Valley Views

valley views A walk through impermanence

Recently 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 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 occurred 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 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 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.

A Taylor’d Approach

Taylor Davison, Valley Journal Editor

The silence of the comms

Attorney 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 to the speakers, one of whom was Knudsen.

Knudsen’s spokesperson, Emilee Cantrell, told MTFP reporter Mara Silvers prior to the meeting that she did not have any prepared remarks to provide. Cantrell also said she wouldn’t record Knudsen’s address, which was delivered via Zoom.

Alex Sakariassen’s investigative report, about a Nov. 10 meeting between Knudsen’s staff and election conspiracist and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, also cited Cantrell. And again, Knudsen’s press secretary was not forthcoming with information about what happened at that meeting, including whether Knudsen himself met with Lindell, a peddler of false claims that the 2020 election was rigged.

Cantrell is among dozens of taxpayer-funded public information officials whose job is to supply the press — and thus the public — with information about what our elected officials are 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 View John S. Adams Editor in Chief, Montana Free Press

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of state’s office wrongfully retained $120,000 in duplicate filing fee charges paid by Montana businesses in 2020. Jacobsen spokesperson Richie Melby, who didn’t respond to Alex’s email seeking comment, earns a taxpayer-funded salary of $39 an hour, or $81,120 a year.

And it’s not just elected state officials who make a habit of avoiding the press. In this story, about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Montana’s sole representative, Matt Rosendale, refused to comment on the siege. His then-communications director, Harry Fones, didn’t respond to emails seeking comment. Fones was paid $51,916.67 between Jan. 3 and June 30.

Taxpayer dollars fund generous salaries to these officials, whose job is to inform the public about where elected officials stand on important issues, what actions they’re taking in office, who they’re meeting with, and how they go about representing their constituents.

This lack of government transparency makes reporters’ work more challenging, but it doesn’t mean we’ll stop doing it. Because reporting where elected officials stand on important issues, what actions they’re taking in office, who they’re meeting with, and how they represent their constituents is our job, too.

vj

The ABCs of making ’22 your best ’22

Turning the calendar over to a new year is often a time of reflection, not only to look backward but also to look ahead. What can happen to make the future bigger and brighter?

The past year has been overflowing with lessons for my life. It’s been a year of change and challenges, struggles and success. Simply put, I’ve learned a lot - about myself and the world.

I like to play with words and decided it might be fun to put together an ABC guide encompassing some of the eurekas I’ve experienced that might help create a bigger and better 2022 for us all.

Some of the things 2021 taught me:

Allow yourself grace when you make a mistake. Allow others the same grace when they mess up. Appreciate everything else.

Breathe. When the day is long and the road seems steep, take a break and just breathe - in and then out. If you have to take it one breath at a time, you are still breathing, and that’s something.

Compassion builds bridges while indifference tears them down. Build bridges. Don’t take things for granted. It puts you on autopilot. Do pay attention. It puts you in line to see the beauty that surrounds and encompasses you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Comparisons minimize your uniqueness. Do be authentically and unapologetically you.

Endings often have to happen for beginnings to occur.

Fulfillment comes from within. The world we live in is a beautiful and abundant place. We may be fortunate enough to have loving friends and family in abundance, but we can’t be truly fulfilled by the things around us, not even people. That particular abundance must come from a place deep inside.

Gratitude can serve as the instigator to a joyful outlook. Growth can germinate from the most dire of circumstances. Give more than you receive.

Hit it out of the park. If you’re satisfied with a base hit, you’ll never achieve a home run.

If a door closes, a window may not open. A whole world might open. Don’t limit your possibilities

Joy is one of the best three letter words ever invented. Practice joy. Allow joy, even if you can only fathom it in the smallest of increments.

Kindness can change the world. We need more kindness because we need to change the world.

Life can be hard, but it can also be joyous. It’s also meant to be fun. Sometimes it’s all three.

Miracles are often in the eye of the beholder. Be a beholder.

