Gallup Journey Magazine - April 2023

J ourney

A Project of the Southwest Indian Foundation

Art Show and Comp etition Saturday, April 15, 202 3 @ Red Rock Park

Open to McKi nley County Studen ts and Scho ols

-Third through Twelfth Grades

Monetary

DIVISIONS

Grades: (3- 5), (6-8), (9- 10), (11-12)

CLASSES

Drawing-Painting- Other Media

STUDENT DEADLINES

All student art pieces must be completed and turned in to their respective teacher/art teacher by April 5, 2023

TEACHER DEADLINES

All Art Teachers must submit their entries by April 14, 2023 at Red Rock Park- or earlier to the Gallup Cultural Center

APRIL 15, 2023

Judging Date -Announcement of Winners and Pick -up Date

Art Show 4:00 pm-7:00 pm @ Red Rock Park

APRIL 24-MAY 26, 2023

Winning Art on view at the Gallup Cultural Center near Juniper Bakery

Prizes

Artist and School Awards

Really Cool

Suupplies

This collaborative between SWIF, GCC and area schools will provide and opportuni ty for young artists to explo re and perpetuate a rtistic gifts that represent the multi -cultural talents of our community

Gall upCult uralCenter.org

HUNTSCAVENGEREASTER HUNT EASTER

Rug Auction

Weaving in Beauty - 6pm

Ceremonial Queen & Little Princess

Meet & Greet in front of Ceremonial Office at 206 W. Coal

“Peek-a-Boo”

Family Craft Activity in the Event Center

ART123 Gallery

Show Opening: 9th Annual Youth Art Show

Celebrating the power of arts education with over 170 artworks made by over 200 students from 14 schools across McKinley County.

LOOM Gallery

Tiny Art Project Celebration

Get a scavenger hunt guide from ART123 Gallery and find downtown Gallup’s six newest - and tiniest! - public art installations.

Philander Begay

RC Gorman Gallery

Rippy and the Sillyette’s Band

1st and Coal Ave - 7pm-9pm

Bright Life Arts Studio Dance Performance

1st and Coal Ave - 8pm

DJ Benally

Local Arts & Crafts Vendors

Food vendors

Food Trucks

For information contact: Dee Santillanes, Arts Crawl Coordinator Phone: 505-728-1055

Email: deesantillanes@gmail.com

Thoughts From The West End

I noticed on my phone that it gives me a weekly screen time summary. It is basically telling me how many hours that week I was looking at my phone. In the past I hadn’t really paid any attention to it and thought that it was probably somewhere below the average for an adult (didn’t know what that number actually was). Let me just say I was shocked at the amount of time I spent on my phone. That shocked feeling was a little more on the disgust side.

This made me take an inventory of what I use my phone for. Of course, I use in the traditional sense, as a phone. We don’t have a landline telephone in our home, and we use our phones to talk to family, friends, and on many occasions business. However, I know that I don’t talk on my phone anywhere near that dreaded screen time number. News, weather, social media, web browsing, Plants vs. Zombies, and Life 360 all get my attention daily. Even though I use my phone for what I call practical use I still couldn’t believe my number.

Lucky for me I come from a generation that did

not grow up with smart phones. I can remember life with no easy access to those things mentioned above, and in fact social media and web browsing did not even exist until my adult years. According to a study I found surfing the web puts the number for Americans at 7 hours per day. It is a very difficult number to grasp and one that is hard to believe, until you look around. Everywhere you go you see people looking at their phones. My kids are constantly on their phones, and it isn’t just for recreational uses, screen time is incorporated into schoolwork.

I survived my first 20 plus years of my life without a smart phone. It is easy to understand the benefits of this technology, but it does not mean I need or want to be the average user. This month I make it a challenge for anyone who wants to join me to significantly reduce the hours of screen time. My goal is two hours or less per day for the month of April. I will report my experience next month in Thoughts from the West End. -Jpa

The Ancient Way Café

El Morro RV Park and Cabins

Our days and hours of operation are Thursdays through Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm Come try our Smokehouse BBQ Omelet with our mouthwatering House-smoked Brisket, Huevos Rancheros, Ancient Way Burgers, Black Bean Burgers, Burritos, French Toast, and other breakfast and lunch delights. Plus we have a wide range of homemade desserts to entice you!

April Sunday Specials - Noon to 3 pm

April 2nd Swedish Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Veggies, and Roll

April 9th Baked Cod Parmesan with Linguini Alfredo and French Bread

April 16th Beef Carnitas, Spanish Rice, and 3-Bean Salad

April 23rd Chicken & Waffle, Mashed Potatoes/ Gravy, and Maple Butter

April 30th Smoked Pork Ribs, Potato Salad and Cole Slaw

sudoku

When you finish these puzzles, bring them to our office at 210 E. Aztec Ave, оr take a pic with your phone and email it to gallupjourney@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include your name.

March Master Finishers

DK & Footies

Stephen Mahnke

N.T.N.

Sylvia Analla

E Skeet

Casuse Peters

Jordyn Manning

Libby J

L James

Maureen Bia

Hilda Kendall

Lucky Charms

Michelle Skeets

Joe Peterman

Michael Johnson

Thomas Gomez

Ashley Cameron Waffles

Diedra Gonzales

Kerrie Chee

Navajo Khalifa

Steph J

2Quick4u!

Sara Landavazo

Valerie Barker

Gina Willetto

Pepita

JB

Joseph Menini

LiDeja Jones

Terri Williams

Charley Benally

Michelle Wilson Skeets

Elmer Williams

Duane Yazzie

A Burbank

Alberta B

8 Consider Coaching Lynn Isaacson

14 Baby’s First Laugh Michele Laughing Reeves

16 Local Author’s Book On Gallup Wins

Prestigious Award Chuck Van Drunen

20 Did It Rain Where You Are? Kimi Ishikawa

22 Spring Landscape Maintenance Edith Iwan

26 Earth Day! Betsy Windisch

34 “Unbreakable” Kenneth Riege 36 Walking In Beauty Daisy Arsenault

Thanks to our Contributors this month:

Lynn Isaacson

Michele Laughing Reeves

Kimi Ishikawa

Edith Iwan

Betsy Windisch

Kenneth Riege

Cyndi Jarvison

Todd McBroom

Dr.Vicki Handfield

Gallup High School Girls Basketball Team

Publishers:

Daisy & Jason Arsenault

Chuck & Jenny Van Drunen

40 Event Calendar

42 Day Trip Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano

46 People Reading

48 Grow Your Business by Filling Your Small Business Tips Toolkit Cyndi Jarvison

50 Q & A For Todd McBroom, Gallup High School Head Girls Basketball Coach

52 Introvert Exercise Plan Dr. Vicki Handfield

54 Opinion Poll: Gallup High School Girls Basketball Team

Art Director: Christine Carter

Do you have a cool local story you want to share with the Journey? Send your story to gallupjourney@gmail.com

Gallup Journey Magazine 505-722-3399 • 210 E. Aztec Ave. • PO Box 2187 gallupjourney.com • gallupjourney@gmail.com

Don’t want to miss an issue, subscribe to the Gallup Journey - one year $45.

