a p r i l l b r a n d o n | p i c t u r e t h i s ! | fa s h i o n JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
COVER STORY
WRITTEN IN THE STARS
ALSO INSIDE
a healthy
oUtlook re-envisioning
thE REsolUtioN
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
s t n e t n o C Health: The Heart Of The Matter
Beauty: Body Lotion For A Dry Lizard
10
14
Features 16
Cover Story: Written In The Stars
26
A Healthy Outlook
32
Aprill Brandon: What One Word Describes You?
Fashion 22
14
30
22
26
On the Cover
Fall Into Winter
RE-INVISIONING THE RESOLUTION: Four Steps To See Yourself Differently In 2016
In Every Issue
The Heart Of The Matter Body Lotion For A Dry Lizard
Feature: A Healthy Outlook
School
Health & Beauty 10
Fashion: Fall Into Winter
34
Picture This!
Each year Stars Over Longview recognizes and celebrates women in the community who aspire to make a difference and better our community and its citizens. pg. 16
Spot the Charm Our November/December Spot the Charm winner was Bonnie Shattles and she has chosen a $100 Visa gift card. She spotted the charm on page 34 in our last issue! We invite you to spot a special Charm logo in this edition. If you locate it, sign on to mycharmonline.com and click the Spot the Charm link on the homepage.
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charm january/february 2016 Publisher Stephen McHaney editor Ric Brack • 903.237.7759 • rbrack@news-journal.com Publication director April Harlow • 903.232.7206 • aharlow@news-journal.com Managing editor Christina Lane • 903.237.7724 • clane@news-journal.com art director Katie Case • 903.237.7715 • kcase@news-journal.com PhotograPher Chris Lozano • 903.237.7246 • clozano@news-journal.com designer Rebecca McCallum
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LETTER
Ramsey Realty Group
Dear Readers, Bring
out
the
fireworks,
unleash the confetti and kiss your hubby at midnight … it’s 2016! Time for champagne toasts and parties and oh, wait a minute, a New Year’s resolution. Ah, the dreaded resolution. Why do we
Congratulates our
Star Over Longview
even do it? Why put ourselves through the trouble of making this year different than the last? My guess is it comes from an inherently human optimism and a natural desire to improve the world around us. According to Google (and who doesn’t believe Google?), the resolution, in one form or another, has been around since Babylonian times. So who am I to argue with centuries of logic? Surely there’s something I can promise to change about myself in the next year. I contemplated what that might be. I’ll admit I didn’t take this too seriously at first. I don’t mind setting goals, but I’m not a fan of grandiose resolutions, either. So I thought about vowing to find my comfort zone with red lipstick, but I’m not sure I could ever be comfortable with the look that many of my friends pull off effortlessly. I also considered finally making a commitment to sporting my natural hair color. That’s problematic though. I’m not sure what that color really is, but I do feel quite sure I changed it for a good reason. The thing about working for Charm and doing this job is it won’t let a person be
Cherika Johnson, REALTOR® 903-399-3139
stagnant. The stories and the women that we feature are so remarkable and inspiring. The ladies in this issue are no exception to this trend, but they are truly exceptional people. They all work tirelessly and dedicate their efforts to numerous causes dear to their hearts. As I’ve said many times before about women we’ve featured, we’re happy to share their stories and proud that they call East Texas home. But their stories also made worrying about my hair or lipstick color seem a bit, well, small. I thought I might need to dig a little deeper if I was going to come out of this mental exercise of a New Year’s resolution with any significant results. It occurred to me that, on a really basic level, I want this year to be different from last year because I want it to be better. And at the end of the day, don’t we all? So there it is. My wish for 2016 is not too grand, not too over-the-top. It’s to be better. At whatever. Happy New Year!
April Harlow aharlow@news-journal.com
8 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
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H HEALTH & BEAUTY
The
10 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
of the Matter
Words by ASHLEY ANDERSON | Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
A
few years ago, Katy Bradford suffered a stroke, caused by
Katy said. “I was so incredibly lucky that my stroke was not worse.
a hole in her heart. She lost partial use of the right side
I know that my lifelong fitness background and my path to keep
of her body and her speech for several hours. Over the
helping others is what saved my life.”
span of several hours and many tests, her speech and the use of her right arm and leg came back.
Her heart issue has only made Katy a stronger woman. After years doing it all in the fitness industry, she found that her true
“It was the scariest thing I’d ever experienced,” Katy said.
calling is to be a health and happiness coach. Each client, gym
Katy, of Longview, is a 34-year-old mommy of an energetic
member and patient needs encouragement and inspiration more
5-year-old. She is a personal trainer, fitness instructor, business
than any number of prescribed exercises. While the exercises you
owner and she occasionally works in cardiac rehab.
perform matter, your drive and attitude are far more important.
Katy never imagined she would suffer from heart complications, but her story shows that anyone can be affected.
“I wake every day thankful that I was chosen for the path of helping others,” Katy said.
February is American Heart Month. This month is dedicated
Training, teaching fitness classes, running and working out
to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge
keep her busy on a daily basis. Katy’s life is dedicated to health
about prevention. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women,
and fitness.
causing one in three deaths each year, according to the American
“There are so many things we can do every day to be healthier
Heart Association. It takes the life of approximately one woman
people,” Katy said. “It’s the small things that we must make non-
every minute. Not all heart complications lead to heart disease,
negotiable in our lives.”
but it’s still important to take care of the heart regardless of a person’s situation. In Katy’s case, the hole in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale, is a hole in the septum of the heart that did not close at the time of birth as it is supposed to. While this “hole” is common in about 25 percent of people, experiencing a stroke is not common. After meeting with
Katy’s advice for every woman is to:
Move a little every day. Eat like you Cherish your body. Smile and train your brain to see the Light in every situation. Listen to your body.
cardiologist Dr. Maziar Mahjoobi, a procedure was scheduled to
insert a device into Katy’s heart via catheterization to close up the hole. According to Katy’s cardiologist, it is important to note that, “some birth defects are considered heart disease. A PFO,
And if you do end up having some type of heart problem: Don’t go through it alone. Surround yourself with those who push, encourage, and lift you!
continued on pg. 12
however, is not considered heart disease.” About a quarter of the population has a hole in their heart and it goes unnoticed. A lot of them will not cause adverse health effects. There are two kinds of holes in the heart. Katy suffers from PFO (patent foramen ovale) which occurs after birth when the foramen ovale fails to close. The foramen ovale is a hole in the wall between the left and right atria of every human fetus. This hole allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs, which cannot work until they are exposed to air. When a newborn enters the world and takes its first breath, the foramen ovale closes, and within a few months it has sealed completely in about 75 percent of people. For the vast majority of people with a PFO, it is not a problem, even though blood is leaking from the right atrium to the left. The odds of this type of condition resulting in a stroke are very low, but that is exactly what happened to Katy. But, she stayed positive through everything that occurred. “Some in my position might say that an event like this brought their life to a halt, or at least slowed them down. I am the opposite,” mycharmonline.com 11
Risk factors for heart disease in women: • Being 55 or older - as women grow older, their risk of heart disease and stroke increases, and keeps rising with age • Having a family history of coronary artery disease before the age of 60 • Having a previous heart attack, stroke or transient ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”) • Being post-menopausal, or having your ovaries removed • Having high blood pressure • Having a high total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglyceride level, and/or reduced HDL cholesterol • Having diabetes • Being obese or overweight • Being physically inactive • Being a smoker Some symptoms women can look for are: • Pain in the shoulders, or between the shoulder blades • GI symptoms - nausea, abdominal discomfort, vomiting or an upset stomach • Back pain • Shortness of breath • Burning in the chest area • Fatigue
physical activity, alcohol moderation, sodium restriction, increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and eating low-fat dairy products. During the month of February, you can encourage those around you to take action to control their risk factors for heart disease.
