Madeworthy Jul/Aug 2020

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“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate action of its members.” ― CORETTA SCOTT KING

OPENS AUGUST 15

cartermuseum.org/ActingOut #ActingOutCarter

Benjamin J. Falk, New York, NY, Helena Luy (detail), 1880s, albumen silver print, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, P2016.120

CONTRIBUTERS’ ® What healthy habit or home project have you tackled while sheltering in place?

Issue 18 | The Health & Hearth Issue | July/Aug 2020

P U B L I S H E R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Wise E D I T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Virden Geurkink A S S O C I A T E P U B L I S H E R . . . . . . . . . . . Jennifer Kieta

A: I found that a low-histamine

ILL U S T R A T O R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trish Wise L E A D D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sovic Creative

diet greatly helps my recovery from COVID-19

A: Needlepointing in the evenings instead of constantly scrolling through my phone

- Victoria Wise

- Lee Virden Geurkink

A: I’ve run more than three miles

A: Mastering the manly art

A: I began meeting a friend and running at Trinity Park regularly

- Kasey Aikin PT, DPT, PRC

A: Finally started writing a book - Sarah Angle

C O V E R D E S I G N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Wise C O N T R I B UTI N G W R I T E R S Kasey Aiken PT, DPT, PRC

Jackie Elliott, PhD

Sarah Angle

Gretta Rebstock

Lyle Brooks

Joe Self

Edward Brown

William Wise

each day for 76 consecutive days and counting…

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

of growing and grooming a quarantine beard

A: Mess-free painting with small children!

- Jackie Elliott, PhD

- Lyle Brooks

- Edward Brown

A: After much research, my wife

A: We started a small garden.

We learned a lot about trusting Jesus through it

A: Walking through the neighborhood and occasionally geocaching

- Joe Self

- Beth McElhannon Teteak

- Trish Wise

A: We have enjoyed updating our landscaping and renovating our mid-century modern home

- Gretta Rebstock

Beth McElhannon Teteak

Because we are a bi-monthly publication, our issues are planned months ahead.

While this makes our jobs easier, it means that the current issue does not reflect what is happening in our city and our nation. While we address current events on our website and on our Facebook page, the next issue of Madeworthy is our Education issue in which we will be focusing on education of all kinds, both formal and personal. We passionately believe that all people are equal, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or religion.

and I embarked on a new plant-based diet

Creating a Place to

Where we lay our heads down at night and where we wake is our most important place because that’s where we dwell. By this, I don’t just mean our sleeping spaces.

Dwelling, as a verb, is how we make these spaces - how we inhabit them affects us deeply. This includes the place we make for feeding our families, the place we make to relax, and the place we make for entertaining friends - these everyday experiences can make for very special spaces. Dwelling is a learned process and exploring those ways can be gratifying and fun. But to understand that, it helps to believe that there are lots of ways to dwell. It seems obvious but your way of dwelling is going to be the best way for you.

One of the great purposes of art is that a painting, a sculpture, or a poem can change the way we see the world – and ourselves. Since architecture is the “mother of the arts,” it’s not too much to ask the same of our homes. Where we live can feed our mind and spirit. Unlike the body, the mind and spirit cannot be overfed. Making a dwelling place is one of the most significant set of decisions in our lives. Even experts in medicine, law, education, service, or business need help thinking through the issues of making a place to live. This place-making really can be a pleasurable experience if the process is well-organized.

It’s not too much to ask that where you live be more than a roof over your head. The power of our choices

A: Reading books I’ve been meaning to get to for years

- William Wise

by Joe Self

is not neutral. Just about every article on architecture has the Winston Churchill quote, but it bears repeating: “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”

Living well would seem to be instinctual, and for some people it is. Even so, there is an entire industry organized around homemaking. In the not too distant past, women were generally assigned the task of making a house a home. There were textbooks and even college degrees geared towards thoughtful living. Since some families are double income, both spouses often share arranging the right kind of home. There are more books and articles than ever before about making a good home, yet the need for good living has not diminished. These books and articles are intended to point the way with principles and resources for thoughtful living. These are helpful but it might be good to start from another perspective. Dwelling, as a verb, seems to dive a little deeper than homemaking.

It’s easy to become so accustomed to a glitch in your home and not realize the level of disruption it is causing. Sometimes the fix can be the simplest thing. Maybe it’s rearranging the furniture to make the space feel more open. Maybe it’s a paint job.

Maybe you need a new house! Who knows? But before solutions are set into place, it’s a good idea to take stock, in an organized way, of how you experience your house, how each place within it makes you feel.

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We sometimes encourage our clients to take a sensory inventory of their house. If you have a notebook, or a place on one of your devices, consider setting a few minutes a day aside for a week to inhabit each room (including your outdoor “rooms”). It’s best to do this when you have no other distractions so you can really see your home with new eyes. Jot down what you like and what concerns you about each room.

Then, on a scale of 1-10, rank how you feel in the room (10 being the best). It’s a good idea to include all your family that live with you in this process. Children have a perspective that is often revealing and delightful. I’d say make notes about your pets, too – they are driven to the very best spots for them by animal instinct and wouldn’t it be nice to keep them in mind?

The sensory inventory can be a useful starting point for a dialogue within the family but also with any experts you might bring into the conversation. A design professional should have a method to take you from there. But be careful, coming up with solutions before you’ve taken stock of things could send you down the wrong path. Taking stock should include sober calculations of budgets, schedules, and property values, of course. But if you don’t do something like the Sensory Inventory, the best part of dwelling could be lost.

photo by King Harrell Photography

Coveting

by Lyle Brooks

Conversation THREE WOMEN WRITE ON FRIENDSHIP

With many methods of connecting with friends, families, and community closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, it can be easy to lose touch with those most critical to our mental and emotional well-being.

For friends and collaborators Marilyn Randle, Jennifer Smith, and Dr. Shailendra Thomas, the value of connectivity has been at the front of their collective minds for years. Now these three have taken their love of conversation to the next level. While it was church that brought these ladies together, they quickly bonded over education, which led Thomas to suggest that they write a book together.

Randle sparkles as she recalls the excitement of starting their first project as a writing team, Coveted Conversations. “We began writing immediately, but we didn’t tell anyone what we were doing. We found that we were speaking into each other’s lives. These are real-life stories, but we have changed the names.”

Randle has signed off her communications – snail mail, email, notes – with the phrase “Finish Well,” for many years. She broadcasts positive energy and enjoys drawing people together.

“I’m not an expert, but I have a lot of experience. I’m a connector by nature. Jenn has an excellent eye for details,

and Dr. Thomas is a wonderful writer and storyteller.

We want to help people understand how to feel confident and how much that helps us connect with others.”

Coveted Conversations is an extension of the realworld conversations the three friends were having around the various kitchen tables in their homes.

The stories in the book will inspire people regardless of their backgrounds. The book includes materials created to foster further reflection on friendship and living with devotion and intentionality.

The lessons the ladies learned throughout the writing process motivated them to continue working together. Their next project was an echo from Thomas’ past. As she explains, “Image Bearer was 30 years in the making. It started when my best friend, Claudette Bryant, and I started writing a book about a little boy who loved basketball but didn’t make the basketball team. We never published the manuscript. After Claudette’s death by a hit and run driver 15 years ago, I forgot about the manuscript.

While cleaning my garage a few years ago, I discovered the manuscript. I asked Claudette’s husband for permission for my co-authors and me to use the original story as inspiration for our new book. He agreed, and the rest is history.”

In the fall of 2018, a year after Coveted Conversations was published, Image Bearer gave the three writers an opportunity to confront bullying, which, amplified by the megaphone of social media, was becoming an epidemic. The trio approached the issue with the same devotional eye as their first book in order to engender an uplifting perspective that encourages young people to seek unique talents.

