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WINTER 2025

George Swift The journey (and the path ahead)

Getting Outside: Outdoor recreational sports can help the mind, body and spirit

Transforming Tragedy: How Cody Day gave others a chance

Tia Juanita’s happy hour: Monday - Friday 3 PM - 5 PM

tuesday: $9.99 taco entrees & $3 off margaritas

Sunday: Brunch - 10:30 AM - 3 PM Live Smooth Jazz with Rob Saxy

What’s Inside 05

06 07 08

10 15

Mental Resolution(s) Fight anxiety in the new year

Our Team

Three Things

How to get out and about this winter in SW La.

Someone You Should Know Get to know Donald Jones

Tech Tip

Sowela Instructor Brandon Kelley discusses revolutionary Android features.

Publisher Ron Prince

Editor Crystal Stevenson

Getting Outside Three (fun) recreational sports that can improve your overall wellbing

Econ. 101

Dr. Akm Rahman explains the ebb and flow of interest rates (and how it affects us all).

Contributors Rodrick Anderson Emily Burleigh Rita LeBleu

‘Never Too Late’ George Swift recounts his journey (and describes the path ahead)

Marketing & Sales

Rooted in Mindfulness

Stephanie Broussard Bryce Carter Kim King

Dropping Things in 2025

Transforming Tragedy

Chinese New Year

28 4

How Creative Roots is helping SW La. heal holistically.

The Rev. Weldon Bares talks what to leave behind in 2024

How one family turned adversity into a blessing

Cover Art Chad Whited

Cheryl Bowie lays out the 2025 Chinese Zodiac forecast

Finishing What They Started

And you can, too

706 MAGAZINE

Mental Resolution(s) By Rita LeBleu

Ways to train your brain to combat anxiety

In 2025: Be resolved to get rid of stinking thinking. The mind can impact how a person copes with life’s

control over this situation?” If the answer is no, focus needs to be redirected. If the answer is yes, an action plan is needed.

For example, if a person struggles with anxiety and constantly feels overwhelmed, it might present challenges in sticking with even the simplest selfimprovement goals. But it’s not impossible.

“Why? Because you’re in charge of that worry and you can change the outcome,” she said. “I encourage clients who struggle with anxiety to focus on what they can control and let go of what they can’t. We can’t control other people’s actions, but we can control how we respond.”

challenges and handles stress. A person’s thinking can even affect their physical health.

“The first step is to discover and explore the underlying issue, then identify triggers and contributing stressors,” said Ryan Anderson, M.Ed, LPC. “Healthy coping skills and a consistent healthy routine can help.” Those who suffer from anxiety are not alone in the Bayou State. A recent Household Pulse Study ranked Louisiana as No. 1 in the nation for anxiety.

Editors Note: There are many types of anxiety disorders and other mental health issues. There are also many licensed professional counselors and other mental health service providers with a range of experience who use a variety of techniques. The purpose of this article is not intended as treatment or diagnosis.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data shows that 28.7 percent of adults report they have anxiety disorder symptoms. Anderson often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — a therapy that focuses on how thoughts and feelings influence actions. “CBT can be used to challenge negative thoughts and feelings which can lead to anxiety,” Anderson said. “Sometimes our thoughts are just that, a thought. “That doesn’t make it factual. Sometimes we create worse-case scenarios in our minds, and the chances of it happening are slim to none. Some people tell themselves that this kind of thinking prepares them for worst-case scenarios, but constant negative thinking can change how a person interacts with others.” She said an important question to ask is, “What evidence do I have that supports what I’m thinking?” Most of the time there isn’t any, and we have based our thoughts on emotion. In another exercise, she encourages her clients to think about the thing they are worried about, the issue causing stress, and to ask themselves, “Do I have any

Chad Whited Ad

By Emily Burleigh

Three experiences

Three Places to bring kids for indoor fun 1. Port Wonder Slated to open in January, Port Wonder, 1011 N. Lakeshore Drive, will feature four Children’s Museum galleries and the LDWF Nature and Science Center.

1. Mardi Gras Twelfth Night

Mardi Gras starts early at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 at the Lake Charles Event Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive. Doors open at 6 p.m.

2. The 3rd annual Chuck Eats

Jan. 17-26, several area restaurants will participate in a 10-day event filled with deals and unique food experiences.

3. Bookwork Bay Festival From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 8 at The Brickhouse, 110 W. Pine St., over 80 author and vendors will share the joy of reading to support Literacy in Louisiana.

2. Urban Air Adventure Park Urban Air, 4070 Ryan St., offers indoor adventures where kids can jump, race and climb to their heart's content (even when it is cold).

Three Stops for a Healthy Meal

3. Bayou Escape Room

1. t’Pot Noir Cajun Kitchen

Bayou Escape Rooms, 1440 W McNeese St., has four escape rooms that stimulate the brain and nurture communication and teamwork skills.

Visit the “Little Black Pot” for nostalgic old-fashioned meals that honor the black cast iron pot with a healthy twist. Located at 2711 Hodges St.

2. The Plant Based Cajun The Plant Based Cajun offers nutrient-dense meals like southwest sweet potato hash, chargrilled mushroom alfredo and red beans and rice. Meals are served first-come, first-served at 4260 Louisiana Ave.

3. 1:16 Nutrition

Located in Downtown Lake Charles, 619 Ryan St., this shop offers loaded teas and meal replacement shakes that will supplement health goals in the new year.