April 2023 Issue #225

Cover Photo Courtesy of Eric Lee

All Rights Reserved. No articles, photos, illustrations, advertisements, or design elements may be used without expressed written permission from the publisher, Gallup Journey Inc. This publication is distributed with the understanding that the information presented is from many sources, for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to accuracy, originality, or completeness. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in making product endorsements, recommending health care or treatments, providing instruction, or recommending that any reader participate in any activity or behavior described in the publication. The opinions of the contributors to this publication belong to them and do not reflect the opinions of the editors or publishers.

Hard Easy

Consider Coaching

By Lynn Isaacson

Many years (and dozens of pounds) ago, I refereed a true boatload of recreational and high school soccer matches. At the time, attendance at a preseason high school rules clinic was mandatory. Although it was repetitive, every rule clinic included a presentation by an NMAA official on the benefits of extra-curricular activities for high school students. We were informed that those who participated in high school activities had GPAs that were almost a full point higher than their non-participant peers. Their referral to discipline was almost non-existent. They graduated at a much higher rate. Their attendance rates did not even compare to the attendance rates of non-participants. I think you get the point. NMAA made it abundantly clear that by refereeing, we were providing a huge benefit to a significant number of young people.

But there is never a need for referees unless others step up to the plate to coach. And as much as I enjoyed my time as a referee, I enjoyed my time as a coach as much, or more. I was lucky; I started my coaching career (in 1989), when parents were willing to step up and help, regardless of their experience or abilities. I vividly remember when the first team Craig Pirlot and I coached, the Sunwest Bank Amigos U-10 Gallup Soccer League team, took the field at one of the Ford Canyon Park fields. We had coached for all of two weeks, and thought we were ready to pace the sidelines and exhort our team to victory. Then the referee came up and asked us to put our team into their positions. I looked at Craig. He looked at me. We both realized we were clueless. Neither of us had ever played soccer before, never even gone to a soccer match. So, this idea of positions was pretty foreign to both of us. All we knew was that we needed a goalkeeper, so we assigned one player to that position and told everyone else to have fun. You may be surprised to read this, but we had a perfect season that year: the Amigos went 0-9 (we undoubtedly would have gone 0-10, but we had a weather cancellation the last match of the season).

Craig and I went on to coach together for another 14 years. We attended every coaching clinic we could sign up for. We ultimately obtained our national coaching

licenses and ended up coaching our daughters to a thirdplace finish at the New Mexico Open Cup. That team was the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by the players, and Craig and I always marveled at their commitment. We practiced every Saturday afternoon and every Sunday evening for two-and-a-half hours (we did take off for Christmas weekend and Easter Sunday). The team attendance rate at practice exceeded 90% over the course of the year. I cannot imagine a better statistic to prove that 17 girls found that the time they spent in practice was a price they were willing to pay to get better.

I took a break from coaching after my youngest son graduated from high school. But then I came back out of retirement several years ago to put in a few more years on the sidelines helping that same youngest son with his son, my grandson. It was definitely a bit harder on the knees and ankles, but still well worth the time. As I look back from this vantage point (i.e., knowing I have laced up the “boots” for the last time and there will be no more swan songs), I realize that coaching gave me much more than I ever gave it. It allowed me quality time with all three of my kids. It allowed me to develop a relationship with, and I believe have an impact on, hundreds of their classmates. In fact, one of my former players, with whom I now interact on a professional basis, still calls me “Coach.” He and I would never have had that relationship if I had not decided to just take my kids to soccer practice, come back to pick them up when practice was over, and watch a game or two. It was worth the time. It was worth the energy. It was worth it. My church believes that Christians are called to certain vocations. And I think one of the highest vocations a parent can have is that of coach and mentor, not only to their own children, but to other children as well. I think kids need a positive mentor now more than ever, and there are few places as rewarding to mentor a child as on the fields of friendly strife. Kids learn a lot about life, and themselves, when they have to come out of their comfort zones (or, stated differently, put down their devices) and step onto an athletic field. And that is never possible if everyone takes a passive “someone else’s parent will to it” role. Step up, for your kids, and for yourself. I can tell you from experience---you will never regret it.

The first team to travel out of Gallup to play soccer (it was a tournament in Farmington in either 1989 or 1990).

Tobe Turpen Traders U-12 team, from either 1991 or 1992.

Possible

2ND ANNUAL DWI AWARENESS 5K FUN WALK/RUN

FOX RUN GOLF COURSE

APRIL 15, 2023

REGISTRATION STARTS AT 8AM

WALK/RUN STARTS AT 9AM

BOOTHS RESOURCES FUN ACTIVITIES

BABY’S FIRST LAUGH

By Michele Laughing-Reeves

It is Spring already. It seems like just yesterday it was snowing. As the weather warms, we look forward to green vegetation, blooming flowers, and babies of all kinds. Speaking of babies, doting mothers and fathers love to commemorate their baby’s “firsts”: first time sleeping through the night, first tooth, first word, first steps, etc. Of all the firsts, my favorite is a baby’s first laugh. For Navajos, it is a time for celebration. I’m sure there are significant symbolisms associated with this custom, but I appreciate the fact that the entire family gets together to celebrate the baby’s intrinsic expression of joy and happiness—a laugh party.

According to some cultural teachings, a baby’s first laugh and the laugh party are symbolic of the infant becoming an integral part of the larger familial community. However, I understood it to be a celebration of a baby’s discovery of joy and laughter, and the party is to bless the child with a lifetime of smiles, laughter, and humor. Perhaps others will

have a slightly different perspective, but the point is the significance of this occasion is somewhat unique to the Navajo culture. The person, whether parent, relative, friend, or stranger, who is fortunate enough to make the baby laugh for the first time will host the party. By hosting the party, I mean this person is responsible for the entire event from invites to clean up—and that is why relatives will try to trick an unsuspecting person into tickling the baby. However, the laugh party isn’t just about eating together. There is a ceremonious giving of rock salt by the baby.

Before the meal is served, the host will place a piece of rock salt in the palm of the baby’s hand and then assist the baby in handing each guest a piece of rock salt. Or a Navajo basket is used to place the salt and goody bag, if any, and the guest will take it from there. Families will proceed through the ceremonious part in various ways, like placing the meal and goody bag in the basket with the rock salt or just the goody bag or just the meal. The act of giving at the before the meal demonstrates the importance of being generous, especially when sharing a meal and a joke or two.

Parents are very good at remembering their children’s milestones, but it is also a great honor to make a Navajo baby laugh for the first time. To be the one who coaxes a baby’s laugh means that you have introduced joy and happiness to this tiny human, so of course a party is in order. As the cliché goes “laughter is the best form of medicine.” Research has shown that laughing

improves a person’s overall health and mental well-being. Laughing reduces stress, improves job performance, stimulates the immune system, improves circulation in the blood vessels, and overall, makes you a better person. Research also found that an average person will have a significant reduction of laughter between the ages of 25 and 70, which indicate that life interferes, and we tend to laugh a lot less. So, the next time you’re around a 3- or 4-month-old infant, don’t shy away from tickling or making faces. Be the host with the most, give the gift of laughter and a blessing of genuine, crying-tears laughter to deter life’s obstacles. If anything, it reminds us to not take life too seriously.