As the world began to shut down due to the pandemic and life became dominated by Zoom conversations and working from home, the motivated writers anticipated the release of their next book based on their engaging friendship.

After a year of work, their follow-up book Tabletop Conversations had its release event scheduled for May 4th. Due to shelter-in-place restrictions, they

were forced to release the book virtually. “By this point, we have all had plenty of realizations and epiphanies regarding the importance of friendship and connection during a period of distance and uncertainty. Tragedies often reveal new perspectives on life,” said Thomas.

It is more crucial than ever to support friends and offer a safe place where they can be real and open about their mental health. “We want to teach women to tell their stories. Otherwise,” as Randle adds, “without sharing, you might blow a fuse.

We’ve learned that the more you share, the easier it becomes. A lot of prayer goes into each project.”

It is vital to remain vulnerable and transparent throughout the process. The women have found that consensus is essential to making progress each step of the way.

Randle remains upbeat and continues to see the best in those around her. “Our community has come together. We see it in simple gestures like sending out cards to tell people we are thinking of them. We’re learning who our neighbors are.”

In times like these, Thomas sees relationships as crucial to emotional health. “We are physically distancing during the pandemic, not socially distancing.” The three authors and friends are talking more than ever. Despite taking a break from writing before releasing Tabletop Conversations, they are already back to work on the next book.

2020 BMW X3 sDrive30i | Priced from $48,455 "Safe. Secure. Stable. Fun to drive. These are adjectives most of us use when we list what we want in a car. The 2020 BMW X3 is all of those, thanks to BMW's superior engineering and design.” Follow along with Jennifer Kieta, Tanglewood Moms/Madeworthy's associate publisher, as she shares her weekend adventures behind the wheel of this amazing car!

TANGLEWOODMOMS.COM/AutobahnFortWorth

THE CASH-ONLY MARGARITA (AN ODE TO JOE T’S) Fort Worth entrepreneur Justin Anderson is the inventor of WOATS Oatsnacks and has started a live interview cooking show, The COVID Kitchen, on Instagram (@thecovid. kitchen). He has created not one, but two cocktail recipes especially for Madeworthy readers. They are perfect for summer gatherings – at a safe distance, of course!

ingredients 2 ounces Juárez Tequila Gold 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (use ripe limes* for lower acidity and more flavor)

1 ounce Rosita Triple Sec Ice Kosher salt (optional) *Ripe limes are almost yellow. The darker green the lime, the less ripe it is.

directions Combine all ingredients except the kosher salt in a cocktail shaker.

Shake vigorously and strain into an ice-filled rocks glass that’s been rimmed in kosher salt if you desire.

Garnish with a wheel of lime and enjoy!

FR OM FOR T WOR TH'S FOOD MASTERS

TAREKA LOFTON’S SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP Tareka Lofton, the genius behind Loft22 Cakes, shares her recipe for gussied-up spinach artichoke dip. Not only is it divinely easy, it’s utterly delicious!

ingredients 2 bags frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon chicken seasoning (optional) Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup store-bought spinach-artichoke dip (Tareka uses Sam’s Members Mark brand)

1 cup shaved parmesan cheese

FUNKYTOWN RANCH WATER This is a delicious and refreshing drink that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or just about any time you want!

directions Sauté the thawed and drained spinach in the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.

Add in the onion and garlic powder and the chicken seasoning, if using. Tareka says you can use whatever seasonings, herbs, and spices you like.

(Editor’s note: try adding some freshly grated nutmeg – it works beautifully with spinach!) Add the salt and pepper and sauté until the spinach is tender.

ingredients 1 ounce freshly squeezed Texas grapefruit juice ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (see recipe above) 1 ½ ounces Patrón Tequila Silver Ice 4 ounces Topo Chico mineral water

directions Combine the first three ingredients in a glass and stir.

Pour the mixture into a highball that has been filled with ice and top with Topo Chico. The beauty of this versatile recipe is that you can add as much or as little Topo Chico as you like to create your ideal hydration-tobuzz ratio.

Add in the spinach-artichoke dip and the parmesan cheese and stir. Allow to gently simmer until the parmesan is melted.

Serve warm with crackers or crusty bread.

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EV ENTS

ACTIVITIE S

Victoria Wise, TanglewoodMoms.com founder and Madeworthy publisher, brings you the top Fort Worth experiences. You do not want to miss these!

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainties surrounding re-openings, all times and dates are subject to change.

QU AL I T Y B EDDIN G AT DR E AM PR IC ES !

DIRECT FROM OUR FACTORY TO YOU! MATTRESS SETS, ADJUSTABLE BEDS, MATTRESS PADS, DOWN COMFORTERS, PILLOWS AND MORE! WE WANT YOUR FAMILY TO HAVE A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP ON US. BRING IN THIS AD FOR AN EXTRA 20% OFF* *CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS

Jul 10 – 11

photo courtesy of Jennifer Kieta

Miss Molly’s Hotel Ghost Hunt and Sleepover: The Stockyards | missmollyshotel.com

Jul 16, Aug 20 Local Chef’s Night: Taste Project | tasteproject.org

Jul 17 Roger Creager: Billy Bob’s Texas | billybobstexas.com

Jul 17 – 26 Matilda the Musicial: Casa Mañana | casamanana.org

Aug 7 – 16 Shrek the Musical: Casa Mañana | casamanana.org

Aug 24 – 30 FW Burger Week: Various Restaurants | fortworthburgerweek.com

Jul 18, 2–4pm Pups & Pints: Panther Island Brewing | pantherislandbrewing.com

Jul 25 National Day of the American Cowboy: Fort Worth Stockyards Station | fortworthstockyards.com

Aug 28 Cowtown Cookoff and Music Festival: Panther Island Pavilion | pantherislandpavilion.com

Aug 29, 7:30pm Rod Stewart: Dickies Arena | dickiesarena.com

Aug 29 Havana Nights 2020 Gala: The Claudia Stepp Grand Lobby | casamanana.org

Jul 25 Love and Reggae 2020: Shipping & Receiving Bar | shippingandreceiving.bar

Jul 25, 26 12th Annual Funky Finds Summer Fling: Will Rogers Memorial Center | funkyfinds.com

900 EAST VICKERY, FORT WORTH, TX 76104 WWW.THEMATTRESSFACTORY.COM 817-334-0361

Aug 1 Impractical Jokers “The Scoopski Potatoes Tour”: Dickies Arena | dickiesarena.com

Crested Butte, CO

Here are some ideas we pulled for you to do around Fort Worth and at home.

ACTIVITIES

Send a letter to a grandparent or favorite teacher

Find a new section of the Trinity Trails to ride your bike

Dedicate a day to self-care and have your own spa day at home

See a movie at Coyote Drive-In

Make bird feeders and photo and document all the new birds that come

Go on a Tarrant Regional Water District Geocaching Adventure Grab a map and explore the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens Take family photos or selfies at the Inspiration Alley murals Swim at Twin Points Park at Eagle Mountain Lake Make Tie-Dye t-shirts using Mr. Tie Dye Tutorials on YouTube Bring Play-Doh to the FW Zoo and have your kids try and sculpt one of the animals

c: 970.452.9700 / o: 970.349.6653

See the bison at Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge Play tennis at McLeland Tennis Center or other public court Go fishing on Lake Benbrook Play a food tasting and guessing game Take photos and print them, invite your friends for an outdoor Gallery Night Pick a weekend to do a trilogy movie night Organize a street book exchange for your neighbors Watch the cattle drive in the Stockyards

Do a color scavenger hunt in your neighborhood

See the planes at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum

Paint rocks and place them in public parks for others to find. Join @FWRocks on Facebook

Take a Japanese inspired picnic to the Japanese Gardens inside the Botanic Gardens

Host a BYO BBQ in your front or backyard.

Guests bring their own food and utensils.