Someone You Should Know

DONALD JONES

National Weather Service Lake Charles Meteorologists

What is the best thing about Southwest Louisiana? The food is second to none. The fusion of traditional Cajun French and Creole cuisine along with Tex Mex influences from the west and the rich New Orleans food culture from the east creates a veritable theme park for the taste buds. The biggest gatherings and festivals across the region always revolve around our wonderful food and nobody ever leaves hungry.

What fuels your passion for Meteorology? The weather is a never-ending physics, chemistry, and biology experiment taking place on scales both atomic and global. It's also an integral and deeply personal part of the human experience. Want to start an argument? Ask a group of people how they feel about the next cold front. Meteorology offers me the privilege to engage and support the community in a very real way. Sometimes that means being a calm and reassuring voice during dangerous storms and sometimes it means celebrating that first taste of fall after another brutal Louisiana summer. The great thing about the weather is it's ever changing so each day is a new challenge.

What was your last moment of gratitude? I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit upstate New York a few weeks ago during peak fall foliage. Like most, I often get caught up in the daily grind where very small inconveniences feel like major problems. I've discovered that a quiet trail in the middle of a forest is a great place to find perspective on the things that matter most. I came back from that trip with a strong sense of gratitude for my family, friends and place in the world.

What inspired you to become a high school football referee? I didn't think “being wrong half the time” as a Meteorologist would subject me to enough criticism. Hang on! That's a bit cynical. Truthfully, I was just looking for a reason to get out of my apartment when I went to my first referee meeting and now I've just wrapped up my 16th season on the field. Officiating football is as much a team sport as the game itself and it introduced me to a very diverse group of people from all walks of life who have become great friends. It also offers a way to get paid to exercise, which is pretty sweet. There's a constant shortage of officials in all sports and we're always looking for new ones so give it a look at lhsaa.org/lhsoa

tech tip By Brandon Kelley Information Systems Technology Instructor Sowela Technical Community College

Gesture Navigation

esture navigation is a useful feature shared by both Android and Apple devices. However, the iPhone is limited to swiping up for Home and swiping left or right to switch between open apps. Android users can enjoy these along with an additional suite of navigation gestures that can access recent apps by swiping up from the bottom, double-tapping to turn on and off the screen, swiping across the screen with your palm to take a screenshot, gently vibrate as an alert when you pick up the phone after missing a call or message, and allow the camera to keep the screen on while it detects you looking at the screen, which is perfect for reading without interruptions. Each one of these gesture options can be enabled or disabled depending on your navigation preferences, offering a

Android features that Apple will call revolutionary when they arrive on the iPhone

customizable navigation experience. To enable gesture navigation in most Android devices, you will go into Settings and look for either System, Display Options, or Advanced Features, depending on the make and model of your Android phone. From here you would either look for Gestures or Navigation. If Gestures is not available, it will likely be listed under Navigation. Additionally, gesture navigation will likely already be enabled on your Android phone and all you need to do is learn the gestures to begin using this useful feature. Newer Android model phones will allow you to create custom gestures for highly customizable navigation.

Google Lens

G oogle Lens is an impressive tool

available directly within the Camera app on most Android devices, offering several powerful features such as using your camera to search the web and real-time text translation.

Google Lens allows you to search the web using photographs you take from your Camera app, or by uploading a picture from your phone’s gallery. For example, if you see a pair of shoes you’d like to purchase, you can snap a photo using Google Lens, which will search the web for retailers that sell them. It is useful for anyone who loves visiting antique stores or exploring unique finds. If you come across an interesting item and want to know more about it, Google Lens can help you identify similar items, learn about their history, and even see estimated values. This makes Google Lens an invaluable tool for anyone curious about the items they encounter in everyday life. It also boasts powerful translation technology, enabling users to translate text directly from images. Just open Google Lens, point your camera at the text and it will automatically detect the language and translate it into English.

Split Screen Mode

plit-screen mode is another powerful feature on Android devices, particularly for people who are used to multitasking with dual monitors at work or home. With the split-screen feature, you can open two apps side by side, allowing you to interact with both apps simultaneously.

An example would be keeping a document or email open on one half of the screen while referencing a web browser or messaging app on the other. This feature is great for boosting productivity on the go, as it allows you to manage tasks efficiently without needing to switch back and forth between apps. To activate split-screen on your Android phone, start by accessing Recent Apps by tapping the three vertical bars on the left side of the bottom of the phone screen. In the Recent Apps view, simply find the app you want to use in split-screen mode, then tap the top of its preview to reveal a menu with an option to Open in split-screen.

Getting outside By Emily Burleigh Photography by Rodrick Anderson

(and having fun doing it)

ealth is at the forefront of everyone’s minds at

the start of a new year, and there are several wellness

shared activities and experiences is a boost to the whole community’s health.

habits to consider adopting with 2025 around the corner. Outdoor recreational sports are an option that

Outdoor recreational sports are vehicles for all of

offers a trinity of benefits: physical, mental and

these benefits. Luckily, the Lake Area has options.

emotional.

Mountain Biking

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service says

At Sam Houston Jones State Park, 107 Sutherland

that exercise in green spaces supports physical health,

Road, there are 10 miles (and counting) of trails. If you

leading to an increased life expectancy, better sleep

were to hike those trails, odds are that at some point,

and lower cortisol levels. Sunlight boosts serotonin and

you would hear a friendly bicycle bell chime as you

vitamin D. Most of all, the connection that comes from

were passed by a mountain biker.

Mountain Biking is an age- “Getting in the woods, you accessible hobby that is check out from the stress of easy on the joints, and

“Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy you a mountain bike.”

the day-to-day jobs, the

Newell called it a cardio-

work, the city, and you just

fueled “long-term

get in God’s creation. ...

investment for health.”