I hope you’ve laughed today!

JOKE #1:

At a party, a young wife admonished her husband, “That’s the fourth time you’ve gone back for ice cream and cake. Doesn’t it embarrass you?”

“Why should it?” answered the husband. “I keep telling them it’s for you.”

JOKE #2:

“Once, my father came home and found me in front of a roaring fire. That made my father very mad, as we didn’t have a fireplace.” —Victor Borge

I tried to get Jordynn to laugh…

Local Author’s book on Gallup Wins Prestigious Spur Award

Pulitzer Prize finalist Megan Kate Nelson, Emmy Awardwinning Walter Hill, and Gallup author Bob Rosebrough are among the 2023 Spur Award winners that the Western Writers of America announced last month.

Rosebrough was awarded best Contemporary Nonfiction Book with his work “A Place of Thin Veil: Life and Death in Gallup, New Mexico” published by Rio Nuevo Publishers.

The Western Writers of America (westernwriters.org) annually honors writers for distinguished writing about the American West with the Spur Awards. Since 1953 the Spur Awards have been considered one of the most prestigious awards in American literature.

“A Place Of Thin Veil” unfolds and is interwoven with the story of Navajo activist, Larry Casuse, whose 1973 abduction of Gallup’s Mayor, Emmit Garcia, ended in a police shootout that is debated to this day as either Casuse’s murder or his suicide? Larry’s story has unpredictably and serendipitously intertwined with the life journey of the author, Bob Rosebrough, a Gallup lawyer and former Mayor of the city from 2003-2007.

“A Place Of Thin Veil” was also chosen as one of the 2023 Southwest Books of the Year 2023 by panelists at the Pima, Arizona county library (pima.bibliocommons.com).

Additionally Rosebrough’s work received the Historical Society of New Mexico’s (hsnm.org) Gaspar Pérez de Villagrá award which recognizes outstanding publications on New Mexico or Southwest borderlands history.

When asked about the multiple accolades Rosebrough confessed, “I was taken off guard by the awards. I didn’t see them coming, especially the Western Writers of America Spur Award. It’s super competitive and covers a large geographical area. But I’m really pleased about the Historical Society of New Mexico award because I think Gallup has the most interesting history of any place in New Mexico. I think the award gives our history some long overdue attention.”

“A Place Of Thin Veil” is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Butlers, the Gallup Coffee Company, and select bookstores.

16 April 2023

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DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: Widefield photos, ocular coherence tomography, visual field testing, topography and other assessments to treat and manage eye diseases

OPTICAL SERVICES: Knowledgeable, friendly staff offering quality lens options and frames specific to your prescription, style, and needs

What's New

SAME DAY OPTICAL SERVICES: Available now. Get same day glasses within 1-2 hours. (Prescription and lens treatment limitations apply. Please ask a staff member for more info.)

OPHTHALMOLOGY CARE: Available in March. We are happy to host Dr. Steve Hillam who will perform injections in our office twice each month! Please contact his office at 801-658-5486 to schedule. Assistance in transfer of care from out of town offices will be provided.

Contact Us!

Call or Text : 505-339-2015

Website : www.gallupeyegroup.com 816 Boardman Drive, Gallup, NM 87301

BOOK A PARTY

New Skates & Blades

230 Deeann Ave, Gallup, NM

Call: 505-722-3318

New Hours: Friday: 6pm to 10pm

Saturday: 12pm to 4pm & 5pm to 10pm

Sunday: 12pm to 4pm

Did it Rain Where You Are?

There are times on our Prewitt mesa when we are under inches of snow while the area roads are bare and dry. We sometimes call our nearest neighbor to see if our current thunderstorm is hitting them, and often our weather is

completely different.

Weather can be hyperlocal with rapid changes. When planning a garden or landscaping, the bigger picture can be equally confusing. In our

very rural state, finding reliable climate information can be challenging. Many online sites are based on weather stations in cities and at airports, which can leave large areas without accurate information. Even

within the cities, weather in one neighborhood can be different from the next.

In 1997, a deadly flash flood swept unexpectedly through a sunny neighborhood in Fort

Collins, Colorado from a storm a few miles upstream. That event inspired volunteers to create a community precipitation reporting network which now has tens of thousands of stations across the country. Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS. org) volunteers report daily precipitation at their site, and the organization compiles the resulting data. There are live maps that show precipitation at each station, and precipitation summaries for any time period broken down by station, county, or state. This information is used by the National Weather Service, National Drought Monitor, NOAA, USDA, and many others. It is also available to you.

To access this service, go to the cocorahs.org homepage where you will see today’s interactive precipitation map. The left side bar offers organization and volunteer information such as stateby-state newsletters, Master Gardener climate information, and more. The menu bar across the top accesses precipitation data. There are many types of summaries you can request. This is a great tool for gardeners,

landscapers, and anyone interested in weather and climate anywhere in the country.

All are welcome to volunteer for CoCoRaHS, and right now is their annual friendly competition, “March Madness” to see which state can muster up the most new volunteers. New Mexico was the #1 percapita recruiting state back in 2019. I signed up to volunteer in June, 2021 and have recorded precipitation on my site almost every day since then. It takes almost no time, and I find it very helpful for my own learning about my own yard, and also

exploring the variety in our region.

To volunteer, you buy and mount a simple analog rain gauge that they recommend ($35). You can download their very streamlined app, or use the website in your browser. On our many zero-precipitation days you can report in three clicks. If it rains you check the gauge, dump it, and record the amount. If it snows you weigh the gauge, dump it, and record the amount. Super easy, and they save all of your data for you so you can look up your daily, monthly or yearly totals any time.

If you think you might start collecting precipitation for CoCoRaHS some time in 2023, please go ahead and sign up during March Madness!

Kimi Ishikawa is a Cibola and McKinley County Master Gardener who lives in Prewitt.

If you have any gardening questions please call:

NMSU Cibola County Extension Service

Phone: 505-287-9266

NMSU McKinley County Extension Service

Phone: 505-863-3432

Here is an example map snippet of northwest New Mexico from the snow on February 28 (you can see that we need more McKinley and Cibola county observers…)

S L M prING aINTeNaNCe NaNC aNdsCape NdsCape

SSpring is the time of the year when you should do about 95% of the landscape pruning maintenance. It isn’t the most glamorous job of gardening but when done correctly it leads to a more beautiful yard.

The reason you prune in spring is because it the best time for the plants. Pruning sends out a signal to the plant that it is time to put out new growth to replace what has been cut. If the plant buds out early, it is easy to see where cuts will be made. Ideally, you should wait until that happens. The benefit of waiting is the time saved in pruning a dead shrub or digging up a bush because you think it’s dead. Some plants are really, really late to leaf out. The “plant is dead” date should be around June 1st!

