JOY Magazine--Winter 2021

ISSUE 01 / 2021

JOY BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

OPEN TO FIND INSIDE:

Looking on Up Upgrade your

NEW

uplifting

CONTENT

+

EXC I T I N G

Joy to Life

F O U N D AT I O N U P D AT E S

Outlook

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Don’lt ay! de

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JOY

Hello everyone.

BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

Photography by Big Dreamz Creative

Last year was a huge upheaval for all of us, and although I believe it

was a tough year that we never want to repeat, I also believe it taught us some very valuable lessons. We are tougher than we think, but without planning and organization, nothing will work smoothly no matter what the task may be.

We at JOY magazine also took a hard look at ourselves in 2020 and stopped to reassess our publication.

In our “Everyday Joy” section in this issue you will read that we are recommitting to our roots, so to speak. We are excited with our decision, and I can’t wait for you to read all about it!

Another article I am really thrilled about is our story on Elana Hagler.

She is an incredibly talented artist with exciting things happening in her life. Elana, her husband Ari and her children are very dear friends to me and my husband Dickie. I am so pleased that Elana has chosen JOY

You are also going to read about Betty Ehrlich and her daughter Elaine.

They too are very special to me and Dickie, and after reading Betty’s story, you will know why I consider Betty a mentor and role model.

There are so many wonderful articles in this issue. From food to forgiveness and everything in between, you will learn something you did not know before.

As we all move into 2021 together, we at JOY and at the Joy to Life Foundation wish you and those you love a happy new year — one with a renewed spirit and joyous attitude!

Happy reading, and as always, here’s to Health, Happiness and Joy to Life.

to tell her story that has a definite connection to breast cancer.

PUBLISHER JTL Publishing EDITOR Joy Blondheim MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Stewart Kornegay ART DIRECTOR Erika Rowe Tracy DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCERS Big Dreamz Creative COPY EDITOR Jenny Enslen Stubbs Ray Blondheim CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kym Klass, Jennifer Stewart Kornegay, Jenny Enslen Stubbs and Melissa Tate Witt CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Big Dreamz Creative, Evan Lanier Matt Reynolds, Ashley Tiedt and Erika Rowe Tracy COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Big Dreamz Creative

Joy Blondheim Editor & Co-Founder, Joy to Life Foundation

Joy is published quarterly by JTL Publishing. © 2021 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Joy reserves the right to determine the suitability of all materials submitted for publication and to edit all submitted materials for clarity and space. Joy is not responsible for damage, loss or any other injury to unsolicited manuscripts and/or unsolicited artwork. This includes, but is not limited to, drawings, photography, transparencies or any other unsolicited material. Joy does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertising or editorial. The publishers do not assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Joy is a news magazine with information on health, leisure activities and a healthy lifestyle. Readers are advised to consult their physicians before participating in any sport or fitness activity or starting any exercise, dietary or nutritional program published in Joy.

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Photography by Big Dreamz Creative

32 REAL LIFE

A Discussion with Betty Ehrlich

12 THE DISH

36 GREAT GOODS

Growing Green

16 FORWARD MOTION Better Together

40 ON THE MOVE River Riches

18 FIT FOR KIDS

Cooking with Kiddos

22 EVERYDAY JOY

News & Happenings with the Joy to Life Foundation

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Products & Gear

BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

44 TO LIFE

The Positive Force of Forgiveness

FEATURES

CONTENT

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LOOKING DEEPER

Putting brush and pencil to canvas and paper, artist Elana Hagler brings people, places and everyday objects beautifully to life.

BY JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY

Hagler in her home studio where she creates as well as currently teaches virtually

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BIG DREAMZ CREATIVE

P

lenty of people can draw or paint a likeness of another person. But when a portrait is more than an accurate depiction of someone’s physical appearance, when it captures and

conveys not just how they look but who they are – that’s art. For Montgomery artist Elana Hagler, there’s a bit of science in it too. We asked her to share her evolution from pre-med student to painter, what she hopes to pass on to her art students at Alabama State University and her thoughts on beating out hundreds of other artists to score a contract from the United States Mint.

When did you first get interested in art?

Elana: I’ve had a lifelong interest, but I come from a medical family, and it was expected I would be a doctor. I drew and

The beginnings of a sketch of Vice President Kamala Harris.

painted as a child but just stopped at some point, because I was raised on the idea that art is not a serious career choice.

Plus, we came to the United States from Israel when I was five.

My family felt like since we were immigrants, we would have to struggle, so it was even more important to be practical and make practical choices.

So you went to college to study medicine.

What changed?

I was pre-med at Brandeis University, where I studied neuroscience and psychology. Halfway through, I just came to the realization that I could not have a life of fulfillment unless I followed an artistic path. So I changed course. I had already finished my psychology major, but I picked up a fine arts major. I never looked back. I continued my art studies for two years at the Jerusalem Studio School in Israel and then in Umbria, Italy, for three summers. I went to graduate school at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

GRANDMOTHERLY LOVE Breast cancer has a long reach, touching so many in some form or another. Both of artist Elana Hagler’s grandmothers have battled the disease. Her paternal grandmother, who she was named after, died from breast cancer before Elana was born, and her maternal grandmother, who is like a mother to Elana, is currently going through radiation treatments. Elana has felt support and love from her grandmother all her life and wants to make a public display of her encouragement for her grandmother

How does your psychology degree factor into your art, specifically portraits?

as she now fights breast cancer. “In light

They are a natural fit. Psychology is all about asking questions

of my grandmother, I’d like to dedicate this

of the world, attuning yourself in the right way to receive

interview to her,” Elana said.

answers. That is how I think of painting and drawing as well.

of the important work that the Joy to Life Foundation does for women, and in support

And I’m also fascinated with people on all levels. How they look, but also how they think and act. I believe this interest plays into my portrait work, as I am always thinking about totality of person as I paint or draw them.

What does your creative process look like day to day?

In art school, I painted every day. Now, I spend a lot of time teaching. And I have two kids, a son who is 11 and a daughter who is 9, so I want to spend as much time with them as I can. When I have odd bits of time where I’m not teaching or being a mom, that’s when I do my art. Right now, that’s not as much time as I’d like, but know this is simply a season.

What drew you to teach?