Martin Spencer

Consider this your adventure to-do list for the rest of the summer.

Rent a canoe on the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion

Grab a treat from Pop-Bar in WestBend and sit along the Trinity River

Relocation | Second Home | Development Investment Opportunities

Pickin’ for Preemies: Billy Bob’s Texas | pickinforpreemies.com

Keeping cautious and staying socially distanced is smart!

Your Adventure is Waiting...

Contact Me For All Your Real Estate Needs

Aug 30

Set up a tent in your living room for indoor camping or camp outside on a cooler evening

Have a margarita or virgin daiquiri on the Joe T. Garcia’s patio Research and visit the 10 oldest buildings in Fort Worth Support your favorite food truck

Martin.Spencer@SIR.com

Play disc golf at Z Boaz Park

RealEstateCrestedButte.com

Take a Segway Fort Worth tour

A Sport Psychologist Takes on COVID-19

by William Wise

Dr. Tracy Carrington is one of the more engaging people you’re likely to meet.

A native of Fort Worth and a graduate of Fort Worth Country Day School, Tracy has pursued an impressive career path.

A natural athlete, after high school Tracy cut her chops initially as an All-American and SEC champion pole vaulter at the University of Tennessee, after which she participated in the 2000 Olympic Trials.

She coached pole vault for 6 years, she’s run the Boston Marathon, and as a member of Team Elevate Women’s Cycling, she has garnered such honors as 2019 USA Masters National Champion in Criterium Racing, 2019 Texas State Champion Category 2 Criterium Racing, and 2019 Texas State Champion Masters Criterium Racing. While she continues to compete in cycling, she spends most of her time helping others unlock their potential and achieve their highest aspirations.

We recently sat down with her to talk about mental skills training, achievement, and working with high performing clients during an international quarantine.

Madeworthy: How did you get started in sports psychology?

Tracy Carrington: As a collegiate athlete, and it wasn’t by choice. I was under-performing in competition, and I couldn’t understand how to fix it. I then saw firsthand how mental skills training could transform my performance, and I wanted to help others in this way. I have been doing this for over 20 years, and I still meet with my own sport psychologist because even with everything I know as a professional, as a performer it is easy to lose perspective. I find it extremely helpful to have that person outside of my performance arena who can offer perspective and insight.

MW: What sorts of things do you help your clients overcome?

TC: To cover a few: effective communication - learning how to deliver your message so that people are willing to accept it; maintaining focus - learning how to keep your focus on what you want, when you want it; self-talk - understanding how the things you say to yourself influence what you see, the energy you bring to a situation, and your overall performance; stress management - learning how to manage your own and other people’s stress in high-stress situations; goal setting - creating a plan and then creating a map of how to get there; dealing with set-backs and failure; and learning how to maintain confidence in the face of failure.

MW: What’s a common theme amongst your clients?

Does that differ with age?

TC: Often the stress, lack of confidence, and anxiety expressed by clients can be linked to trying to control things that are outside of their control. So, a common focus is learning how to identify the controllable and developing strategies to let go of the uncontrollable.

MW: How is COVID-19 affecting your clients?

TC: There is a great sense of loss and grieving… Much like the injured athlete who grieves the loss of their

THE BODY BODY KEEPS SCORE As a postural restorative physical therapist of 11 years, I have interacted with hundreds of patients with varying ailments and complaints. The common denominator in all these patients’ experiences is a four-letter word. Pain.

Pain is our body’s response to injury, and believe me, it is as real as the heat of a Texas summer day. However, the reason pain levels and symptoms vary from individual to individual can be much more complicated and are almost impossible to fully understand.

The human body is composed of many complex systems. The musculoskeletal system is the framework of the body, providing support and movement. The circulatory system brings oxygenated blood to our cells and takes the depleted blood away. The respiratory system works with the circulatory system, providing oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide. The gastrointestinal system breaks down food into usable nutrients, while the endocrine and nervous systems control the whole circus. They all directly influence each other to varying degrees and integrate accordingly to keep us alive. Due to the intricacy of our bodies, a thorough history of one’s life is necessary to determine current conditions and potential future forecasts. Afterall, the body keeps the score.

When an injury occurs or pain arises in the body, it can be very easy to become a keyboard warrior on WebMD. However, if Googling or WebMD provided all the information needed to recover from injuries and decrease nagging pains, I would probably be out of a job. Every patient’s circumstances are different, just as every person is different, and I always strive to look at the big picture and not simply the symptoms and complaints in front of me. Various factors affect a person’s recovery, and no two people are the same.

FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT HEALING INCLUDE:

× STRESS LEVELS: Are you stressed in your professional and/or personal life? × SLEEP: Are you sleeping enough? Are you sleeping too much? Is your sleep constant or interrupted? × NUTRITION: Does your diet consist of healthy or unhealthy food? Do you cook regularly or get take-out? Do you skip meals? × DENTAL: Believe it or not, your dental health is a good source of information about the rest of your body! Have you had any dental work done? Do your gums bleed easily? × PHYSICAL: Are you active or sedentary? × RECENT ILLNESS: Have you recently recovered from an illness? What was it? Are you suffering from any lingering effects? × TRAUMA HISTORY: Have you had any surgeries? Have you broken any bones? Have you been in a motor vehicle accident? × MEDICATIONS: What medications, including over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements, do you take? Have you recently started or stopped any medications?

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season and dreams that were suddenly ripped away from them, COVID-19 has had a similar effect... In the beginning, many were still in shock or avoidance, saying things like, “This isn’t happening, they won’t really cancel.” Now I am beginning to see some clients moving through the grieving process, from anger to depression, and some are working through learning how to accept this new reality. I believe that how we respond to a situation is something that can be learned.

The reason I pursued this line of work was to teach others coping skills to manage the many curve balls thrown our way.

MW: Do you have any advice for those who are feeling the negative effects of social isolation? How do we cope with not being able to be around friends and family?

TC: We must learn to adapt. Many clients have expressed feelings of loneliness because of not being able to connect the way they always have. But, if my 96-year-old grandmother can learn how to FaceTime, we can all get creative with how we connect.

Tracy has shared some ideas for dealing with isolation and loneliness. » Find healthy sources of comfort.

Listen to music, focus on your pet, read a good book, spend time in nature, or learn how to cook a new recipe. » Stay Active.

The type of activity isn’t what matters; there is a sense of comfort gained from action, rather than being a deer frozen in the headlights. » Often what keeps us stagnant are our current expectations, comparison to others, or our past selves, so start small.

Do something that interests you. This is a great time in life to try something new.

by Kasey Aiken

It may be hard to believe that these factors can affect healing, so I have a couple of examples to convince you.

One of my patients grappled with chronic neck pain and tension for five years. After multiple sessions with other practitioners of various medical disciplines, the patient had lost hope of finding an answer for his neck pain. By asking detailed questions, I learned he had dislocated his jaw while wrestling in high school and had orthodontic treatment that ended about six months before the onset of his neck pain. I was able to assess the occlusion of his teeth and realized that his bite was affecting the way he was holding his head and neck, causing dysfunction. He was referred to a dentist for a mouth appliance and continued with a few exercises, and his pain was quickly relieved.

Another interesting case was a female in her early 30s who suffered from almost constant right ankle sprains and pain for over 12 years.

Her medical history revealed that her vision was corrected with monovision. This disengaged her eyes’ ability to work well together. She didn’t have an ankle problem; she had a vision problem. Her ankle instability was a direct result of her visual field.

Our body is constantly managing stress, as well as sensing the environment in which it lives. It remembers injuries from years ago. What may have seemed an insignificant fall or bump might be an exacerbating factor in later injuries. To gain true healing, we must consider the whole body’s history to best resolve the current complaints. As a consumer of healthcare and a provider of healthcare, I find the more we know, the better we can work together.

And always remember, the body keeps the score.