PRUNE after you decide what your objective is for the shrub. It helps to prune bushes in this order:

1. Dead Wood – Prune dead branches anytime during the year. Dead wood can be indentified by the brown ring underneath the bark.

2. Suckers – Some plants tend to produce suckers. If you don’t want the number that come up, trim it to below the ground. It won’t kill it, but slows it’s growth.

3. External Hazard Branches - These are branches that get in people’s way. Any direction a branch grows that gets into people’s way or into a structure. Cut it back to a node, joint, or stem.

4. Crossing Branches – If a branch crosses and rubs another branch, cut one of them back. In addition to a more pleasing appearance, the injury from rubbing creates an opening for bugs and diseases.

5. For Shape or Form – Try to limit this type of pruning. Do this last so you won’t trim too much. Do not prune more than 1/3 of the plant in any year.

Successful pruning involves mastering two basic cuts. Cuts heal quickly when made in the right spot and at the correct angle with a sharp, clean tool. Find a branch with a bud facing

the direction you want new growth to follow. Prune just above that but at a 45º angle, with the lowest point of the cut farthest from the bud. An angle greater than 45º can make the cut hard to heal. Don’t leave more than ¼ inch of growth above the bud but cutting too low can cause the bud to dry out. Check the picture for examples.

There are 3 different ways to prune. Which you use varies by the type of plant.

1.Renewal – Works well with Butterfly Bush and other shrubs that send out lots of stems each spring. The oldest and fattest stems at the base of the plant are removed. Remove only 1/3 of the stems.

2.Heading – These cuts spur growth in the right direction and is especially useful in shrubs damaged or blown sideways from wind. Though it seems counterintuitive, you need to prune the shorter side of a lopsided shrub to stimulate growth. Long branches are trimmed back to the base of the plant as in #1. Renewal.

3.Pinching – Using your index finger and thumb, pinch off the end buds of new branches on evergreen bushes to encourage side branching on the lower part of the shrub. This encourages side branching on the lower part of the shrub and more greenery.

Shrubs never trimmed need to be treated by trimming back 1/3 of branches each year for 3 years. This allows them to get adjusted to the changes over time and adjust their growth and nutrient requirements in stages.

Some shrubs need little or no pruning such as mahonias, artemisia, or Apache Plume. If you don’t like to prune, check into these or other shrubs for your yard.

Edith Iwan is a Cibola-McKinley County Master Gardener who lives and works in Thoreau. As a Master Gardener she assists the County Cooperative Extension Service in providing accurate, research-based gardening information to county residents. If you have any gardening questions, please call the NMSU Cibola County Extension at 505-287-9266 or NMSU McKinley County Extension at 505-863-3432

GOOD CUT GOOD CUT

TOO LOW TOO HIGH

Ways to Contribute to Earth Day!

April 22nd

Conserve Energy At Home

Reduce Paper Waste, Recycle

Use LED bulbs

Turn off the lights in rooms when not using

Walk instead of driving

Bring your own bags to the store

Teach your kids about recycling

Take a shorter shower

Eat locally

Buy Green Products

Grow a Garden

Plant Trees

Volunteer for a Clean-up

EARTH DAY must be Everyday!

Climate scientists are telling us we are running out of time to get global climate temperatures under control. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) issued a “final warning” on March 20, 2023: “The world is on the brink of irrevocable damage.”

Glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising, causing the loss of islands, coastal communities and livelihoods. Polar bears are starving, monarch butterflies and bees are disappearing. The destruction of the tropical rainforest reduces a significant amount of the planet’s vegetation that absorbs large quantities of the CO2 emitted by fossil fuels. 2022 was the worst year for severe wildfires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes - erratic weather experienced even here in New Mexico. Scientists predict such severe weather will only get worse. Is this the future we want for our children and grandchildren? How has humankind gotten to a position where our actions are destroying the very way of life, we think we want? Our desire for electronic gadgets and other material items is called progress. We know we can’t live without our computers and cell phones - they have added to our quality of life and are often lifesavers even though extracting the elements used in their components causes environmental destruction.

However, we have lost a balance in our lives and in our world. Most of the industrialized world have lost connections

with Nature’s cycles. Our ancestors understood and relied on these seasonal rhythms. Now we water our deserts, raise household temps when we could add a sweater, wear thermals, or put on a pair of knee highs or leggings, shower daily out of habit, not need, and dry our dishes and clothes completely in machines rather than by air, and many other activities. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg informs us “We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to change.” IF humans strive to make change, there might be hope.

For a culture to avoid self-destruction as it progresses, writes Henry George in his classic 1883 work Social Problems, it must develop “a higher conscience, a keener sense of justice, a warmer brotherhood, a wider, loftier, truer public spirit,” while ensuring responsible and visionary leaders who embrace “the mental and moral universe.” By stark contrast, as John E Schumaker explains, modern consumer culture barrels in the opposite direction, breeding an increasingly trivialized and disengaged strain of personhood, devoid of the “loftier” qualities needed to sustain a viable society and healthy life supports.

Environmental prophets have been a part of our history: the author of the Biblical book Genesis, Saint Francis of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen, Chief Seattle, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Al Gore, Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”), Pope

Children’s Books For Earth Day!

Thank You Earth

Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community, perfect for classrooms and homeschooling. This nonfiction picture book is ideal for Earth Day and for celebrating the planet all year long.

Polar Bear, Why is Your World Melting?

Francis, and Greta Thunberg, among other so many unnamed and various advocates for Mother Earth. Unfortunately, the human race hasn’t listened or taken appropriate action out of its greed. We can’t tell future generations we were not aware of impending environmental crisis; we just need to recognize we can do something about it.

“Each of us has the power to help make the world a better place – it is up to you and me to do our part.”

--- Tia Nelson, daughter of Senator Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin, founder of Earth Day, which launched a new wave of environmental activism worldwide, April 22, 1970.

“You can make a difference” sounds cliché, but what if everyone did something every day that would make a difference in our consumptive practices? What if we really meant it? We could make a difference and reduce our environmental footprint!

What we do matters! Being eco-friendly or simply ecologically aware and responsible is important, now more than ever. Even small changes in our lifestyleand our thinking - can help save the world, as Michael Pollan stated in The Guardian

In the Arctic, the summer ice is melting, making it hard for polar bears and their cubs to survive. Why is the world getting warmer? The heat of the sun is trapped by the "greenhouse" gases that surround Earth-carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor. If there is just the right amount of these trapped gases, the air is warm enough for plants, animals, and people to thrive. But now there is too much greenhouse gas, especially carbon dioxide. Polar bears, and all of us, are in trouble. Robert E. Wells shows why so much carbon dioxide is going into the air and what we can do to help keep Earth cool.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library…and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind. Lyrically told and gloriously illustrated, this story will inspire many as it shows how - even in the worst of times - a great idea and a lot of hard work can still rock the world.

Below is a short list of things you, your family and your friends can do NOW!