Research shows that women can lower their risk of heart disease
National Wear Red Day for Women is a massive national public
by as much as 82 percent simply by leading a healthy lifestyle. Though
awareness day that will occur on Feb. 5. In Longview, a luncheon is
Katy’s condition is not considered a type of heart disease, her healthy
planned for 11:30 a.m. Feb. 5 to celebrate Go Red for Women. So, in
lifestyle most likely helped her heal faster, both emotionally and
February be sure to Go Red for Women and show your commitment
physically. Therefore, it is a good idea to practice lifestyle changes
to reducing risk, improving health and saving women’s lives.
to help lower blood pressure, including weight control, increased
To find out more, visit: GoRedForWomen.org/WearRedDay C
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
CURÉL ULTRA HEALING INTENSIVE LOTION
FOR EXTRA-DRY, TIGHT SKIN (6 oz.) - $3.68 · Walmart
MY FAVORITE ONLINE REVIEW: My skin doesn’t look like snake skin anymore. – MC 4/2013, Amazon THE LABEL’S SALES PITCH: According to the packaging, “Curél Ultra Healing Lotion relieves and repairs extra-dry skin 2x better than the leading advanced lotion.” MY THOUGHTS: The Curél lotion was the lightest of the three lotions I evaluated. It absorbed quickly and provided instant relief for my dry skin – not only did my skin feel more comfortable, the Curél lotion eliminated the flaky, ashy look of my skin. Even after it was thoroughly absorbed, my skin still felt like it had lotion applied to it, which I liked. I used this lotion on days that I was able to stay in my gym clothes all day long and did not
BODY LOTION FOR A DRY LIZARD
notice my skin looking scaly until about eight hours after application.
JERGENS ULTRA HEALING EXTRA DRY SKIN MOISTURIZER (3 oz.) - $2.52 · Target
Words by AMY MCHANEY
MY FAVORITE ONLINE REVIEW: I’ve spent a lot of years
W
shuffling through many lotions. I got this Jergens lotion and love e have found ourselves in the cold winter months of East Texas, which for me leads to very dry skin. I think I’ve mentioned in past columns that my
it and won’t use anything else!! – Ann Bonary 8/2014, Amazon THE LABEL’S SALES PITCH: “Penetrates through five layers of the skin’s surface; locks in moisture for 24 hours of relief.”
skin is fairly scaly – something akin to a dry lizard. Nice visual,
MY THOUGHTS: The Jergens product was thicker than the
right? Well my lizard-iness is exacerbated by dry winter air. My
Curél when applying. Interestingly, though, within minutes my
goal this month is to identify the perfect body lotion to keep my
skin didn’t feel like it had lotion applied; I know this is appealing to
skin feeling comfortable all day long.
some people, but I personally like to FEEL like I have something
14 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
on my skin. Perhaps a function of having such dry skin? If I were
REVISITING SOME 2015 FAVORITES
oily, I probably would not want to feel oilier than I already was … but then again, maybe I wouldn’t need to invest in so many lotions and potions? Back to the topic at hand, though I didn’t feel like I had product on my skin, my skin did look hydrated and felt more comfortable. As with the Curel, I thought the Jergens worked well keeping my scaly skin at bay for about eight hours.
As I was considering what products to write about for my Charm column, I spent some time reflecting back on my favorites of 2015. I generally use the products I’m trying out for a week or two before I write about them, but I’ve found that my opinion sometimes shifts after extended use. I wanted to update you on two products I reviewed in 2015 that have become my favorites: 1.
BLINC MASCARA - $26, Sephora You may recall from my previous review that Blinc is a tubing
mascara, which is different than traditional mascara. Tubing
EUCERIN INTENSIVE REPAIR RICH LOTION
mascara is a polymer that creates tiny tubes around each of your
FOR VERY DRY SKIN
“Once applied, the tubes bind to your lashes and don’t run,
(5 oz.) - $4.78 · Walgreens
smudge, clump or flake, even if you cry or rub your eyes.” Blinc
eyelashes. According to the Blinc Mascara product information,
is removed with water and gentle rubbing, another plus. I have MY FAVORITE ONLINE REVIEW: I cannot praise it enough.
grown to love this mascara. Really, really love it. I love the fact that it does not flake. Or run. At all. Ever. Also worth noting, I’ve
I do experience a slight panic when I run out and the local store is
been wearing Blinc over Merle Norman Mascara Primer, which
also out. – Anonymous 2012, Walgreens.com
I love as well.
THE LABEL’S SALES PITCH: Triple acting formula intensively moisturizes, gently exfoliates & repairs very dry skin.
2.
SONIA KASHUK VELVETY MATTE LIP CRAYON in Rosey Nude - $7.99, Target
MY THOUGHTS: The Eucerin lotion was the thickest when
I am a lover of red lipstick – it’s been my go-to shade since
applied of the three formulas I tried. Though thick and creamy,
college. I think a good red looks good on just about anyone, and
it was easy to smooth into my skin and was quickly absorbed. Of
this Sonia Kashuk shade is universally flattering. I like the product
the three, the Eucerin formula left more of a sheen on my skin
itself, too, it’s longevity without being too drying (relative to other
than the other two; to me this was a plus and was a nice change
long-wear lip products). Since my review, I’ve started adding a
from my normal flaky look, though I realize this will not appeal to
dab of gloss on top of the lip crayon, which has provided enough
all. My favorite part about the Eucerin lotion was that it kept my
moisture for my comfort. Over time, I’ve found myself reaching
skin flake-free for a full 24 hours – whoa! I really thought all three
for this lip crayon every time I apply color.
formulas were effective, but the Eucerin was my favorite. Worth
AN EXPERIMENT
noting, the Eucerin lotion contains alpha hydroxy acid, which is responsible for exfoliating and eliminating flakiness – as a result it is recommended that you use sunscreen while using this product.