Now is the most important time ever. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not yet here. Be present in the

moment; pay attention to the now. Open your heart and open your mind. None of us knows the answers to all the questions. Live life with an open outlook, Slices of Life especially and most importantly toward those whose Jill Pertler outlook differs from yours. Syndicated columnist Perspective can literally change your world. You (and only you) get to choose your perspective. Quit taking life so seriously. This is supposed to be fun. Practice fun. Rest when you need to. Radiate joy and love outward whenever you can. See things as they really are and trust in your gut. The sun shines brightly every day, even when clouds attempt to block our view. Trust is incompatible with worry and fear. Trust in yourself. Trust in the universe. Trust in life. Unconditional love is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another and ourselves. Try to love unconditionally, without outcomes.

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Tester names top seven 2021 accomplishments

1. The signing of my bipartisan infrastructure package into law.

My top highlight is the bipartisan infrastructure package, which delivers urgently-needed investments to Montana that will support our small businesses, lower costs for working families, and grow our economy—all without raising taxes on Montana families. 2. Combatting consolidation and boosting competition in the Ag industry.

To level the playing field and increase market transparency—bills like our American Beef Labeling Act, our Meatpacking Special Investigator Act, our New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, one on spot pricing, and recent legislation to suspend foreign imports that threaten our markets were created. 3. Securing disaster relief for Montana producers facing historic moisture and drought.

Producers and Montana farmers and ranchers got assistance directly with programs like the Livestock Forage Program, the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program, and the Conservation Reserve Program. 4. Passing the American Rescue Plan.

The American Rescue Plan got shots in arms for anyone who wanted them and helped keep small businesses afloat and rural hospitals and schools open. 5. Getting the Northern Border reopened. 6. Crafting the United States Innovation and Competition Act.

This landmark science legislation supports cutting edge research that will power development and create

good-paying, 21st century jobs in scientific and technological innovation and rural America will have a seat at the table Valley Views when it comes to a new inno vation hub. -

From the Office of 7. Leading the Senate VeterSenator Tester ans’ Affairs Committee. We got 8 of my bills signed into law to meet the evolving needs of our vets here at home, and connect more folks with the health care, benefits, and respect they’ve earned.

Best 2022

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Value what you have over what you want. Value the relationships that ring true in your life, whether they have withstood the test of time or whether they are in their infancy.

Worry less. What’s the worst thing that could happen? When I ask myself this question, I realize things probably aren’t so bad.

We is always more important than me.

You are important. You are worthwhile. You matter.

Because X and Z are challenging letters, I followed my advice under “A” and gave myself grace to skip over them. I also couldn’t whittle “W” down to just one, so included two, which seems appropriate since it is a double-U. I hope you find this list useful. If one of my observations meets your needs, I’ve met my goal.

All the best in 2022. Let’s make it the best year ever.

Jill Pertler is an award-winning syndicated columnist, published playwright and author. Don’t miss a slice; follow the Slices of Life page on Facebook.

vj

Signups open for Dairy Margin Coverage

Program enhancements improve feed cost calculations

News from USDA

WASHINGTON — As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to support dairy farmers and rural communities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage program and expanded the program to allow dairy producers to better protect their operations by enrolling supplemental production. This signup period – which runs from Dec. 13, 2021 to Feb. 18, 2022 – enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC.

letters

Disagree peacefully

Editor,

Picked up our weekly edition of the VJ today and was reminded of a conversation with some friends and acquaintances last week over coffee. I was asking about something in that VJ edition, and one response was - we don’t bother with the news. Knowing they watch OAN I would have to agree with them.

I guess that is not unlike the current fad of forcing school districts to remove books with certain subjects from their library. If it is not what you want/believe/think/do etc. ban it from everyone. Our kids will never find out, right?

What would our world look like... uhm, maybe that is exactly what our world will look like if, as Bob would say, “we the people” allow short sighted and selfish, insecure people to control how we all should live. Oops, now I am thinking of our current State Legislature making determinations and passing laws that are based on their own prejudices and less on the American ideals that we are a free nation with disagreements, opinions, beliefs, likes and dislikes and except for last January, have a way to find peaceful ways to disagree.