Teach your children, review this list, and add to it with them. Model a kinder and more caring lifestyle.

• Eat all the food you buy, then compost what you don’t.

• Cook more meals at home / Eat less meat / Buy in bulk

• Cover that cooking pot / Use washable instead of throwaway items

• Use cruise control / Keep car tuned, oil changed, tires inflated / Lighten your load

• Unplug all electronics and appliances not being used

• Turn out lights when not in the room / Use LED lights

• Use rain barrels or collectors to water treesoutdoor and indoor plants

• Walk, bike, carpool, take the bus / combine errands

• Install water-saving showerheads and toilets

• Take 5-minute showers - don’t bathe / Turn water off when brushing your teeth

• Shop locally / Support farmers markets

• Brakes are the enemy of fuel efficiency - let up on the gas when approaching a stop

• Recycle what you can in your area - CLEAN items only! Do not mix items! Dirty and mixed items contaminate the entire load. Follow instructions when recycling.

Space does not allow a description of each of the following methods of reducing our carbon footprint or increasing our green lifestyle. Take time to research and move toward incorporating what might work for you.

• Composting

• Permaculture

• Rewilding and Climate Restoration

• Get out in Nature Start a Garden

• Reduce-Reuse-Repurpose-Recycle

• Harvest Rainwater

• Hydroponics

• Solar and Wind renewable energy

Advocate for Mother Earth through action. Vote, lobby, volunteer, protest, sign petitions, send letters, make calls, send emails, Tweet your elected officials.

“We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it.” -- Barack Obama, former U.S. President

Get involved! Learn about the great work happening in our area, state, and country at the following sites:

Earthday.org, Treehugger.com, TheGreenLife.com, ChildrenandNature.org, 350.org 350newmexico.org, www.earth-keepers.org, www.gallupsolar.org, www.sierraclub.org, www.workinbeauty.org, www.facebook.com › gallupfarmersmarket, recyclegallup.org, www.facebook.com/recyclegallup, New Mexico Wildlife Center, Defenders of Wildlife, New Mexico Interfaith Power & Light www.nm-ipl.org, yaleclimateconnections.org, Environmental Film Festivals dceff.org, citizensclimatelobby.org, Rainforest Alliance, Heifer Project, the YouTube Global Weirding video “What’s the Big Deal about a Few Degrees?” and so many more resources.

The writer owes thanks to the Presbytery of Santa Fe EarthCare team for the timely preparation of the Resource Packet from which materials were used for this article.

Submitted by Betsy Windisch, Chair, McKinley Citizens’ Recycling Council. Contact her through betsywindisch@ yahoo.com for more information about children’s books and additional resources on climate change.

Political Activism is essential to being a good citizen of any city, state, country.

Join us on The Earth Day Community Beautification Challenge!

All Gallup McKinley County Schools will participate in a school and area site cleanup during the week of April 17th – April 22nd. Last year we challenged all 32 of our schools to a cleanup challenge! The results exceeded anyone’s expectations as our students collectively picked up 262 bags of garbage! Our winner of that challenge was Red Rock Elementary School, who alone picked up a whopping 58 bags of trash!

This year we want to extend this challenge to the community of Gallup and all of McKinley County! We want to challenge all business, leaders, and individuals to a friendly Earth Day Community Beatification Challenge! We know all our students will be ready for this challenge, are you? We’ll see you out there McKinley County!

Earth day Earth day PITCH

IN! PITCH IN!

UNBREAKABLE

By Kenneth Riege USAF Veteran

While all of us know the amazing story of the “Navajo Code Talkers” I wanted to share some of my personal stories of the friendships I have had with these heroes of WW2.

I believe my first encounter was the 1993 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Retha and I had just married in July, “side story here. We met on April 24th 1993 in Albuquerque, 1 week later I asked her to marry me and on July 30th we were married. This year we will be celebrating our 30th Anniversary. When you know, you just know.” So back to my story, she wanted to bring me to Gallup to see the Gallup InterTribal Indian Ceremonial. When the Navajo Code Talkers passed, everyone stood up and cheered and saluted them. I asked my wife what was going on and she said, you don’t know of the Navajo Code Talkers? Which I do admit that I did not, but after seeing this community reaction to these veterans, I knew I had to find out more.

The first Navajo Code Talker I met was Mr. Carl Gorman which was probably at that same Ceremonial in 1993 and have been blessed to have met many of these great men.

After I became the GM of the Comfort Suites in Gallup we started having the military groups “that we all see around town during the summer months” staying with me. These groups work with the Southwest Indian Foundation and every two weeks they would get a briefing from Mr. Bill Toledo about his experiences as a Navajo Code Talker.

After Mr. Toledo would finish speaking with the groups we would go outside by the Code Talker Statue at the train station for a group picture. Here Mr. Toledo poses with a US Air Force Air National Guard Unit that was visiting from Guam.

There have been many functions at

the Comfort Suites honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, but I believe the biggest event happened in November 2011. We were having one of our cookouts and what an honor to have 13 Navajo Code Talkers there

We were also blessed to have Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient Colonel Jay Vargas in attendance. Colonel Vargas

had been invited to be the Key Note Speaker for the Navajo Code Talker Day Event held annually on August 14th. After the day’s events were winding down it was group picture time. A few pictures had been taken when Colonel Vargas said, “Hey Ken get in the picture with us” then he said OK lets all sign the Marine Corps Hymn, which most people do know that one. After we had all finished, Mr. Thomas Begay (far left in photo below ) said OK Code Talkers lets all sing the Marine Corps Hymn in Navajo, and I tell you what there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.”

In 2014 the world lost the last of the original Navajo Code Talker’s when Chester Nez was called home. When Chester and his family would stop by to visit, he would look around the hotel until he saw his picture. He had told him family that he likes to stay at that hotel where is picture is at. He always felt comfortable here.

I would say the one Navajo Code Talker that I became the closest too was Mr. Roy Hawthorne. Mr. Hawthorne would stop by the hotel many times for a cup of coffee and to visit. I would sit in awe

It was always such a great honor to hear his amazing stories about his life experiences and about being a Navajo Code Talker.

Here is a very popular photo from that event.

of this great man listening to his stories. One day when we were in Wal Mart my wife spotted Mr. Hawthorne sitting on a bench and we went to say hello. He said, Hey Ken why don’t you sit down for a bit. I was just so excited that he remembered my name. I said, “Yes Sir” and sat down as he began to share a story that I will never forget. He said, “You know what, life is funny. I was a Navajo Code Talker and did all the island hoping like all the other Marines did and never was wounded,

never even got a scratch, but had seen death on a level like no other should.” The war ended and I went to college then along comes the Korean War. I wanted to serve my country again and signed back up, but this time in the Army and you know what, I wasn’t in Korea 6 months and lost my leg from a mortar attack.” For most, this would have been devastating, but with the “Unbreakable” will of a Navajo Code Talker, Mr. Hawthorne went on to become a minister and spiritual leader and continued to serve his community and

country for many years.

Lastly, I wanted to share a few pictures of some of the amazing artifacts that have been donated to the hotel museum.