My husband got a position teaching history at Troy University six years ago, and that brought us to Montgomery. A few years later, I began teaching at ASU. I teach all levels of drawing and painting and color theory. When I was studying in Israel, some first-year students asked me to tutor them, and I found I really enjoyed it and those students seemed to get something out of it, so I knew from that that teaching was something I liked.

Face Time In addition to portraiture, Elana also paints landscapes and other subjects too.

Still, she has a strong preference. “My favorite thing is to paint people,” she said.

“There’s something so intimate about mapping out a person’s face, the peaks and valleys are almost like a landscape. I feel you get to know them on some level that

What do you get out of creating art?

goes beyond language.”

I feel like there are a number of things I could have done, but nothing else could have given me the fulfillment that art gives me. I very strongly believe that when people are allowed to develop their talents and live their life in the fullest possible way that it gives permission for others to do that as well. That’s actually an answer to this and the below question.

What do you hope others get out of your work?

It took me a long time as young person to give myself permission to follow my bliss and be an artist. I hope me doing this gives others the courage and that same permission to follow their dreams. It has not been easy. There has been obstacle after obstacle. But what matters most is having the perseverance that even if you don’t have success, you still feel that devoting your life to this act that means so much—that it in itself is worthwhile enough. I remember asking myself, “If no one ever cared, would you still create?” The answer was and is yes.

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Newly Minted Success The finished product of Hagler’s portrait of President George H.W. Bush on a just-released $1 Presidential Coin.

Montgomery artist Elana Hagler was chosen from more than 400 other artists around the country to be a member of the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program and as a result, was eventually chosen to draw a portrait of President George H.W. Bush to be used on a just-released $1 Presidential Coin. It’s an amazing achievement and yet, it was not the realization of some long-held dream. “I applied on a whim, never expecting I’d be picked,” Elana said.

In 2018, the U.S. Mint put out a call for artists, and although it was not something Elana had ever even thought about, she put her name in the hat. “I just had this sense it would be something I would enjoy.

Turns out, I was correct. It has been a wonderful experience.”

After months of the Mint whittling down all the applications, including demonstration design submissions, Elana got the news she’d be working with them. She recently completed her fifth project, but it’s the first to be selected for minting, a portrait of former President Bush. She worked from multiple photos to create the image that was then used on the coin.

And she’ll continue to do more work for the U.S. Mint, saying she has a few other projects, additional coins and even Congressional Medals, “in the works” right now.

the dish

MGM Greens is growing a lot of green goodness and doing it in a way that’s good for the environment.

growing green

BY JENNIFER S. KORNEGAY

A

quick glance inside MGM Greens’ rectangle shipping containers brings to mind a disco, thanks to the intense purple glow, light emitted from thousands of tiny blue and red LED bulbs, filling the small space. The illusion quickly fades; there’s no music or dancing. And yet, there is life, energy and excitement all the same.

MGM Greens is currently the only Freight Farm in Alabama, there are about 500 Freight Farms farmers worldwide.

MGM Greens began in 2019 when Vintage Hospitality Group partnered with Alabama Power to explore container farming. Today, this urban hydroponic container farm is housed in two former freight containers stacked on top of each other that sit right behind VH Group’s two restaurants, The Vintage Year and The Vintage Café across the street. The operation grows herbs, veggies and flowers for use in both restaurants and to sell to the public at local grocery chain, Renfroe’s.

MGM Greens products will also make their way to the Group’s new downtown Italian restaurant, Ravello, when it opens later this year.

Vintage Hospitality Group Executive Chef Eric Rivera touted the quality of the produce that’s pulled from the containers and then used in his kitchens. “Having the

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best ingredients is really important to me as a chef, and what we’re growing here, it’s amazing,” he said. “These lettuces and herbs are so bright and delicious, and we’re achieving great consistency in the products.”

In each container, green things of all sorts are bountiful and thriving. But it all starts small. Seeds for basil, butter and romaine lettuces, Swiss chard, arugula, turnips and more are placed in a substrate that resembles soil, one seed per each indentation in shallow trays at the front of the container.

Once the seeds germinate and fledgling plants are visible, they’re transplanted to vertical columns made from pieces of PVC fence post. They’re bathed in the purple light that mimics the sun. They’re fed water, fortified with nutrients, that drips down a furrow in each column at various intervals. They don’t require dirt; just the little bit of growing substrate they began in. The result is

JOYTOLIFE.ORG

A variety of greens, herbs and flowers line the rows of two MGM Greens containers.

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

a verdant jungle, with rows and rows of floor to ceiling leafy greens packing the interior.

In one 320-square-foot container, and in just a few weeks, MGM Greens can produce 700 heads of lettuce with this method, a hydroponic system that’s efficient, sustainable and highly successful, yielding big, healthy harvests. And MGM Greens harvests year round. “Unlike traditional farming, where we are dependent on the seasons, here, we get beautiful, fresh basil 365 days a year,” Rivera said. “And I mean super fresh since we’re just steps away from the restaurants. Plus, these harvests have the roots, so unlike other produce that’s already dying by the time we get it, this stuff is still living. That really enhances the flavor as well as the appearance.”

MGM Greens provides enough crop for both restaurants, and more, including Vintage Cafe’s retail grab-n-go area.

Below: The Vintage Cafe’s MGM salad.

That’s just one of the positives container farming brings; the environmental benefits are huge.

“We use fewer resources, far less water,” Rivera said. “We’re actually in a water surplus in the top container. We make more than we need for the plants.” Because the climate is so controlled, there’s no need for pesticides. And with no real distance between the source and the end-user, transport emissions are drastically reduced.

But there’s still learning to do, as Jud Blount, proprietor of Vintage Hospitality Group explained. “It’s really a big science project,” he said. Container farming allows high levels of control and customization. Fans and tubing regulate air flow, temperatures and other climate aspects like humidity are set and maintained.

The specifics of what brings about the best results are still being figured out and are different for each farmer. “We’re still tweaking all the time,” Blount said.

Thanks to the equipment and system MGM Greens is using, from a Boston-based company called Freight Farms, the team can take advantage of what other Freight Farms farmers have discovered. “The Freight Farms community is very open and sharing,” Blount said. “I love that aspect.” While MGM Greens is currently the only Freight Farm in Alabama, there are about 500 Freight Farms farmers worldwide, so there’s

Hydro What?

