Connection February 2024

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Mental Health Treatment Works

Concerned that you or a loved one may be experiencing mental illness? You are not alone. Get professional help.

Mental health is an important part of overall health and well-being, yet mental illness affects millions of people and their families nationwide. Know that treatment for mental illness is effective-and help is a phone call away.

• Mental Illness Is Common, But Too Often Not Treated • Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about one in five adults had a mental illness. Without a doubt, the pandemic has affected the state of mental health in our country and made mental illness even more common.

It is rare that a family is not touched by a mental health condition, one that can interfere with your or a loved one’s ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy life.

• Delusions • Hallucinations • Sleep problems Mental illness is not always easy to detect. Someone does not need to have all these symptoms, perhaps just one or two.

Treating a mental illness is not something to attempt on your own. Like many health conditions, help for mental illness takes professional diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment Works, Treatment Is Available The good news: Research shows treatment for mental illness works. With appropriate treatment, people can manage their illness, overcome challenges, and lead productive lives.

Show Me Hope @ The Clark Center • Mental health disorders include anxiety, seasonal affective disorder, or more serious illnesses as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more. Unfortunately, most people with mental illness do not receive mental health services that they need.

Treatment for mental illness is effective. Mental health services also are covered by most health plans—by law. And like physical health conditions, it’s clear the earlier you get treatment for mental illness, the better—and the better you or your loved one will feel and do.

21 was rough. Show Me Hope at the Clark Center is connected to sources for financial help, mental health help, and self-care. The • People with mental illness can have ogram is free and confidential. are created to assist our symptoms that include a range ofPrograms feelings, emotions, or experiences, including: munities• Shifts with the ability to recover from the grief, uncertainty and in mood stration •ofSadness recent times. We are here to listen and help. Anyone in • Anxiety community with concerns about their recovery, or that of another • Irritability • Low energy individual or group is encouraged to call and seek assistance.

Points of focus for Show Me are resiliency, TheHope Clark Center self-care and experiencing417-235-6610 loss. Here 24/7...... you or someone you know needs crisis support now, Show Me Hope,If call or text:Call1-800-985-5990 or text 988 Resiliency Community Recovery Clark Center: 417-235-6610

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YOU’RE WELCOME AT THE BARRY-LAWRENCE REGIONAL LIBRARY!

ACROSS TWO COUNTIES, NINE BLRL BRANCH LOCATIONS serve thousands of your friends and neighbors each month. If you live in Barry or Lawrence County you are welcome to get your FREE library card and start accessing the vast array of services the BLRL offers.

•

Our friendly librarians provide one of the largest collections of books and other materials in Missouri.

•

The BLRL provides multiple online resources including media streaming, audio books and e-books.

•

Each year, over 60 thousand participants enrich their lives in our amazing Library programs.

•

Every Branch of the BLRL offers enriching programs for all ages and areas of interests.

GIVE THE GIFT OF READING!

KIDS 6+ CAN GET THEIR OWN LIBRARY CARDS It’s FREE and makes children

feel very special while teaching them responsibility. Library cards are totally free for all Barry & Lawrence residents. The BLRL doesn’t charge late fees and provides tons of materials to check out and programs for all ages. LIBRARY E-CARDS: You can get quick access to library services online at blrlibrary.org

THE AURORA LIBRARY

Phone: 417-678-2036 / Fax: 417-678-2041 E-Mail: aurora@blrlibrary.org

THE CASSVILLE LIBRARY

Phone: 417-847-2121 / Fax: 417-847-4679 E-Mail: cassville@blrlibrary.org

THE EAGLE ROCK LIBRARY

Phone: 417-271-3186 / Fax: 417-444-5109 E-Mail: eaglerocklibrary@blrlibrary.org

THE MARIONVILLE LIBRARY

Phone: 417-463-2675 / Fax: 417-463-2116 E-Mail: marionville@blrlibrary.org

THE MILLER LIBRARY

Phone: 417-423-8528 / Fax: 417-423-8582 E-Mail: miller@blrlibrary.org

THE MONETT LIBRARY

Phone: 417-235-7350 / Fax: 417-319-2391 E-Mail: monett@blrlibrary.org

THE MT. VERNON LIBRARY

Phone: 417-466-2921 / Fax: 417-466-2936 E-Mail: mtvernon@blrlibrary.org

THE PIERCE CITY LIBRARY

Phone: 417-476-5110 / Fax: 417-408-8810 E-Mail: piercecity@blrlibrary.org

THE SHELL KNOB LIBRARY

Phone: 417-858-3618 / Fax: 417-720-2099 E-Mail: shellknob@blrlibrary.org

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 3

My wife and I want to have a long and happy future together. So when my doctor told me I had prediabetes, I made preventing type 2 diabetes a priority.

I joined PreventT2, a program proven to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program’s lifestyle coach and the other participants were great. And the CDCapproved curriculum taught me how to lose weight, be more physically active, and reduce stress. My doctor said it’s making a difference. I plan to stay healthy for a long time. You can do it, too with PreventT2.

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A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS

OWNER/PUBLISHER Lisa Craft monettcommunity@gmail.com MULTI-MEDIA SALES EXECUTIVES Marion Chrysler CONTRIBUTORS Meagan Ruffing Susan Funkhouser Pam Wormington Christa Stout Mike Gervais Murray Bishoff Steve Chapman

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PHOTOGRAPHERS Chuck Nickle DISTRIBUTION Kevin Funcannon TO ADVERTISE 417-235-3135 - Monett Send email inquiries to monettcommunity@gmail.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 40, Monett, MO 65708 Connection is published monthly and distributed free in Cassville, Monett, Exeter, Washburn, Pierce City, Mt. Vernon, Aurora, Verona, Roaring River, Eagle Rock, Shell Knob, Purdy, Wheaton, Freistatt, Marionville, Seligman, Golden and other surrounding areas.

Connection is a publication of the The Monett Times. Both publications now locally owned and operated.

Lisa Craft, publisher/owner is not providing her monthly column for February because of circumstances beyond her control.

“I appreciate your patience and loyalty and hopefully everything will be back to normal for March,” Lisa said. “Have a great Valentine’s Day and I hope you enjoy the February edition of Connection Magazine!”

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*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 12/15/23. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

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ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 5

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OLD AND NEW Burrus Jewelers Custom Creations

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A MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO THE OZARKS ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 1

ON THE COVER: Continuing to thrive in a marriage means applying the “L” word every day in many ways.