R R YOU COLO HARE IT &S OWN OCIAL ON S llFW

sA h Mean #Yall For tWor t t i @Vis

OUR CITY IS MADE UP OF SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE & CULTURES. JUST LIKE THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE VISITED FORT WORTH EACH YEAR FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. SHOW YOUR COLORS AND HELP US SHARE THE WELCOME WITH ALL.

A L E V E L P L AY I N G G R O U N D :

by Sarah Angle

FORT WORTH’S

WOMAN ON RUNNING

Liz Northern wears tortoiseshell glasses, a small nose ring, and has a perfect splattering of freckles on her heart-shaped face. She’s a selfproclaimed introvert, and thoughtful with her words and actions.

She’s also fierce.

In 2019, she set the Guinness World record for running the fastest 10K race while pushing a double stroller in Joe’s Run, an annual race which supports Fort Worth’s Samaritan House. She’s also the only woman to win every single Cowtown Marathon event that exists. And she ran in the World 50K Championships last year in Brasov, Romania, placing sixth in the world.

Oh, she also competed in this year’s 26.2-mile Olympic Marathon Trails in Atlanta, ranking 73rd with a time of two hours, 42 minutes, and 57 seconds.

For Northern, 32, running is as much a part of her identity as being a mother of two. It has been her rock and dedicated time for self-care when parenting young children gets hard because, let’s face it, it always does. As she tells new moms, “You need to set aside at least a half an hour every day for you — a time when you’re not being touched by a single person. Maybe it’s running or [maybe] in the bathtub.”

“I think it’s safe to say that mothers sometimes mourn their old lives,” said Northern. “I felt selfish for wanting more freedom. Getting up in the morning and meeting my friends was like mandatory alone time for me.”

Running has also become part of her family’s identity. She’s raced and won pushing a stroller across the finish line. Her children and her husband, Will Northern, have been with her on the sidelines to cheer her on and keep her motivated though every major race. And she clings to her “mom tribe” for support when things get hard.

Northern wears pictures of her children on a dog tag around her neck during races. They remind her of who’s waiting at the finish line and what’s going to come after it. After all, racing, while important to her, isn’t her whole life.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit and gyms closed, many people began running.

After all, exercise is an outlet for anxiety and stress, and the only spaces open for exercising were parks and neighborhood sidewalks and streets.

“Running helps keep your

body moving and gives a person the feeling of accomplishment but also helps to keep people fit and active,” said Heidi Swartz, executive director of The Cowtown Marathon. “With all of our days running together, working from home and not having our normal routines, running is something that you can make a routine. People need to remember that it doesn’t matter how fast you go. We’re all not fast like Northern, but we can all get out there and run or walk and accomplish a goal.”

Swartz says the key to success is to keep moving.

Moving is an understatement for Northern. Even when she’s not training, she’s still running 60 miles a week. Her next goal is completing the 2020 World 50K Championships, which is scheduled to take place this November in Jordan.

But even for the fastest woman in Fort Worth, as with the rest of the world, life has slowed down.

She doesn’t have any big plans for racing besides the possible race in November. Trying to have another child is also a possibility on the horizon.

“This has been a good mental break,” said Northern. “I was getting to the point with work that I didn’t see my kids that much. Now I see them too much. Ha! So I’m trying to find balance there.”

It was boys with no shirts on. That’s what first drew Northern to the crosscountry team at Nolan Catholic High School, just like any giddy teenage girl who was looking for a sport. Despite that frivolous beginning, Northern’s experience on the high school cross-country team gave her a strong foundation in the sport and let her walk on to the team at Trinity University in San Antonio. At first, she was the worst runner on Trinity’s team. But within a year, she’d made it to the national cross-country meet.

“My coach was a long-term thinker. He didn’t measure each day. We thought six months out.”

That approach to planning and training made it less competitive among members of the team, says Northern. Even today, she remains close friends with the women she met running beside in college.

“There’s something about running shoulder to shoulder with somebody,” said Northern. “Vulnerabilities are taken away. You’re not working with eye contact. It’s a safe environment; everyone is going through the same hills and winds. It’s a level playing ground.”

After she graduated, running was always there. Throughout her life, it has been a constant for Northern when life is full of uncertainties and change.

According to a story from the American Psychological Association, exercise in general is a mood boost. Exercise can also help diminish longterm depression, and continual exercise has even been compared to the efficacy of antidepressants for people with major depressive disorders.

Personally, running has been my saving grace during COVID-19, when stress and anxiety is a constant companion. The practice has imposed strict structure to days when all dates on the calendar blur together.

Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Today, that number is probably much higher. What scientists know about physical exercise is that it works magic on the brain.

“I like to think of exercise as the ‘magic pill’ we all want,” said Dr. Robyn Trocchio, assistant professor of Kinesiology at Texas Christian University.

“Most people know about the physical benefits of exercise such as reducing your risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and strengthening your bones and muscle. Exercise, however, can also provide numerous psychological benefits including reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and it enhances positive moods, learning, and memory.”

Dr. Trocchio says the hectic pace of Western society is already stressful enough, but with all the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, our stress levels skyrocket.

12

photo provided by Elizabeth Northern

photo by Beth McElhannon

WestBend, a place I used to frequent before the quarantine.

Inside the small store, all three employees wore masks.

The store is so small in fact that there’s a five-person limited capacity right now. Happily, hand sanitizer sat freely on a stool next to the door.

Caitlin was my gal for the fitting. First, I stepped on a machine that did “pressure mapping” of my feet. It checks to see how and where weight is distributed and measures your arch. To my surprise, my arch was high. All of this data is necessary because it informs the type of shoe to buy.

Then we walked behind a funky see-through wall of white twisted hangers to a treadmill. Caitlin told me to get on and start running (when I was ready) for about 10 seconds. She videoed the process on an iPad and showed it to me afterward.

It was cool seeing my feet run in slow motion. I’d never even thought about what my feet looked like hitting the pavement. I’m always totally in my daydreams, jumping to avoid runaway dogs and sunbathing cats as I weave through my Near Southside neighborhood.

With the results in place, Caitlin brought out five pairs of shoes for me to try on. Of course, I wanted performance and pretty. One surprise was that I wear a size 10.5 in running shoes instead of the size 10 I’d been incorrectly wearing since forever. “They’ll last longer,” Caitlin said.

Like everything in life, running is a journey. Sometimes the finish line is just over the next hill, and sometimes it takes years to get there.

Liz Northern knows that while real power comes from within, it is also amplified by somebody believing that you can do. Just like she believes in her children and her family, they believe in her and her future as a competitive racer. She wants real and unsugarcoated love. She needs to hear, “You’re going to do great, but it’s going to hurt like hell.”

“I wasn’t fast as a high schooler,” said Northern.

“Just give yourself time.

Enjoy the process. It’s a collective growth and compounding effect.

You’ll get better with consistency, but it won’t happen overnight.”

“Just like fine wine, it takes time.”

And a little bit of exercise can go a long way.

“Research has shown that 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (i.e. brisk walking, jogging, swimming) three times weekly can boost mood, reduce psychological distress, and decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to those who are sedentary,” said Dr. Trocchio.

“Some studies have even reported that just a 10-minute walk can improve your mood. Choosing activities that are predictable can allow your thoughts to wander. Also, rhythmical and repetitive movements may encourage introspection and creative thinking, which enhance personal growth and positive moods. Examples of these activities are jogging and swimming.

But, the most important aspect of exercise is finding an activity you enjoy.

Finding and engaging in activities that provide enjoyment is a much more effective exercise adherence strategy than inducing feelings of guilt or summoning ‘will power.’”

Liz Northern couldn’t agree more.

“It’s nice to get the fresh air and get out of the house and to get the adrenaline going and that endorphin rush,” said Northern. She says that when running on a trail, there’s a sense of community when you pass by other runners. “Even though you’re social distancing, you aren’t alone.”