My fear is that like Germany, Italy, Russia, and many other countries, we see, and our courts are allowing, the loud angry voices working to destroy our own free voting rights.

How far this trend goes and how it changes America, only a future history will record.

Richard Bell Polson

Local vs. global

Editor,

I subscribe to your paper to receive local news. The article from Peace Voice makes me think you are getting away from local to a globalist view paper.

Your readers need to know that Peace Voice is a globalist “peace” organization out of Portland Oregon. A town where they can’t get along with anyone who isn’t “liberal,” have riots, looting and generally don’t share Montana values.

I certainly hope printing this kind of article is not a new trend. Stick to local news and let the globalist new world order pollute the mainstream media as it’s already lost.

Ralph Rosa Polson

News from the Polson Chamber of Commerce

POLSON — It’s been another year of challenges, achievements, inspirations, and successes here in Polson, and there are so many of you out there who deserve the utmost recognition for all that you’ve done to make our community a better and brighter place. To ensure as many businesses and individuals receive consideration for our annual Community Awards this year, we are now accepting nominations from Chamber Members to help us recognize businesses and individuals that have contributed their time, energy and resources to make a significant impact in the Polson community during this past year of 2021.

Nominations should be made based on the criteria listed below under each category. The Polson Chamber Board of Directors will select the winners after review of each nomination entry. Only complete nomination forms will be accepted. All recognized Covering the vast majority of APPLIANCE CARE APPLIANCE CARE businesses must be current members of HATE YOUR CPAP? Lake County. Covering the vast majority of Covering the vast majority 15 years experience. Lake County. of Lake County. Local, factory-authorized, in-home repairs. 15 years experience. 15 years experience. Local, factory-authorized, Local, factory-authorized, in-home repairs. Servicing all brands, makes of residential appliances. Call Sam Allred for reliable quality work. in-home repairs. Servicing all brands, makes of residential appliances. Servicing all brands, makes of residential appliances. Call Sam Allred for reliable quality work. Offering alternative sleep apnea Call Sam Allred treatments. NOW RELOCATEDfor reliable quality work. PPO Insurance Accepted Call for SERVICE NOW RELOCATED Call us today to schedule your complimentary consultation 406-883-3904 Call for SERVICE 1-406-883-5544

the Chamber in good standing and must have not received the award for which they have been nominated within the past three years. Self-nominations are accepted. Nominations must be submitted by January 28, 2022. · Non-Profit Organization of the Year – This award is given to a non-profit organization serving the Polson area, showing effective fundraising and resource development and showing exemplary support to the community while adhering to the non-profit mission. · Polson Leadership Award – The Randy Ingram Leadership Award is intended to recognize a citizen who exhibits outstanding community leadership and unselfishly gives their time to better our community. · Citizen of the Year – The John Tiskus Memorial Citizen of the Year Award represents a citizen in the Polson area involved in growing the community through their vision and leadership. This person

Submit nominations for Polson Community Awards Homeless Children, Youth Grant Accepts demonstrates commitment to voluntary service and displays high ethical and per- Applications sonal integrity. · Volunteer of the Year – The Andy News from the Montana Anderson Memorial Volunteer of the Year Office of Public Instruction Award represents a person who volunteers or volunteered their time to improving the HELENA — Montana community through various contributions received two allocations and community service. of funds for a total of · Business of the Year – The busi- $1,876,824 to aid in educatness that receives the Business of the Year ing homeless children and Award shows growth through revenue and youth through the McKincreation of jobs, has innovative products ney-Vento grant process. and services, encourages employees to vol- The Intend to Apply winunteer and demonstrates economic support dow for Montana School of the Polson area business community. Districts was open from To submit your nomination: Oct. until Dec. 3. 1. fill out the online nomination form on For more information, our website please contact Jack O’Con2. email a completed PDF submission nor, Federal Programs Diform to chamber@polsonchamber.com; or rector and State Homeless 3. print out and turn in a completed Education Coordinator, at hardcopy nomination form to our Chamber joconnor2@mt.gov or (406) Office. 444-3083.

P.O. Box 343, Polson 406-883-3904 P.O. Box 343, Polson