I’m embarking on a beauty experiment in 2016 – I’m going to do a year-long evaluation of a new-to-me skin care product line called Rodan & Fields. Some of you may have heard of this brand – I have a number of friends who are users and whole-hearted believers in these products. After seeing some pretty great results, I’ve decided I’m going to try it out for a whole year and report my experience in a sidebar to my beauty column in each issue of Charm. I plan to use to the Redefine line, which promises “proven peptide technology to help defend against and reduce the visible signs of aging for noticeably firmer, smoother, flawless looking skin.” I am most interested in reducing the visible signs of aging on my NECK (yes, I have chicken skin), and am pretty sure a tool called the AMP MD Roller is going to help me achieve my goal of a neck of a teenager. Ha. We shall see … C mycharmonline.com 15
COVER STORY
Written Stars IN THE
Words by CHRISTINA LANE | Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
16 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
S
he is optimistic and persistent in achieving her goals. She has a strong and powerful voice in the community. She is endearing, passionate and lives her life with a purpose. She puts others before herself. She strives to make a difference, and she is an inspiration to the community. These are just a few of the characteristics that could describe any one of the 12 women who have been named as Star Over Longview this year. “Each year Stars Over Longview recognizes and celebrates women in the community who aspire to make a difference and better our community and its citizens,” said Libby Bryson, director of marketing for Longview Regional Medical Center. The hospital sponsors the annual Stars Over Longview and its accompanying luncheon, which is scheduled this year for Jan. 14. Liz Murray, who went from being homeless to attending Harvard University, will be the keynote speaker. “Stars Over Longview highlights the exceptional women who impact our community,” said Casey Robertson, chief executive officer for the hospital. “This event was created so that LRMC could take time to recognize the amazing efforts of these women – through their time, talents and generosity of motivating others by their service, to serve in our community.” This year, 42 women were nominated by the community to be a Star Over Longview. The hospital’s Women’s Advisory Council, which is comprised of 20 local businesswomen, community volunteers and activists, poured over the applications to select this year’s 12 honorees. The honorees are Glenda Burt, Dorothy Horne, Kristen Ishihara, Cherika A. Johnson, Dorothy Khoury, Lisa Van Burkleo, Dana Parr, Sandra Skoog, Carolyn Northcutt, Francye Phillips, Laura Laster and Chrissy Berry. “It is encouraging to me to be reminded of women that give of themselves by doing more than they are asked to benefit people in our community when LRMC annually celebrates the ‘Stars Over Longview,’” said Jennifer Harris, a member of the Women’s Advisory Council. Harris was named as a Star Over Longview herself in 2014 and said she understands the nerves that will accompany the honorees on the day of the luncheon, but added that the opportunity to surround herself with such inspiring women in the community is something she will never forget. “While humbled, I am very proud to be part of this beautiful team of Stars that includes my sister, Amy. I am very grateful that my mom and grandmother taught us the value of helping others,” Harris said. “And if I can leave a legacy for my family, it would be to continue showing them the gift of serving others. From those to whom much is given, much is expected.” Here is a look at the 2016 Stars Over Longview. continued on pg. 18
mycharmonline.com 17
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
Glenda Burt
Dorothy Horne
Kristen Ishihara
Glenda Burt is entering her third year of retirement after working for Spring Hill State Bank since 1977. She attended Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth after graduating from Garland High School. At the college she was part of a sorority that was asked to be a guide at the Texas Hotel during President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Dallas. “We displayed a banner for our school and sorority as he paraded to then Carswell AFB for his hop over to Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy elbowed him to look our way,” she said. “Upon returning to our dorm, we were horrified to learn he had been assassinated.” Glenda met her husband Larry in April 1964. They have two children, Wen Burt and Virginia Bunch. Glenda and Larry moved to Longview 41 years ago so he could work at Rader Funeral Home, from which he retired four years ago. The family has attended various churches, raising the children at Elmira Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but going back to Glenda’s family’s Methodist roots as she has gotten older. She has served as a board member, president and volunteer for several organizations, including the Spring Hill ISD PTA, East Texas Writers Association, American Institute of Banking and Friends of the Library. She is also a 2002 graduate of Leadership Longview. “My most gratifying community involvement has been with the Pilot Club of Longview since 1982 which sponsors two high school Anchor Clubs, as well as a middle school and homeschool Anchor Club,” she said. What Glenda enjoys most is that, through her community involvement, she has met so many wonderful people in the city. “I am privileged to know so many people who work so hard to make our city and our county a better place to live and call home,” she said.
Dorothy Horne has dedicated herself to raising awareness of mental illness and Alzheimer’s disease in the community. “Of all the things, I am most proud to help raise awareness and shed some light on some of the stigma that there is with both of those diseases, and also to offer some hope to people who are also struggling with those issues themselves or with family members,” Dorothy said. Dorothy was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. She graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe with a bachelor’s in corrections in 1975 and moved to Dallas. She then commuted to University of North Texas in Denton and received her elementary teaching certificate. In 1977, she married her husband Byron. They have two daughters, Amanda and Karly. In 1986, the family moved to Longview. Dorothy served as an elementary school teacher for 20 years, primarily at Longview and Pine Tree schools. She retired in 2007. After their daughter was diagnosed with mental illness in 2007, Dorothy and Byron became active in the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Dorothy served on the board and spoke to organizations about mental illness. When Byron was diagnosed in 2011 with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, the couple became active in local Alzheimer’s Association programs, including support groups, Unforgettable Tuesdays Day Club, Memory Links Cafe and the annual East Texas Walk to End Alzheimer’s. A lifelong Presbyterian, Dorothy’s faith has helped her get through obstacles in her life. She attends Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Dorothy published her first book, “Glimpses of Grace: Walking in Hope through Alzheimer’s and Ordinary Days,” in March. It is a collection of her Longview News-Journal columns, stories and poems that include the humor and joy of ordinary days and testify to God’s grace, hope and provision in all circumstances.
Attorney and Longview City Councilwoman Kristen Ishihara is representing the month of March for the Stars over Longview. Kristin graduated in the top of her class from Baylor Law School, were she met her husband Richard. The couple moved to Longview in 2006. They have two children, Lucas and Brianna. The 4-year-olds both attend the School for Little Children in Longview. The family attends Winterfield United Methodist Church. An elder law attorney with the firm of Ross & Shoalmire, Kristin is an accredited Veterans Affairs attorney, a member of the National Association of Elder Law attorneys and licensed to practice in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. In 2014, Kristin was elected to serve on the Longview City Council where she represents District Four, the northeast area of the city. Before being elected, Kristin served on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. Kristen currently serves as president of the Zonta Club of Longview, is the presidentelect of the Junior League of Longview and mayor pro tem. She is a mentor for Partners in Prevention, a coach for East Texas Lightnin’ (the local Special Olympics team) and a board member for DORS Youth Transition Center. Kristen was a founding member of the Longivew Dog Park, bringing the first offleash dog park to East Texas through a privatepublic partnership with the City of Longview. Kristen and several others, also created and have successfully grown the Blue Jeans & Ball Gowns event that features celebrity dancers and benefits East Texas CASA. Kristen is a past president of the board of directors for East Texas CASA. She was also named an emerging leader by the Longview Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
18 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
MAY
JUNE
JULY
Cherika Johnson is a lifelong resident of Longview. She attended and graduated from Longview schools and received her degree in business administration from Letourneau University. Cherika Johnson has been a realtor for almost nine years and works with Ramsey Realty Group. One of the main reasons she says she loves her career is the ability to combine her passion and commitment for helping others. Cherika is passionate about educating people on the importance of homeownership and the economic value it has on the community. “It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together and an extra blessing when you’re able to give back to the community through financial support and volunteer efforts,” she said. Cherika is a member of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., where their national efforts include Top Teens of America, status of women, senior citizens, community beautification and community partnerships. Mentoring and helping to promote grown into exceptional adults is Cherika’s passion, so she also volunteers with The Rhoer Club. The group, which is affiliated with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., helps provide a positive experience for 12to 18-year-old girls in leadership development, academic and personal counseling, mentoring, and community service. Cherika is also a provisional member of Junior League of Longview, the National Association of Realtors, the Texas Association of Realtors and the Longview Area Board of Realtors where she serves on the Professional Standards committee as well as the Public Relations Committee. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity Women Build, American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, was a mentor with Forever Friends through Partners in Prevention and volunteered with various activities and projects with Hallsville ISD. Cherika has been married to her husband Rod, for 15 years. She has three sons, Andre, Brayden and Evan.