These are just a few of the pictures in the Navajo Code Talker’s Conference room.

I have been so blessed to live in the greatest country in the world under the blanket of freedom fought for by so many, but there are very few that can say they have done more for our freedom than the Navajo Code Talkers. Their dedication, spirit and Code will always remain “Unbreakable,” and I am so proud and honored to be a member of their “Veteran Brotherhood.”

This beautiful Navajo Code Talker’s Quilt was donated by US Marine Corps and Vietnam War Veteran Mr. David Palomares. David has also donated many other items related to the Navajo Code Talkers to include this beautiful statue.

As you know I end each story with a quote from a Medal of Honor Recipient but wanted to close this story with a quote I found from Navajo Code Talker and friend Mr. Chester Nez.

“My wartime experiences developing a code that utilized the Navajo language taught how important our Navajo culture is to our country. For me that is the central lesson: that diverse cultures can make a country richer and stronger.”

Thank You sir for these words of wisdom and I offer you a hand salute and “Thank You” for your service and in honor of you and all the Navajo Code Talkers

“SEMPER FI”

Here is a picture of Chester Nez that was taken by famed photographer Mr. David DeJonge.

Here is another picture of Chester Nez with Retha and I. This photo was also taken by David DeJonge. Mr. DeJonge was visiting Gallup to show his WW1 Documentary, “Pershing’s Last Patriot” and Chester was the guest of honor.

Here is a picture of Mr. Hawthorne after he finished speaking with one of the Navy Seabee groups.

Tips for the Grocery Store

Staying organized is key to grocery shopping.

• Make a list of frequently purchased items.

• Before you go shopping, check your fridge, freezer and pantry for what you already have on hand.

• Create a shopping list before you go. Write it on paper ahead of time or use the store app that also allows you to add coupons electronically.

• Start shopping in the produce aisle and move in one direction so that you do not have to back track. This will save time and prevents impulse buying.

• Go to the store early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid crowds.

• Review your list before you go to the store and have a plan.

• Create a menu so that you have a plan for your meals throughout the week.

• Download your local grocery store app, familiarize yourself with the app to help you create a meal plan, a grocery list, gathering coupons and a list of items often purchased.

APRIL 1

Weekend Workshop: Art

Journaling with Tasha N. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

$60/person. Register: www.galluparts.org/workshops

APRIL 8

Show Opening: 9th Annual Youth

Art Show 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

Kids Day Easter Spring Fling & Kids Health Fair Ford Canyon Park

APRIL 13

PIZZA 9 will hold a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life-Gallup

The restaurant will donate 30% of sales to Relay.

YES I DO!

I want a copy of God's message of strenth, hope and love. (Psalms and Proverbs). I understand there is no charge. IT IS FREE!

NAME:

ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY Allow A Few Weeks For Delivery

Mail to: PO BOX 2025 Gallup, NM 87305

Pizza 9 is located in the Rio West Mall, 1300 W. Maloney.

Open 10:00 am – 9:00 pm. Dinein and Carry-out orders only. A flyer with this offer must be shown before ordering for the donation to count. To receive or pick up a flyer contact Pam (505) 870-6205

APRIL 15

FREE Artist Master Class: Creating an Online Presence

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

Learn from artist Heidi Brandow how to create an online presence. Presented by gallupARTS and 516 Arts. Register at www.516arts.org/ events.

APRIL 18

Youth Poetry & Creative

Writing Night 6:30 – 8:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

Blackout Poetry Workshop: 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Open Mic: 7 - 8pm Presented by gallupARTS and the Octavia Fellin Public Library.

APRIL 22

Gallup Families with Autism will have an in-person Meet Up at the Children’s Library

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Children are welcome at meetings. Questions?

Heidi 360-912-1953, or find our group on Facebook.

APRIL 29

Weekend Workshop: Embellished Embroidery with Shelia Nez

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

$60/person. Register: www. galluparts.org/workshops

SAVE THE DATE!

Calling all creative folks in the area! The Ups and Downs team of the American Cancer Society's

Relay for Life of Gallup will hold their Annual live auction of birdhouses (painted/decorated/ reimagined) by local artists and crafts persons on Sunday, May 7.

If you would like to help by making a birdhouse, please call Linda Shelton at (505) 297-9515 for more information.

There are a limited number of plain wooden birdhouses available, or you can make, or buy your own. All birdhouses must be completed by April 21st (Although children are welcome to submit birdhouses, we cannot afford to buy birdhouses for them.) Call soon! Thank you for helping us fight cancer! Go to gallupbirdhouses.com to see the variety of birdhouses auctioned in previous years.

APRIL 21, 22, 23

Michelle Watts from New Braunfels TX, a renowned Quilt teacher will be in the Gallup area April 21st 22nd and 23rd to teach 3 classes and to have a community gathering to show her quilts and wearable art. Classes will be $75 each.

Textile Totems will be taught in Grants on April 21st Modern Edge, April 22nd at QOV Veterans Helping Veterans in Gallup and The Beauty of the Southwest on April 23 at Gallup Service Mart.

For more information contact Carol Saunders at 505 870 0587.

Ice Cave and Bandera Volcano

If you are looking for something to explore nearby, the Ice Caves and Bandera Volcano are a real treat. It is not a very long drive from Gallup through the beautiful Ramah valley and Cibola national Forest. You can make a day of it and pack a lunch to have once you are done exploring the area. Wear good walking shoes, a hat and bring water. The facilities do have restrooms. Check the website for prices

HOURS: OPEN DAILY 9AM – 5PM PHONE: (505) 783-4303

Icecaves.com

We have celebrated the opening of new businesses, introduced you to people who make Gallup the unique place it is and have done all of this with a positive voice.

We are your free community magazine. That means that you represent the voices of our community, the ideas, the people and the businesses.

All of us have a story to tell about our community. Stories that represent the best of Gallup. We want to hear those stories!

So, if you want to share that Gallup story with our readers, we invite you to put it into words.

If you are interested please contact by phone 722-3399 or send us an email, gallupjourney@gmail.com. Stories are due by the 20th of each month and need to be around 800 words. Remember to include images.

Thank you for making the Gallup Journey our favorite community magazine.

The Gallup Journey magazine has been part of our community for over 15 years!

Al & EJ reading Gallup Journey and enjoying the first Texas Bluebonnet flowers while visiting Rosey & Kurt in Austin, Texas

TOHATCHI HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

GALLUP HIGH BENGAL GIRLS

GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY FILLING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS TIPS TOOLKIT

SBDC AT UNM GALLUP

As an entrepreneur, you face challenges every day and you manage multiple roles in a limited amount of time. You take on and off multiple hats, and at times you wear them all at once. But the one hat you can never shed is that of a financial manager. Understand why you need to start working on business, versus in the business, so that you can make better decisions, choose better strategies, and experience profitable results. Do this by discovering new ways at looking at the numbers side of your business.