Money can’t buy happiness,

- Tyler Churchman, founder and vice-president of LAMBO

The activity is like a

biking can reconnect one

serotonin supplement for

with their youth, Newell

but it can buy you a “Feel better, sleep better,

mountain bike.”

all the good stuff.” At the very least, mountain

mental health, he said, that said. builds confidence through

This is a common sighting at

“I had never really been to

the park, and for good reason.

Moss Bluff. … You get on this uneven terrain and it’s

Founder and Vice President of

just this weird feeling,” he

the Lake Area Mountain Bike

recalled. “I thought, ‘This is

Organization (LAMBO) Tyler

different. This is fun.’ And I

Churchman started riding

was hooked.”

bikes when he was 3 years old. There are many variations of “When I grew up, that was all

mountain biking (cross-

kids did, right? You rode bikes

country, trail, endurance,

around the neighborhood and

downhill). At parks like Sam

went to everyone’s houses and

Houston without many

played outside.”

elevation changes, bikers can ride cross-country and

He upgraded to the mountain

trail.

bike in middle school to spice things up after his friends

Twenty-five years ago, Sean

invited him on his first ride.

Newell, who is also with

Complete with wider tires and

LAMBO, started mountain

suspension, mountain bikes

biking to recreate a runner’s

allow for rides on rougher,

high after a fun first trail

varied terrain. In an area

ride with his friends.

without extensive urban biking

He used to run but had to

infrastructure, mountain biking

stop participating in impact

is a good option, he said.

sports after enduring discrelated health issues.

goal achievement and skill “I think there's a reason also building. why a lot of older guys, like I'm 51, a lot of us older guys, My wife will be like, ‘What

you'll see if you look around

do you need?’ I’m like, ‘I

in the mountain biking

need to go ride,’”

community, is the key word.

Churchman said.

“It’s hard to explain the connection that’s there. You can

Golfers approach each game with a purpose, honing in on get on and ride with people that you don’t even know,” he every swing to perfect each shot. said. “It just brings you together. The differences kind of melt away.” Even if to just hit the trails on foot, entry to Sam Houston

“You’re trying to do the exact same swing every single time, but it’s pretty much almost impossible to do that. But it takes so much focus and you got to be really locked in to know what’s going on.”

Jones State Park is $3 per person and free for seniors 62 and older and children 3 and under.

Golf One way to get out in nature is to hit the greens. One place to do that is the National Golf Club of Louisiana, 1400 National Drive in Westlake.

This is an achievement that golfers get “hooked on.” “You might shoot a 100 the first time, but you keep practicing with a goal. You want to shoot a 90, you shoot a 90 and it just makes you feel good about yourself.” The Gulf Club is a place to make new friends. When the club is busy, golfers get paired blindly.

“They play together and maybe you get a friend Nestled on 7,000 yards with 14 lakes, 65 bunkers, 18 holes afterward. Maybe next time you'll play golf with them and of golf and a practice area with a putting green, chipping they might find a bigger group. ... There's always ways to connect.” green and a driving range, the Golf Club has options for every skill level. Austin Stewart, director of golf operations, Golf can be intimidating, but the Golf Club has a driving has been golfing for 12 years. He considers golf a fullrange that is a good fit for all skill levels. body exercise that helps time pass, but the main benefits of the sport are mental health boosts and community “At the driving range, there’s not penalty for hitting a bad shot.” building.

Golfers, old and new, can take lessons from one of the four instructors at the golf course for lessons. The instructors charge $50 an hour.

The city’s three recreational courts — two at North Beach and one at Hillcrest Park — see dozens of players weekly, and that doesn’t include games that happen at Games 2 Life — a local recreational game and entertainment

“Monday through Thursday, golfers pay $48. On the weekends, they pay $60. Since the Golf Club works with the Westlake Recreation District, women and children who live in city limits and hold a rec card can play golf for free. Monday through Thursday, men receive free entry and can play twice.

Pickleb

center — and the Ward 3 Recreation Center. “It is a wonderful sight to see families gathered in our parks, especially on North Beach at the pickleball courts, and now on the courts at Hillcrest Park,” said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. Accessibility and affordability are the names of the game, Castille said. The initial investment in equipment

With a rectangular paddle and a plastic ball, players can

won’t break the bank, the court is smaller and the game

experience the thrill of tennis without as much effort

allows for a large number of players of all skill levels to

(and just as many volleys).

participate.

Pickleball is an accessible recreational sport that

“With a short court and the implementation of the

combines elements of tennis, badminton and table

'kitchen' [a buffer zone where volleying is not allowed],

tennis. It’s a great way for all ages and skill levels to get

someone who is not as ranging can play with someone

out on the court for an easier, but still competitive,

that can cover a tennis court.”

paddle sport experience. Pickleball in Lake Charles is an easy way to be outdoors, In 2023, the number of pickleball players increased by 15

move and spend time with loved ones.

percent, according to USA Pickleball. Lake Charles Director of Community Services Michael Castille said

“There are a lot of hurdles preventing people from

Lake Charles has kept up with the momentum.

getting out and exercising, one of which is tightening household budgets,” Castille explained. “As the city of Lake Charles, we are proud to offer free, open spaces for our community to get out and explore.” Dozens of parks in Lake Charles offer free space to move, an act that keeps folks mentally and physically healthy. Castille said an active ecosystem of accessible facilities signifies a “healthy community.” “We love to see residents out walking our boardwalk, going to a park, or playing pickleball. “Usually, one person catches the bug to get moving and then they ask a friend to play them in pickleball or another activity and now that healthy activity has spread to others.”

