live in Abilene, Texas, these things We offered a listening ear. We contacted our just don’t happen here, right? partners in Austin on behalf of the business community. We pushed out valuable, meanWrong. ingful content to our members. We let people know how they could give back and volunteer Then came Friday, March 20, 2020, when their time to help others. We worked to make our team huddled in the Chamber boardroom shopping local a priority. We made sure that and were told to pack up whatever items we your questions were answered. needed to be able to successfully work from home. All of our normal events and programs Through the least favorable of circumstances, had been rescheduled or paused and our work I learned just how lucky I am to be on this kicked into overdrive. team. This year wasn’t what I expected it to be, but having the opportunity to see and work Immediately, as someone newer to this field behind the curtain on how your Chamber and a social butterfly, I began to panic. works for the betterment of the community has been nothing less than a pleasure. How would we be able to help our members while we were at home? What does work I know these events are part of a bigger plan from home, for those of us who need fellow- and that I serve the best community in the ship, even look like? state of Texas. I was so confused, and a bit upset, because I Abilene Chamber members, your heart is felt cheated out of part of my first year serving made of gold. Thank you for giving me the our business community. opportunity to serve you. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your help.
Pick us up at Wal-Mart, Enterprise Bldg. & Armando’s Mexican Restaurant | BUSINESS & CAREER | 49
50 | BUSINESS & CAREER | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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Local Entrepreneurs New Abilene Businesses Receiving Help Through Opening During Pandemic ‘BE in Abilene’ Program By Monica Meek | BigCountryHomePage
By Deneeka Hill | BigCountryHomePage
Some local entrepreneurs are getting help in so we could move our product, not just through the BE in Abilene program. in Abilene, but to all of West and Central Texas, and North Texas, and beyond,” says “We won the full amount this year, so that Carley Dodd, of 2 Profs Ice Cream. will be $100,000,” says Keith Sanders, CEO of Belt Buckle Distillery in downtown Carley and his son/business partner, MatAbilene. “That money is mainly going to be thew Dodd, says just applying for the proused for PPE, which is property plan and gram helped them to develop their business. equipment. That will allow us to open on a much broader scale much faster than we “It’s almost in some way a friendly comwere planning.” petition just because they are so helpful. They’re so inviting, and they work with us, Once the distillery is up and running, it will and they help us understand, and look at be the only wholesale producer of alcoholic what we didn’t know we needed to know,” spirits in the City of Abilene. says Matthew Dodd. “We’re in the process of starting right now. We’re hoping to have products on shelves and be in operation by October,” says Sanders.
The program is funded by the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA), and they say each winner will receive ongoing support, including regular meetings with the Small Business Development Center to Abilene’s only manufacturer of ice cream, 2 make sure they have what it takes to sucProfs Ice Cream, also won $100,000 through ceed. the program. DCOA says this is the first year they are “Its a game changer for us. To be able to awarding 3 businesses, as Moose Mountain develop our wholesale side we needed new Goods also won $50,000 and is Abilene’s equipment, we needed more people coming only producer of coffee.
Despite some businesses closing down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some entrepreneurs are taking the leap to open new ones. Owner of the new food truck Papi’s Pinchos and Puerto Rican Cuisine, Jason Tabares says opening a business during a pandemic was a big decision. “Opening a business in the middle of a pandemic is really a toss-up in the air,” says Tabares. David Smith, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), says he was nervous about businesses at first. “Well actually, we were very concerned that due to COVID, we would have people not think it was a good time to open up a new business, but actually our business has been very good in that area. We’ve had a lot of people come in and want to start businesses,” says Smith. “They’re ready to do something different and strike out on their own, that’s the spirit of entrepreneurship.”
Smith says they found one food business to have an advantage above the rest. “The thing about a food truck is that it’s automatically curbside, and so if you have a business that shuts down and says you can only do curbside, well you have a food truck that’s been doing curbside,” says Smith. Being curbside and located outdoors was a big help for this food truck. “Having a mobile food truck drops down a lot of those restrictions and overheads that the governor has put on restaurants and whatnot,” says Tabares. David Smith says there are other businesses doing well during this time, too. “The real estate business is very good right now and the construction is very good also,” says Smith.
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Stay Focused at Work: 5 Easy Hacks By Felicia Sullivan | Small Biz Ahead, The Hartford
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Are you constantly checking your phone and refreshing your email? Whether you find yourself scrolling through status updates or disrupted by your coworker in the next cubicle — who suddenly decided to hold a conference call on speakerphone — it can take up to 23 minutes to recover from even the smallest distraction. With all the demands on your time, it can be nearly impossible to stay focused.