With that being said, National Financial Literacy month is recognized each year in April to raise awareness of the importance of financial literacy and maintaining smart money management habits. For that reason, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to share some financial literacy tips. In a Financial Literacy Survey vcita discovered 77.9% of small businesses handle their own finances with only 22% having a financial advisor. And

per a Wasp Barcode Technologies survey, as many as 60% of small business owners feel they aren't knowledgeable about accounting and finance. That is a pretty big number if you're running your own business. Not an accountant? Not a college graduate? You don't have to be, BUT you do need to have some basic financial literacy for your business.

Becoming more financially literate may mean having to spend some time educating yourself about some financial terms and concepts - I know this isn't very exciting but not every aspect of owning your own business is. According to a CBInsights.com study, 82% of businesses fail because of cash flow problems. Poor cash flow is often a result of poor understanding and planning for your cash needs. Basic financial literacy helps to ensure the success of your business by helping you to make better decisions. Want to know if you should increase the price of your product? Trying to figure out if you have the cash flow

to hire someone new or take on a big client? These are just some of the financial decisions you face as a business owner. If you have some basic knowledge about future financial impacts, you will be prepared to take on challenges, tax time, and growth opportunities.

Need some accounting basics? Here are some great options:

1. Enroll in an accounting course

2. Connect with a Community Navigator, Small Business Development Center, SCORE, Veterans Business Outreach Center or WESST Enterprise Center near you.

3. Check out online free, or low cost, courses at these sites: SBA/FDIC's Money Smarts, Accountingcoach.com, Coursera.org, Open.edu, Freshbooks, LInkedIn, SkillShare. com, 360financialliteracy.org , or SBA website at ascent.sba.gov

But, you already know the basics. Keep learning while you grow your business:

1. Review your financials. What's your biggest expense? What expenses have changed/increased in last year? Most business owners do not regularly review financial statements, and of those businesses most are experiencing financial difficulties. Running a business means you need to take time to look and review your financials. Know your numbers!

2. Ask your tax preparer and/or accountant questions. Don't just get the reports handed to you. Can they prepare a comparison to the prior year? What are typical tax deductions that you need to take advantage of? Those are just some questions that are needed to be asked.

3. Compare your financials with industry/ peers. Your SBDC can help you with this!

4. Be on the lookout for ways to automate payments, invoicing, and bookkeeping.

5. Do some light reading, listen to business

related podcasts, or watch a seminar on financial topics.

6. AND of course, set up a discussion and review with your local SBDC. We offer webinars, tools, and one-on-one confidential counseling.

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and use several financial skills including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. Financial literacy is the glue of your relationship with money, and is a continuous journey.

“Money often costs too much. “ ~ Ralph Waldo

Emerson

The New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network (NMSBDC) was established in 1989 through a partnership with the US Small Business Administration, the State of New Mexico, the New Mexico Association of Community Colleges, and the New Mexico Association of Independent Community Colleges. The NMSDC Network State Office is located on the campus of the Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, NM. The program provides no cost business consulting and low cost business training to entrepreneurs throughout the state. Strategically located in 20 communities throughout New Mexico, NMSBDC’s consultants bring over 773 years of combined small business management and ownership expertise and have helped to create more than 21,000 jobs in the state since NMSBDC’s inception. Entrepreneurs have access to subject matter experts in everything from accounting to social media and franchising to e-commerce. For more information visit www. nmsmdc.org.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Cyndi Jarvison at 505-863-7637 or email at cjarvison@unm.edu.

QUESTIONS

Todd McBrooM

Gallup High School Head Girls Basketball Coach

I was a student at Gallup High School when Coach John Lomasney coached the girls’ basketball team. He was very successful and had built a solid program. Do you feel that this is still part of the program? If yes, how?

Yes, the tradition of Gallup Lady Bengal Basketball was started with Coach Lomasney and I have tried to continue the tradition of winning and making Gallup Lady Bengal Basketball as competitive as I can. I use a different playing style than Coach Lomasney but the tradition of winning and being competitive will not change while I am the head coach. The kids of Gallup High are extremely hard workers, and it shows when they step on the court. Our kids here are great kids on and off the court and I am very proud to coach them and to continue the traditions that were started long before I was here.

When you took over the program, I imagine that you wanted to win your own State Championship. How do you approach a season/team with this being the ultimate goal?

It is every team’s goal to win a state championship. There is a lot that goes into winning. It is not easy, and it takes a lot of work to win a state championship. One of the big things is teaching the girls to be consistent. Consistency in sports is so important because when teams are consistent it makes it so much easier to have success. The kids in my program buy into what I teach and how I want things done. They start doing it when they are 8th graders or freshman, and it just becomes easy as they get older and work their way up to varsity.

The tickets for a girl’s Gallup High School Bengal basketball game can sometimes be very difficult to get your hands on, and the championship game against Kirtland was possibly the most watched tournament game. What does it mean to the team and you to have this support?

The support that the Lady Bengal Basketball program gets is special. For our kids to get to play in front of thousands of people and probably over 15000 in the championship game is special. Most kids that play never get to experience the support that we have here in Gallup. I tell the girls all the time that they need to

thank people for the support they get because it is not like this everywhere. It is always extra motivation for our kids to play hard because so many people come to the games to support them.

You hear all the time with professional athletes, “We are going to celebrate this one and get back to work.” When do you get back to work, and does your team look very different next year?

It is always a true saying you celebrate but you have to get back to work. It is fun to win and something that you remember forever but we have a lot of kids that were on our JV and C team that want to work so they can earn a spot on the varsity and try and win a State Championship also. We usually get going in the beginning of April and start working to get better so we can try and do it again. We will graduate 7 seniors, but we have a lot of good young kids in our program, and they want to win too. We will have a good young team again next year.

We have an article in this month’s Gallup Journey about coaching and the importance of volunteering for your

community. Can you tell us a little bit about your coaching journey and what would you tell people about volunteer coaching at the city league levels?

It is important to be a positive role model in your community. Having people volunteer and coach at the city league level is so important. Those are the people that help kids fall in love with the game or hate it. City league coaches

have an important job to make sports fun for kids, so they learn to love it and want to play. When kids love sports, it makes it where they become better students because they cannot play as they get older if they do not make the grades. The more people that get involved with kids at a younger age in sports makes a big difference when we get them at the high school level. Youth coaches are very important in every community.

INTROVERT EXERCISE PLAN

Irecently realized that my being more introverted helped my exercise plan to work – for me! I tried telling others about it and didn’t get much interest and I couldn’t understand why! Well, duh – a lot of folks want to be around others! I’ve always exercised a lot more by myself, so I thought that’s why it has worked for me and might work for others.

Basically, I didn’t like classes or group activities. I tried but didn’t enjoy them. I really liked running, swimming, biking and lifting – by myself. And I resented trainers telling me what to do. Nothing against trainers!

I’ve learned to appreciate my own methods, a lot. Now that it’s more socially acceptable and recognized that being introverted is ok, I can frame it differently.

One major benefit of exercising alone is that I’ve come to be more tuned into my body and what I feel like doing. Yes, sometimes I’m surprised by not feeling like doing as much as I thought, or the opposite, finding that my body wants to do more than planned. But generally, I’ve learned to respect what my body feels like doing.