Hydroponic farming is a method that skips soil, growing plants (usually food crops) in a nutrient rich liquid. It has many advantages over traditional farming, including:

Using far less water Less need for chemicals Less space needed for bigger yields Increased control Accelerated growth

a large network of knowledge. Plus, Blount and his team can manage almost every aspect from the Freight Farms smartphone app.

Despite the multiple benefits MGM Greens has reaped from container farming, it’s not down on conventional farming. Vintage Hospitality Group has a traditional farm that it relies on for all kinds of produce, and MGM Greens is not replacing those efforts; instead, it’s augmenting them. “We are starting a lot of plants in the containers and then moving them to the outdoor farm,” Rivera said. “We are getting stronger, better plants when we do that.”

MGM Greens is producing plenty of crops to supply the restaurants (The Vintage Year and The Vintage Café) as well as enough of some crops to sell to the public at Renfroe’s Grocery and at The Vintage Café.

MGM Greens: Farming Facts The bottom container at MGM Greens contains flowers, basil and arugula. It’s called the Leafy Green Machine and is Freight Farms' (the company that makes the containers and the hydroponic equipment and system used inside) first version of a container farm. It has 256 vertical columns with multiple plants per column.

The top container at MGM Greens is a more advanced Freight Farms container called The Greenery, and it grows lettuce and other leafy green veggies. In this container, the rows of vertical columns move, side to side, making it much easier to manipulate the plants and much easier and more efficient to harvest the produce when the time comes.

Giving Green The company is donated more than 25 pounds of crop to The Montgomery Area Food Bank in the first 10 months of 2020, with plans to continue the giving.

TION FORWA RD MO

BETTER TOGETHER Need a little extra direction and a lot of extra motivation in your workout? Consider working with a personal trainer.

Keon Addison views his personal training business as relationship-building. He provides the tools for his clients to succeed and holds them accountable for following through. The owner of Unleashed Potential Fitness in Montgomery, Addison has been a personal trainer for 12 years. His business grew from a passion that developed in his early 30s, when he wanted to not only help others, but himself as well. “I was strength training, but I never took it seriously, because I ate whatever I wanted to,” he said. “I really got into it because I wanted to change something within myself.”

And today, the certified trainer uses that drive to help motivate others. According to Addison, the benefits of hiring and using a personal trainer are endless – and one of the main ones is accountability.

Accountability matters.

It is what Addison hears most. Clients know the exercises, he said, but they sometimes would never do them themselves.

A personal trainer carries the responsibility of helping a client reach his or her fitness goals, and on the other side of the spectrum, the client also has the responsibility of following the instruction and advice that the trainer deems pertinent to achieving those goals. According to the National Federation of Professional Trainers, it’s a two-way road with both the trainer and the client holding each other accountable.

Stay safe.

Another reason hiring a personal trainer is beneficial,

BY KYM KLASS

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V

Addison said, is to help avoid injury. “The clients I have, we exercise so long, that sometimes our form is not even correct,” he said. “If we’re doing squats, and your back is hurting, then there’s something wrong.”

The American Sports and Fitness Association agrees. It claims using a personal trainer can help keep people safe since the trainer has the knowledge to make modifications and changes to a client’s training plan if they feel it’s needed. Because you want to be challenged but not injured.

Get a goal (together).

In addition to providing motivation and teaching proper form, a personal trainer can also help you define your fitness goals, and, as you make progress on them, celebrate with you; the latter is something Addison stresses. “I consider myself fun,” he said. “I want it to be fun, and you’re building relationships with your clients.

You’re getting into a part of their lives that they don’t really share with everybody. I feel very humbled by that.”

Addison gets something from the relationship too. “Establishing friendships and relationships is key. If I had a client that I just gave exercises to and knew nothing about them outside of that …

I don’t like to have that kind of relationship.”

That aside, Addison said when it comes to hiring a personal trainer, you want to be goal-oriented. “Not everyone comes to you to lose weight,” he said. “I always ask my clients, ‘What’s your goal?’ I want to center their workouts around their goal. Sometimes they just want to feel better.”

Find the real deal.

While there are benefits to hiring a personal trainer, hiring the wrong personal trainer can be detrimental to your health and fitness goals. There are signs to watch for when choosing. A bad trainer doesn’t listen to you, pushes you beyond your capacity, body shames, only promotes one training style, focuses on intensity over form and promises quick results.

That’s one thing Addison does not do. He understands the hard work it takes to produce what you want. “They want to lose the weight in 10 days,” he said of some people looking for personal trainers. “I always have to make sure that I put the responsibility back on the client, that I give them the tools to succeed, and that they’ll have to put their foot forward as well. I never give them guarantees. I try to let them embrace the process of this, and love this process. But it still falls back on them.”

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

CHOOSING A PERSONAL TRAINER:

picky

LOOK FOR: • The right certification • Solid experience • Comfort factor • A good reputation • Affordability WATCH OUT FOR: • No certification • They don’t align with your goals • They program beyond your experience • They’re lacking proof in clientele

FIT FOR KIDS

kidDos

Inviting your children to help with the family feast may sound like a daunting task.

But a pinch of patience and a touch of time (and a tad of extra clean up) could be the recipe for your child’s life-long healthy relationship with food. In fact, kids who help cook could enjoy these wonderful benefits:

IN THE KITCHEN

1

There’s a long list of reasons to teach your kids to cook, so take the time to get them in the kitchen with you and let them learn hands-on.

Find some dinner fun that goes beyond mac n’ cheese.

Strong relationships and conversation habits.

Kids who come home and flip on the TV or computer aren’t going to share as much with you as those that are in the kitchen waiting on the water to boil. What an incredible opportunity to share stories about each other’s day. Mealtime is also bound to include more discussion as you share with other family members why your meal is so darn delicious!

2 A developed appreciation for planning, timing and hard work.

Cooking is not easy. Deciding what to make, ensuring you have the ingredients and planning your meal to meet time constraints is a lot of work! Meal planning and preparation are a great way to teach your children to be thankful.

3

Confidence and responsibility.

Experience in the kitchen will not only help your kids when they leave the nest (or need to impress that special someone), it will also build confidence in other areas of life as well.