Read more on page 15.

CONTENTS

Let us be your HOMEtown bank!

• Great Service • Committed To Barry County • Decisions Made Locally Wheaton

Cassville

302 Main Street Jct. 37, 76 & 86 417-652-3204 417-847-4794 Bill Pay & Internet Banking at

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6 | February 2024

Exeter

Front Street 417-835-8111

9 Guest Column: Pausing for a Plan 12 Author Spotlight 19 Healthy Connection: Love, Your Heart 21 Parenting Column: Ahead of the Holiday 34 Cutest Pet 35 Rescued, My Favorite Breed 42 Parting Shot

Have an idea for a story you would like to see in Connection Magazine?

Email it to monettcommunity@gmail.com Facebook.com/MyConnectionMo

Follow us on Facebook

F E AT U R E S Guest Column. Read more on page 9.

FEBRUARY 2024

Burrus Jewelers customized jewelry. Read more on page 25.

Caren and Bob in Hawaii August 2009

15 | REPAIRING THE DIVIDE “Love conquers all” gets a modern reboot in this deep look at relationships with Dr. Richard Brewer of Clark Community Mental Health Center 23 | FAMILY BUSINESS REFRESH Libby Grisham gives a Monett strip mall a refreshing look to inspire family business startups

Read more on page 30.

30 | HONEY, WHAT TONE? Bob and Caren Journagan share their thoughts on 60 years of marriage success and satisfaction 37 | GYMIN IN 2024 Monett Area YMCA offers opportunities to reset, restart and restore your health for years to come

25 | OLD AND NEW Burrus Jewelers in Mt. Vernon connects generations with timeless, custom heirloom creations

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 7

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GUEST COLUMN

by Pam Wormington

Pausing for a Plan It was a nice fall day, perfect for camping at The Pines with our friends. That’s exactly what we were doing until I heard, “let’s make hay while the sun shines.”

We paused our glamping and drove home to Missouri to do just that. Sixteen acres, four tractors, two balers, two people plus the neighbor and his dog and a sunny day. We used up all the daylight but got the job done but not without some excitement and whining.

My frugal farmer got a “new” side delivery rake that would supposedly save us time. My math skills were far from par when he started explaining how four rows of hay become one and row one goes on top of row two and row four goes on top of row three then you take the V-rake and make all four rows become one. If the math wasn’t enough to make my head spin, driving a different tractor and watching the half rake behind me was enough to make me a stiff necked person.

A few rounds and a pattern starting to develop we decide to switch things up a bit. I jump on a different tractor to try out the ‘new’ square baler. Things were going smoothly so we switched things up again and tried out the ‘new’ round baler with the old rake and the old tractor, ahhhh something that I was somewhat familiar. The raking part went

well, the baling part, not so much.

Let’s just say once that neatly raked hay is pulled out of the guts of the round baler, it must be raked again in order to make a hay bale, no math needed but this cost time. It only took one round of the field to discover this wasn’t going to work.

In the meantime, I am in the side by side that is equipped with a wench that makes cleaning out

a clogged baler a bit easier and I notice our neighbor, George came prepared with snacks. Yep, I was eyeing his apple that looked like something from Snow White but what I was really coveting was the chocolate bar that was laying on the dash. I was getting hungry and could use some cheese with my whine. I failed to mention baling this field wouldn’t take long, or so that is what I was told when

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 9

MORE

BENEFITS TO YOUR FREEDOM SHIELD CHECKING ACCOUNT.

I was leaving my glamping site.

George and his dog Jack stopped by to get in on the excitement.

I’ve discovered farming is always better from the other side of the fence watching someone else and their wife work cattle, make hay or whatever the task is that tries an otherwise happy marriage.

Back to Plan A- or B+, not quite sure but I square baled the remainder of the field and the young 60 something guys hopped on and off the wagon and loaded the square bales, laughing and thinking about how much they are going to feel the effects of physical labor much more than they did in their younger hay hauling days.

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The best part of the day was when George told me that his Uncle JW would be proud of me baling hay. You see in my younger married days; I would rake hay and JW would drive behind me baling whatever mess I raked. My precision farmer just shook his head commenting that if I raked tic tac toe in the field, JW would follow me and bale and laugh all the time doing it until he was paid with homemade cookies. I sure miss JW. Farm life isn’t always easy or convenient but friends make the load lighter. n

Happy Valentine’s Day

A A parade, parade, an an event, event, a a festival, festival, a a fair fair –– when when we we gather gather together, together, Shelter Shelter is is proud proud to to be be there. there.

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Shelby Rohlman Shelby Rohlman 522 E. Broadway Shelby Rohlman Street 522 E. Broadway Street Monett, MO 65708 522 E. Broadway Street Monett, MO 65708 417-235-6239 Monett, MO 65708 417-235-6239 SRohlman@ShelterInsurance.com SRohlman@ShelterInsurance.com 417-235-6239

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Winter Can Be Dangerous

FOUR SEASONS REAL ESTATE

Larry Daniels • Realtor 417-846-7306

Idaniels@mo-net.com

Kay McCullah • Realtor

At Ken’s, it’s all about the details

You know Ken’s Collision as The Area’s Finest Collision Repair and Glass Facility, and now Ken’s is proud to offer Professional Auto and Truck Detailing. Our experts bring back that New Car Feeling inside and out, cleaning and polishing your vehicle with the same attention to detail that we give every carwill andTow truckyour we Vehicle, repair. Assess Ken’s Collision Center another we work for you, the Collision and theJust Damage, andway Provide the area Finest customer, make surecar your car with is fixed Glass Repair.toWe fix your right the Right Parts to right, Specifications to Factory Specifications the Factory

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www.kenscollisioncenter.com ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 11

Local

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

W

hen it is cold out, and the snow is flying, you might find yourself in the mood for a little mystery and suspense, and there’s no better way to scratch that itch than with a good thriller. Deliberate Malice by Lois Curran and A Mother’s Torment by Xavier Poe Kane are two books guaranteed to get your heart pumping and have you turning the pages at lightning speed.

Deliberate Malice

Purchase Deliberate Malice at Amazon.com

12 | February 2024

Lois Curran, a retired Registered Nurse, used real-world details to create a credible story with believable characters in Deliberate Malice. The story begins with a mystery. There hasn’t been a case of Type I Poliomyelitis reported in the United States since 1979. Now, not only has the eradicated disease mysteriously reappeared, but it attacks children who are up-to-date on their polio immunizations. While the Centers for Disease Control is on red alert, four nurses dive in and investigate. They discover a sinister pattern; this isn’t just about an outbreak. It is personal.

