SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
The Republican
Page A-6
Voices
We offer Voices as a place to share a story, a memory, an idea, a comment, a criticism, or a solution. Contributors must include name, address & phone number.
Thursday, August 26, 2021 Thurs
Barnett Woods: Discover a Pocket of Nature
Your Mental Health By Chase Cotton The Willow Center 317-852-3690
Three Things You Can Do to Help a Struggling Loved One We’ve all gotten that text before… “Hey, I really need to talk to someone right now.” Then, your heart beat speeds up a bit as your mind races in anticipation of whatever your loved one needs to talk about. It could be your friend asking you for advice on a problem they’re having with their significant other. It could be your kid finally opening up about their feelings of anxiety or depression. It could be your colleague sharing with you that they feel like they are drinking too much and it might be affecting their work. It’s safe to say, statistically speaking, that most of you reading this article are not licensed therapists or counselors of some sort. So, if you’re anything like me, these types of conversations can be rather stressful on the receiving end. What do you say to your loved one? How can you truly be more of a help to them than a harm? Here are three easy things you can do to help your loved one who is struggling: 1) Be Present – The most important element of showing your loved one that you are present with them is true physical presence! If possible, don’t have the conversation only over the phone or via text. Put the phones away and get into each other’s real-life space, face-to-face. Meet at a coffee shop or have dinner together at one or the other’s home. Human beings are hard-wired to need physical community and relationship, so being present with your loved one will help them feel more open and calm on a brain-deep level. 2) Listen – To be clear, I mean really listen. Listening is more than just hearing. “Active listening” includes appropriate eye contact, open body language, affirmations, follow-up questions or comments, and even silence. Remember, you are not a counselor, and you are also not in your loved one’s head. So, you do NOT have to have all of the answers! The feeling of being listened to can be healing for someone who is in a heightened emotional state. 3) Refer – This may be the most important recommendation of all. As we have established multiple times now, you should not pretend to be a therapist. If your loved one is sharing things related to their mental health, a relational crisis, an addiction, or some other life difficulty, it is vital that you refer them to trustworthy professional help. There are multiple mental health and addiction care providers in Hendricks County who are ready to help in these situations. Your referral to your loved one may be the key to removing the shame and stigma that they may have associated with the need for professional assistance. The next time you receive that text, don’t just deflect it. Don’t crack a joke or try to change the subject because you don’t know what the right answer is. Instead, just be present with your loved one, listen to them share about their problem, and refer them to a higher level of care if needed. These three suggestions are tried and true ways of helping your struggling loved one! ______________________________________________
A Note From Bee We often hear about children bullying other children. In grade school I and five or six of my friends were never bullied but we were never invited to the popular girls parties or homes. I think the reasons for this was none of us were athletic so we didn’t play kickball. Kickball was very popular at our school. Also one of the girls was intellectually slow. My parents were friends with her parents and I had been told to be sure Karen was involved in my group’s activities. We accepted the situation. It was either accept or be unhappy. Carol was very popular and lived only three houses from school. For her birthday, everybody but my group was invited to have lunch at her house. Invitations were given out at school. Gifts were brought to school. The invited left at lunch time and the principal allowed them extra recess time since it was Carol’s birthday. It may have been that Carol’s mother didn’t know that Carol hadn’t invited all the girls in our class. However the teacher had to notice that our group wasn’t invited and told Carol’s mother. I think this was a very cruel thing to do to our group. The lesson I learned was not to deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings.