BY MELISSA TATE WITT

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JOYTOLIFE.ORG

place CREATE

4 Math skills.

Many kids (and adults) are intimidated by math. In the kitchen, kids are able to see how math is applied in real life. How do you double a recipe? What if you have to substitute one ingredient for something else?

How many ounces are in a cup?

You get the idea.

Watch the chemistry happen!

5

When you heat up butter, it moves from a solid form to a liquid state. What about when you mix oil and vinegar? How did the cake batter turn from a thick liquid to a yummy, spongy cake? There are a million chemistry lessons in your kitchen—lessons your child will remember!

MAKERS

Teach your kids the importance of “mise en place” in the kitchen.

The phrase is French for “everything in its place” and refers to the cooking practice of having all your ingredients chopped, measured, etc. and on-hand before you start the actual mixing/cooking

6

Understanding of the importance of whole foods and variety.

If your kids are helping you cook at home, you are probably using more wholesome ingredients and teaching them about real food. They see vegetables, fruits and grains go from their raw state to a finished meal and having a hand in preparing the food opens their eyes to a world of healthy food options!

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

process. With younger children, doing some of this prep work ahead will keep them from getting bored while you do things (like chop veggies) that they can’t.

One STEPat aTime

You know your kids best, and some will be more mature than others when it comes to certain tasks. Don’t forget—adult supervision and demonstration is a must for all tasks. Got one under age two? They can still be involved. All they need is a cup and a wooden spoon to get in on the action!

2

5

6TO7

TO

YEARS OLD

YEARS OLD

Paint/brush on oil or marinade

Form cookies and patties

Shake and spread

Grate cheese

MEASURE AND POUR

POUR Dice and peel

Scrub, dip, tear or break

SLICE AND SCOOP

WASH, ROLL, JUICE, STIR AND MASH

START EARLY. Don’t forget the little ones.

Garnish dishes

2

KIDS UNDER

ALL THEY NEED

is a wooden spoon and a bowl to get in on the action!

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JOYTOLIFE.ORG

8

AND OLDER Read recipes Cut vegetables and fruits with a butter knife

USE ELECTRIC MIXER Crack eggs

STIR FOOD ON STOVE

i T 7 Ps

GReAt

TO MAKE IT

1

5

STRESS SAFETY:

GET THE GEAR:

Make sure your kids know exactly what they can touch or do and what they can’t.

Hunt down kid-safe and kid-size spatulas, spoons and measuring cups to make it even easier for the kids to handle kitchen tasks, and don’t forget the apron and chef’s hat!

2

PLAN AHEAD: Have the kids help you find the recipe and make the shopping list.

3

KEEP IT SIMPLE: Start with simple recipes—it does not have to be timeintensive to be fun!

There are tons of kid-friendly recipe websites out there.

6

GRAB A KID-SAFE STEP STOOL: Make sure your kids are safe when they are helping out.

There are several great step stools that allow your kid to be “boxed in” and moved around easily in the kitchen while cooking.

4

MAKE IT AN EVENT: Host a small group of kids at your house with their parents and make it a fun activity for all.

7

HAVE FUN: Be patient and be prepared for messes.

Most kids probably won’t be as neat as you’d like.

everyday

Joy

NEWS & HAPPENINGS WITH THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

MORE NEWS. MORE LOVE. MORE PINK. MORE SUPPORT. MORE JOY. LIVE HERE. GIVE HERE.

WOL, our biggest fundraiser, and now

Since 2001, the Joy to Life

in 2021, we are again at a crossroads.

Foundation’s annual Walk of Life has

We are working hard to “reimagine”

been a bright spot in spring, bringing

the Walk of Life.

together thousands of Foundation supporters, breast cancer survivors

But, while we work, breast screenings

and their loved ones to celebrate,

MUST go on for the thousands of

remember and honor those who’ve

women (and some men) across

fought breast cancer as well as those

Alabama who need them. This past

who’ve lost their breast cancer battles;

year, we funded more than 2,000

to increase breast cancer awareness;

breast screenings for women under the

and to raise funds to ensure the

age of 40.

Foundation continues its vital work.

Our major contracts with the But last year, there was no Walk of

Department of Public Health’s

Life. In 2020, so many businesses and

Breast & Cervical Cancer Early

non-profits were affected greatly by

Detection Program (women 40 to

COVID-19, and the Foundation was no

49) continue. We were the first, and

exception. We were unable to hold the

we are the largest private provider

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JOYTOLIFE.ORG

This partnership has been a strong

NEW YEAR, NEW WALK OF LIFE

one, and the Joy to Life Foundation

For our 20th anniversary, the Walk of Life has been

looks forward to continuing to work

re-imagined to celebrate the amazing passion and talents of

together to reach all uninsured women

you, our incredible participants! We know that times remain

in Alabama who need these breast

uncertain, and that many of you are still - and will be for the

screenings.

foreseeable future - hesitant to gather in larger groups.

But the Foundation cannot continue

But the pandemic can’t stop you and other Walk of Life

for this lifesaving state program.

join us virtually in 202 1

participants. This year, we encourage you to participate in

this lifesaving program without your

the Walk of Life YOUR WAY!

help. When you choose to support the Joy to Life Foundation, please know that your donations stay local and only help people in the state of Alabama.

Our pink breast cancer car tag has been the key to our expansion. It must

Walk or run a 5k

Challenge friends to a virtual dance contest

Have a motorcycle parade

Make masks

Bake cupcakes

Complete a random act of kindness

Ride your bike

Host a wine tasting

Or whatever great idea you have!

remain strong for us to continue to fight for the women of Alabama every single day.

The future of the Joy to Life Foundation depends on the sale of our pink car tag, as well as continued financial help from our loyal supporters, sponsors and corporate partners.

We hope you’ll remember the Foundation when you’re making philanthropic choices. And find more

YOU decide how you’ll participate this year. Be safe, have fun and feel

details about how and why to get

amazing by helping more women access breast cancer screenings.

involved in our “WOL Reimagined!"