What makes this book such a good read is the story brings the concept of medical mishaps to a real personal level. Well written and a page-turner for sure. The reader is immediately caught up in the polio crisis that could happen in their own backyard, something we thought no longer existed.

Lois Curran was born in Arkansas but spent most of her childhood in Salem, Oregon before her family moved to Missouri when she was 15. An avid reader, writing has always been a passion for Lois. She decided to become a full-time writer after retiring as Director of Nursing at her hometown health department.

Deliberate Malice is available as a paperback, eBook, or Audiobook at Amazon.com.

Lois Curran Author of Deliberate Malice

Xavier Poe Kane Author of A Mother’s Torment

A Mother’s Torment Xavier Poe Kane has crafted the perfect thriller for readers chasing after a shiver-up-their-spine tale of suspense and mystery in his recent novel, A Mother’s Torment. As a family settles into their dream home, a nineteenth-century refurbished National Guard barracks, they discover not all is as it appears. They recruit the aid of the local eccentric to investigate the strange and unexplainable events occurring at their new home. The hidden truths she reveals about the family may tear it apart more than any specter...

Purchase A Mother’s Torment at Amazon.com

Xavier Poe Kane is a former door gunner on the International Space Station. When not making the galaxy safe for democracy, he writes whatever weirdness comes to mind.

He currently lives in the woods with his wife, Morticia, and two

dogs, Chuck Norris and the threelegged Jabba the Hutt. Thanks to the GI Bill, he has an MFA in Popular Fiction Writing & Publishing from Emerson College.

A Mother’s Torment is available as a paperback at Amazon.com. n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 13

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14 | February 2024

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‘I Could Have Had a Relationship!’

T

here’s a 1921 comic strip by cartoonist Claire Briggs where a husband, struggling with one of those blue moods, finds his wife recounting how one of her friends complimented him as “the most interesting man she ever knew” “with wonderful eyes.” He wanders back across the house and his whole mood for the day changed for the better.

This suggests that onlookers can never really know what’s going on inside another person, no matter how well you know them, what hidden terrors or disappointments lurk in their memories that haunt them. Little things, like an unexpected compliment or kindness, can prick the encircling bubble that blackens a day.

“We are relationship starved,” said Dr. Richard Brewer, a clinical psychologist with the Clark Community Mental Health Center in Monett, citing lots of research and even columns in The New York Times. “I’ve noticed since COVID a marked increase in people avoiding eye contact. Most people make every effort to avoid contact, and it’s getting worse.”

People are still social creatures, he continued, needing interaction while at the same time running from it. Pro-

Story by Murray Bishoff

fessor Martin Seligman in his book Character Values and Virtues reviewed a dozen character values and virtues valued through the ages that are now being ignored, forsaken and forgotten, qualities that factor into love.

“A trauma researcher,” Brewer said, “has found there are two ingredients to recovery from trauma, love and exposure. When he talks about ‘love,’ it’s not the gushy stuff, but ‘I regard you as an important human being.’ That doesn’t bode well in the ‘post-truth, post-modern, no absolute philosophies’ of the day. I’m not sure love is possible with those modern notions.”

Brewer turned to the observations of Henri Nouwen, author of The Wounded Healer, who suggested each of us as a fellow struggler along the way, and building a relationship is how to access the troubles and the emptiness.

“I’m not here to fix you,” Brewer said, using Nouwen’s approach. “I’m here to collaborate with you, and we as partners can work together.”

This dovetails into Carl Rogers’ person-centered therapy of unconditional positive regard, i.e. Love. This would be the Greek notion of “agape love,” not physical love, but closer to the love of a parent.

Healing and filling emptiness in today’s world

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 15

“Relationship as love involves all kinds of ingredients, including collaboration,” Brewer said. “How do you have a relationship without love?

“If I think about collaboration, most of the time we think about compromise.

I disagree. Healthy relationships are primarily collaborative, where both parties win. Compromise means one or both are conceding. Collaboration is preferable.

You must have a way to have exposure that is heard and responded to empathetically in order for healing to take place.”

One of the best-known examples of failed collaboration comes from Job in the Bible. As Job goes through a series of traumas, his friends come and sit with him, saying nothing. Then after a time, they stopped being supportive and began to tell him how everything that happened was his fault.

Brewer observed, “I can do some-

thing that contributes to my suffering, but I still need someone to hear me, and love me, in order to earn the right to challenge me. Job’s friends didn’t do that.”

A better model has emerged from research by John and Julie Gottman with the Gottman Institute. The Gottman method of couples therapy seeking to disarm conflicting communication emerged from watching thousands of couples argue in a lab. They identified the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse that tear relationships apart: criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling.

“Contempt is the most destructive,” Brewer said. “[The Gottman’s] suggest that is a marriage killer, and found it had a 90 percent predictive rate.”

They also found the four powerful tools of healing are: empathy, understand-

ing, affection and respect. These lead to intimacy and affirmation in a powerful pattern.

“When contempt begins to overwhelm a relationship, you tend to forget entirely your patterns of positive qualities,” Brewer continued. “Contempt erodes the bond that holds a couple together. It’s impossible to hold a relationship together when it’s deprived of respect.

“The antidote lies in building fondness and admiration. Put more simply, you catch more flies with sugar than vinegar.”

Couples in crisis who get divorced, Brewer noted, are likely to still be unhappy five years later, according to research, whereas those who stick it out and work through their problems are more likely to be happier five years down the road.

Unhappiness manifests itself in different ways. Brewer noted that people who always focus on the current issues and cannot look past that to the ingredients that pulled the couple together in the first place, are not likely to break out of the rut.

Couples in crisis who get divorced are likely to still be unhappy five years later, according to research, whereas those who stick it out and work through their problems are more likely to be happier five years down the road.

16 | February 2024

Comicstrip by Claire Briggs | public domain original United States copyright prior to 1923

“Often one of the partners has a litany of complaints,” he said. “If you ask what [the complainer] contributed to the breakdown, if that person can’t name anything, there’s not much hope.

A person needs to focus on happy times instead of being stuck in the moment.”

Getting past crisis management, maintaining a positive, healthy, nurturing relationship has its own strategies.