Dorothy Khoury was a new bride when in 1961 her sister, a registered nurse, came to visit from Florida and wanted to tour the former Gregg Memorial Hospital (now Good Shepherd Medical Center). “As we were talking she said hospitals always need volunteers and suggested that since I was new to Longview it would be a good way to meet people and help at the hospital,” Dorothy said. “I was a Pink Lady for several years. That started my days as a volunteer.” Dorothy’s lifetime of volunteering has included everything from serving as a hospital volunteer, treasurer of the League of Women Voters and president of the Lawyer’s Wives of Gregg County in the 1960s to being on the board for Longview Community Theater and holding offices in the Longview Federation of Women’s Clubs in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s her volunteerism included serving at St. Mary’s Catholic School, the Ivy League Garden Club, a delegate to Republican county and state conventions and the Gregg County Historical Museum. Today, Dorothy continues to serve the Gregg County Historical Museum, Republican Women of Gregg County, Ivy League Garden Club, board of directors for the Longview Symphony, Rotary Club of Longview and with the Thanksgiving food drive, among others. She has been married to her husband, retired Texas State District Judge Alvin Khoury, for 55 years. They have two sons, Samuel and Andrew. “Longview has been my home for over 54 years, and it is a great place to live and raise a family,” she said. “Everything anyone needs or wants can be found right here in East Texas. The people are very friendly and are willing to help in any way needed. I have worked with a variety of volunteers over the years and find them all eager to do whatever needs to be done.”
Lisa Van Burkleo feels lucky to have grown up and raised her family in Longview. Lisa was born in Pueblo, Colorado, but has lived in Longview for most of her life. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School from first through eighth grades and graduated from Longview High School. She is married to Andy Van Burkleo. They have three children, Lauren, Allison and Ben. Lisa has worked for Heart’sWay Hospice for more than 20 years, and currently serves as the executive director. She is a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she volunteered as a Sunday school teacher for many years. She also has served on the See Saw Inc. Board for more than 20 years, is a member of the LeTourneau University Professional Advisory Committee and is on the Texas Oncology Foundation Board. Lisa was an active member of the Junior League of Longview for 10 years, before becoming a sustaining member of the organization. Some of the placements she enjoyed while being a member were Longview Childhood and Development, East Texas Literacy Council and Forever Friends. Additionally, she has served on the Cattle Barron’s Steering Committee. One of her favorite volunteer activities was coaching her oldest daughter’s softball team. She coached until she realized she did not know enough about the game of softball to be coaching at that level. Lisa attributes her desire to be involved in the community to both of her parents, Les and Kathy Mendicello. She says that volunteering is what she thought everyone did. “I watched my parents serve on community boards, volunteer at our schools and coach athletic events, as well as partaking in other civic activities such as the Angel Tree and local food drives,” she said. “I had wonderful examples and witnessed firsthand how being a volunteer can make a difference.” continued on pg. 20
Cherika A. Johnson Dorothy Khoury Lisa Van Burkleo
mycharmonline.com 19
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Dana Parr
Sandra Skoog
Carolyn Northcutt
Since Dana Parr moved back to Longview 13 years ago, she has continually been involved in one volunteer organization or another. That is what she loves to do, doing her part to make Longview a better place for those who call this great city home. Dana was born in Tyler, but grew up in Gladewater and graduated from Gladewater High School. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University, where she met her husband Craig. There she received her degree in accounting. After college graduation, Dana and Craig moved to Dallas to begin their careers in the accounting. After eight years in the Metroplex, they moved back to Longview to raise a family here. The couple has a son, Hudson. Dana serves as the chief operations officer for Copeland Insurance Group in Longview, and in her free time volunteers in the community. She is currently serving as the board president of the East Texas Literacy Council, a member of the board of directors for the Longview Chamber of Commerce, a sustainer of the Junior League of Longview, Inc., Longview ISD Foundation and treasurer of the Hudson PEP PTA. She is a member of First United Methodist Church of Longview. “I love being able to volunteer and give back to Longview,” Dana said. “Volunteering can make such a positive impact on the well-being of our community. As a parent, it is also my duty to instill a volunteering spirit in my son, Hudson. I believe that whatever your passion is, get involved, volunteer and you will make a difference.” She believes everyone is here to serve and encourages others to find an issue close to their heart and get involved. “You may not know exactly who or when, but you will make a difference in someone’s life,” she said. “Just knowing that you have helped and given of your time is reward in itself.”
Sandra Skoog loves Longview for its people, especially their everyday friendliness. “When my out-of-town friends visit, they say, ‘You must know everyone in this town,’” she said. “ I just reply, ‘No, in these parts, we still make eye contact and say, ‘Hello.’” Sandra grew up in Linden, but moved to Longview 36 years ago after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. She began her 30-year career in education by teaching high school English and journalism at Hallsville. Though Sandra enjoyed teaching, she quickly realized her true calling was guiding and mentoring youth. So, after additional coursework at the University of Texas at Tyler, she transitioned into the role of school counselor on the elementary and junior high levels. She retired from Pine Tree Junior High School in 2011. “I still have a file of notes, thank you cards, and drawings from the students over the years— when I look through those, it’s so rewarding to know that I did something with my life that helped others. Also, there was never a dull moment,” she said. In retirement, Sandra has continued her passion for helping and encouraging young people. She currently serves on the board of the city’s Partners in Prevention and has mentored young women in the Forever Friends program. She is the president of the board for Longview Community Ministries and was also instrumental in developing the inaugural LCM Student Board. She has been a literacy tutor at The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs, serves at Newgate’s Stewpot and is a sustainer of the Junior League of Longview. A member of Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Longview, Sandra has been a deacon, volunteered with the Pioneer Club and served with the church in Guatemala. She has been married to her husband, Eric, for 28 years. They have one son, Hunter.
Education has always been important to Carolyn Northcutt. Salutatorian of her graduating class at DeKalb High School in 1970, Carolyn went on to become a 29-year educator at Hallsville ISD. She attended Kilgore College where she met her husband, Mike. Both transferred to the University of Texas to finish their degrees. Carolyn graduated in 1974 and she and Mike married that same year. They settled in Longview where he became a banker and she began teaching at Hallsville while simultaneously raising their son, Bump. “In the late 80s I was invited to join the Junior League of Longview, and it was through this relationship that I recognized the need to volunteer my time to help make the community of Longview a better place to live,” Carolyn said. “So when I retired from teaching in 2003, I immediately decided to give back to the community by volunteering.” Carolyn retired at noon Jan. 31, 2003. That very afternoon she was in the UT-Tyler Longview University Center offering to volunteer her services. At the Longview University Center, Carolyn helped launch the Circle of Friends organization that has raised more than $214,000 since 2004. Carolyn has also served on the board of directors of the East Texas Literacy Council and Opera Longview, co-chaired the Heart Ball, and co-chaired and chaired the Go Red for Women luncheon. She has served on the Pinecrest Board of Directors, the President's Advisory Council of LeTourneau University and a member of the UTTyler Longview University Center Development Council, among other endeavors. She and Mike were the 2008 recipients of the East Texas Area Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizens Good Turn Award, and in 2013 she was honored by the Crisman School of Texas with the Outstanding Educator Ruby Award. In 2013, Carolyn was also diagnosed with breast cancer but survived thanks to the care she received from doctors, nurses and staff at Longview Regional Medical Center and Texas Oncology.