Visit joytolife.org to learn more and sign up.

at joytolife.org

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

LIVE HERE. GIVE HERE.

everyday

Joy

NEWS & HAPPENINGS WITH THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

RE-COMMITTING TO OUR ROOTS In late 2012, when the JTL Foundation

MORE NEWS. MORE LOVE. MORE PINK. MORE SUPPORT. MORE JOY.

decided to start a magazine, it had these goals in mind: to raise awareness of how a healthy lifestyle can help prevent breast cancer and other health issues and provide information and advice on how to pursue such a lifestyle; to spread positive stories about survivors of breast and other cancers in our area; and to promote the life-saving work of the Foundation and recognize the many supporters (businesses and individuals) who make that work happen.

Through the years, the magazine that grew out of that initial decision

WE’RE MAKING A HARD TURN BACK TO OUR ROOTS ENSURING THAT THE FOUNDATION’S VALUES AND MISSION ARE AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE DO. WE’RE PROUD TO BE PINK AND TO HEAVILY PROMOTE EVERYTHING IT REPRESENTS!

has had several different names.

to be way back in 2012? While we’ve

Just recently, we shortened Joy to

created and presented a veritable

Life magazine to simply JOY, and we

mountain of engaging, informative

feel that this one single word very

content focused on how to live a more

accurately and powerfully conveys

sustainable, balanced and healthy

what we want the magazine to

life, we came to the conclusion that

represent and bring to its readers.

we could do more and do better. We can do more to spotlight local folks

Over seven years of publication, the

fighting cancer and other health

inside of the magazine has remained

issues, either as patients or as those

relatively unchanged. But in the

physically unaffected themselves, but

face of upheaval and uncertainty

still doing battle as doctors, nurses,

that 2020 threw at us all, just like

researchers, caregivers and more. We

so many of you, we at JOY magazine

can do better to highlight everything

stopped to reassess. Were we truly

the Foundation is and does.

living up to what we said we wanted

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JOYTOLIFE.ORG

PODCASTS. JOY MAGAZINE. SOCIAL MEDIA. Get news and information in a variety of formats­.

Find them all at joytolife.org.

Gre at Ways to find us:

So, in 2021 we will. In this new year, full of new possibilities and opportunities, JOY is making a fresh

LIS

start. We’re not changing too much.

You’ll still find coverage of the topics

TEN UP!

you’ve come to love: articles outlining our state’s vast outdoor recreation

JOIN OUR

options; Overviews of yummy,

NEWSLETTER AT

nutritious ingredients with recipes

JOYTOLIFE.ORG TO GET

that include them; Inspiring personal

JOY TO LIFE EVENTS,

profiles; Tips for achieving both

GOOD NEWS AND EVEN

Tune into the Joy to Life

physical and mental wellbeing; and so

Foundation podcast, Everything

much more.

Joy to Life.

DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX.

But we’re making a hard turn back

Each episode features insightful

to our roots too, ensuring that the

medical information, inspiring

Foundation’s values and mission

RECIPES DELIVERED

stories from breast cancer

are at the core of everything we do.

survivors as well as interviews

We’re proud to be pink and to heavily

that provide tips and ideas that

promote everything it represents!

will help you live your healthiest,

As we move forward, JOY will

best life.

more clearly be a “Foundationfirst” publication released in two

The podcast began last October,

print issues (out in February and

and new episodes are added each

September). Plus, we’re greatly

month. You’ll laugh; you may cry;

expanding our digital presence, too,

but whatever emotions it brings,

giving you a special Summer digital

you’ll certainly enjoy it.

issue, out in July, and multiple articles

Find Everything Joy to Life wherever you listen to podcasts and at joytolife.org.

each month will be published online at joytolife.org.

Watch joytolife.org for new Joy to Life gear coming soon.

We’re excited about this next step in our journey and hope you’ll join us!

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NEWS & HAPPENINGS WITH THE JOY TO LIFE FOUNDATION

JTL STEPS UP, EXPANDS FUNDING Although the Foundation has provided funding for breast cancer screenings for many years in all of Alabama’s 67 counties

MORE NEWS. MORE LOVE. MORE PINK. MORE SUPPORT. MORE JOY.

for women and men who cannot afford them, we are now proud that we can take over the northern counties of Alabama.

Previously, the Susan G. Komen Foundation funded these counties, but in September 2020 that organization closed its office in Birmingham, creating a need that we are proud to fill.

In direct response to the Komen closing and the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program’s (ABCCEDP) subsequent need for increased funding in North Alabama, the Foundation is expanding its efforts and providing funds statewide for breast cancer screenings through ABCCEDP. “We are very appreciative of our longstanding partnership with the Joy to Life Foundation and to its co-founders Joy and Richard Blondheim,” said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris. “Early detection of breast cancer through regular screening saves lives. The Foundation’s commitment to helping underserved women receive cancer screenings has saved more than 125 lives over the past 17 years. By expanding its coverage statewide, they will help us

The ABCCEDP provides free mammograms, Pap/HPV testing, and if needed, diagnostic testing to women who have no insurance, have an income at or below 250 percent of the poverty level and are age 40-64. If there is a diagnosis of cancer, most women are eligible to receive treatment through the Alabama Medicaid Agency.

Each year hundreds of medically underserved women are diagnosed with breast and cervical cancer through the Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (ABCCEDP), and nearly 3,000 women have been diagnosed since this program began in 1996.

ensure as many women as possible receive

According to the Blondheims, the Joy

life-saving cancer screenings.”

to Life Foundation feels the need and

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MOVING AHEAD WITH HOPE We asked Joy to Life Foundation co-founder Joy Blondheim to share some thoughts on where the Foundation is headed in 2021.

Grab your sunglasses cause the future forecast is looking sunny!