Brewer said everyone needs 20 seconds of hugging every day for starters, a way of making contact without being sexual.

“We’re designed and built for connection. Until we’re connected, there’s really no current. Rather than be reactive, be deliberate.

Have that deliberateness characterized by kindness.

Use the other four-letter words – love, kind, hope, safe and open. Replace those forbidden four-letter words that have become so common that they are no longer forbidden with better ones.

“My father,” Brewer noted, “was a patient man. My mother was a bit of a pistol. She got off on him verbally. He would sit and take it. She’d come back later and ask why he did not respond.

He’d said, “If I say it or do it, I can’t take it back.’

“Often we’re oblivious to what’s going on with another person, or some-

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 17

thing has been riled up in us that we have not addressed, and we get at a hair-trigger point in responding that is not in a relationship building way. My father’s advice offered a good benchmark.”

Being more kind and cordial can be disarming, reducing tension at the outset.

“The way I live my life and meet people is to greet them and say, ‘Hello,’ regardless of their status,” he continued. “We’re fellow human beings, fellow strugglers along the way. As a psychologist, I recognize that I am a wounded healer, looking at other people who have been wounded.”

While many people look for a substitute for what’s missing in their lives, like sexual contact, Brewer said, “Bottom line, it comes down to relationships. It’s like the old TV commercial – ‘I could have had a V8 [vegetable drink]!’ It’s very common for one partner to want sex and doesn’t get it, and that builds up relationship killers’ contempt and resentment. Instead, there’s the response – ‘I could have had a relationship, something really meaningful, and I missed out.’”

The word “know” in Greek is “relationship.” When Jesus in the Gospel of John 17:3 says, “Know my Father and His son,” he is saying “be in a relationship with God.” That is the key, Brewer said, to growing together and nurturing each other. If people are indeed relationship starved, rebuilding those connections can heal what’s missing.

Brewer advised addressing unseen needs and wants, the pains that may linger under the surface, with kindness, unconditional love, not being too quick to react and saying something regrettable. Do better than Job’s friends.

Say that one kind word, as simple as “please” and “thank you” to a harried store clerk, or make the compliment that can turn a day around. n 18 | February 2024

HEALTHY CONNECTION

Get smart about goal setting

by Jessica M. Gilkey, RD, LD/N

Jessica is a clinical outpatient dietitian for CoxHealth serving the Monett and Springfield areas. She has been in practice for 10 years and has a background in military medical administration. She enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband and surrounding family in Mt. Vernon and the St. Louis area. They have recently relocated back from Florida and are happy to be ‘home’ to their Missouri roots.

Love, Your Heart February is a month full of emotions, such as love, compassion, sharing, and giving fun gifts to the people we care about.

Moreover, it is American Heart Month, a month devoted to maintaining heart health, which includes discovering the different lifestyle adjustments we can do to improve our general cardiovascular well-being.

Many people are unaware of the foods (and lifestyle modifications) that can support heart health and aid in the body’s healing process when anything goes wrong.

Here is a quick guide to move you in the right direction.

Focus on whole foods. Try to swap as many processed food items as possible with fresh fruit, veggies, quality meats, healthy fats, and water. Processed foods have more preservatives, specifically salt, and added sugars.

According to The American Heart Association (2023) American adults consume an average of 17 teaspoons every day, more than two to three times the recommended amount for men and women with soft drink contributing the most at 47 percent of all added sugar intake. In simple terms, less ingredients equals more nutrient value and less inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

Move. Make fitness a part of

your lifestyle and family affairs.

Choose activities that have variety, balance, and moderation in mind. At least 30 minutes of moderate activity most of the days of the week will do (Ellis, 2022). Regular physical activity can assist with a variety of risk factors such as weight, cholesterol levels, stress, and type 2 diabetes (NIH, 2023). Children can also build physical, mental, and social skills along with a lifestyle of foundational healthy habits (Ellis, 2022).

Manage your stress. Stress

can serve as a trigger for a heart attack in some people (NIH, 2023). I have seen many patients with unmanaged stress as un-

derlying issues for not only heart health but a variety of other health issues as well. Talking to a counselor, participating in stress management programs, being physically active, or talking with friends, family, and community systems can be great ways to manage your stress effectively (NIH, 2022).

Sleep. This sounds simple, but

most of us are not getting consistent adequate sleep throughout the night. Adults should be getting around seven to nine hours per night and according to recent research the average person gets less than seven hours with 50 to 70 million adults in the U.S. being affected by a sleep disorder (SingleCare Team

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 19

2023). Furthermore, getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Sleep is the body’s rest and repair time along with a natural detoxification and reset period to set you up for better moods, lower inflammation, better metabolic function, and a stronger immune system overall (Life Extension, 2020).

Quit smoking. Although we have a lot of knowledge of the negative health implications of smoking in today’s day and age, you would be surprised how many people are still utilizing this to help cope with daily life.

While this is not an easy habit to break, there can be a huge positive impact on your health as you reduce this harmful substance. For assistance you can reach out to QUIT@coxhealth. com (for local connections) or 1-800-QUIT-NOW for U.S. resources.

Scan the QR code to send an email to QUIT@coxhealth.com

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20 | February 2024

In conclusion, heart health is not a linear path for prevention or healing. I have seen all aspects above affect my patient’s health in a negative way and bringing them all into balance is the best recipe for longevity. If you are struggling, get support and reach out to your local health professionals to get assistance. Heart disease is still the number one disease to take our lives in the U.S. but with knowledge, support, and taking action, there is a lot we can do to prevent this statistic from continuing (American Heart Association, 2021). n

Celebrate your victories in February

PARENTING COLUMN

by Meagan Ruffing

Meagan Ruffing is a licensed mental health therapist and marriage and family counselor.

She plans on doing all the things on this list to help her get through Valentine’s Day and enjoy what the month of February has to offer.

Simple Tips for Those Who Feel Sad When the Holidays Come Around

Holidays are known for bringing a lot of joy to the world, but they can also be a challenge for those who may be going through hard times.

How do you celebrate events like Valentine’s Day and act joyous, when you feel like you’re barely making it inside?

It’s normal to feel lonely at times and to think you’re the only one going through difficult things but the truth is, there are so many other people who are feeling the same way. Oftentimes, we don’t talk about it except for with a handful of people or no one at all.

Sometimes, you might reach out to a therapist if you have established an alliance with one, but for many, having to do one more thing like finding a professional to talk to can feel exhausting.

