valley views A walk through impermanence R
ecently a friend of mine told me about a principle she’d learned from a Buddhist: everything is transient. I may not be Buddhist myself, but the concept intrigued me. It touches on something we all know but do a wonderful job of keeping out of our day-to-day thoughts. The impermanence in life. Now, this idea can be approached in a nihilistic way, talking in large strokes about unavoidable death and the pointlessness of doing things. But rather than inspiring
futility and uncaring, this philosophy could help us adjust to the inevitable change we’ll see not just in the world, but within us throughout our lifetimes. Everything is transient, so why are we so hard on ourselves? We can hold on so hard to the idea that “what is” means “what has always been and always will be.” We can
A Taylor’d Approach
avoid the idea of change in ourselves so much that when the impermanence of existing rears its head it can be devastating, even if what has Taylor Davison, occurred Valley Journal Editor isn’t really a tragedy. Maybe you changed careers. Maybe you gained weight. Maybe you aged. Nothing in life is permanent, and yet when
The silence of the comms A
ttorney General Austin Knudsen recently spoke to a meeting of health care workers and community members in Sidney, where some employees of the Sidney Health Center were protesting the hospital’s intention to comply with a federal vaccine mandate for health care providers that receive Medicaid and Medicare funding. What did Knudsen say at the meeting? We don’t know, because photos and recordings of the meeting were prohibited, and only Sidney Health Center employees were allowed to talk 10 - January 5, 2022
CEO Mike Lindell, to the speakers, one of also cited Cantrell. And whom was Knudsen. again, Knudsen’s press Knudsen’s spokesperson, Emilee Cantrell, told secretary was not forthMTFP reporter Mara coming with information Silvers prior to the meet- about what happened ing that she did not have at that meeting, including whether any prepared Knudsen himremarks to provide. self met with John S. Adams Editor in Chief, Lindell, a pedCantrell Montana Free Press dler of false also said she claims that the wouldn’t record Knudsen’s address, 2020 election was rigged. which was delivered via Cantrell is among dozens of taxpayer-fundZoom. ed public information Alex Sakariassen’s investigative report, officials whose job is to supply the press — and about a Nov. 10 meetthus the public — with ing between Knudsen’s information about what staff and election conour elected officials are spiracist and MyPillow
Valley View
the visions of ourselves we hold in our heads undergo an external change, we can be brutal. As though the very essence of who we are has been challenged, we can feel angry, upset, even betrayed. And yet such change is inevitable. If we all went through life bearing this in mind, we might be more ready to adapt when the time comes. We might be ready to embrace our evolving forms and roles and remain optimistic about the future. We might stop thinking
we’ve already “peaked” and reevaluate our priorities. We might even find we’re atop a new peak, maybe as a friend, as an athlete, as a community member, as a knitter, as whatever it is we truly value in the here and now rather than in a past life. So, if you’ve been hard on yourself this year, take your own criticism with a grain of salt. You can always continue striving for self-improvement, but allow yourself some time to appreciate the impermanence of where you are right now as well. Buy bigger pants without
up to. In her case, she gets paid $35.78 an hour, or $74,422 a year, to do that job. Her boss, the attorney general’s Communications Director Kyler Nerison, pulls in a six-figure government salary, earning $49.29 per hour, or $102,523 a year. Increasingly, these well-paid government officials are blowing off news reporters. In this story from July about state guidance on a law that bars Montana agencies and businesses from requiring vaccines, a spokesperson for the Department of Labor and Industry didn’t’ respond
to Alex’s request for comment on what vaccination incentives might be considered illegally coercive. The department pays public information officer Jessica Nelson $29 an hour, or $60,320 a year. Her boss, Director of Strategic Communications and Data John Elizandro, earns $51.88 an hour, or $107,910 a year. Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen rarely talks to the press, and her office regularly declines to comment to reporters. Like in this story, about a class-action lawsuit alleging that the secretary
Valley Journal
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dread, and try to lean into your new role in life with enthusiasm, even if it isn’t something you’re looking forward to. After all, the valleys in our lives are impermanent as well. There will always be another peak waiting.
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