Exploring Hendricks County
By Jackie Horn Jackie Horn and her husband, John, transplanted from Warsaw to Plainfield to be near family. An Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist, Jackie is a retired substitute teacher who continues to teach (and learn) about all things outdoors. John is a retired CNC programmer and the photographer on the team. The Horns enjoy traveling, walking, hiking, kayaking, and bicycling. ______________________________________________
Two trails are marked - the Blue Trail is 0.5 miles; the Red Trail is 1.2 miles. ________________________
In the spring, wildflowers abound. Trillium, May apples, and False Solomon Seal were just a few when I was last there. In the summer, the
During the pandemic lockdown, one of the first places John and I discovered near our apartment in Avon was Burnett Woods. Driving along on CR 100 South between Dan Jones and Ronald Reagan, motorists probably don’t realize this nature preserve exists. There’s no visible signage or dedicated parking lot (the church adjacent to the property allows visitors to park in their lot.) What appears to be undeveloped woods is actually a lovely bit of nature just waiting to be explored.
Burnett Woods is the only property managed by the Central Indiana Land Trust in Hendricks County. It’s also one of the five preserves on their Trek Our Trails Challenge. (For more information on the Challenge, check out their website, conservingindiana.org/2020/11/24) The 80-acre woods aoffers two marked, loop hiking trails totaling 1.7 miles. The terrain is flat making the walk easy for small children and “seasoned” citizens.
A Squirrel About Town By Archy
Burnett Woods Nature Preserve is adjacent to Light and LIfe Methodist Church, 8264 E CR 100 S and is open dawn to dusk. Visitors to Burnett Woods are allowed to park in church parking lot. Due to the parking situation, it is requested there be no visitation on Sunday mornings. ____________________________________________________
What’s black and white and read all over?
SHOP LOCAL ● BUY LOCAL
The Republican
AB
[Ed respon would town. langui new au
A sign welcomes visitors to Burnett Woods Nature Preserve. The Preserve has been owned and managed by the Central Indiana Land Trust since 1998. ____________________________________________________
Bee Jones _____________________________________________
READ LOCAL
woods offer a shady retreat from the heat. Autumn brings color to the woods as oak, hickory, and maple trees change from green to red, orange, and yellow. On chilly winter days, Burnett Woods is an easyto-reach place to get out and tromp. A few things to consider if you visit Burnett Woods: The most challenging thing about hiking the woods is getting there. Roadwork on CR 100 started earlier this year and continues. In order to access the preserve, visitors need to navigate through the Hollow Brook housing addition and drive a few feet on the dirt construction road to reach the Avon Light and Life Church parking lot. Parking is available behind the church. Walk east across the grass field to the edge of the woods fronting the road. A path leads into the preserve. A few yards into the woods, a sign confirms you’ve got the right spot. If it’s been rainy, consider boots. The ground is low and a small creek runs through the property which can make the going soggy. The standing water also serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Bug spray may be something to consider. In the interest of honest reporting, Burnett Woods is not a secluded woodland paradise where the silence is broken only by birdsong. It backs up to the rail yard. Sounds of screeching wheels penetrate the borders of the preserve. It is a pocket of nature in the midst of an urban area and that makes it special.
Get your subscription and find out. therepublicannewspaper.com
“I understand you’re picking up more subscriptions every week,” Archy commented. I replied that we were growing in that direction. “People seem to be discovering us. They pick up a paper at a relative’s or friend’s house and want to get their own subscription.” It’s no wonder,” the squirrel said. “People seldom have the opportunity to read something thoughtful these days. The things people post on social media are half-thoughts at the most, in a fast-moving stream of confusion. Nothing to make you stop and consider what’s being said.” I was in agreement. “A good newspaper is a community talking to itself,” I said, paraphrasing Arthur Miller. “Precisely,” the squirrel nodded. “Funny, how a newspaper can sometimes capture the reader’s attention better than modern technology.” I thought about the time I spend reading the issues of The Republican from the past. After a while, you see each year had its own personality, its own tone and sense of humor. The more you read, the more you feel at home in that era - the familiar names, the slang, the fads and novelties. “A bit of time traveling,” Archy said, reading my thoughts. “What you’re doing now is what those editors of the past did - making observations for those in the future.” It’s a bit unsettling to realize your part in the continuum. The squirrel winked. “Be sure to tell them Archy sends his regards.” ___________________________________________