As a licensed mental health professional, I hear many of my clients

report feeling sad and “down” over the holidays. Sometimes they know exactly why and other times, they wonder why they’re so depressed when they have so much to be thankful for. I’m happy to report that both sides of this are normal. Here are some simple ways to validate your feelings while acknowledging the sadness that may be hanging around.

Journal. Journaling helps you get things out of your head and onto paper. This is a great way to get clarity about what you’re feeling so it’s not just hanging out in your mind with nowhere to go. I encourage my clients to get a new journal if they can, to help with the intentionality of creating a new habit or building on an old one.

Identify your support system.

Write your name in the middle of a piece of paper and draw a couple of circles around it (each circle being larger than the previous

one). Write the names down of those closest to you in the circle nearest to your name. Move to the next circle and identify people who you are close to but may not feel as close to as the ones you already wrote down. Continue this exercise to help identify who you have in your life that might be able to provide some support when you need it. Different people can provide different types of support.

This tool can help you figure out what you need and who in your life can help you get that.

Get moving. I know the holidays are not the ideal time to get outside and run or to sign up for an exercise class when you haven’t been to the gym in years but stick with me for a minute. Exercising is essential for brain health and if you’re suffering from depression and anxiety, it’s even more important that you get those endorphins going. Think about how you want

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 21

Happy Valentines Day!

to feel next week, next month, or even this time next year. Work backwards and figure out what you must do to get to where you want to be. This can help with motivation and determination.

Do something nice for someone else. When we do

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nice things for others, it has the power to take the focus off ourselves. This is important when we’re feeling down and hopeless.

Mustering up the energy to donate, volunteer, or do a random act of kindness can be the shift we need to get out of our own way and appreciate the things we do have. I know it’s not easy and I know it takes a certain amount of something to do this, but I’ve been where you are, and I know this can help.

Read or listen to a new audio book. I still haven’t been

able to read a book from cover to cover since my divorce. My mind seems to wander when it’s idle for too long and I get antsy. I recently started listening to audio books and that has helped me get through a couple of new titles that I’d been wanting to read for a while now. One of these days I will attempt to read a book that I can hold in my hands. For now, listening to them and going on long walks has been somewhat of a healing time for me. What is something you haven’t been able to do since your divorce but would really like to get back to?

Hang in there this month. It’s a New Year and doing something nice for yourself will remind you that there is only one you in this world. Take hope in knowing that tomorrow is a new day and seasons change, both literally and figuratively. n

22 | February 2024

The shopping Center at Chappell Drive and U.S. 60 in Monett is getting a facelift. A new modern exterior is going up and several units are currently move-in ready.

A Pretty New Look

L

ocal property owner Libby Grisham is making a move to add a little beauty and aesthetic advantage to Monett as she gives a little facelift to one of the community’s shopping centers.

The center, located at the intersection of Chappell Drive and Route 60, across the street from Walmart, has undergone renovations this winter and several units are currently available for tenants.

The shopping center was built in 2008 and 2009 to accommodate Dollar General, which moved to a new, standalone location on U.S. 60.

The space offers a total of eight units, with a couple currently occupied by local businesses.

“Our future plans are to do this facelift and get it looking nice over there,” Grisham said. “We like the more updated, modern look” and hope it will

Story by Mike Gervais

help attract new businesses to the area or convince some established businesses to move into a new home.

Grisham said most of the eight units are approximately1,500 square feet, and the larger space that was once occupied by Dollar General is approximately 7,500 square feet.

“What our plan is, if we can’t get a larger, national tenant into that large space, we can break it into three different spaces,” Grisham said.

As for the other units, “what we would like to see go into there is more of your offices, or family-owned boutique-type stores” that offer a little character and local economic stimulation to the area.

She added that the hope is that the shopping center will provide a unique opportunity for locally or regionally owned business owners to interact with customers.

The property owners at the Chappell Drive shopping center have several units available, ranging in size from 1,500 square feet to 7,500 square feet. Owner Libby Grisham said she is hoping to see family-owned businesses move into the center.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 23

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“With the exception of the old Dollar General location, most of the units are move-in-ready right now.

She also said the shopping center isn’t just for retail stores.

Grisham said she has received interest from the food service industry to rent property in the shopping center for things like restaurants or coffee shops. While those types of businesses will need to make some additional improvements, like installing walkin freezers, ovens and stoves, there are plenty of opportunities and space available for food service in the center.

In addition to the new facelift the property is receiving, Grisham said there is one big bonus to the shopping center.

“It’s got the three L’s, location, location, location,” she said, explaining that the center is on U.S. 60, in an area of town where Monett residents are already doing their shopping, going out to eat, filling prescriptions and generally doing commerce.

Another benefit is the hands-on, personal approach she takes to doing business.

“We are small-town landlords,” she said. “We have a special place in our hearts for these small towns and the small-town businesses. I’m from Aurora, so I have a special place in my heart for Monett.”

That means that businesses can expect to have an attentive landlord who is not only willing to invest in their own property, but also the community as a whole.

“We have shopping centers in several communities, and what we’re going for is something a little more upscale.”

Anyone with an interest in the units available at the Chappell Drive shopping center are welcome to contact Grisham for more information at 417-293-8977. n

A grandmother’s ring transformed into a simple and elegant pendant for all the ladies of the family by Burrus Jewelers.

I

f you are looking for something unique to give to your loved one for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, etc., Jerry Burrus may be the man you want to see. Jerry, who owns Burrus Jewelers in Mt. Vernon, has been making customized jewelry for almost 50 years.

Jerry said he was inspired to go into jewelry by another master craftsman.

“I had the opportunity of being able to sit with the finest clock makers in the United States and learn clock repair,” he said. “And kind of one thing led to another and that’s when I decided that’s kind of what I’d like to do, become a watchmaker.”

In pursuit of his trade, Jerry went to school at Oklahoma State University.

“I went to OSU for three and a half years learning basically business, watch repair and jewelry manufacturing and ended up sitting with the master bench jeweler for a bit to get my masters,” he said. “And (I) got my masters in watch making. I also went to school at Gemological Institute of America and became a gemologist.”

Jerry is not alone in his profession.

His granddaughter, Charicia Prater, has followed in his footsteps and is now also a master jeweler.