Consider this hack: Instead of starting your day plowing through your inbox, come in early, turn off the WiFi, find a quiet room, and work on your chosen task for an hour. Your email will still be in your inbox waiting for you; however, you can start the day with a sense of achievement because you’ve completed the hard work.
3. Limit your ambient noise. Did you
know that background noise can wreak havoc on our concentration? Ambient interruptions could increase stress, which triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone designed to ease that stress. However, constant stress disrupts your prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that regulates your ability to learn, plan, reason, and remember Attention has become a scarce resource, and things. If you can’t nix the noise, consider investwe’re faced with hundreds of productivity-killing ing in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for interruptions a day. And distractions are costing the times when you need to focus. companies big. According to Jonathan Spira, author of Overload! How Too Much Information Is 4. Block your time and batch your Hazardous to Your Organization, companies lose work. Here’s a productivity 101 tip: Practice the upwards of 30 hours a week to attention-sucking Pomodoro technique. It’s similar to deep work activities. Imagine the impact that getting caught in the sense of focused attention; however, the in an email rabbit role could have on your small method works for people who can’t devote hours business. Don’t worry — it is possible to get your at a time to a singular task, but who can organize work done during the daily grind. Here are five their day into manageable chunks. foolproof ways to ditch the distractions and stay When you’re up against a tough task, break the focused on the job. work down into short, timed intervals that are balanced by short breaks. Sprint for 25 minutes 1. Be on the move. Studies have shown that on a task, take a five-minute break, and then go getting up and walking around for five minutes back for another 25 minutes. This Pomodoro every hour can boost productivity and help you technique, invented by entrepreneur Francesco to regain your focus. Compared to employees Cirillo, can also help you improve your attention bound to their desks and those who walked for span. 30 minutes before working five-hour stretches, the workers who stood up and walked every hour Alternatively, you could batch your work by setshowed less fatigue and increased happiness.We ting aside a specific amount of time to bang out can get so caught up in calls, meetings, and pa- tasks in bulk. Instead of spacing the activities out perwork that we later look up and realize hours over the course of the day, why not compact them have passed us by. Why not set an hourly alarm in blocks of time? Knowing there’s an endpoint to on your phone, which will remind you to get up, a series of tasks can help you get to the finish line, stretch, and take a few laps around the office or focused and productive. your place of work? You’ll be surprised by how refreshed you’ll feel when you come back to your 5. Put your phone in airplane mode. work! Blocking the obvious productivity-killing culprit — your smartphone — is a sure-fire way to 2. Prioritize your “deep work.” Multi- get your head back on the task at hand. Don’t tasking doesn’t work, and science proves it. In- feel bad — software and technology companies stead of playing the task-switching game, con- design their apps and programs to help get you sider trying “deep work.” Deep work is the act addicted to notifications and beeps. Switch your of completely immersing yourself in a task that phone into airplane mode for periods of time, so requires brainpower without interruption. Coined you won’t be tempted to peek and refresh. by Georgetown University professor Cal New- As a small business owner, you know you need to port, the practice of deep work will produce bet- stay focused on the tasks at hand, and yet you’re ter results in a shorter time frame. Think about operating in a world that at times seems designed athletes who spend hours concentrating on a to thwart you at every turn. In order to preserve single move or practicing a routine — they get your most precious resource — your attention — better at what they do because they stay focused you’ll have to take charge of both your schedule on the details. and design a work day that works for you and your business. A comScore study reports that we spend up to three hours attached to our smartphones every day. If we add time spent with our friends, loved ones, and business associates into the mix, it’s no wonder we can’t get our work done.
54 | BUSINESS & CAREER | HispanicLife l Abilene/BigCountry
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What Is Burnout and How Can You Recover From It?