However, she warns against starting a running regimen too quickly. “You have to listen to your body. Take care of yourself. And look out for other people.”

For Northern, running has never been her coping mechanism. “When I’m sad or depressed, I don’t like to run. Because I’m in my head. I’ll have to be with somebody else so they can talk the whole time. When I look back at my life, the times I’ve stopped running is when I’ve been in a bad spot.

Northern says that people need to find a coping mechanism that works, especially now.

“Running might be it,” she said. “You never know until you try it.”

“Everyone can be a runner and or a walker,” said Heidi Swartz. “All you need is a good pair of shoes and a path to take you down; you can do it. We currently have a virtual training program starting June 1st and some virtual runs taking place. If people need a goal to reach or some motivation to help get you out there, just contact us and we can help you get moving.”

When and if you want to give running a shot, it pays to do it right by getting fitted for running shoes. I’ve been running about 10 miles a week for the past five years. But when COVID-19 hit, I started running a lot more. But I’d still never got fitted for shoes. Instead, I just continued to hurt my feet.

And toes. And ankles. That is, until I talked to Northern and Heidi.

They both recommended professional fitting at shop devoted to running, so I went — with social distancing in full effect.

Even during COVID-19, on a Sunday in May, there was a waitlist to get “fitted.” I put my name on the list and walked around the shops at

13

by William Wise

the home LIBRARY During recent shelter in place orders, many people have spent time cultivating new habits, developing new skills, taking up old hobbies, or taking on home improvement projects. Longneglected guitars have been dusted off, wood-working tools have been sharpened, and gardens have been planted. We’ve been doing all the things we never had time for before the global pandemic forced that time upon us. It’s been nice to reconnect with things we’d put on the back burner.

Alas, the guitar I bought last year is still standing in the corner and there are many home projects my wife would love for me to do, but for me, this time of forced deceleration has meant more time to read. I haven’t kept track, but I’ve probably read ten books over the last few months. What a luxury leisure time is!

My only regret is that my library isn’t more robust. My library (a term I use very loosely indeed) consists of a rather handsome, antique lawyer’s bookcase.

It’s stuffed to the gills and boasts an ever-growing tower of overflow volumes stacked on top. It isn’t much, but it’s a fairly well-curated and everevolving reflection of who I am and who I want to become. Standing

in front of it the other day I began thinking about how home libraries are a snapshot of the owner’s mind.

For example, if you were to look at my humble collection you would see that I am interested in historical fiction, classical literature, military history (especially World War II), Stoic philosophy, spy novels, and William Faulkner. From the worn copy of The Iliad and the copy of Lonesome Dove with the pages falling out, you’d think perhaps I’m the type of person who is satisfied with the status quo. You’d surmise from the series of Foxfire books and my 1917 Webster’s Complete Dictionary (I like to look for “missing words” like deoxyribonucleic acid or West Germany) that I like “the old ways.” From the entire shelf of Faulkner, you’ll come to one of two conclusions: either this guy wants everyone to think he’s well-read, or he’s a glutton for punishment. The answer is neither. I have a disordered love of Faulkner.

While my bookcase doesn’t hold nearly as many volumes as I’d like to own, my overall collection of books is significantly larger, thanks to my digital library. Back in the mid-2000s when the first digital book readers started

to come out, I refused to entertain the idea of owning one. I declared that this abomination would never last; that this short-lived technological experiment would die as quickly as it came into being. How wrong I was!

And how happy I am to have finally embraced this technology. Between my Kindle, Audible, and local library apps, I have literally thousands of digital and audiobooks in my pocket. While they don’t have the comforting feel or the inimitable smell of a real book, these digital volumes mean I always have something fascinating to read.

For decades, I have dreamt of having my own real library: a cozy, booklined room of dark wood and brass with thick Persian rugs, a huge fireplace, and big, comfy chairs. There’s a drinks cart in the corner, of course, a painting of an 18thcentury sea battle above the fireplace, and maybe a gun rack with a pair of Purdey or Holland & Holland shotguns resting quietly until next fall.

I fantasize about the books that will fill this beautiful room and the sliding ladder I will need to reach the upper shelves. Perhaps my dream library is a bit clichéd, but clichés become clichés by being universally accepted truths. Your ideal library probably looks different from mine, but it suits you perfectly because it is a projection of your mind, interests, and desires.

I have a friend whose father has a

fantastic library. It is my favorite room in an unbelievably beautiful home.

It probably helps that he and I share many of the same interests, but over the years whenever I have visited, I have always gravitated to that fabulous room. My friend’s father and I have had many wonderful, far-reaching conversations there. Perhaps that’s the best thing about a library or even a bookshelf. They are collections of books, yes, but more than that, they are collections of ideas. Books are the

vehicles for ideas, ideas that bridge generations by tapping into universal human emotion and experience, ideas to be explored, digested, and discussed.

I, for one, can never get enough.

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For the month of July, FitBodies is offering unlimited workouts for new members for $49! Don’t let the Quarantine keep you in, they are socially distancing outside for your safety.

Mia Moss is the brains behind the beans at Black Coffee, a quaint coffee shop offering coffee, cappuccino, lattes, chai tea, and other seasonal drinks that rival anything you’ve ever had. The coffeeaficionado-turned-entrepreneur opened her coffee shop near Texas Wesleyan to provide a quality cup of coffee and a place to gather and connect on Fort Worth’s East Side. Black Coffee offers specialized blends as well as all your coffee favorites. On a good day, you can even pair your latte with a freshly baked pastry from another Fort Worth favorite, FunkyTown Donuts. photo by Jalea Seals

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Move Athleisure is Fort Worth’s first athleisure boutique opened in 2018 by Kara Baker. Our clothes are fashion-forward pieces merging athletic wear and streetwear. Our carefully curated collection is made up of around 25 brands that can take you from high impact workouts to lunch to a night on the town. Move caters to all body types and price points alike.

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by Victoria and William Wise

photo courtesy of 6th Ave Storytelling

either be “a worker bee or a queen bee, but you can’t be both.” A business leader was born.

Danette’s Urban Oasis, started in 2003, is located in South Main Village. Wicker is a licensed massage therapist and nail technician, but she calls herself a bodyworker. Her passion for helping others through bodywork was born out of her mother’s battle against breast cancer. Before her mother’s death at 47, aromatherapy, massage therapy, reflexology and other alternative treatments helped alleviate her pain.

Because of their socio-economic position, Wicker’s family had not been exposed to these alternate therapies. She felt the call to not only become a bodyworker but to offer her services at affordable rates, making these therapies accessible to everyone.

She charges $35 an hour for massages, and the price hasn’t changed in 17 years. Located near the hospital district, Wicker is able to serve a wide array of clients.

“I have immunodeficient clients and wheelchair clients that need to be cared for.”

Wicker feels that Fort Worth needs to do more to support Black-owned businesses. She has tried to get the attention of publishers and other media outlets to no avail. “I feel being a Black-owned business in Fort Worth is a tale of not being seen. Representation matters. I always ask, ‘Can you see me? Can you see Danette’s Urban Oasis? I am here!’” She built her business through her own hard work, word of mouth marketing, and personal networking.

Then COVID-19 hit.

“COVID-19 shut us down in one day. I had to contact 80 clients to tell them we are closed and I have no idea when we will reopen. It plunged us into debt and uncertainty.” Wicker’s business further decreased because some of her clients were furloughed or are extremely ill and don’t Danette Wicker inherited her have the funds to afford her work. After the protests entrepreneurial spirit from her father. In the sparked by the killing of George Floyd, her business 1960s, McDonald’s did not allow people of color to suffered further because she had to close her doors own franchises. “A white man partnered with my dad early to comply with the citywide curfew. and four other African Americans, and we got our first These civic upheavals, coupled with the fact that live Moms Ad McDonald’s store.” Her father told her that she couldTanglewood events she planned to attend to showcase her product

DANE T T E’S

B R E A S T

lines were cancelled, meant that Wicker is sitting on a stockpile of inventory with no sales outlet. Ever resourceful, she changed her business model, almost overnight. E-commerce now provides a good portion of her income.

Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius said, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” In other words, the things we think are blocking our path are not blocking our path; they are our path. Wicker has openly, and with hope in her heart, embraced these words. All small businesses who strive to overcome this upside-down, post-COVID world in which we find ourselves, must do the same if they wish to survive.

“I am not fearful that the world is going to implode.

I hate the term pivot because it’s almost like it’s this nice little easy little thing you’re doing. It’s like being a marionette. It is up and down and chaotic. It’s not easy and it’s not smooth.”

Wicker took what was largely an in-person business with limited online sales and flipped it on its head. It takes an immense amount of courage and fortitude to accomplish such a feat, especially as quickly as she has done it. One of Danette’s Urban Oasis’s greatest strengths, though, are quality product lines that easily compete with any other local boutiques or department store. She can sell these lines at incredibly competitive prices because she doesn’t carry the overhead of the big box stores. She is also able to offer free shipping.

In fact, during Fort Worth’s shutdown, she offered front porch delivery just to make sure she kept her customers.

Happily, Danette’s Urban Oasis is open again.

“We have added enhanced COVID-19 protocols to protect myself and my clients. We added an extensive line of face masks, sanitizers, and unique protective gear.” In the midst of her own personal business struggles, Wicker is still able to find ways to help in our community. She is donating 10% of sales of certain gift line sales to Hope Farm in July and Young Men’s Leadership Academy in August. “We wanted to help young people in our community.”

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GROWING A MODERN

by Gretta Rebstock

Lately, our days spent in quarantine have created both the time and opportunity to try our hands at something new. Whether it is baking bread, homeschooling our children, or raising chickens in the backyard, there is no time like a pandemic to sharpen your survival skills. One popular trend that is on the rise is the planting of victory gardens.

Also known as war gardens, victory gardens began during World War I and gained momentum during World War II to reduce the strain on public food supply and to supplement rationing.

Private yards and public parks were turned into gardens to grow produce of all kinds. Civilians were called “soldiers of the soil,” and the American people successfully grew over 40 percent of the fruits and vegetables consumed in the United States between 1942 and 1945.

While the coronavirus pandemic may not be as dire as a world war, growing your own food can give you a rewarding sense of hope and self-sufficiency in these unprecedented times. Not only do you have the benefit of tasting something that is as fresh as it comes, there is a special kind of joy that comes from rolling up your sleeves and working in the soil. If you have children, there is no better way to soak up some sunshine than by getting out of the house and enjoying a hands-on project together.

While we’re in the middle of harvesting spring-planted gardens, it is never too early to start planning your very own victory garden! Start with thorough research and become familiar with your planting zones. This is a crucial first step to help you determine the hardiness of what you are planting and its prime planting season.

Next, choose a location that gets adequate sunshine, has well-balanced soil, and easy access to water.

If you do not have a spacious plot for planting, do not let that dissuade you! A lot can be grown with container gardening. You can grow plants such as tomatoes, peppers, micro-greens, herbs and so much more in raised garden beds, pots, or salvaged paper and plastic receptacles that you would otherwise discard. Egg cartons and pint containers used for produce like cherry tomatoes make excellent

seed starters and are also the perfect growing environment for flavorful sprouts and micro-greens. Certain lettuces, colorful chard, carrots, and edible flowers can easily be grown in pots and planters and they look beautiful as well.

Two of my favorite resources for gardening are the Old Farmer’s Almanac and Texas horticultural legend Neil Sperry. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is available in most farm and ranch stores and nurseries, and Mr. Sperry has written numerous books dedicated to Texas gardening.

However, both have websites and podcasts to help you explore everything you need to know about gardening in your area. With endless resources right at our fingertips, you can also order gardening kits online or utilize YouTube tutorials on how to build a DIY container garden yourself. Your local nurseries will also serve as a great way to glean more knowledge and familiarity with what to grow — so start planning and get planting!

Finally, it is important to remember that you might not be immediately successful.

Embrace the process of trial and error. Get creative, experiment, and have fun! It takes work, but just like persevering through difficult times, maintaining a garden is all about patience, persistence, and building a tangible legacy. However, if gardening is not your forte, you can still support your local farmers. Along with small businesses, they depend on our help to continue doing what they do so well. Find a local CSA or go to farmers markets that do not allow reselling. [Editor’s note: both Cowtown and Clearfork farmers markets do not allow reselling.]

So, whether you are cultivating the ground yourself or shopping regularly at your local farmers market, in your own way you are declaring victory over these difficult times. It is times of stress and unrest that show us the things that matter: living and loving with more intentionality, choosing resourcefulness over panic, and carrying a spirit of hope and victory amidst uncertainty. Declare your own victory by celebrating the simple things – planting seeds in faith and supporting your local community.

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O U R C O M M U N I T Y ’ S M O V E R S & S H A K E R S by Lee Virden Geurkink

Twin sisters Catherine and Claire McKnight started C.C. Treats to sell their sea salt chocolate turtle candy as a way to raise money for the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB). The young daughters of Allision and Scott McKnight have made over 800 turtles and raised over $2000 (and the totals are still rising!) for TAFB. Their efforts have provided over 10,000 meals for families who rely on TAFB for food. Great going, girls! Madeworthy is proud of you!

At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Sarinya Oliver wanted to do something to help reduce the spread of the disease in her community. When masks suddenly became scarce, she recognized that her company MOOV Inc., a local business that produces innovative bags and backpacks, could help. She reached out to her international business contacts to import masks to help her neighbors and her community. “We might not be the large company with the power to change the world,” said Sarinya, “But as long as we stand up to contribute, we can make a big impact in our community.”

Another young entrepreneur, Drue Crawford, has started baking dog treats to raise money for nonprofits around Fort Worth. Treats for Peeps grew out of baking dog treats for her dog Switzer. Switzer has elbow dysplasia, and Drue made natural treats for him which don’t cause inflammation. She asked her family if she could make her baking into a business.

Each month, she picks a nonprofit to support with the proceeds of her treat orders. In the past, she has supported her school’s annual fund and CASA of Tarrant County. Madeworthy salutes you, Drue, for your compassion and drive!

photo by Farrar Food Photography

photo courtesy of Christie Eckler

Visit Fort Worth, in partnership with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Fort Worth, has created Fort Worth: Re-open Responsibly. Restaurants, cultural attractions, and businesses that make the voluntary commitment receive a digital toolkit to help promote their status on social media and websites and are featured on the Visit Fort Worth’s website. “We wanted to create a way for business to show they were re-opening the right way.” said Bob Jameson, president and CEO of Visit Fort Worth.

The Rotary Club of Fort Worth is supporting Fort Worth during the coronavirus pandemic by giving $65,000 in community grants to local nonprofits. “We are fortunate to be able to support our community during this unprecedented time due to COVID-19,” said Rotary President Rachel Marker, managing principal and partner at ARCTURIS. “Our club has a long history of supporting key nonprofits and initiatives in Fort Worth. Our members are a great representation of our motto, ‘Service Above Self’, and giving time and resources are crucial parts of that service.” Some of the nonprofits helped include A Wish With Wings, ACH Children and Family Services, Presbyterian Night Shelter, The Parenting Center, and Hope Center for Autism.

artwork by Jay Wilkinson The Fine Line Group and Gallery of Dreams are excited to announce the winners of the first round of awards in their initiative to help Fort Worth’s visual artists “The New Normal: An Artist’s Take on COVID-19.” Following a competitive selection process, which included juried reviews of applicant proposals and portfolios by a panel of eight influential leaders from Fort Worth’s most prestigious arts institutions, 13 artists received $2000 each to fund a COVID-19 inspired work. The second and third round of recipients will be announced later in the summer.