Story by Steve Chapman

Photo courtesy of Burrus Jewelers Facebook page

Blend of the Old and the New

Charicia Prater, Jerry Burrus’s granddaughter and the future owner of Burrus Jewlers, shows off some of the items readily available for purchase in the store.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 25

A master jeweler herself, Charicia shows how she makes items for customers.

Charicia, who began working in her grandfather’s jewelry shop at age 15, continues as a master bench jeweler.

26 | February 2024

“She’s gone from being my pickle girl to my little assistant to being a master bench jeweler,” Jerry said.

Charicia said she got her start by doing some of the cleanup work at Burrus Jewelers at 15.

“I was looking for a job,” she said, “and then (he) told me I could come sweep the floors. And I thought (he was) joking, and (he was) serious. So, I started coming in here and dusting and cleaning and stuff like that a couple days a week.”

Jerry and Charicia can take practically any idea that a customer has and make a custom piece of jewelry out of it.

“I feel like custom is really kind of our niche,” Charicia said. “We do a lot of customs in a year. Basically, people will come in and (they will usually) have either stones or their gold that they want to use - sentimental gold from Grandma or something like that - that they want to turn into something different.”

“What we do is sit down, and we’ll talk with the customer, see kind of what they’re looking for and then go in and do a computer-generated picture of what it’s going to look like and then give them an estimate.”

Charicia said that, with the use of computer technology, they can help the customer get a better idea of what the finished product will be.

“It makes it really easy and efficient,” she said, “because then what we do is we just take those pictures. We also have video (with) a 360-degree view of what it’s going to look like, and we send all that information to them. And then if we need to revise anything, we can revise it, change it.”

Jerry said he has made thousands of custom jewelry pieces over the years, and each one has a story to it.

Jerry made this ring by combining the wedding bands of the customer’s parents and the mane of a horse that had belonged to the customer.

This garnet ring was made at the request of one of Jerry’s customers.

For example, there was one woman who came to him with what she considered to be the three most important things she owned: her mother’s wedding band, her father’s wedding band, and a clipping from the mane of a beloved horse she’d just had put down.

She asked Jerry to combine those three items into a ring for her.

“We took the mother’s wedding band (and) made it to fit her,” Jerry said, “and we took the dad’s wedding band, and we sized it down to where it would just fit over her mother’s wedding band. Then we split it in half, separated it … so we had a channel, and then we braided the horse’s mane and put it around the ring and then put a sealing over it.”

While he might have been filling an order for a customer, Jerry said it was actually more than just business.

The present and future of Burrus Jewelers come together as Jerry Burrus and his granddaughter, Charicia, pose for a picture.

Jerry has made thousands of custom jewlery pieces over the years, each with a unique story.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 27

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“When she came to pick that up, that was quite an emotional time, not only for her, but for us, knowing that we accomplished what she wanted,” he said.

Jerry has also created other custom pieces. For example, when his friend Mark Priebe, who while working as a Springfield Police officer was run over and left paralyzed in June of 2020, Jerry created a line of “Priebe Strong” necklaces that he sold, with the proceeds over cost of each purchase going to benefit the Priebe family. The response was overwhelming, with orders coming in from across the country.

Charicia said that a custom order can take from six to eight weeks to fill, so it is important to place orders well ahead of time for the occasion on which the item is needed. However, Jerry said, for those who don’t have that much time, he has plenty of jewelry in his store to choose from.

Looking to the future of Burrus Jewelers, especially the day when Charicia takes over, Jerry said it will be hard to let go of the reins of his business, but he believes it will be in good hands with his granddaughter in charge. “(Burrus Jewelers) has been here for 47 years,” he said. “I believe that it will probably be here another 47.”

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Burrus Jewelers is located at 107 South Market Street, in Mt. Vernon’s historic town square. For more information, or to place an order, call (417)466-2910, email Jerry at burrusjewelers@gmail.com, or visit the Burrus Jewelers page on Facebook. n

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Shared Interests and Watching Your Tone of Voice

At Roaring River, early 1970s, with first dog Buckwheat 30 | February 2024

“You need to have your own hobbies.

We honor each other’s freedom a lot. I demand mine,” Caren said.

“You can’t do it by yourself,” Bob added.

“You have to have a lot of help.”

Bob and Caren Journagan offer tips for a long marriage

T

hey say that couples who live together for decades begin to look alike. That’s an arguable premise, but it seems that longtime couples gravitate toward common interests, and converging interests support long-running relationships. That may be one key in the marriage of Bob and Caren Journagan of rural Aurora.

Both grew up around Aurora. Born in Springfield, Bob and his parents, Cliff and Lena June Journagan, moved to Carthage when his father took a manager job for Safeway, then moved again to Aurora when Bob was 3. Caren, daughter of Roy “Doc” and Georgia Lee Campbell, was born in her family home south of Aurora, attended the Hickory Grove country school through eighth grade then to Aurora High School. She was a grade behind Bob. Both played in the high school band, she on French horn and he on trumpet. The band had more than 120 players, so they were only remotely aware of each other. Bob was a stand-out football player, thus known by everyone. To this day he is considered one of the best athletes ever to come out of Aurora.

“That was the last year before state

Story by Murray Bishoff

Journagan Wedding photo, May 1969 football rankings,” Bob said. “My senior year we went undefeated.”

He went on to Southwest Missouri State College in Springfield to play, and Caren followed the next year. When she reached college, they began dating again.

Bob’s life took a turn his senior year when he hurt his knee and underwent three knee surgeries, when an ACL injury was not well understood. His last surgery was in Oklahoma City, when Warren Spawn and other professional athletes received treatment.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 31

Lena, Caren, Bob, Evelyn, June, Georgia, Sam, Maria, Roy and Travis “He was a mess,” Caren recalled. “He couldn’t play football again. He was living in a bar and didn’t go to class. (Bob said he worked at the bar but admitted his lack of direction.) I think I pulled him out of the gutter. I said, ‘We need to get you graduated.’” He did, with a 2.0 grade point average.

She continued, “I graduated with a degree in education the next year. I think he was my first student. We lived in Springfield for 10 years and had our first baby there. We were married quite a few years before we had any children.

He was enough.”

Bob started a career in sales, driving back to Aurora to work for MWM Color Press. His father ran the Coast to

32 | February 2024

Coast store in Aurora and asked him to fill a sales position that opened.

“I decided might as well,” Bob said.