Pick us up at Dairy Queen, First Financial Bank & Zookini’s | BUSINESS & CAREER | 55
By Ken Coleman | Dave Ramsey.com
Busy has become a badge of honor in our cul- work, but you feel like you’ve hit a wall because ture. The busier you are, the more impressive you’re doing the same tasks day in and day out you are, right? with no opportunity for growth. When you’re not challenged at work, motivation to even show Don’t get me wrong—motivation and drive are up will be slim. great. But it seems like the busier people get, the • Feeling overwhelmed: You might be feeling more they report feeling burned out (go figure). the effects of burnout because your workload is Gallup did a study of almost 7,500 full-time em- too much for one person. Staying late each night ployees and found that about two-thirds of them and wrecking your work-life balance is enough have experienced burnout at work.1 to make anyone’s health go downhill. • Feeling underappreciated: Let’s face it: EvYou may know the feeling of burnout all too eryone needs to feel appreciated. That doesn’t well. You’re exhausted, you feel hopeless on mean you need constant awards, applause and your drive to work, you stop trying as hard as pats on the back. But if you’ve gone months, or you used to, and it feels like every spark of ex- even years, without having your hard work reccitement you once had is gone. You might think ognized, that starts to hurt. this is normal, but the truth is: You don’t have to If you’ve been experiencing one or more of live this way. There’s a way out! these common causes of burnout, don’t lose hope. Believe it or not, you can wake up every What is Burnout? day excited to go to work—it’s called living the Burnout happens when stress and exhaustion dream! If you’re willing to work for it, you can from your job builds up so much that it drains get there. your energy and robs you of your sense of purpose. It affects every part of you—your work, How To Recover From Burnout your relationships, and your health. Those Folks, hear me on this: Recovery might take a stressors start to build up and make you feel while. If you’re truly drained, you can’t expect a hopeless and just plain miserable. So, how did weekend getaway or a good night’s sleep to fix you get there to begin with? the problem on the spot. It’s a process that will require effort, time, and maybe more than one Causes of Burnout approach. Here are a few to get you started: As I talk to people across the country about their problems with burnout, I hear the same causes Rediscover Your Why - Understanding come up over and over: your why means getting clarity on your purpose at work. This is important because when you • No passion for your work: When your job don’t know why you do something, it’s hard to doesn’t matter to you, you begin to believe that push through when things get hard. In order to your work doesn’t matter at all. Then, you start rediscover your why (or discover it for the first believing that you don’t matter. This is why a time), ask yourself questions like: lack of passion quickly leads to burnout. •Do I genuinely enjoy the work I do right now? • Toxic workplace: Being around poor leader- •Do I connect with the results my work proship, gossipy coworkers, or teammates who duces? don’t trust one another (or all of the above) is •Am I tapping into what I do best (my talents) downright draining. No matter how hard you try and what I love to do most (my passions)? to have a good attitude, that kind of negativity day after day will crush your spirit. Speak Up - I always recommend you talk • Boredom: Maybe you still like your line of with your leader before making any major job
changes. If you have way too much on your plate, ask your leader to help you prioritize and set boundaries. If people around you are gossiping or stabbing each other in the back, bring it to your leader first and then—if appropriate—talk with your coworkers directly. Communication is the key to a healthy work environment! If your leader isn’t willing to truly lead in these areas by helping you reach a solution, then you’ve got yourself another good reason to start looking for a new job.
Change Your Perspective - This one’s
who are doing it and in places where it’s happening (that’s something I call the Proximity Principle). If you can’t do what you love in your own town, it might be time to broaden your career search and consider relocating to another city or state. But before you make a bold move, I want you to either have a new job on the table before you quit or three to six months of living expenses saved to keep you afloat while you job hunt. Whatever you decide to do, just remember that any job you ever have will bring a unique set of challenges and struggles. We all have bad days, even in work we love! But when you’re doing what you’re meant to do in a healthy environment, you may get tired, but burnout won’t be a problem.
not always easy, but sometimes you need to adjust your attitude and see your job in a new light. There might be times you need to stay in a job you don’t love longer than you want because Redefining The Problem: Buildup you’re job hunting for a better opportunity. Your Folks, the feelings of exhaustion and hopelesscurrent job is funding your future—that’s some- ness you’re experiencing are very real. But let thing to be grateful for! me encourage you: You’re not really burned out. The only moment in your lifetime you truly Whatever your situation, always look for the “burn out” is the moment you die. light at the end of the tunnel. Instead of focusing on the fact that you’re dissatisfied with your Are you still alive and breathing? If you’re readjob, focus on the good things the job is helping ing this, I’m going to assume so. That means you accomplish right now and look forward to there’s still time to turn your situation around. what’s coming in the near future. Remember that Instead of calling what you’re feeling burnout, nothing has to be permanent. You’re not required I want you to think of it as buildup. Buildup is to stay in the same job for the rest of your life, what happens when too much negativity from but right now it’s serving a good purpose. your workplace piles up over time. It can be so gradual that you don’t even notice it until one Change Your Role - Maybe you love the day when you realize you’re buried under the company you work for, but there’s a different weight of it all. role that better suits your unique skills and passions. If there are any open internal positions But even if you feel like you’ve come to the you’re interested in and know you’d be a great end of your rope, buildup doesn’t have to be the fit for, talk with your leader about the possibility end. It can actually be an opportunity for a new of making a transition. beginning. You were designed to play a unique role in life. Someone out there needs you to be Change Your Location - In order to do you—so don’t let buildup stand in your way of what you love, you need to be around people doing what you were made to do!