Backroad therapy

It is speculated that millions of Americans are SAD. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression characterized by the change in seasons and lasting short periods of time, typically four to five months. Those afflicted by SAD often experience a change in mood, habits and behavior as fall shifts to winter. They can think negative thoughts and feelings about winter and stress over its limitations.

Research suggests that a lack of Vitamin D due to the shortened daylight hours is to blame. When exposure to sunlight is decreased, serotonin can also decrease, particularly in people who have SAD. In true cases of SAD, these symptoms disappear as soon as the days get longer and the weather gets warmer.

After an intense period of self-reflection a few years back, I began to track and examine my emotions instead of just letting them overtake me. Each fall, as the days would begin to shorten, the dread would set in. My mood would plummet and I would get gloomy enough to convince myself that things would never get better. It gave me cause to wonder… had the reality of life as a middle-aged human arrived and dug in its claws? Or is it possible that I might have a small case of SAD?

What is a SAD human to do? Depending on the severity you suffer from, there are four options: light therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressants, and Vitamin D supplements. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve become an armchair expert in the field of mental health, at least where it applies to myself and I concluded that an alternative form of therapy could be sufficient for treating my case of SAD.

To quote one of my heroes, Ron Swanson, there has never been a sadness that can’t be solved with breakfast food. While that is entirely true and I agree one million percent, I want to offer up that there might be another solution to what ails you. Breakfast is grand, but backroading is better. An afternoon of sunlight, forests, dirt roads, and noisy streams might be just lazy Sunday in the dead of winter, and there is a good chance you can chase away the winter blues, even for a while. note of where you are on the map and quite possibly where you are at in your head. Should you be lucky enough to find yourself tucked into a particularly interesting holler or on the moss-covered bank of a headwater, it might just be enough to ground you. Ground you in a sense of reconnecting with the earth, but also in the sense of how we humans tend to make the unimportant seem like the “most“ important. Literally going day in and day out, making mountains out of molehills, often for no other reason than that we overestimate our own self-importance.

A few weeks back, my husband Nash and I were feeling the weight of the season. We had been stuck indoors for too long and, while neither of us could exactly pinpoint what our restlessness was related to, it was evident we needed a change of scenery.

Spur of the moment, I insisted we load up for a drive. Within 30 minutes we packed the cooler, grabbed the tripod, notebooks, paper towels, other various accouterments. We had to circle back when I realized I had forgotten the kitchen sink. It never hurts to be too prepared, and when you aren’t really venturing all that far from home, you are more apt to meander and take your time if snacks are in reach and tools are on hand to document your adventures. What we didn’t have was a solid plan, but my failsafe for a day of backroading is always the same. When in doubt, head to Shady.

what the doctor ordered.

I can tell you with all honesty I’ve never met a backroad I didn’t like. Whether driving or riding shotgun, there is a lovely simplicity that comes from observing the world with the window down (yes even in winter, wear a hat and some gloves!) Conversation flows easier, and bouts of silence are nothing but an opportunity to meditate on the mountains as the tires slowly eat up the gravel.

Give yourself three to four hours on a

That day we kept it simple with no real end goal in mind as we headed out Highway 375. The winding ribbon of road taking us by the old Shady store, now Thibodeaux’s, and absolutely worth the drive to sample their boudin.

Nash listened patiently as I navigated and narrated points of interest relevant to my teenage years. We made time for stops at the Caney Creek WMA Lookout and Buckeye Vista, and a quick side trip down to Bard Springs, where he scoured the ground for worked flint as I snapped 100 photos of the same waterfall.

Each stop is therapy, a chance to stretch (physically and mentally) and really take

The day’s drive ended with a loop around curious and quaint Shady Lake before coming out on Highway 264 for an equally beautiful blacktop drive back home. Over the top of the mighty Cossatot with a painted sky stretching for miles. A breathtaking sunset is usually the final eye candy in a day of backroading.

While it may not be feasible to indulge yourself in a daily or even weekly backroading session, its benefits are undeniable and usually instantaneous. I prescribe at the very minimum, a once-amonth treatment of no less than 20 miles of backroading. Apply liberally and repeat as necessary.