“I started Oct. 13, 1976 (a Friday). I didn’t know anything about hardware and lumber. We also sold a lot of guns and sporting goods. Old-time hardware stores had toys and glassware, inventory stacked to the ceiling. We completely ran out of room and expanded into nearby buildings. In those days, Aurora had five hardware stores and three lumber yards. In 1990 when TapJac closed, there weren’t any left. We had changed to True Value Hardware in 1990, bought Wilks Lumber Company and moved out of the downtown square on Dec. 13, 1993 (also a Friday).”

Bob worked in the hardware store for 46 years. His father, whose natural talent was in public relations, worked into his 80s, living to age 96. Bob said his mother, the bookkeeper, was “the brains of the outfit. She told us what to do to make some money.”

In the meantime, Caren taught in Springfield for five years, going on maternity leave with their first child, Travis, in 1976. Their second son, Samuel, followed. She began working part-time as an elementary art teacher, a program she started in Aurora, then served as an elementary counselor for 25 years.

Mutual interests converged with family. Caren had weekends and summers off. Bob worked weekends. Going

into work later in the day, he took the boys to pre-school, the only dad who did, and would later coach both Little League and soccer. He started the Lawrence County Youth Soccer League in Aurora, seeing soccer as a good sport for his boys to start.

Traveling to games with the boys became an integral family routine. Once Travis advanced to Pony League after Little League, Caren took him to games while Bob stayed with Sam. Travis played AAU basketball on an area team, the Missouri Magic, which won two state titles, competed in Virginia Beach and Oklahoma City, as well as sweeping the Show Me Games in Missouri. The parents began traveling to the distant games. Travis went on to play football in Albuquerque, while Sam played at Missouri State.

“There was one year,” Caren recalled, “we watched Sam play Friday night, then we caught a flight Saturday to Tulsa to reach Travis’s game. We’d fly home Sunday night and go off to work on Monday. There were a lot of late nights. We didn’t want to miss that for the world.”

Bob credited some of his boys’ football success to better equipment than he’d had.

Travel and scheduling offered its strains. Both sets of the boys’ grandparents lived nearby and pitched in to help when needed. Caren credited her parents for giving her the time to finish her master’s degree in the middle of all this.

The role of grandparents has stuck with them, shaping Bob and Caren’s interest in staying close to grandchildren.

Sam’s family remains in Springfield.

They visit Travis’s family two or three times a year, now living in the state of Maine, having moved there from Albuquerque, and both boys’ families

come to visit the parents. The love of travel has also migrated into Bob and Caren’s entertainment regimen. Bob has been to 48 states and looks forward to completing all 50 soon, still needing to visit Alaska and Wisconsin.

“We like to hike and canoe,” Caren said. “Since 1970 we’ve been all over, either floating or gone in Jon Boats or rafts in eight or nine states, from Utah to South Carolina, Florida and Maine.

It’s something the boys liked, and we do it now. Travis had a business renting kayaks and giving guided tours. We’ve gone to seven national parks, and on one trip ended up at the Grand Canyon.”

The couple lives only a few miles from Flat Creek in Barry County, where Bob, Caren and the boys’ families would go rafting.

“We take all our camping gear with us,” Bob said. “We’d do three or four nights on the river. Travis’s family did it for seven nights. We did it for one.

My son asked, how’d you sleep. I said, ‘Like a baby. I woke up crying every two hours.’ To camp like that at age 74, I’m lucky to be able to do it.”

Bob sold the hardware store two years ago then retired a year and a half

ago. “So far it’s worked out,” he said, though he still goes in from time to time and claims discounts on purchases, taking the opportunity to see old friends and colleagues. Additional surgeries on his knee has slowed him down, presently giving him a cane for rehabilitating from a knee replacement.

Caren, who admits being married to a school teacher “has got to be hard,” recommended surrounding yourself with friends. “I have a group of women I see a lot. I told Bob to play golf, go fishing, ‘do your own thing’ if I go to Maine for a week. You need to have your own hobbies. We honor each other’s freedom a lot. I demand mine.”

“You can’t do it by yourself,” Bob added. “You have to have a lot of help.”

Bob’s other activities have included being active in the football alumni, serving 22 years on the board of the Aurora hospital and helping to start the Community Foundation chapter in Aurora.

They also share other activities, like singing in the choir at the First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, going to weekly choir practices, taking on church leadership roles. They maintain their remodeled vintage farmhouse on more than 200 country acres in Hobson’s Hollow, offering many opportunities for watching wildlife and experiencing nature. They also have four dogs and a cat in their immediate household.

As for relationship advice, Caren recalled talking to Bob’s parents, who were married for 60 years. “He said, ‘Tell her you love her every day, and watch your tone of voice.’”

Bob added. “I think my dad’s advice is as good as it gets. If a guy can’t do that, he can just smile. You can always go out and yell at the dogs.” n

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 33

CUTEST PET

February 2024 contest winner

Meeka, rescue kitten and fur baby of Della Mae Stouder, of Cassville

Meeka Email your pet’s photo to: monettcommunity@gmail.com If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible.

Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information.

34 | February 2024

RESCUED, MY FAVORITE BREED

Purrfectly lovable

See details about sponsoring bricks, which will be used in a medication garden at EdenAnimalHaven.org

by Christa Stout

Adoption fee includes spay/neuter, testing for Feline Leukemia, age-appropriate vaccines, deworming, flea prevention and a microchip with a lifetime registration.

Cashew and Eirik’s adoption fees are sponsored by a kind donor.

CASHEW

Cats Catch Up My trip this time was supposed to be to Brighton and Eden Animal Haven, but the weather disagreed with a trip, so Leslie and I had a lovely phone conversation, catching up on everything happening in the cat world.

As usual, Leslie and her husband Bill have been working hard and making improvements. But let me just say something here, although I have mentioned Bill before, I never gave him credit for how hard he works for the Cat Sanctuary.

Where Leslie is the computer and fund raising person (among many other jobs), Bill does so much to keep everything in outstanding shape, such as maintenance of all facilities, mowing, garbage duty and anything in between. He even steps in and helps out, when necessary with litter box cleaning. Leslie says that the sanctuary couldn’t survive without him and he never takes a dime for all this work.

Leslie told me that 2023 was a tough year for all rescues and shelters, with lower than normal adoption rates and higher than normal return rates, possibly still a fallout from Covid. But the year

SPECIAL EVENT

Cute Cashew was rescued with a colony of cats from a dismantled homeless camp. Her life of living outside near a busy highway is now over.