Dr. Matthew Steele and his staff are thrilled to announce that Jennifer Geyer has joined the team. Jennifer is a highly sought Licensed Aesthetician and Certified Injector who is focused on providing a customized treatment plan for her clients. She has over 18 years of experience in various laser techniques. With her attention to detail and an artistic background, she delivers natural results using Botox, Voluma, Juvederm, Restylane, and other dermal fillers. With microneedling, hydrafacials, and dermaplaning, she can rejuvenate your skin for a beautifully enhanced you!

The Near Southside’s JuJu Knits was selected to receive a COVID-19 relief and recovery grant from The Red Backpack Fund, an opportunity for small businesses and nonprofits made possible

by The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation. “I am thrilled to be one of the first 200 Red Backpack Fund recipients selected,” said Julie Hatch Fairley, owner of JuJu Knits – a local yarn store in Near Southside, Fort Worth. “Our shop had only been open a little over four months when the pandemic hit. As a brand-new retailer, I’m adapting the best I can – but every single day presents new challenges.”

Recognizing that small children sheltering in place might need something to brighten their days, Wesley Kirk, a photographer and filmmaker with Vision & Verve, along with his friend Patch (a bright blue, fuzzy monster) wanted to help. Together, they are offering pay-what-you-want live puppet shows via video calls.

Patch even takes requests like drawing together, telling stories, teaching lessons, or wishing a lucky kiddo a happy birthday. The calls are targeted at children aged three to seven, but Patch wants everyone to know that all ages are welcome!

18

The food service industry is one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival has been postponed to October, but in the meantime, the Festival has released $100,000 to assist employees of restaurants and bars with food service impacted by the shutdown. “While the decision to postpone the festival was difficult to make, our board is focused on long-term impact and support of our city,” said Russell Kirkpatrick, festival co-founder. Funds are distributed in $500 grants to employees nominated by restaurant owners or general managers.

PPE Secured came from an effort to make our community a better place. Owner Ameed Kanji noticed the access to personal protective equipment, such as FDA approved KN95 masks and nitrile gloves, had been made nearly impossible to procure due to price gouging. PPE Secured’s mission is to make sure every healthcare worker and emergency responder has access to quality and affordable personal protective equipment. They pride themselves on their transparency and fairness, and as this pandemic progresses, they hope to be able to continue doing their part to give back to their community by donating PPE weekly to organizations in need.

Opening this August, Tulips FTW will be the first mid-sized music venue in Fort Worth since the late and lamented Caravan of Dreams. While the local Fort Worth music scene is robust, national touring acts still tend to skip us for gigs in Dallas. The former Collective Brewing Project’s location in South Main Village will provide a capacity of up to 600 for a variety of local, regional, and national music acts that will include Texas country, Latin funk, hip-hop, and indie. The grand opening weekend is cautiously scheduled for August 21 and features Austin’s The Band of Heathens.

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DEMANDING

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by Lee Virden Geurkink

Imagine a world where there is no stigma surrounding mental illnesses and mood disorders. A world where primary care physicians can screen for mood disorders in an annual checkup. A world where mental illnesses are recognized as just that: illnesses that are no different from cardiac disease or arthritis.

Jessica Miller Essl and Susan Gruppi of M2G Ventures, along with Dr. Madhukar Trivedi of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (CDRC) believe that this world is possible. And they are working to make it happen.

Fort Worth-based M2G Ventures is a commercial real estate and development group that is not only committed to developing Fort Worth in creatively innovative ways but is committed to shining a spotlight on mental disorders through the company’s social impact projects.

Essl and Gruppi are identical twins. During Essl’s first marriage, her husband suffered a complete mental break and was eventually diagnosed with severe bi-polar disorder. “We grew up learning never to back down from a challenge, and trying to fight this illness was no different,” Essl says.

She and her family threw their love and support behind her husband: he went to the Menninger Clinic in Houston and UT Southwestern in Dallas, enduring electroconvulsive therapy, ketamine therapy, and taking a host of medications. “Finally, he just couldn’t keep doing this trial-and-error, hit-or-miss thing, so he stopped,” said Essl.

In 2017, her by-then-ex-husband was run over and killed as he walked, confused, down a road in the middle of the night.

Essl and Gruppi knew they had to do something to keep this sort of tragedy from affecting other families.

The sisters defined two goals: to raise awareness, thereby reducing the stigma surrounding mental disorders, and to raise money for research to change the way mental illnesses are treated.

To raise awareness, M2G Ventures partnered with Red Productions and Fort Worth photographer Rambo to produce a short film. The Bridge aims to show viewers what it is like to live with mental illness, thereby increasing empathy and breaking the stigma surrounding these illnesses.

To raise money for research, Essl and Gruppi “went on a crusade,” according to Essl. “We felt there had to be somebody out there doing the research to change the way these disorders are treated.”

After interviewing universities, hospitals, and independent researchers, the sisters heard about Dr. Trivedi. For over two decades, Trivedi and the CDRC have conducted cutting-edge research into the physical aspects of depression. In the largest and longest study of its kind, Trivedi and his team are working to transform the way depression and bipolar disorder are diagnosed and treated by understanding the biological causes of these diseases.

The CDRC’s research has three goals: to develop a screening process for primary care physicians to diagnose depression, to study biological and environmental influences on adolescents to identify physical warning signs as well as strategies to develop resilience, and to find biological markers that could help determine which treatments will help people with mental illnesses.

In the US healthcare system, there typically is a 10-year delay in diagnosing mental disorders. “Imagine if we waited to diagnose hypertension until someone showed symptoms. That person would have had a heart attack or a stroke first,” said Trivedi. The CDRC aims to provide a means of early detection, as well as better treatment matching to provide better outcomes for patients with mental disorders.

Because no two patients react the same way to a medication, medical treatment for mental illnesses is often through trial and error. By identifying genetic, demographic, biological, and behavioral markers, the CDRC hopes to create a better way to match a medication to a patient.

In addition to studying teens in the resiliency study, the CDRC has adapted a European program, Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), for use in high schools in America.

Teens are taught to identify the photo courtesy of signs of depression, leading to M2G Ventures earlier detection and treatment.

So far, the CDRC has introduced YAM into 20 area high schools.

“At the end of the day, society has to demand better treatment for people with these illnesses,” said Dr. Trivedi. In partnering with Dr. Trivedi and the CDRC, Jessica Miller Essl, Susan Gruppi, and M2G Ventures are helping to make those demands heard.

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On an otherwise unremarkable evening in April, I knew something was wrong. Sitting at the edge of my couch, all I could do was stare out at the dark, empty foyer in front of me and feel hopeless.

A few moments later, my sheltering-in-place partner, my husband, came into the living room. The paralysis that had wrested control of my body fell away. I wondered if I should tell him what was happening. Even if I found the right words, did I really want to bring him to this dreadful place with me? And how could someone like me—a healthy and happy working mother—have any reason to feel this emotionally incapacitated by a virus that hadn’t touched my body?

I was feeling the searing clasp of vicarious trauma.

Before COVID-19 tore through the nation, I’d encountered vicarious trauma while reading Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk. To paraphrase the authors, we experience vicarious trauma after long periods of exposure to and empathizing with the trauma of others.

Sometimes described as secondary trauma, empathic strain, or just plain burnout, it’s not uncommon for those affected by vicarious trauma to experience post-traumatic stress disorder-like symptoms and to feel intense guilt for what they are feeling.

For me, sitting and watching the news day after day became too much to bear. The emotional labor of staying informed on preventative strategies compounded by the countless times my highly sensitive toddler asked questions about the “cono-vivurus” and the nagging feeling of inadequacy I faced every morning as I prepared to work and parent from home full-time left little fuel in my emotional tank.