ECON 101 By Dr. Akm Rahman Professor and Interim Associate Dean McNeese College of Business

Ups and How Downs in Interest Rates Hurt and Help

o control rising inflation rates, the Central Bank raises interest rates by reducing the money supply. High inflation steals our buying power. Everyone feels the pains spreading from grocery stores to every place we shop at. To tame this beast is not an easy task for the Central Bank. Increases in interest rates make the costs of borrowing higher. Mortgage payments and interest payments for buying cars, furniture, washers, dryers, electronic goods and others also rise. Poor people feel greater pains at cash registers of grocery stores while buying daily basic necessities. Every fixed-income earner has had to cut down their monthly household budget for other items. So, everyone is worse off. Businesses get hurt too due to higher borrowing costs. Their sales and profits decline, forcing them to cut back production and employment. In addition, households investing in the stock market feel poorer, incurring paper losses. Together, they cause higher unemployment due to a depressing total demand for goods and services. To the contrary, banks and other lenders benefit from tighter rates, provided loan demands do not decline. To reduce the rising unemployment rate, the Central Bank reverses the course. This sets in motion a cycle of increases in money supply and resulting falling interest rates.

Pains in this case are heavily concentrated on the unemployed due to income losses and mental agonies. Households and business borrowers benefit from falling interest rates. They have access to larger bank credit at reduced costs, so, households get cheaper money to buy houses, durable goods and daily necessities in larger quantities. Likewise, businesses can access larger credit to expand production facilities for capacity building and for hiring more workers, as their sales and profits soar. Builders and those selling houses likely benefit from rising house prices due to surging housing demand at lower mortgage rates. At the same time, stockholders benefit from rising stock prices to make capital gains and earn dividends (though all stocks do not pay dividends.) In contrast, lenders may lose at lower loan rates unless demands for loans rise As the saying goes, “there is no free lunch.” Also, good days and bad days do not last forever. Always, there is a price to pay down the road in one form or another. The excess money floating around starts causing higher inflation customarily in nine to 18 months or beyond. Then, the Central Bank’s fight against rising inflation comes back. Economic problems of rising inflation and unemployment rotate oppositely in cycles. So do the pertaining monetary policy actions. In different cycles, household financial planning and budgeting should thus differ with a note of due caution.

GEORGE SWIFT’S NEW CHAPTER

‘NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER’ By Rita LeBleu Photographs By Chad Whithed George Swift, the founding Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance president/CEO, announced he would be stepping down earlier this year. He will continue his role until a successor is named. Being the face of regional economic development is his second career, and it began pre-Seed Center in 2004. His first career was the radio business — and he was on air, in sales and management and as part owner. “That’s how I got to Lake Charles,” he said. “The company I was working with bought radio stations here.”

He has no plans to retire. He’s not sure what’s next, but he’s not letting his age stop him. “Of course, I’ve always been the kind of

person who, if you told me I couldn’t accomplish something — that was the magic word — I would make sure to prove you wrong.” For years now, when someone was rude enough to ask his age, Swift convincingly threw out a number that was a decade or more younger. On the day of the interview, he answered the inquiry with, “That’s personal” and his characteristic cat-atethe-canary grin. (That’s how polite society might describe the expression.) After a couple of beats, he answered, drawing it out a little, Southern and sonorous like. “We’ll say that I’ve been around for three-quarters of a century,” he said, never saying his age. Swift’s reliance on a

wheelchair is not going to stop him, either. He advocates for accessibility, and for the critical need to recognize diabetes symptoms early and be tested right away. Not doing so can result in amputations, even death. “I prided myself on never going to the doctor, which was a bad mistake,” Swift said. “I was fine. Everything was good, and then my feet started burning, and then they became numb — neuropathy,” he said. More than 14.2 percent of Louisiana’s adult population has a diabetes diagnosis, and an additional 113,000 people have diabetes but are unaware of it, according to a 2023 American Diabetes Association report. His wife, a retired nurse, told him for years he had diabetes. “Somebody once described our marriage as similar to Ralph Kramden, you know, Jackie Gleason and Alice Kramden on ‘The Honeymooners.’ We’ve been married 55 years and we might holler at each other once in a while but we get along fine. She’s the stable one, and has a lot of empathy for people — except me,” he said, and this time Swift really did smile.

The tingling and burning in his feet was his only warning. Diabetes does not run in his family. Other early warning signs of low blood sugar might include sweating, shakiness, extreme hunger, nausea and dizziness. Signs of high blood sugar might include increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue and light headedness. “If I had gone to the doctor instead of continuing to go to Dairy Queen and Sonic, I wouldn’t be in this shape,” he deadpanned. One doctor told him his arm and leg muscles would just waste away. Swift told that doctor — who is now deceased — that he might as well leave the office and “jump off the damn bridge.” Instead he got another opinion. He was hospitalized for two weeks, and started various therapies with a plan for more outpatient physical therapy. After his release, he had not been home for 10 minutes when he tripped on a rug, fell and couldn’t get up. A neighbor came over and helped. “I got to bed and I just said, ‘I’m through, ya know? I can’t make it.’ And then I got to thinking clearly and I realized there are a lot

worse things to deal with.” He didn’t say losing a son was on that list, but when asked about children, Swift said he had two. Patrick works at Citgo. He and wife Dana have two children. Madison is a senior at Sam Houston and in color guard. Catelyn is at Moss Bluff Middle and is Student Council president. Michael died in a car wreck at the age of 23. “Everybody deals with grief differently, and I don’t think you ever stop grieving, but you have to work through it, " Swift aid, his voice cracking with emotion.