20 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Francye Phillips
Laura Laster
Chrissy Berry
Francye Phillips grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, and graduated from C.E. Byrd High school. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge before settling in East Texas. She has lived in the Longview-Kilgore area for 35 years. She and her husband, Dan, have three children, Shannon, Stacye and Stephen. She has been an antique dealer and owner of The Blue Door Antiques since 1985. She also became a partner of Pen and Company in t he 1990s. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kilgore, Francye is an ordained deacon and elder. She is a former moderator of the diaconate, past moderator of the worship and property committees, served twice as the moderator of the officer Nominating committee and sat on a church anniversary task force in 2014. While living in Longview, Francye was president of the Sweetbriar Garden Club, Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity Alumnae Association and Longview’s Area Panhellenic. She is a charter member of Longfellows. She has also been a member of the Crisman School Board of Directors and a community advisor for the Junior League of Longview, among other endeavors. Francye is a former member of the Texas Shakespeare Foundation board of directors, past president of the Coterie Club of Kilgore and has been a member of the Samuel Paul Dinkins Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Kilgore since 1982. She currently serves as vice president of the board of directors of the Gregg County Historical Museum where she said she enjoys focusing on the Landmarks of Longview and Dolly’s Tea. She is a long-time supporter and volunteer for the Pipe Organ Festival. Francye said she loves living in the LongviewKilgore area for two reasons: “The location and the people. Both are simply the best!”
Laura Laster grew up in a city known to some people as “the aviation capital of the world” – Oshkosh, Wisconsin. So it might come as little surprise to some that she went on to pursue a degree in aviation and now teaches in the field. When she was 18, Laura moved to Longview to attend LeTourneau University where she earned her pilot certificates. While at LeTourneau, Laura met her husband, Jesse. They married in 2002. In 2004, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science. In 2005, the Lasters moved to Virginia to start careers with Dynamic Aviation. She was later promoted into management and was tasked with managing a fleet of survey aircraft and pilots operating globally. Shortly after her son Matthew was born in 2009, Laura moved to North Carolina to help establish a charter airline called Dynamic Airways. In 2011, she and her family came back to East Texas when an opportunity to work in the School of Aviation at LeTourneau University became available. In 2012, her daughter, Kate, was born and in 2013 Laura became the director of flight operations for the university. She loves the ability to work with students and recent graduates in her role managing the aviation program. She says some of her proudest career achievements have been helping start an airline, and writing and teaching the first aircraft dispatcher class at LeTourneau University. Laura has been a volunteer Child Advocate with Compassion International since 2008. She loves helping find caring sponsors for children in Compassion’s programs to help break the cycle of poverty through local churches worldwide. She also enjoys working with children at LifePoint Church. Laura loves living in Longview because, she says, “It’s a great environment in which to raise kids – not a huge city but also offering lots of great opportunities in culture, entertainment and education. It’s a very friendly atmosphere, too.”
Christena “Chrissy” Berry is a 2006 graduate of East Texas Baptist University’s nursing program. The daughter and granddaughter of lifelong medical personnel, Chrissy entered the nursing field following in her mother’s and grand-mother’s footsteps. Chrissy began her career as an emergency room nurse in Longview before accepting a position at Longview Regional Medical Center’s Physician’s Surgery Center. While at Physician’s Surgery Center, Chrissy has been a part of a pre-eminent surgical team that has seen the center grow from a few operating rooms to a multi-surgical facility that encompasses five surgeons and 45 staff members. She serves as the nurse manager and is responsible for the day-to-day operations. In 2009, Chrissy was named the Physician’s Surgery Center’s Exemplary Nurse. She is committed to making Longview and Longview Regional Medical Center a leading medical destination, not only for the state but also nationally. Chrissy has been married to her husband, Lee, for 18 years. He is an educator and a coach in East Texas. Together they are raising six children. They have two biological children, Cooper, 8, and Brett Maddux, 2. They also have four foster/adoptive children, Laura, 19, Journey, 4, Stellar, 3, and Rev, 2. With family being such a vital part of Chrissy’s life, she said she sees Longview as a premier place to raise a family. With top of the line schools, beautiful parks and recreational facilities plus an abundance of fun and entertaining venues, Longview has what it takes to keep families engaged in a life-long love of learning and activities, she said. Characterized by family, co-workers and higher-ups as a “true team leader” with a “cando attitude” and a “big picture vision,” it will be no surprise how bright this Star will shine. mycharmonline.com 21
Fashion
Photos by chris lozano
22 Charm | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
HAT: $44, Dillard’s; JACKET: Antonio Melani, $179, Dillard’s; TOP: $36.50, B.Jaxx of Longview; JEANS: L&B, 36.50, B.Jaxx of Longview; NECKLACE: (short) $15.50, (long) $12.00 B.Jaxx of Longview.
mycharmonline.com 23
VEST: by Fabulous Faux Furs, $219, Barron’s; NECKLACE: $9.50, B.Jaxx of Longview; BOOTS: $69.50, B.Jaxx of Longview TOP: by Wilt, $115, Barron’s; PANTS: Miracle Body, $99, Barron’s; CUFF: $10.50, B.Jaxx of Longview.
24 Charm | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
SHIRT: by Free People, $168, Barron’s PANTS: Miracle Body; $130, Barron’s.
mycharmonline.com 25
F EATURE
A Healthy
Outlook
Words by CHRISTINA LANE | Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
lex Mack loves riding horses, cheerleading, and watching
A
“I love getting healthy. It’s very important to me,” Alex said.
scary movies (even though she’s not really allowed to
“And, I like telling people how they can be healthy. You need to
watch the ones that are super spooky).
eat healthy, exercise and drink water.”
She also loves making her own movies, reading, photographing
In the last year, Alex has taken her own personal health journey.
her friends, traveling and playing with cats (except sometimes
She’s tried to cut back on eating junk food but sometimes she still
Templeton, the family feline who can be a bit temperamental).
eats it. (She has a hard time turning down French fries.) But she’s
She especially enjoys hanging out with her friends in her Down
made a concerted effort to eat right and be active – two keys to a
syndrome support group and spending time with her family. Her
healthy life.
dad, Chris, and Uncle Andy are her superheroes. But one of the things Alex loves most is being healthy. Young, sweet, intelligent and vivacious, the world is Alex’s oyster and she is taking it by storm. For the past year the Longview High School freshman has been on a mission to educate the community about health through a series of videos in which she interviews people about various aspects of health, and then shares words of wisdom and advice called “Alex Mack’s Health Tips.” In the process, Alex has captured the hearts of many East Texans, inspiring them through her passion and personality. 26 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
“I love to eat strawberries and grapes and bananas. Those are fruits. Fruits are good for you and they taste really good, too,” Alex said. But Alex hasn’t always been a guru on health. Once upon a time, she actually challenged herself to eat dessert – rich, savory and delectable – 365 days of the year.
