Dignity & Small Acts of Kindness

BY LURA ROTI

Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism Courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

South Dakota is a beautiful state. However, I would not say the best scenery is along Interstate-90. There is an exception. The Missouri River. My favorite view of the Missouri River occurs when I’m heading west on I-90. Just before Chamberlain, I find myself atop a high bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Its grandeur amazes me every time. And overlooking this view today is Dignity. A Dale Lamphere statue of an indigenous woman designed, according to the South Dakota Tourism website, “to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people.”

The first time we noticed her, we made an unplanned detour to appreciate her close up. She is magnificent. I share this back story because a few weeks ago, I was at a gathering, visiting with a new friend and noticed her Dignity pin. I complimented it and Erika Nesiba said, “she’s yours now.” Erika then shared that she received her first Dignity pin this way and today, she purchases several so she can pay the kindness forward. I immediately pinned Dignity to my lapel. Acts of kindness stand out.

The memory of Erika’s kindness resurfaces each time I wear this pin. This pin means much more to me than if I’d purchased it for myself. The more I think about it, an unexpected act of kindness is dignity in action. Yes, we expect to receive cards or gifts on birthdays or holidays, but a kind note from a friend, “just because”seems to carry more weight.

In the midst of 2020, I received a card of encouragement from my friend Connie. Along with the thoughtful handwritten note, she included a small wallet-size card with the words, “You Matter,” printed across it. Boy, did I need to hear this! At the time I was spending two hours a day remote schooling...or should I say, arguing with our fourth-grade daughter.

To make time for work and remote school, I began my workday at 4 a.m. To say it was a dark time in my life would be an understatement. Connie’s unexpected note was timed perfectly. I pinned it to the wall near my desk as a constant reminder...of so many things – namely I am fortunate to have amazing women in my life.

Until this statue and its replica pin, I had not given the word “dignity” much thought. Defined by Webster as “bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect,” dignity is truly a trait to aspire to. It is a word I would use to describe the female mentors and friends I am grateful to have in my life.

Topping this list is my mom...I nearly said, “of course.” But I know none of us have control over who we are born to, so when we have great parents, it is a gift.

I recently stayed with my mom while I was working on some stories in northwestern South Dakota. I was wearing the Dignity pin and she commented on it. I remembered Erika’s kindness and gave my pin to my mom. Before my visit I had purchased a few extra so that I could continue to pay this kindness forward.

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Fun Halloween Activities for Kids

Fall Craftsfor Kids

BY JESS WEISCHEDEL

Turkey Leaf Clothespins

Materials: Brown cardstock, red and yellow construction paper, glue, scissors, googly eyes, clothespins, and leaves.

Cut circles from brown cardstock about an inch wide. Glue the googly eyes onto the brown circles. Cut small squares from yellow paper, thåen fold them in half to create the turkey’s beak. Trim any excess to even out the beak. From red paper, cut small, oblong, and rounded shapes for the turkey’s snood. Glue the snood to the back of the bottom of the beak, then glue the beak to the brown circles under the eyes. Next, glue the turkey heads to the end portion of the clothespin that opens. Using your preferred leaf (or leaves), open the clothespin and place them in, pinching it closed to hold it in place. You now have the cutest little turkey leaf clothespins!

Straw Hat Scarecrow Wreath

Materials: Straw hat, pipe cleaners, a large pom pom, buttons (or Titlealternative options for eyes), glue, scissors (strong enough to cut pipe cleaners), straw or yarn for hair, and fall leaves or other accessories to add as a final touch to your scarecrow.

The accessories used for the facial features can vary, and it’s really up to you and your preferences and the materials available. For this example, we used two black buttons for the eyes, a large red pom pom wrapped in a red pipe cleaner for the nose, and a black pipe cleaner for the mouth. By using pipe cleaners, we were able to poke the ends through the straw hat and secure on the inside of the hat. This way, we didn’t have to use glue, which can sometimes fail to keep things in place. This is also why we wrapped the red pom pom with a red pipe cleaner, once we realized the glue wasn’t going to work very well. It’s a fantastic solution, and easier, too. We used scissors to trim some white pipe cleaners, then threaded those through the black buttons to secure them in place, while at the same time creating some whites for the eyes. Then, we added the nose and mouth, bending the pipe cleaner in order to give the scarecrow some character. Add some glue around the base of the face, then add some straw or other material to create some hair. We had some crinkled paper meant for shipping materials, and it worked perfectly! Next, add some accessories such as fall garland, real fall leaves, sunflowers, or whatever else you think will look festive and fun. Hang your scarecrow by the front door for a welcoming friend to greet your guests. This will work nicely as a transitional piece as well. Turn it into a snowman or a Santa Claus for the holidays, a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day, a bunny for Easter, and any other character you can come up with throughout the year!

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