Pat and I talk about Michael all the time. People worry that mentioning him might upset us. It’s more upsetting if they avoid it, and I have found that when I talk to people that have lost someone, children in particular, they want to talk.” The family had just moved to Lake Charles when it happened. Swift was busy as chair of the Chamber and running the radio station. When the vice chair of United Way died, Swift was asked to take his duties. He stayed busy and thought Pat would be the one to collapse from the grief, but her faith sustained her and she propped him up when

his busy schedule no longer helped. They were both comforted by a tremendous outpouring of support from the church, the radio station staff, and the neighborhood. Growing up in Selma Swift’s father was an entrepreneur, which perhaps accounts for his son’s entrepreneurial spirit. Deemed smart enough to skip first grade by his kindergarten teacher, he lost interest in school his seventh grade year. That is when he discovered the radio business. “I would work after school at the station,” he said. “I thought it was the greatest thing ever.” The culture and politics of the country in the late 60s and early 70s, which would have been the coming of age years for Swift, were marked by unrest such as the Vietnam War and Civil Rights demonstrations. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated. Swift witnessed the violence on the Edmund Pettus Bridge when 600 peaceful demonstrators on a march in support of voting rights left Selma for Montgomery. That day in 1965 is known as Bloody Sunday.

The late Congressman John Lewis was beaten

“I got to meet him later when Congressman Charles Bustany introduced me, and I asked him how he could overcome all he went through without bitterness.”

In this same period of time, Swift’s mother died. His father tried to save a historic hotel building in downtown Selma and failed. Swift described it as a beautiful hotel patterned after a palace in Venice. But visitors preferred the Holiday Inn and its airconditioning.

Lewis told Swift he knew he had to keep his eye on the prize, maintain focus and resist distraction.

As a journalism major at Southern Baptist University in Birmingham, Swift would head home to tape six shows at the

by men deputized by state troopers so badly that his skull was fractured. Lewis was 23.

radio station on the weekend and head back for classes. “And then I had a wreck coming back from the governor’s press conference in Montgomery one afternoon and broke my back,” Swift said. As the ambulance attendants rolled him down the hospital hall, he asked the nurse on duty to use the phone. They knew each other

from high school — and neither was fond of the other. She asked him if he was in pain. “No, I’m not in pain, I just broke my back,” he told her sarcastically. That nurse was Pat Gillis who would become his wife. She told him later when she gave him his first pain shot, she jabbed the needle in hard in retaliation. “We started dating after I got out of the hospital. I had a full-body cast so she had to drive. She really has been the rock and stable person that has to bring me back to my senses sometimes.” Swift said he didn’t have any great words of wisdom to help ensure success. “I think, you know, if you

have faith and believe in an afterlife and you cling to that, what we do here on Earth is probably not that consequential when all is said and done.” Getting there is half the battle When Swift purchased a van with the wheel chair ramp, he thought it would make him more independent. It has, and he is grateful. Too many people lack the resources for equipment such as motorized chairs and vans such as his, he said. However, now that he’s able to drive, he’s realized that a number of businesses are not accessible to wheelchair users. Some are accessible but once inside, the layout makes

it difficult to navigate. People who aren’t handicapped park in handicapped parking, and they also park in ways next to handicapped-marked spaces that block a person who uses a wheelchair from reentering his or her van. Accessible parking spaces must have aisles for men and women to get in and out of their vans with their wheelchairs. It’s not only important to leave handicapped parking open to those who need it, but to park correctly next to a handicapped parking space, Swift said. A seasoned traveler, Swift always reserves an accessible room, and has found that reserving it doesn’t mean it is

available when he checks in. Upgrades are not compensatory when the layout is difficult or impossible to navigate. Incorporating accessibility features is just good for business, Swift said. It’s not just the right thing to do or the considerate choice. It can mean a wider customer base, As the interview drew to a close, Swift was asked to complete the following statement “It’s never too late to….” “Start over,” said the 75year-old who leads and influences from a wheelchair, urges others to recognize the early signs of diabetes and get checked out, advocates for accessibility and is about to launch his third career.

Rooted in Mindfulness How one local metaphysical shop is nurturing holistic healing in SW La. By Emily Burleigh

ith the new year comes goal-setting. People focus W on exercise and weight loss, skill building, and personal growth (to name a few). At a snug shop on Ryan Street, spiritual wellness is a priority.

Emily Parker owns Creative Roots, 3204 Ryan St., a local metaphysical one-stop shop focusing on herbalism and holistic healing. The shop sells a large selection of loose herbs and teas, tinctures, body care, crystals, spiritual tools and local art. Creative Roots got its start on social media. Parker has sold at farmer's markets for half a decade. Along the way, she met a network of local artists who inspired the concept of a store that would serve as a vessel for

creation and collective healing. She said the support “poured out” of the community. Holistic healing runs deep in the local culture, even if people don’t realize it, she said. Even southern New Year’s traditions are rooted in spiritual practices like manifestation. “We eat black-eyed peas and cabbage and cornbread for your health and your wealth,” she explained. “We like to eat, we like to cook. Putting intention into your food, into your teas, the things that you’re consuming is really important for the health of your spirit and your body.” Simply cooking and consuming with intent can bolster spiritual wellness, but Creative Roots offers extensive opportunities to expand one’s spiritual routine. The shop has one of the largest collections of crystals from Beaumont to New Orleans, she said. Crystals and crystal jewelry can be used as a tangible symbol of goals. Parker said since crystals have meanings attached to them, using them in the day-to-day can help train the brain to act on intentions. This is a popular method in the shop. “At any time you can ask them what’s in their pocket and someone’s going to pull out a crystal.” For the new year, she recommends pyrite for abundance and tourmaline for protection and grounding. Year-round, the “master stone,” clear quartz can help with any goal. “Clear quartz is the only crystal that absorbs your intention or amplifies other intentions.” Herbs are another effective and simple tool that can be used spiritually. Whether it is through aromatherapy or