She is an unusual dirty-orange female tabby with round amber-orange eyes. She is very loving and friendly, but on the shy side on the first meeting. She would do best in a quieter home.

Rock the Cat’s Paw SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 4-9 pm at the Elks Lodge, Springfield, Mo. – Live music, games, silent auction and a food truck

ended for Eden Animal Haven on a great note, they had so many adoptions in December that they almost caught up with their entire waiting list, and it was a long list. Kitty season will start in about February, so this is a good time to be able to catch up.

Congratulations!

If you read the January 2023 column, you may remember that Eden took in 17 cats from a homeless area which needed to be vacated due to new construction. At the time of this column, seven cats had been adopted leaving 10 in their care.

But, during the year, an additional nine cats had been adopted, leaving Cashew, who was a little shy and the smallest of all. However, since then she has blossomed into a beautiful and happy little girl who would hopefully be adopted soon.

HARKON

Adorable Harkon came to us after being left at the emergency clinic with a prolapsed rectum.

He has since had several surgeries, and now he appears to be good-as-new! He is very outgoing and friendly, and loves to wag his tail to show his enthusiasm for life.

EIRIK

For warmth and shelter, Eirik would find refuge under various porches. His broken leg is now healed and he is ready for adoption. He is very affectionate and would make a great “lap cat.”

He is also quite a talker, and will let you know when he wants something.

ConnectionMO.com | Connection Magazine | 35

Leslie happily reported that thanks to a grant from the Bissell Pet Foundation assisting low income homes with spay and neuter costs, the community assistance has started.

Whenever there is a spot open on a spay/neuter clinic, the spot is made available to the low income homes. So glad to see this is successful.

It is difficult to get a program such as this going because there is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians. Most veterinarians are working long hours and adding additional hours for non profit programs is tough to manage.

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36 | February 2024

The feral cat barn Leslie and Bill had planned now has five residents who were at risk of losing their life, sometimes due to neighbors who are not cat fans, possibly also because they perceive feral cats as a risk to their small livestock. The cats, of course, are spayed/neutered and given appropriate vaccinations. Although these cats are not snuggly kittens, they also do not create any danger to other animals.

The most wonderful news was that 2023 was Eden’s 10 year anniversary. They had a party where they disclosed they had saved over 2000 cats during that period and over 300 annually. Leslie was delighted to see how much of a difference their sanctuary is making. Keep up the great work! n Connect with the latest on the Eden Animal Haven Facebook page

Getting Back on the Fitness Wagon

T

‘Small, achievable goals’ are the key Story and photos by Steve Chapman

his year, millions of Americans made getting in shape and losing weight at least one of their New Year’s resolutions. By now, almost half of them have given up on that goal.

A poll conducted by Forbes Health on Oct. 23, 2023, of 1,000 American adults found that 48 percent of them resolved to improve fitness in the New Year, while 34 percent resolved to lose weight and 32-percent resolved to improve their diet. In the same poll, 52 percent of the respondents said the New Year’s resolutions stayed for three months or less. Only one percent stuck with their resolutions for the full year.

Abigail Owens is fully aware of the struggle involved with getting in shape.

“I used to be about 360 pounds, and that was in 2017,” she said. “By 2019, I was still well over 300 pounds, and I was sleeping every night with a CPAP. I

couldn’t walk to my mailbox (because) my asthma was out of control, and I knew I needed some life changes.”

Knowing she couldn’t continue with her life as it was, Abigail resolved to change her lifestyle, beginning with her diet. She went on a “sugar detox” for a month, during which she ate more fruit and other alternatives instead.

“I won’t lie,” she said, “it was a rough month, but I made it through that. And it taught me a lot … about how I eat and how I evaluate food.”

After completing the one-month sugar detox, Abigail made a new goal to avoid sugar for two months, and then continued after that. Today, she has avoided eating sugar for four years.

Abigail also began exercising more, first by walking 8,000 steps around her house every day. As that got easier, she began adding to her activity level.

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“As I got a little bit better and a little better,” she said. “(Then) I got into yoga, and I would still keep walking and just doing more. And then as I (lost) a little more weight and feeling a little better, I started (using) five-pound dumbbells. And just kept building on that.”

As a result of her fitness odyssey, Abigail has lost 200 pounds and is now a personal trainer at the Monett YMCA, where she helps others on their fitness journeys.

Abigail said the reason most people quit their New Year’s resolutions to get in shape or lose weight, is they create unrealistic expectations for themselves, and when the desired results don’t appear as quickly as they were expecting, they feel continuing is pointless.

“I think sometimes (people are) wanting more instantaneous results, and that can be very frustrating,” she said. “Sometimes, the goal that they set, it’s not that it’s not achievable; it’s that it’s harder for them to achieve it (in the short term).”

To get back on track, Abigail said, people need to scale back their shortterm expectations of themselves and give themselves more realistic objectives.

“Start out by setting the small goals,” she said. “Small goals become big goals, and those can be easily achieved.

“When I set my goals a few years back, I didn’t set the goal that I was going to lose 200 pounds. I set the goal just to see (if I could) do one month not having sugar and just walking around the house, and seeing how that affects my health and see if that makes me feel better. And it did.”

Abigail also suggested that people increase their activity level by engaging

38 | February 2024

in activities that they like.

“Try and find something that you’re interested in,” she said. “You’re looking at what are your abilities, things that you enjoy? There are people that their happy place is just being in a pool.

(They) go to the Y (and) go to the indoor pool. They do the Water Walking and things like that.

“It’s just looking at what are your

interests? What do you want to do to make it a little more fun?”

Another tip Abigail shared was to make friends with people who share your interests. “(Get to know) some of the people in there,” she said. “Having a great group that supports you and loves seeing you come makes it easier, makes it more fun.”

Learn more on the website Monett Area YMCA The YMCA, Abigail added, has a wide variety of activities to choose from, including Silver Sneakers classes, yoga, body boxing, boot camp, cycling, water aerobics and more.

“We have a large range to fit anybody’s lifestyle, what they enjoy,” she said.

For those who need a little extra support or encouragement, Abigail said she is happy to help.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment I’ve been

(at the YMCA) these last two years, encouraging others,” she said, “because I didn’t do anything special, and anybody can do it. So, I love to encourage people, and I love to show them the tools (they can use) and help them get those goals.”

It’s also important to keep in mind that, if you have fallen off the fitness wagon, the best time to get back on is right now. You don’t have to wait until Jan. 1, 2025, to start again. n

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