Follow along for more adventures and media @AshleyinArkansas on Social Media.

Around Town

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing Church. For information call Erica at (479) 234-5289 or Candice at (501) 356-8300.

The men of the Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall will have a Valentine’s Celebration catered dinner Saturday, Feb. 11. You must have RSVP’d by Sunday, Feb. 5 for the dinner, but all are welcome to come hear Special Guest Speaker “DeeWayne” at 2100 Highway 375 West, Mena.

Henry Classic Lever Action .22 Carbine Rifle to be given away Feb. 25 at the Gillham Fire Department at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20. All proceeds will go to Rebecca (Burris) Alexander to help with funeral and other expenses. Her husband Mikeal Alexander died suddenly Jan. 8. There will be a pulledpork sandwich dinner by donation from 4-6 p.m. and an auction from 6-8 p.m. Any items can be donated for the auction. Call Judy Oliver at (870) 584-8254 or Maude Burris at (870) 386-2530 for any questions or to buy tickets.

The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing.com

The Hatfield Branch Library is open every Tuesday and Friday from noon-4 p.m. The library is located at 121 Cemetery Rd. (old Agri building) in Hatfield.

GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

The Center has an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479) 234-8366 or (479) 216-3786.

The Polk County AR Democratic Party will be meeting at PaPa’s Mexican Café 1506 Hwy 71 S, on Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m.

Come early for eating and socializing before the meeting starts. New to the area? Come and joins us. You are always welcome. Questions can be directed to Linda G. Johnson , 479 234 7966.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has meals and activities for seniors. If you need to make delivery arrangements or changes call (870) 385-2373.

The Polk County Social Seniors will meet at the New China Chinese Restaurant, 409 Hwy 71 N, on Feb. 14 at noon. The Entertainment will be the Lyric Readers from OLT. Newcomers are always welcome. Any questions? Call Linda at (956) 241-2633.

Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to anyone in need.

The Food Pantry at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church is open every first and third Monday of each month, 4-6 p.m., located at Fair Grounds Road. For more information, call (479) 437-4018.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, 9th & Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.

Bluegrass Jam Session is open to musicians and fans alike. Bring your instruments for an unplugged session to the Daisy Room (behind Janssen’s Avenue Florist & Gifts) the first and third Thursdays of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Free event. Some snacks are provided.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 243-9600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to continuing to serve the community!

Announcing auditions for OLT spring musical

Submitted by Julie Ulmer

Ouachita Little Theatre’s spring musical will be “Little Shop of Horrors” directed by Alex Night.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, Feb. 22 from 6-8 p.m. at the OLT located at 610 Mena Street. Callbacks will be Saturday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Performance dates are May 12 - 14 and May 19-21.

This comedy revolves around a meek floral assistant named Seymour who stumbles across a new breed of plant that mysteriously sings “R&B” and has a rather dark, carnivorous habit. Written as an off-Broadway musical by composer Alan Menken with Howard Ashman who wrote the book and lyrics, the musical is itself an adaptation of a 1960 film by Roger Corman of the same name. A popular film version of the story was also produced in 1982 by director Frank Oz.

The director encourages potential actors to be available for the callback date. Night also suggests those auditioning should be familiar with the Menken/Ashman music of the show, as material from the musical will be used.

The cast includes 10 characters. Those interested in auditioning should check oltmena.com or Ouachita Little Theatre social media sites on Facebook and Instagram. Updates, expectations, and other details concerning characters and the audition itself can be found there.

Skyline Cafe is 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame finalist

Skyline Cafe in Mena is one of 12 Arkansas restaurants named as finalists for Arkansas Heritage’s 2023 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism announced the finalists Monday for the seventh annual Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

Arkansas Heritage launched the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame program in 2016 to recognize Arkansas’s legendary restaurants, proprietors and foodthemed events across the state.

More than 1,800 submissions were received from all 75 counties this year. The nomination period ran throughout October 2022.

Winners will be selected by the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Committee and then announced at a hybrid ceremony at Central Arkansas Library

System’s Ron Robinson Theater on March 6.

The public is invited to attend the reception and induction ceremony virtually or in-person. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.ArkFoodHOF.com. All nominees and finalists are also listed on the website as well.