When we’re burned out, personal growth gurus are quick to offer a grab bag of self-care strategies to help us manage the weight of vicarious trauma: practice deep breathing, get outside more often, exercise regularly, call an old friend, take a bubble bath, light a candle, count your blessings, and sleep seven to nine hours a night.

All of these suggestions are well-intended and can be effective. (The last one is comical, though, if you’re a parent to little ones.) But I will quote one of my muses, writer Anne Lamott, who put it best in her TED Talk when she said, “Help is the sunny side of control.”

Suggesting a self-care strategy is one way to help, but it’s the path of least resistance. It’s much easier for me to tell you to drink wine in lotus pose and calm the hell down than it is for me to engage in a difficult conversation about what you’re feeling. To face our negative emotions with courage and curiosity is one of the bravest self-care strategies we can choose—for ourselves and others.

It’s not my place to tell anyone how to grapple with their negative emotions. What I can share, openly and unapologetically, are my own struggles with managing vicarious trauma and one of my favorite tools for keeping a gloomy outlook in check: my five-year journal.

If you’re not familiar, a five-year journal is a short-entry form of logging day-to-day occurrences over the span of five years. On a single sheet of paper in my journal, a day of the year will be listed, and below that date, there’s a five-line space for me to enter my thoughts. I could pen down only the most positive parts of my days, but I choose to document what feels most significant: the sound of my baby’s first giggle, the death of my best friend, that time I ate 17 tacos at Taco Fest. These are all moments I want to reflect on — my best days, my worst days, and a few oddball memories sprinkled in for good measure — arranged side-by-side so I can see that for every valley there is a hill. For every struggle, there is a story to be shared.

If you’ve reached down into the recommended grab bag of self-care strategies only to find underwhelming tchotchkes, try not to get down on yourself.

Self-care can’t be prescribed any more easily than toddlers can master emotional literacy. Parents know the latter to be true, but how many of us can identify our unique self-care needs and the pangs of vicarious trauma before they begin? If you’re feeling burnt out, reach for a friend who may be going through a similar experience. The best candidates listen without judgment and don’t change the subject with dismissive self-care suggestions. (Bonus points to those who bear sympathy chocolate.)

And if a good listener is hard to come by, you can always write until you feel right about it again.

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by Edward Brown

THE

Andrea Beims can’t help but laugh when she reflects on her bustling Wedgewood home with its five homeschooled children and her techsavvy husband, Matt. Her childhood life plan was to live a secluded life as a missionary in Africa, she told me. The founder of HIVEHome (a lifestyle brand that encompasses several mediums) told me that life has taught her how to become more in tune with God’s plan rather than trying to control every aspect of her life.

The small business owner and busy mother joked that the number one question she is asked is: How do you balance charitable work, event organizing, building a lifestyle brand, and being a fulltime mom?

If the blog is full of content, there’s probably a pile of dirty laundry waiting to be done, she tells her friends. “If the laundry is done, then I’m probably behind on work.”

In other words, being a working mother means shifting priorities between work and family life.

HIVEHome has grown into an ambitious brand that provides healthy living tips (with easy-toprepare original recipes), personal blog stories, design tips, and other forms of content that are designed to help people lead a purpose-filled and harmonious life.

One might assume that growing up in the tiny Panhandle town of Dumas, Texas, in a single-mother household with no siblings would come with more limitations than opportunities.

Andrea sees those formative years as anything but a setback.

“I was always around very strong women,” she said. “I learned from them and took in the different aspects of them.”

Growing up surrounded by her mother, grandparents, and older relatives meant that Andrea often relied on her imagination to fill in for absent play friends.

“I was the only kid around,” she recalled. “If I needed to have playtime, it was basically me.

I would create restaurants and lots of different businesses that my aunts and uncles would purchase from.”

Andrea met her husband Matt in college where they both majored in vocal performance.

After several moves, the Beims settled in Fort Worth five years ago.

Throughout the moves, small businesses have come and gone under the umbrella of HIVE Creative, Andrea’s catch-all business entity.

The couple was already contemplating combining their varied skills — Andrea describes her thought process as poetic while her husband is more technical — through some project when Andrea met photographer Jessica Collins at a women’s retreat in 2016.

“Everything is out in the open” at those types of events, Collins said. “That was a very quick way for us to become fast friends. She nurtured the creative side in me.”

Honey

HIVE

IN THE

photos by Jessica Collins Photography

Soon after, Andrea asked her new friend to do an outdoor photoshoot of the Beims family in Glen Rose. Visuals are an important storytelling device for HIVEHome. Collins, who now serves as HIVEHome’s creative visual director, has a gift for capturing Andrea’s kiddos in their natural states — goofy glances and all. Whether through Instagram or blog posts, HIVEHome tells unprompted stories of family life.

Healthy living is a cornerstone of HIVEHome, and the reason has nothing to do with the general popularity of diet fads. Seven years ago, and only months after giving birth to her fifth child, Micaiah, Andrea was stricken with chronic pain and a slew of diagnoses that included rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and Hashimoto’s disease. She was also told by doctors that she was on the spectrum for muscular dystrophy and lupus.

Andrea turned to prayer and countless hours of research that led her to realize that her diet was impeding her ability to absorb nutrition.

“I asked the Lord why He was allowing this in my life,” Andrea recalled. After methodically cutting out certain nutrients and foods, the mother of five has learned to stay away from processed foods in general. Now recovered, she largely avoids sugar. Grains are strictly verboten. Andrea said she sees meaning behind that painful chapter.

“I am able to share the wisdom of what it is like to walk through pain,” she said. “The same stories that I have to tell are true of the spiritual pain and emotional pain that we can endure through hard times.”

In addition to health and wellness stories, HIVEHome’s blogs offer a wealth of fun family and neighborhood project ideas. One recent post, How + Why to Host a Rainbow Day in Your Own Way, grew out of a spontaneous desire to throw a fun event for the neighborhood.

The concept for Rainbow Day was, “I want to love on my neighbors,” Andrea said.

Rainbows represent hope, and “hope is the basis of a lot of what we do.”

The event staggered visitors so social distancing guidelines could be followed. The Beims family created a balloon rainbow that doubled as a photo backdrop. Handcrafted

invitations were left hanging on neighborhood door handles the week before the event. On Rainbow Day, families were given goody bags that included gift cards to local businesses — supporting local businesses was one goal of the event — and families were encouraged to have a picnic on their front lawn that evening.

“Everyone in the neighborhood appreciated the event,” Matthew said. “You could talk to neighbors from the street. We had music playing outdoors.”

Andrea said several families, neighborhoods, and one church have subsequently picked up the idea, which first started in the United Kingdom as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in a sharp uptick of website traffic as homebound families look for resources on how to navigate homeschooling.

HIVEHome never sought to be a homeschool resource, Andrea said, but the topic has been a steady aspect of the brand given the staff’s vast homeschooling experience. Content director and homeschooling mom Andrea Haney said the COVID-19 shelter-at-home orders didn’t disrupt her children’s education.

“There were times when I feel like my kids are invading my space,” she said with a laugh. “For us, it’s our normal. We made that adjustment a while ago. There are days when you are moving and grooving, and everyone is doing great.

Then, there are days when nothing is going to happen. You have to have grace.”

HIVEHome has grown in tandem with the team of women (“the honeys in the hive” as Beims calls them) who find fellowship through each other and their growing online following.

While her younger, mission-bound self may have thought otherwise, having five children didn’t mean the end to enjoying adventures. Andrea and her husband have found that adventures are more enjoyable once you have found your hive.

“Family is the foundation of who we are,” Andrea said. “I hope that what we are making is something that other families can take and run with. Whatever we do comes from an authentic place.”

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