Like basically anyone else, I’ve had experiences of coming up against an invisible wall, not being motivated even though I know exercise is good for me. Most of us have had extended periods

of time of just not having the motivation, the desire, the need or want, to exercise although we know full well that it’s good for us. Then eventually, starting up again, and wondering – well, I knew it was for the best, why didn’t I just do it?

I guess being a psychologist, I wondered more about the motivation, or lack of motivation and what was causing the blockage. The theory I eventually came to believe in is – we are too hard on ourselves. We criticize ourselves mercilessly, meanly. We think and say things to ourselves that mostly we would never say to another person.

One way of visualizing it is, when we criticize ourselves, we are putting up a wall of invisible bricks. We are unknowingly stopping ourselves. We all have a four-year-old self who says, “You can’t make me!” So, after one brick too many, we just stop. We run out of gas to keep pushing ourselves. None of this is conscious, at least at first, maybe never.

What we can do, instead, is create an inviting pathway for ourselves. We can be kind to ourselves; we can accept that some days we don’t feel much like exercise, or we feel like doing less. Rather than being mean and say, well if I don’t do 30 or 45 minutes, it’s worthless – we can say I think I’d like to do some, but not as much. I’ve honed this habit pattern for years, now I can say that I exercise because I want to and feel very good about it!

The bottom line is that the habit means more than any one

workout. Doing 45 minutes once a week or once a month and feeling like crap in between doesn’t create good health. Having a reliable habit and accepting our bodies and ourselves as we are, can lead to a very healthy body and mind. Regular exercise helps us emotionally and physically.

Dr. Vicki Handfield Clinical Psychologist here in Gallup vhandfield@gmail.com 609-841-9159

OPINION POLL

1. When the season started did you think you would be State Champs?

2. The Gallup Girls vs the Boys, who wins?

3. Most memorable part of the Championship Season?

Summer Joe #32

1. When the season started, I did not think at first that we would be State Champs but when we started getting more into the season we got better and better. The more we did I fully believed that we could take it.

2. If it was Gallup Girls vs. the Boys, I think we would win. I believe this mostly because of how we play together as a team, and we may not be as fast or strong as the boys, but if we play together I know we could win..

3. The most memorable part of the season wasn’t the win (yes, the win was good

though) but the journey we had together through the hard times and the excitement, this is what a team should be like. I would not change anything about them.

Delia Tello #23

1. I did feel like we would win but, I knew there was a lot of work we needed to do and throughout the season we all improved together.

2. Gallup Girls all the way!

3. The most memorable part of the season was holding Kiera’s hand during the national anthem!

Bailey Mike #12

1. When the season started, I had my doubts whether we would be State Champs. The first few practices of the season were rough. Nobody had created bonds with each other but as time went on, and we began to win games the chemistry happened slowly. Seeing the bond form between the coaches and the players, I knew that we would become the 2023 State Champs!

2. I would say, “The Gallup Girls.” When the girls “want it more” there is no chance for the boys.

3. The most memorable part of the season would definitely be when I was rooming with my friends. We had decided to get one of the hotel mattresses, put it in one room and watch a scary movie. This was not a good idea because the rest of the night we were paranoid

and could not stop laughing. The slightest noise we would quickly jump up, realize it was Kaden scaring us and start laughing.

Aniyah Dahozy #5

1. After losing our players from the years before, I didn’t really think we would be State Champs because I wasn’t too sure if we were ready yet. Within time, things changed. We all knew what we wanted, which was winning State. So, that motivated us to play and practice harder.

2. This one is hard to answer. Some people would say the boys because they are much faster and stronger, but I think the girls would win because we can communicate well, and we know how to play as a team.

3. The most memorable part of the season would be winning State! It showed that our hard work paid off. We pushed ourselves throughout the whole season whether it was during a game or practice. We had confidence in ourselves, we were ready mentally, and knew we were able to win the State title.

Adriell Thomas #33

1. When the season first started, I had confidence in thinking we were going to become State Champs! As the season progressed, I felt like we were going to become state championships with all of our hard work we put in and we believed in our true selves.

2. In my opinion I would think the girls would win. I think this is because we play with confidence, we don’t give up routine plays, we finish strong and don’t give up. Also, we all have chemistry we help each other get back up and don’t give up. We shoot with confidence and can handle the pressure from the crowd and teams. We all play together as a team to win.

3. My most memorable part of the Championship season was when I made more memorable moments with my teammates. I got closer to each one of them. Playing with my team meant so much to me because in my honest opinion this season’s team, I would say it was my favorite. We all supported and succeeded in the end together.

Ashlee DuBoise #1

1. The beginning of the season I wasn’t sure if I would be a State Champ. As time progressed throughout the season, I was pretty sure that we had it in the bag. We’ve played hard, played with integrity, and played with confidence. Without any of these things we would not have been where we are right now.

2. That is a good question, honestly The Gallup Girls would win. I say this because I think that we are more organized, we finish our routine plays, are confident in our shots and we know how to handle the crowd well. When under pressure we do not rush to do

anything, we take our time to get a good shot. We also play hard and work hard during games, we play to win.

3. My most memorable part of the season was probably winning the State Championship title. We’ve worked hard to get there, we played with everything we had, most of all everyone contributed to the team. We were pretty sure that OUR team would be State Champs. Our dream had come true.

Kayden Tsosie #40

1. Yes, because when we played in the Metro Tournament it showed how good we can play and how tough of a team we are.

2.Definitely, us for the win because we have Riley and Kiwi.

3.My most memorable moment is playing at the PIT with thousands of people watching and winning my first State Championship as an 8th grader.

Kiera Livingston #2

1. Yes, I always knew we could do it!

2. The Gallup Girls for sure!

3. My most memorable part of the Championship season was being able to end my high school career playing with my girls for the State Championship!

Raven Tso # 10

1. I had a good feeling it was going to happen. At the beginning of the season, we weren’t as prepared as we were at the end. We definitely had some bumps in the road, but we went through them how we should have.

2. Girls obviously!

3. My most memorable part of the season was being able to step foot on the court with my girls. Knowing that it was my last season and wanting to make it memorable either way. Knowing that I had grown a bond with all the girls and never stopping to put effort in. I knew it was going to be us on top no matter what the outcome would have been.

Daliyah Morris #22

1. From the beginning of the season, I knew that we would be holding a blue plaque. I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy, and it wasn’t going to just be given to us. Every day for practice, I would look at that banner from 2021 and we won state. I used that as motivation because I felt like I did not earn or deserve that and its why I am not on it.

2. We all know that the boys have an advantage, but us girls can play against anyone. Small, big, short, tall, fast, or slow. Bring it!

3. I think the most memorable part of the Championship game even after receiving my medal and raising the blue plaque, it would have to be seeing my family up in the stands. They wore my number proudly and cheered so loud for me. I love them all so much and can’t thank them enough for their endless love and support.

Spring Run Off