A resolution Alex’s video series on healthy living started on the first day of 2015. For on Dec. 31, 2014, Alex made a New Year’s resolution that somewhat startled her family.
“We had all gone out to eat on New Year’s Eve last year
In another video, Alex talked with Andy about oral cancer.
and we were all going around the table sharing our New Year’s
At the end of her interview, she told viewers that to reduce risk
resolutions,” Alex’s mother, Lisha Mack, recalled. “I said that I
factors for oral cancer, they should not smoke or drink.
wanted to lose a little weight; her dad said he wanted to become more fit.
“I loved interviewing my uncle and my dad. My uncle is my hero and my dad is also my hero; my dad is my biggest hero,” Alex
“Alex caught on to what we were doing. She spoke up and said her resolution was to have dessert every day after dinner.” Alex’s declaration made her parents laugh, but it also made them realize they needed to help her focus on health. Alex’s family is kind of well known for their expertise in the medical profession in Longview. Her father, Chris Mack, is a dentist in Longview; he also serves as president of the Longview ISD school board. Uncle Andy Mack not only serves as the city’s mayor, he’s also an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in Longview. And, Uncle Ben Mack is a general surgeon in Longview. “We knew we had to get her health-focused,” Lisha said. “We decided to get her to interview people and hoped it would help her learn.”
said. “When my dad was a little boy he wanted to be healthy. When he grew up, he became a dentist and now he teaches patients to be healthy.”
Learning about healthy living Alex’s other interviews have included college athlete Abbey Bybel, who talked about training and dedication of playing a sport; Faith Pendleton, Alex’s long-term babysitter who lost 200 pounds in the past two years; Ashley Slack, Alex’s hairdresser who talked about keeping hair healthy; Cam Reynolds, youth minister at First Baptist Church Longview who talked about spiritual health; Dr. Samir Germanwala, a cardiologist who spoke about recognizing and preventing heart attacks; yoga instructor Tess Iffland who spoke about health benefits of yoga; college dance student Sophie
The series begins
Tibiletti, who spoke about the training required to study dance;
Alex is a social butterfly so interviewing people came naturally to her.
Dr. Frank Tibiletti, an OB-GYN who talked about not being afraid when going to the doctor and what types of questions to ask; and
But she learned that for the videos she had to slow down her speech and enunciate words so people could clearly understand. “I’ve been pronouncing words better. When I was little I went to speech therapy in Dallas; the ‘th’ sound was really hard for me to do. That helped but the videos have also helped me a lot as far as my speech. They’ve helped me to speak clearly,” Alex said. For her first video Alex interviewed her father who talked to her about keeping your teeth healthy. She learned about the effect sugar can have on teeth and provided advice to her viewers about how to care for their teeth, such as brushing twice a day, eating healthy, decreasing sugar intake and visiting a dentist twice a year.
Dr. Patrick Briscoe who spoke of about how to take care of your teeth while in braces. Through the series Alex has learned that being healthy is about way more than just eating right and exercising. She used to think eating healthy consisted only of brushing your teeth, eating health foods, drinking water and exercising. But she’s learned there are many facets to health – there’s spiritual health, mental health and emotional health. Her biggest lesson about this came from her all-time favorite interview (at least so far) when she interviewed Neal McCoy. Alex loves Neal’s music and thinks he’s an all-around awesome guy. She interviewed him about how he stays fit to perform and about his involvement with the East Texas Angel Network. “He talked about helping others. When you do for others it makes you feel good,” she said. “It makes your heart feel good.”
Learning to lead Through her videos, Alex has learned about much more than
Alex Mack recieves an award from Stephen McHaney, Publisher of the Longview News-Journal, for Interviewer of the Year
just healthy living and its many components. She’s also gained confidence, been able to improve her speech, and learned a thing or two about public speaking. As a result of doing the interviews, Alex was asked to speak to elementary students in Spring Hill ISD about healthy eating at one of their assemblies.
continued on pg. 28 mycharmonline.com 27
Beyond public speaking opportunities about healthy living,
“I hope it teaches people to be healthy. To be healthy you have
Alex also shared that she has been invited to speak in East Texas
to have strength and muscles; you need to eat vegetables. Health
about Down syndrome. She shared memories of her friends with
is also about spiritual health and helping others,” Alex said. “I love
Down syndrome and spoke with joy about the annual East Texas
getting healthy. All of these things will make your life longer and
Buddy Walk, which raises awareness of Down syndrome.
you’ll have a better quality of life. It will just make you feel better.”
“A lot of the cheerleaders did the walk with me this year,” Alex said with pride. Though this is only her first year as a cheerleader, Alex already feels a sense of family with the other students who make up the Lobo cheer squad. She was also selected as the football sweetheart in the fall. Alex, whose dream is to attend a performing arts college and one day be a singer, also was inspired to make a video set to Taylor Swift’s song “Mean” that talks about bullying. “In the video, I’m a bully. I wore black makeup and black pants and black shoes. My friend played the geek; she had her hair in two pigtails and wore glasses,” Alex said. “At the end of the video we become friends. I wanted to show people that bullying can happen to anybody and it’s very mean.” Lisha said the videos Alex has made, particularly the health series, have helped her daughter gain confidence and she’s made new friends through them. “The initial goal was to give her some general health knowledge, but she has improved her communication and her speech has benefited,” Lisha said. “She’s also made friends. People who don’t even know her, but who have seen her videos come up to her now when they see her out and talk to her. That’s been a fringe benefit.” Alex’s hope is that through her videos – whether the one on bullying or her health series – that she is able to help people.
Christopher Barr Photography 2012 ©2012 Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios have been independently owned & operated since 1931.
28 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
Alex’s Health Tips Alex shared her health tips from her videos with us. She hopes these tips help Charm readers in their journeys toward a healthy life.