teas, the fragrant plants can help remind the body, mind and spirit of their purposes. Parker said drinking herbal tea is a simple way to start integrating spiritual practice into routines.“ Just be there and breathe. Think about your tea because meditation is the hardest thing any of us can do in this busy time, and it’s almost impossible for anyone to sit and still their mind because we’re constantly thinking about something.” Creative Roots offers a tea bar where customers can select their herbs to take home, or to steep in shop, sip and “enjoy the vibe.” Cinnamon and clove are good for abundance, lavender for wealth and rosemary for health, she said. A healthy spirit comes down to habit-building and dayto-day integration of actions and symbols that improve your life. This can be a difficult task, she noted, but it should be approached with self-mercy. “Self-discipline is the hardest thing that any human can conquer, honestly. … Being patient without yourself and realizing that you may forget to do certain things on certain days and that’s okay.” Another way to keep the spirit healthy is through the act of creation. Parker said art - sculpting, painting, crafting, writing - is a form of therapeutic, mindful meditation. “When you're creating something, you are literally living in the now. You're not thinking about all those other things. You are thinking about the thing you're creating,” she said. “And that is one of the purest forms of meditation, really. It really reminds you of the present and how to be human and even that you are human. And what you're capable of, because we're so afraid to start things.” Twenty-nine local artisans are featured in Creative Roots. Some of these artists teach classes at Creative Roots. The store hosts 10 to 15 classes a month, running from pottery to herbalism to painting.

Dropping Things in By the Rev. Weldon Bares First United Methodist Church Lake Charles

I would not want to be there, but on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, over a million people will gather to celebrate and to witness the ball drop over New York City. It is quite a spectacle that attracts worldwide attention. The first time this was done was on December 31, 1907. It has been done every year since then, except in 1942 and 1943, because of blackouts in World War II. It seems that dropping things is quite popular on New Year’s Eve in many other locations. For example, a giant peach is dropped in Atlanta. In Miami, a big orange is dropped. In Brooksville, Florida, a 200-pound tangerine is dropped. A giant moon pie is dropped in a big celebration in Mobile. In Raleigh, it is an acorn. Amazingly, in Tallapoosa, Georgia, it is a possum. They don’t really drop the possum. They actually lower the possum, and he walks away without harm. As we approach a new year, it may be a good thing to consider dropping a few things ourselves. Some suggestions? Perhaps we could ask God to help us drop hard feelings and grudges against somebody who has offended us. The political season has been exhausting. Hard feelings are all around us, but grudges have a way of hurting the one who is holding the grudge.

“As we approach a new year, it may be a good thing to consider dropping a few things ourselves.” Anne Lamott is an American novelist and non-fiction writer. She wrote, “Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.” Maybe we could drop the pride that keeps us from apologizing to someone. Pride can so easily become our downfall. The book of Proverbs affirms, “Pride goes before destruction and a proud spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) How about dropping our excuses for not being involved in a church or faith community? Maybe we should drop our tendency to stereotype and ostracize others. Perhaps we need to drop some harmful habits that hurt us spiritually or physically. As I write these words, God reminds me of several things that I need to drop. If we change only a few things, this coming year could be our best year yet, by God's grace. May God help us to do so.

Suzanna Morton and Melissa and John Day look at photos of Cody.

ORGAN DONATION

FAMILY TURNS TRAGEDY INTO BLESSING 24

By Rita LeBleu

When Melissa Day received the phone call from a Lake Charles hospital on Monday, July 19, 2023, the person on the other end of the line told her to come pick up her son; they were discharging him after an overdose. It wasn’t the first time she had received such a call. “He was three months clean,” Day said, “and it seemed like this time was different.” She called her husband, John. “I found Cody,” she told him, and imagined picking up her 28-year-old, getting him in the truck and “giving him an ear full.” “I was going to chew him from one end to the other,” she said. She never got the chance. He was barely breathing when she got there. How his condition somehow went from ready to be discharged to what she saw when she arrived is a mystery — one she hopes to understand better some day. Some say the loss of a child is painful N Oorder M A D Iof C | because it violates the natural things.

Day, like other parents, knows that she will never get over his death, but she has found some consolation in knowing that his organs are helping others. “He would give you the shirt off his back,” she said, sharing some photos. Cody posing in his Reeves High School Red Raider Baseball uniform. Cody holding his nieces and nephews. Cody striking a silly pose. Cody in grade school with his short hair cut sticking up every which way. Cody with his father after a successful duck hunt. His friend, Olivia, shared a video of Cody singing “Fancy” to the top of his lungs. He was known as a colorful character who had a great sense of humor and enjoyed making others laugh. He was a hard worker, proud of his work ethic, always had a job, went to work every day and made good money, according to his mother, father and Olivia. He cooked for the family on Saturday nights in the barn, as he listened to the radio, often singing along. Although Day was not surprised Cody was a registered organ donor, she did not know that so few people who register to donate organs are

able to do so, only 23%, according to Suzanna Morton, Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. The criteria differs from hospital to hospital, but a scale that indicates the level of consciousness of a patient after a brain injury, is one of the factors used to make the determination. In Cody’s case, he was able to donate his left kidney to a female in her