“I know the Joy to Life Foundation

that when the residents of North

has a strong and purposeful future

Alabama learn that 100 percent

in Alabama. We are so humbled and

of our pink car tag sales are used

at the same time so thrilled to step

to help people in their counties

forward and assist the Alabama

– now all 67 Alabama counties

responsibility to support ABCCEDP

Department of Public Health as

– we will expand our car tag sales

in filling this financial gap, so that

they provide mammograms and

and in turn be able to help even

mammograms and other breast cancer

other health screenings to the

more people in our state. It is the

screenings can continue to be provided

medically underserved in the

household awareness that we

northern counties of Alabama in

are so appreciative of in Central

response to the lack of Susan G.

and South Alabama that I know

“As the Joy to Life Foundation has done

Komen funds being allocated to the

will grow in the northern parts of

for 20 years, we will continue to work

area. We are honored to introduce

Alabama."

tirelessly every single day to provide the

the mission of the Joy to Life

without interruption in the northern counties for the medically underserved.

lifesaving screenings that every woman in Alabama needs and deserves,” stated Joy Blondheim. In addition to providing funds to ABCCEDP, the Foundation also assists women under age 40 who

Foundation to North Alabama and to serve the women and men in the area who need our help. One of the core beliefs of our Foundation is:

are at high risk or have symptoms of

‘Live here. Give here.’ That means,

breast cancers. “We are honored and

a donor should take comfort in

excited to introduce the Joy to Life

knowing their contributions stay in

Foundation to these counties,” Joy said.

their community. We are confident

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FIRST-HAND ADVICE AND INSIGHT TO HELP CAREGIVERS COPE

A DISCUSSION WITH

BETTY EHRLICH & E L A I N E K I R K PAT R IC K When she was three years old, Betty Ehrlich lost her mother to breast cancer. Today, Betty is herself a three-time cancer survivor.

Her daughter Elaine has been by her side through all three struggles.

The duo shared what they’ve each learned and how prayer and positive thinking have proven powerful weapons

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NANCY FIELDS / BIG DREAMZ CREATIVE

real

in all of Betty’s cancer battles.

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1

3

HEAR FROM SURVIVORS, COMPANIONS AND CAREGIVERS IN OUR

Real Life SECTION.

Please tell us a little bit about your cancer story.

Betty: In March of 1984, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 54. Doctors found a tumor close to my aorta, and it was too dangerous to remove it. The next morning when I woke up, a gentleman was sitting on the floor holding my hand. He said, “Hi, I am Dr. Norgard and I am going to do everything I can to help you.” At that time there was no such thing as the Montgomery Cancer Center. I went to Dr. Norgard’s office once a week for six weeks for chemo. I sat in a tiny lab on a stool and a nurse gave me an injection of chemo, nothing for nausea, nothing for pain, just straight chemo.

Next was radiation at Baptist Hospital. Many friends and fellow congregants helped out driving me to and from my many appointments. With a lot of faith, prayer, positive attitude, wonderful friends and good doctors, I survived.

In early 1999, again I was not feeling well. Dr. Norgard was no longer in Montgomery, and my doctor was Dr. Mac Barnes. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer; I was 69. By that time the Montgomery Cancer Center had been built and cancer treatments had come a long way. I again underwent chemo and radiation. With a lot of faith, prayer, positive attitude, wonderful friends and good doctors, I survived.

In 2001, I was having problems with my back.

Dr. Barnes sent me for a biopsy to make sure the cancer had not returned, and everything came back clear. However, I started feeling bad, and six weeks later I ended up in Birmingham seeing a back specialist who performed surgery to repair a back problem he found. The incision healed well except for one small place, so I went to a general surgeon for repair to the incision. This surgeon also specialized in breast cancer research and surgery. For some reason he took an interest in

“ DON’T

WITH A LOT O F FA I T H , P R AY E R , P O S I T I V E AT T I T U D E , WON DER F U L FRIENDS AND GOOD DOCTORS . . . me and all my former cancer diagnoses. When he found out I was Jewish and of Ashkenazi decent, he suggested I and my daughter Elaine be tested for the BRAC1 and BRAC2 genes. In October of 2004, we went for genetic counseling. I was tested first, and Elaine would be tested if mine was positive.

On the same day I was to get my genetic test results, I had a mammogram, and they saw something that was suspected cancer. That afternoon, I learned I’d tested positive for the BRAC1 and BRAC2 genes. Talk about a double whammy. I was 74 years old at the time. So, here I went again: surgery to remove the tumor and more radiation. But, once again with a lot of faith, prayer, positive attitude, wonderful friends and good doctors, I survived.

Since I tested positive for the BRAC1 and BRAC2 gene, Elaine was then tested. Thanks to a lot of faith, prayer and a positive attitude, her test came back negative.

What was your first thought when you heard your diagnoses?

Betty: I was shocked, but I had faith in my doctors and believed they were going to do all they could to help me beat cancer all three times, and they did!

WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY NEED, JUST DO SOMETHING KIND FOR THEM.

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”

They were there for me every step of the way. I did not want people to shy away from me. I just wanted them to treat me like they always had, and they did.

What forms of help and support really stood out?

Betty: Everyone was so wonderful. People brought food, sent cards, called to check on me and my family, and drove me to my chemo and radiation treatments. Friends came and sat with me through my chemo sessions to help pass the time. With my first bout with cancer, a very dear friend of the family, Jerry Berlin, drove me to some of my chemo treatments and almost all of my radiation treatments. How many men do you know that would volunteer to do that? That was very special to me.

What one thing did you do for yourself that most helped you cope?

Betty: I continued to try to live my life as normal as possible. When I felt like it, I walked in the morning, went to work and participated in services and activities at my synagogue. I did a lot of praying and believed that with the knowledge of my doctors and through the power of prayer, I was going to be alright.

herself and she always did what her doctors asked of her. She was always very appreciative of anything I did for her. She is a wonderful role model for me and many people who have been diagnosed with cancer.

What advice would you give other caregivers on how to approach and help their loved one going through cancer treatment?

Elaine: It is not an easy role being a caregiver. There are many ups and downs. If your loved one is having a bad day and may say or do something that hurts your feelings, just overlook it. Tomorrow will be a better day and always, always stay positive!

What has your cancer journey taught you?

Betty: I have learned so much through my journey of three different cancer diagnoses. I have learned what is important in life. Always treat people with kindness, because you never know what they are going through.

Don’t wait for someone to tell you what they need, just do something kind for them. And, with a lot of faith, prayer, a positive attitude and wonderful friends, you can get through anything. On March 8, 2020, I was blessed to turn 90 years old.

d

ho p e i n

ot

he r s.

What advice would you give caregivers, on how to approach and help their loved one going through cancer treatment?

Betty: Just be there for the person. Don’t ask them what

What things have most helped you cope with your role as a caregiver for your mother?