• Brush your teeth twice a day and eat healthy food and not too much sugar and see your dentist two times per year. • If you want to reach a goal it takes hard work and dedication. Never give up on your goals. • To lose weight it takes a combination of eating healthy and exercising. You also need to be dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. • Don’t wash your hair too often or you will strip it of its own natural oils and be sure to have your hair trimmed regularly (about every 6 to 8 weeks) to keep the split ends away. • If you see a suspicious spot in your mouth, go see your dentist and to reduce your risk factors for oral cancer don’t smoke or drink. • Although eating good and exercising are important, if you don’t feed your spiritual health, nothing else really matters. • Make sure you know the warning signs of a heart attack and if you or someone around you might be having one get help immediately. Dial 9-1-1. To reduce your chance of a heart attack you need to live a healthy and active lifestyle. • Yoga is a great low impact exercise that helps you relax and keeps you flexible and strong and helps lower your blood pressure. • Dancers are athletes that must train to become good and they also need to stretch before starting to prevent injury. • It’s important to not be scared and to have open communication with your doctor. It’s a good idea to keep a list of questions so that when you go to your appointment you won’t forget what to ask. • Brush, floss, and use a fluoride rinse while wearing braces and patient compliancy is the #1 factor for a great outcome. • Do for others and it will do your heart some good. C
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S CHOOL
Kathy Newsom
Yoga Instructor & Educator One local educator taught this strategy in a workshop she coordinated for a group of women last year. She exemplifies the successful application of this process because she now spends part of her time in Colorado - her goal being to spend more time there. Kathy Newsom is no stranger to successful goal setting: she has held a variety of positions in education, including special needs educator, reading specialist and principal. Additionally, she’s a registered children’s yoga instructor and children’s yoga therapist. All of these positions relate to her passion which is to inspire others to improve wellness and to commit to long-term health and fitness goals. She certainly left Longview a better place. Before she moved, she conducted the Design-a-Thon workshop at the end of 2014 as a way for women to connect and effect change for 2015. Her structure for the workshop serves as a roadmap for re-envisioning the process of goal setting. 1. CREATE A VISION BOARD. To help participants do this,
RE-ENVISIONING THE RESOLUTION: FOUR STEPS TO SEE YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY IN 2016
Featuring Yoga Instructor and Educator Kathy Newsom Words by ANNIE DAVIS
Y
Kathy encouraged participants to look back on 2014 and point out the “highs and lows” for the year. Then she led a yoga session that focused on visualization and letting go of what did not work in the previous year. Then she did an activity to help identify what truly “moved and excited them.” From this information, participants created a vision board that would help them keep focused on their goals, and they were encouraged to put the boards in a place they could literally see them everyday. 2. SELECT A WORD TO FOCUS ON FOR THE NEW YEAR.
Kathy asked everyone to pick out a word to describe a characteristic they would like to see more of in themselves. If this word was difficult to pick, she encouraged participants to move on to goals. Sometimes in the process of sorting through goals, a word would come up. 3. IDENTIFY 1-5 GOALS FOR THE YEAR. Students picked goals
ou are at a stoplight, and you catch yourself daydreaming. What if the dreaded New Year’s resolution list was as easy as seeing a glimpse of
yourself doing something you really wanted to do? Far from being wasteful, visualization (another type of daydreaming) is a powerful source for goal-setting and goal attainment that experts are beginning to harness. 30 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
from a broad list of categories Kathy provided which included physical, health, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and service. Kathy made sure her students deconstructed the goals into measurable, attainable daily steps with dates on the calendar for what they needed to do for each goal. A general goal, she noted, is difficult to accomplish. She also led a second yoga session in which the group practiced visualizing meeting their goals.
4. DEVELOP A NETWORK OF SUPPORT AMONG FRIENDS.
Heidi Fearon, who advises and coaches elite athletes in the
The Design-a-Thon group proved to be a place where relationships were developed. In general, Kathy encourages everyone who is striving to meet a goal to put some type of accountability in place by making and setting goals with a trusted friend or family member.
area of sports psychology, describes how to go about visualizing.
What becomes clear in reading about the Desgin-a-Thon workshop is that effective goal setting takes time, mental space, and a sense of both acceptance and forgiveness, while accomplishing the goals takes small daily actions, visualization and support. Central to both goal-setting and goal attaining is the concept of visualization.
First, you need to find a place you will be undisturbed. Put away your phone, close the door, and turn down the lights. Sit or lie down and focus on breathing (Kathy used the practice of yoga to help her students find this presence). Fearon writes, “Your breath is your anchor.” Note that this relationship between rooted and breathing is central to yoga. After this you are to perform Scan and Relaxation in which you notice tension and relax those spots that have it. Only then are you ready to start with visualizing your intention
Visualization, according to researcher Angie LeVan in
or goal. Fearon instructs to repeat a mantra if it is a simple
Psychology Today, is training the brain for the actual performance
statement or intent. Kathy Newsom’s concept of picking a word
and has all sorts of benefits: “Mental practices can enhance
works perfectly here. Importantly, you must engage your senses
motivation, increase confidence and self-efficacy, improve motor
because “the more senses you can bring into a visualization, the
performance, prime your brain for success, and increase states
more powerful it be; not just how it feels but how it sounds, looks,
of flow.” This quote appears in my favorite book right now,
smells, and tastes.” The intensity and frequency ensure how
The Invictus Mindset: An Athlete’s Guide to Mental Toughness.
focused you are on your goal. She also encourages to envision
Although written with elite athletes in mind, the strategies can apply to anyone wanting to accomplish more or effectuate some kind of change. Visualization, according to the writers of the book, should play a central role in the life of an athlete, and as the quote above shows, it can improve mental and physical efficiency. The more difficult the goal the more visualization required. But even
each step of a goal. Kathy’s strategies keep her students working on both literally seeing their vision boards everyday and breaking down the goals into measurable steps that they then can enter into a calendar. The sense of a timeline keeps students on task and engaged in the process, while daily reminders of the vision board
a five to ten minutes of daily practice can help you accomplish
reinforce what is really important in the day. Her strategies work
your goals.
well with incorporating some visualization as well, whether that be at the end of a yoga class or in the privacy of your own space. Visualization can reinforce goals and support the process of accomplishing them. So the next time you are between lights or looking out the window, maybe take a few more minutes to go a little further into that daydream and figure out what you really want out of 2016. Maybe even schedule a time for something like a jam session with yourself so that next year can be your best yet. Maybe it will lead you on an adventure to another place, as it did for Kathy, but assuredly, it will help you invest in yourself and your community in a more powerful way. C mycharmonline.com 31
F EATURE
What One
WORD Describes You?
Words by APRILL BRANDON Illustrations by MICHELLE LAVERELL
A
few nights ago, my husband and I were in bed having a grand old time. The baby was finally asleep, the house was clean(ish), all work emails had been returned and
all deadlines met(ish). We had a whole luxurious evening all to ourselves devoid of any responsibility. Which is why, as I’m assuming you’ve already guessed, we were lying side-by-side in bed taking dumb pop culture quizzes on our phones. “Hey, in the ‘Which ‘Star Wars’ character are you?’ quiz, I got Han,” I proudly announced. “I got C-3PO. That can’t be right. I’m taking it again,” he replied. This, naturally, soon spiraled out of control as these things tend to do, and we found ourselves down the Internet Quiz Rabbit Hole. We found out I’m a Picard and he’s a Kirk. He’s a Jane and I’m a Daria. I’m a Hermione and he’s a Snape. And we are both, in fact, Jim from “The Office” (although one of us may have had to take it four times because she kept getting Dwight). Eventually we both landed on the “Which ‘Supernatural’ character are you?” quiz. And suddenly, things turned serious. Sure, all those other quizzes were just fun and games. But this was “Supernatural” we were talking about. Our joint all-time favorite TV show. The show we make sure never to miss. The show we scheduled our wedding around (really wish I was kidding). 32 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
I mean, we own the “Supernatural” version of the board game
haven’t whacked them with a frying pan by the end of the day).