40s. His liver recipient is a man in his 30s. His heart beats in the body of a man in his 60s, and his lungs are at work in a man in his 60s. His organ and tissue donation will be used for research and education to help advance diagnosis and treatments. His corneas went to the Eye Bank. When the corneas were mentioned, discussion turned to whether people who wear glasses can donate. Cody didn’t wear glasses. “You can actually be blind and donate your corneas,” Morton added. “The cornea is typically affected by astigmatism, and they can actually correct the astigmatism when they stitch it onto the recipient.” Recipients were

selected from the National Waiting List, which is carefully regulated, according to Morton. LOPA uses a national computer system managed by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network which matches donor organs with information like blood type, urgency, organ size, location to the donor hospital. Pediatric organs generally go to pediatric patients but a 55-year old has received the heart of a 15-year-old, and the oldest to donate organs, according to Morton, was 92-year-old who donated her liver. The rumor about her was that she only had a drink at weddings, and some LOPA staff have speculated on the area of the state in which

she might have lived.

helping others live.

At the hospital where Cody died, the staff lined the hallway for his Honor Walk. As Jo Dee Messina’s “Heaven Was Needing a Hero” played in the background, family and friends walked the gurney from the ICU to the operating room.

“He looked just like our baby,” Day said.

When donors' bodies are prepared for funeral services and burial, they show no signs that the organs that once kept it functioning are already

She has had one dream about him. Cody told her he loved her and gave her a hug. Day said it felt real because she could feel him when they hugged. Olivia told about a child in the neighborhood who fell into a swimming pool after Cody’s death. Neither Day nor Olivia were aware the child knew Cody. For one

thing, she was very young, but after she was pulled from the water, she told her rescuers that she saw Jesus and Cody.

The families of donors are not told much about organ recipients. She may get to meet them one day. She may not want to.

Charlotte, Cody’s sister, called during the interview, and said Cody’s organ donation was perhaps her only consolation after his death because it at least attested to his spirit of giving and added purpose to his life and death.

They might not want to meet Cody’s family, and there’s no timeline on when it will happen, if it ever does.

His mother agreed.

She did find out that Cody’s organs went to recipients out of state. She likes to think of it as Cody finally getting to travel, something he always wanted to do.

Goodbye Year of the Dragon Hello Year of the Snake By Cheryl Bowie

So how has 2024, the Chinese Year of the Dragon, been for you so far? If you were born in one of these years — 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 — you were born in the year of the Dragon. Many people learn their animal year by seeing it on a placemat in a Chinese restaurant: 12 animals aligning in a repeating pattern over 12-year periods of time. The sequence is Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. You probably saw Dragon pendants and other Dragon merchandise in stores this year, but if you’re a Dragon, hopefully you resisted the urge. While it may seem counter-intuitive, according to Chinese mythology, being born in a certain animal year does not imply that a matching year will be a great year for you. But there is good news. In Chinese astrology, we’re about to enter the year of the Snake, so hold on until January 29, 2025, the start of the Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year falls between late January and early February. So, take note; if you have an early January birthday, it may have fallen in the prior animal year.

People born in the year of the Dragon are generally incredibly lucky people, so if you’re a Dragon, take heart in that. Dragons are wise, powerful, and quiet — unless you make them mad. They are volatile and regularly need time alone in their “cave,” so give them some space. Awaken them when they have retreated for some solitude, and you can expect some fire breath directed at you. People born in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013 were born in the year of the Snake. Likewise, if you were born in the year of the Snake, you’ll want to avoid snake symbols during 2025. Those who were born in the year of the Snake are said to be smart, insightful, and compassionate. On the flip side, they can be arrogant and possessive. So, what should you do if you were born in the Year of the Snake as we head into 2025? First, call in your friends, literally and figuratively. Friends of the Snake are Roosters (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) and Oxen (1913, 1925,1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) and these people can be incredibly helpful to you. Also, wearing or placing Rooster or Ox symbols around you in 2025 is recommended. This could be a

keyring, a necklace, or decorative symbols around your home or office. The most compatible friend of the Snake is the Monkey, who is thought to be the Snake’s soulmate. Monkeys (people born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) are excellent helpers for Snakes when they are going through a difficult time. Finding yourself stuck on a problem at work? Bring in someone born in the year of the Monkey to work on your team. But there is more you can do as we kick off the Year of the Snake Be sure to clean your entire house, eliminating clutter before that date but be careful not to do any cleaning on January 29. Any major investments during 2025 are also discouraged, so save your money and energy for a more auspicious time. Lucky colors for Snakes will be black, red, and yellow. Colors to avoid are brown, gold, and white. Travel is encouraged for Snakes during 2025. Just remember, staying focused and relying on your natural intelligence can carry you through the year.

Raejean Clark

FINISHING WHAT THEY STARTED AND YOU CAN, TOO By Rita LeBleu Most people are familiar with the phrase attributed to George Eliot, “It’s never too late to become what we might have been.” Perhaps the phrase fueled a hope — until that birthday when the first halfdozen-or-so cake candles melted into a puddle before the final candle could be lit.