Elaine: Her positive attitude. She never felt sorry for

Fi n

Through your treatment process and/or after, what did you want and need from your friends and family?

Betty: My family and friends were all so wonderful.

they need. Just do something kind for them.

The “Breast Cancer” Gene

Read more survivor stories in our Real Life archives online at joytolife.org.

Certain variants of the genes BRAC1 and BRAC2 are associated with an 80 percent increase in breast cancer risk. Some women who discover this gene mutation within their genetic makeup will take proactive steps to reduce their risk of cancer, including preemptive mastectomies and even hysterectomies. As scientists deepen their understanding of the role of genetics in breast cancer risk, research has turned to developing individualized breast cancer treatments based on a woman’s genetic makeup. Meanwhile, some research focuses on techniques to repair or even replace harmful genes before breast cancer occurs.

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goods

PRODUCTS, PLACES & THINGS WE LOVE

MADE LOCAL

HOW SWEET IT IS

MODERATION IS IMPORTANT TO MASTER FOR GOOD HEALTH, BUT INDULGING IN A LITTLE TREAT SOMETIMES IS GOOD FOR YOU TOO. CHECK OUT THESE ALABAMA MAKERS

JOY MAG IS SWEET ON.

BEAUTIFUL BITES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY TIEDT

great

When the pandemic put parties and other gatherings on pause, Meredith Reaves started missing the charcuterie boards she’d create for entertaining at home or to take over to a friend’s house. She decided to continue the tradition, even it was just for her and her husband’s at-home date nights. “I started thinking, if we were still enjoying these treats, so could everyone else,” she said. And so her business, Graze, was born.

Graze brings highly customizable boxes packed

Meredieth Reaves

with a mixture of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts and sweets right to you door, with free delivery inside Montgomery city limits (or for a small fee outside the city’s borders).

The nutritious and delicious nibbles add a little something special to a more ordinary occasion, something Reaves finds rewarding. “I’ve really enjoyed giving our customers a bit of happiness and a way to still celebrate,” she said. All the bits and bites in each Graze box look as good as they taste, especially when artfully arranged, but Reaves admits she plays favorites. She usually gobbles up slices of cheddar with dollops of pepper jelly first, if she’s not reaching for the sweets.

@grazemgm or grazemgm@gmail.com

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LAYERS OF LOVE

BY JENNY ENSLEN STUBBS

Considering the multi-layered decadence of cheesecake, the simple story of the Cheesecake PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA ROWE TRACY

Empori-Yum’s start may surprise you. Owner Monique Williams has always enjoyed baking, but when she needed some extra cash for her dream wedding, she started selling cupcakes.

The effort worked, but after the wedding, the extra income wasn’t necessary, so she stuck to her job as a bartender.

However, when she found herself divorced sometime later, Williams knew she was at a crossroads. “I’ve always enjoyed making something beautiful out of nothing, but after my divorce, it also became my therapy,” she said. Because she’d always enjoyed working in the food industry, Williams used her divorce as motivation to do something she loved and that made other people happy.

In 2016, Williams devoted her time

Monique Williams

to a weekly pop-up shop selling her cupcakes and cheesecakes. It became incredibly

SWEET STUFF:

successful, and she knew she needed her own space. She located in the heart of Montgomery

Williams’ mom is a breast cancer survivor who supports the Joy to Life Foundation by participating in the annual Walk of Life!

on Mulberry Street, and today, she offers more than 45 handmade flavors of cheesecake and experiments to create a wide variety of tastes, like cinnamon roll, peanut butter, maple bacon, peach cobbler and even fried cheesecake and cheesecake nachos.

Cheesecake Empori-Yum has always been a takeout style eatery, and that has allowed the dessert shop to continue relatively unscathed during COVID-19. And Williams’ dedication to keeping cheesecake exciting should help the business continue to flourish. She sums it up best. “It is my love and my passion to create desserts that wake me up every day, and I hope that you taste that love and passion!”

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(ALMOST) TOO PRETTY TO EAT Birmingham-based Ginger Lily Southern Teacakes’ creations are not your average cookie.

With intricate designs, a unique brownie-like texture and a more subtle sweetness, the tea cakes (a specific type called springerle) are what baker Cherri Jones calls a “grown-up” cookie.

They’re also the result of cross-cultural pollination, based on European traditions but stirring in some Southern influences too. Jones began baking at her grandmother Lily’s side as a child and also soaked up knowledge from her other grandmother’s Russian heritage. “I love combining what I have learned from them both to create a slightly Southern version of a traditional European springerle,” she said.

Others love the combo too, leading her to found her company in 2018 and share her treats with a larger audience.

Even as Jones works to incorporate Southern flare in these old-world cookies, she’s faithful to the historic recipe that originated in Switzerland in the 1500s —

TRUE ART: Ginger Lily Southern Teacakes uses molds, which themselves are considered art in Europe, fashioned by master carvers and featured in museums.

she has to be. “Traditionally these cookies have always been made with vanilla, anise or almond, but I enjoy finding new ways to add Southern flavors,” she said. “But, this is a very technical recipe, so adding ingredients for my Pecan Praline, for example, can be tricky.”

And the taste is only part of the cookies’ appeal.

Each is a work of art, their whimsical shapes, delicate flowers and detailed scenes made using molds, which themselves are considered art in Europe, fashioned by master carvers and featured in museums.

gingerlilysweets.business.site

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ON THE MOVE

River Riches Discover Alabama’s liquid assets by dipping

a paddle in one of our state’s multiple waterways and using The Alabama Scenic River Trail as your guide.

BY JENNIFER STEWART KORNEGAY

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVAN LANIER

GET ROLLIN’ ON A RIVER Get started at alabamascenicrivertrail.com.

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

Alabama is a state rife with rivers.

Our vast collection of rivers, creeks, streams, bayous and lakes contributes to our economy, is foundational to our cultural heritage and creates a valuable recreational resource. Anniston jeweler Fred Couch already knew and loved the state’s rivers; the avid paddler had spent plenty of time traversing them. But he had a nagging question.

Why weren’t they given more attention? That thought was the initial pebble tossed from the bank. It broke the surface and had a ripple effect, one that led Couch to gather like-minded folks and shine a light on Alabama’s rivers by helping to create The Alabama Scenic River Trail.