Linda Allin

Kimberly Simon

Everyone ages differently. It is common for people as young as 60 to begin losing confidence, according to a Harvard Medical School online article. The body changes. Life changes. Children move away and become busy with their own jobs and families. Or they don’t. This is a challenging economy for older adults. One in three are financially insecure, according to the National Council on Aging. Plus, it’s hard to launch young people when the cost of housing, insurance, utilities and food have increased and wages have not. That’s not all. Health issues may come to the forefront in the 60s. Loved ones are lost. Even work may feel different. New research from AARP shows that six in 10 workers 50-plus have seen or experienced at least subtle forms of age discrimination at work. “Mature workers are facing a tougher job market. New jobs for those over the age of 55 are few and far between, and many people age 60 and older are hitting a solid barrier

preventing them from getting hired,” according to a Forbes online article. Like Janice Ackley said recently at a women’s luncheon when someone at her table talked about her eyesight and hearing was not what it once was. “Well, at least my sense of humor is improving with age,” she said. If the weight of disappointment that life didn’t turn out as expected has come to roost an age that seems too late to do anything about it, take a little advice from a 68-yearold McNeese State University student who will graduate next year: “Stop thinking about what you don’t have and think about what you do.” McNeese Cowgirl at 68 “I don’t know what happened,” said Raejean Clark. “I looked up, and all of a sudden I was 68.” That’s a common expression among the 50-and-over crowd, more so among women. However, Clark is uncommonly upbeat for any age. She didn’t let a number stop her from pursuing her dream, getting an art degree from McNeese State University. To be certain, other numbers did

present an obstacle. She was worried she couldn’t pass math, and at least one math class is necessary for all degree paths, even art. “I told my professor — he’s in his 30s — I double-dog dare you to teach me math,” she said, adding that she is learning math, finally, and if she would have had a teacher like him in high school, she would have never become math-averse. In 1974, when she was in college the first time, there was no online registration or Moodle (online learning platform at McNeese) to contend with. On the plus side, the art major was happy to find out some of the credits she earned 50 years ago would be counted toward her major. Clark also points out there are advantages to going to school at 68 versus 18. “I was a loser student then,” she said. “Well, I was having a little fun. At that age, I was more worried about how cute I looked and the boys.” Clark said she has seen older students, employees and volunteers do great work, often better than younger students, employees and volunteers because they

have more time to learn the importance of responsibility. While attending college, Clark fills in as a substitute teacher for the Calcasieu Parish School Board. Applying for the job was prompted in part by an empty nest. Her daughter and granddaughter live in England. Clark’s son lives in Houston. When friends would share stories of family coming over for Sunday dinner, it would make her feel a bit wistful. More than the opportunity to bring in a little cash, substitute teaching also offered Clark the chance to become a surrogate “granny” and “teacher’s worst nightmare,” she said, passing out brownies and lemon bars to students and quietly doing things behind the scenes for some students. “This job has brought a lot of joy into my life,” she said. Social interaction, and especially spending time with children can have that effect, according to experts. It can give seniors purpose and can positively impact mood. Her key to positivity at any age is to find the thing that adds purpose to life. She also chooses to focus on what she has instead of pining

over what she does not. “I have hot and cold water, a car,” she said. “I don’t have soldiers banging on my door.” Clark can’t wait for her daughter and granddaughter to see her walk across the stage to get her diploma next year. If they see her going after her dreams despite challenges, it could help instill the same spirit in them. “You’re never too old to pursue your dream,” she said, “as scary as it is, the really scary thing to me would be missing my chance.” Pursuing lifelong dreams at Sowela Kimberly Simon, 57, and Linda Allin, 52, are a little older than the average Sowela Technical Community College student. Nevertheless, they both agree they fit right in at the college where the mantra is “Student’s First.” “The thing is, I don’t view myself as older,” Allin said. “I’m just a fellow student, and I’m learning a lot from them. My mind hasn’t been engaged like this for years.” Dalene Hoffpauir, spokesperson for Sowela said the average age for students is 24.

“It’s not uncommon for our students to work one or multiple jobs, have families and other obligations. Faculties help them by putting course material online or recording lectures students can listen to while they taxi children around.” Allin is one of those students balancing school, work and children. She homeschooled nine children for 19 years and four are still at home. One died in a tragic accident. Most have graduated college and are pursuing careers. One recently joined the U.S. Marines. “I really wanted to do this for myself,” she said about her decision to attend Sowela for a drafting degree.

Age is just a number. There is no limit on what we can accomplish at any age. Don’t hesitate. You’ll be so proud of yourself in the end. — Kimberly Simon

As a child, she enjoyed drawing fanciful houses and house plans. She is a first-generation American. Her father is Danish and her mother is Canadian and of Russian and German descent.

Simon had her doubts about pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, but had no doubt that her passion and purpose is to take care of and help people.

Now she is in her second year of the program, and has a new dream of one day working with an architect who loves the community.

“I have a big heart, compassion and empathy,” she said. “I want to be an advocate for the sick who may not have family to do so.”

“It’s never too late, and you’re never too old,” she said. “The hardest part is the first step. It’s all downhill from there.”

Chief among her fears was passing the Accuplacer test. She was also experiencing the let-down she felt

after visits to other college campuses. “I felt like they didn’t take me seriously and were not helpful,” she said. Simon said Sowela made it easy to register online and take the test. The staff made her feel like she belonged, and encouraged her. “That definitely boosted my confidence,” she said. Her advice for the 55 and older crowd — who might think it’s too late

to go back to school, start an exercise class or make a new friend — is: “Follow your heart’s desire. I reached a time in my life that I could do what makes me happy, put myself first and I hope others are able to do the same. Believe in yourself. “You can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Age is just a number. There is no limit on what we can accomplish at any age. Don’t hesitate. You’ll be so proud of yourself in the end.”

First United Methodist Church Sermon Series on World Religions Beginning January 2025

January 5th January 12th January 19th January 26th February 2nd February 9th

Christianity and Islam Christianity and Hinduism Christianity and Buddhism Christianity and Confucianism Christianity and Judaism Christianity and the New Atheism

CORNER OF BROAD & KIRKMAN 9:00 AM & 11:00 AM REV. WELDON BARES www.fumclc.org