But it took some grass roots work to get it all going, as Laura Gaddy, ASRT communications director, explained.

“In the beginning, Couch and Jay Grantland, who is now our executive director, traveled all over Alabama sleeping in a VW van from 1970s and getting county commissions and other local leaders to adopt resolutions in support of a river trail,” she said. “Along the way, they were also helping local communities develop access points to the trail.”

River Racin’

The Alabama Tourism Department got involved too, putting Couch in touch with others around the state who had also expressed interest in a river trail. There were challenges, including finding portage trails to get around dams on many of the rivers. With the help of countless volunteers and communities, the Trail was open for business in 2008 and encompassed 650 miles.

Today, the Trail has branched off that first north-south main route to include more than 6,500 miles – 10 times the

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT REYNOLDS

The Alabama Scenic River Trail is two things: a nonprofit organization that designated the pathways along the state’s rivers as a Trail and the actual Trail itself. The Trail was christened and started “officially” showcasing some of our state’s abundant water wonders in June 2008. Its purpose is to encourage residents and visitors to explore the state’s rivers and provide the information and access to make it easier than ever before.

In 2019, The Alabama Scenic River Trail launched the Great AL 650, a 10-day paddle race on the Trail’s core section, from the Georgia line in North Alabama all the way down to the Gulf. “This is an event for more experienced paddlers,” Laura Gaddy, ASRT communications director, said. “But we’ve had a great response, attracting elite paddlers from across the country and even internationally.” The event keeps garnering attention, a spotlight Gaddy says is overdue. “The event is increasing the profile of Alabama’s waterways and our state’s natural beauty, and we are worthy of that attention,” she said. “We have a lot to offer.”

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initial Trail. This makes it the longest such trail contained in a single state in the country. The blueway flows from mountain streams and slow, wide rivers all the way into coastal delta. And it still only includes a small portion of the state’s huge network of waterways, which total more than 100,000 miles.

While power boaters are welcome on the Trail, there’s a good bit of emphasis put on helping paddlers travel its liquid pathways. Many of the Trail’s supporters, like Couch, count paddling among their hobbies. Gaddy is a paddler too. She lives in Jacksonville, and the former reporter got involved with the Trail after discovering an affinity for the outdoors. “I was volunteering with the Trail and asked if they needed help with media and public relations, and they did, so I wound up working for them.”

Her job gives her the opportunity to promote something she believes in and a pastime she believes can be beneficial for both mind and body. “The first time I was in a boat without a motor, I fell in love,” Gaddy said.

“Paddling provides great physical fitness; it’s a great workout. But there is more to it too. It is an overall experience that provides the mental and emotional benefits of being outside in fresh air, immersed in the beauty of nature.”

Thanks to the efforts of Gaddy and many others, the Trail has experienced phenomenal growth in just a little over 10 years, and work is ongoing to improve and add to it. “We’ve recently been doing an initiative where we work with rescue squads to put mile markers on the Trail,” Gaddy said. “They function like mile markers on the highway and help rescuers access paddlers and other boaters if needed, but they also help people navigate the Trail.” Trail staff and volunteers are also always working

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATT REYNOLDS

The Trail’s core section begins at the Georgia state line on the Coosa River. It winds its way south to the Tallapoosa River, then to the Alabama River, crossing nine lakes and branching out all along the way before terminating at Ft. Morgan in the Gulf of Mexico.

PADDLIN’ PICKS We asked Laura Gaddy, ASRT communications director, so share some of her favorte Alabama rivers to traverse. “I love what I call my ‘home creek,’ which is Terrapin Creek. It is where I got started paddling.

I enjoy Autauga Creek, too. It’s really great, and its access point is right by downtown Prattville,” she said. to clear debris from Trail waterways on the trail, things like downed trees and other hazards, through the Open Waters program.

The Trail website is the place to get started exploring the Trail. It gives beginning boaters and old river rats alike an amazingly detailed route to follow for a day trip or an extended run. The interactive map includes waypoints, campsites, road access, put ins and take outs. You can also find contact info to reach out to a Trail Angel, a Trail volunteer ready, willing and happy to help you plan your Trail trip. “We really want to make it simple for people to use and experience the Trail,” Gaddy said.

NEED MORE OUTDOOR IDEAS?

Check out our archives on joytolife.org.

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OUTSIDE

AL

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The Positive Force of Forgiveness Find out how leaving bitterness behind and forging ahead with forgiveness can positively impact your health.

English poet Alexander Pope famously wrote, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” And for many spiritual people, the notion of forgiveness is a central tenet of their faith, a selfless act bestowed upon someone who has wronged them just as they have been forgiven themselves. But learning how to truly forgive is not just altruistic: It can actually improve your overall health.

Anger does no good.

We all know being angry feels awful.

And doctors are finding specific physical effects related to harboring anger:

According to the Mayo Clinic, when you let go of a grudge or anger and forgive, you can experience health benefits like lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression, a lower risk of substance abuse and lower anxiety and stress levels as well as a heightened sense of wellbeing. Participants in a recent study at Stanford University called the Forgiveness Project reported not just a positive emotional release following forgiveness, but that they felt better physically too.

Other recent medical studies have shown that forgiving can: • Reduce the risk of heart attack • Improve sleep • Lower blood pressure • Improve cholesterol levels • Strengthen immune system

• Tense, tightened muscles leading to headaches or an increase in chronic pain • Restricted blood flow to joints, making it more difficult for the blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to the cells

This all sounds great. But if forgiveness was easy, everyone would be doing it. So how do you forgive?

• Even proper digestion is compromised

So, you're ready. Now what?

It starts with the decision to forgive. It is a commitment.

It helps to think about how it will benefit you to move out of the role of victim and into a place where you are empowered to control your own emotions and reactions, instead of letting your thoughts about the person who hurt you control you. It also helps to change your perspective, taking the focus off of yourself and accepting that other people are not perfect (and that you aren’t either).

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Once you have stopped dwelling on the negative and can move forward, you may want to tell the person you’ve forgiven that you have forgiven them. This does not guarantee reconciliation, nor does it mean you completely forget the hurt that was caused. It is just one step further in the process of letting go and living better.

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47 BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE

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BRINGING ALABAMA TO LIFE