Clue. I own multiple shirts with the characters’ faces splashed
As a friend, I try to be loyal. As a daughter, caring
across my bosom. We even have an ongoing joke about how my
and understanding. As a dog-owner, the Alpha, albeit a
husband goes on “Supernatural” forums to discuss the show with
benevolent Alpha.
other geeks under the handle “MishaLover43” (although I’m 93 percent sure this actually happens despite his protestations to the contrary). Of course, we both wanted to get Dean. Everyone wants to be Dean. And if you don’t want to be Dean, you’re lying to yourself. Stop it. Considering what was at stake here and the immense pressure I was under, I got stuck on the question “What one word describes you?” The choices they gave were endless: Dependable. Clever.
All good traits to have and reach for, even if you fall short of the mark sometimes (and we all do). But too often we only think of ourselves in these sweet, nice categories. Sugar and spice and all that. Because too often society tells us that these are the only categories that matter when you are a woman (besides the MOST important category of all: Is she pretty?). And not often enough do we think of ourselves, of who we really are, outside our relationship to others. Who am I? Just me? Not as a mom, wife, daughter, sister,
Confident. Lovable. Evil Mastermind. Etc … “Hey, what one word describes me? I can’t decide since neither
employee, neighbor. But me.
‘sarcastic’ nor ‘goddess-esque’ is a choice,” I asked Ryan. “Here, let me see the choices,” he said, taking my phone and scanning it. “Hmm … want me to pick what I think?” “Yes, please. I’m assuming it’s not cheating since we’ve been
When he handed me back my phone, there it was, a bright green checkmark beside the one word the person I was closest to in the world thought described me.
together 10 years and you’ve seen me puke naked.” When he handed me back my phone, there it was, a bright green checkmark beside the one word the
STRONG.
person I was closest to in the world thought described me. Strong.
Just me. I honestly didn’t know that night. Because the bathroom
“You think I’m strong?” I asked, taken aback.
mirror I look into everyday often told me that I was tired. That
“Yeah, I do,” he casually answered before going back to his
I was getting fine lines and sprouting random gray hairs. That
own quiz. Strong. It had never even crossed my mind to choose that adjective. Tears actually started brimming my eyes before I sucked them back in lest I be caught crying over a stupid Internet quiz. He thought I was strong. It can be easy as a woman to lose your identity, to only see yourself in relation to others. This is especially true once you become a mother, but it happens at all of life’s stages. Nurturing, patient, loving. These were the things I strived to be with my toddler son (although, as anyone who has ever dealt
I shouldn’t have lost my temper when my son threw his juice at me with alarming accuracy. That I forgot to call my cousin back AGAIN. That my husband would never want to be intimate with me again if I kept wearing my old pregnancy underwear every time I forgot to do laundry. That I hadn’t seen my friends in months. That my writing had gone stale. That my career was flailing. That I was failing on all fronts. And so, I want to thank my husband for being my mirror that night and showing me what I had trouble seeing.
with a toddler can tell you, it’s a successful day if they’re just alive
I am strong.
by the end of the day).
And also, apparently, Crowley, the King of Hell, according to
As a wife, I strive to be passionate and compassionate (although, as anyone with a husband can tell you, it’s a successful day if you
that dumb quiz. But that’s a topic for a different column. C mycharmonline.com 33
PICTURE
This!
LONGVIEW BALLET THEATRE SOIREE
DR. JENNIFER ROGERS FADAL
JIM & JULIA BARRON
LONGVIEW | LONGVIEW TRANSPORTATION CENTER | 11/7/2015 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
A fundraiser for the Longview Ballet Theatre marked the first public event at Longview’s historic downtown train depot since its recent renovation. About 200 people turned out to raise funds for a production set for April.
FREIDA HEATH, STEPHEN & MARCIA MCDANIEL, LARA CUPIT
LARA WARREN, KATHRYN HARRIS, EMILEE FOWLER, KATE MCCRORY, EMMA CATE WILLIAMS TONI ERSKINE, PAT GEORGE MITCHELL, LACY HUTCHINSON
DAPHNE SCOTT, KIM HOLCOMB, BETSY PISTONE, ALEX WALTRIP, TRACEY EDWARDS
34 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
ANNIE DAVIS, LARA CUPIT
KASHA WILLIAMS, GRIFF HUBBARD
P ICTURE THIS
2015 POVERTY CONFERENCE LONGVIEW | BELCHER CENTER | 10/15/2015 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
About 500 people turned out to hear educator, author and social activist Geoffrey Canada speak about solutions to poverty and learn more about the problem in East Texas. The conference, hosted by the Junior League of Longview, has sparked discussions across
DR. LACI MCREE, TINA RIPPLE
the city.
DIONNE KING, SHIRLEY PARTRIDGE
HANNAH TRIMBLE, LYNDELL MCALLISTER
ROBIN WHITE
BECKY CANTER, BRYAN WARREN
PAULETTE COOPER, ROBERT EVANS, SHERRILL BALLARD
DIANA INGRAM
mycharmonline.com 35
P ICTURE THIS
SCRABBLE WITH FRIENDS
CARY DEARMEY, HAZEL DEARMEY
LONGVIEW | FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FAITH CENTER | 10/26/2015 Photos by LES HASSELL
Teams of Scrabble players turned out to compete and raise money for the East Texas Literacy Council. Students and faculty members from the LeTourneau University School of Business served as judges
BETH JOHNSON, KEVYNNE SHOREY
and scorekeepers.
JANICE CRANE, SUSAN JONES, PAUL ROBERTS
BOCCA SUE RAMBO, ELEANOR KIRK , BETTY KESTERSON
36 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
NATALIE POWELL-JORDAN, HEIDI ARCHER, KARIS LOCKE
SHARON BUFKIN,TERRY WOHLFAHRT, ANN SINCLAIR
P ICTURE THIS
SAM FORESTER, PATSY ALEXANDER, JAN FORESTER
LONGVIEWWOW MURDER MYSTERY CRUISE LONGVIEW | GERALD’S MARTINI BAR | 10/24/2015 Photos by LES HASSELL
Supporters of the Longview World of Wonders museum gathered BOBBY CRENSHAW, TERRY PERKINS, TARA PERKINS
for cocktails before “boarding” a Murder Mystery Cruise on the Sabine River at the museum next door.
LANA HUTCHISON, CHRIS JONES
TERRY TURPIN, MICKI MALY
MELISSA AND CHRIS STEPH
C.V. DICKSON, CLOVIE JOHNSTON
JUDY THOMAS, MIKE TURPIN
JOANN LAUDNER, AILEEN ALLAIRE
mycharmonline.com 37
P ICTURE THIS
GOLD RUSH LONGVIEW | MAUDE COBB CONVENTION AND ACTIVITY CENTER | 10/17/2015 CARLA AND JAKE BROWN
Photos courtesy of GOOD SHEPHERD MEDICAL CENTER
The Good Shepherd Foundation’s annual Gold Rush fundraiser had a rock ‘n’ roll theme: Rock the Rush. It raised funds for Good Shepherd’s Women and Children’s Services and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
CYNDE BELL, MITZI BARNES
RICHARD LAZARUS, RICHARD MANLEY, MEL FISH
PHILLIP BOAZ, GINGER MORROW
TIM AND SUSAN COOPER
BRENDA AND DEAN WASKOWIAK
PAULA POOLE, TAMMY SKINNER
GINGER FARRANT, POLLY ALLEN, NICOLE BODENHEIMER, HEATHER HILL, VICKI LIPSEY
38 CHARM | J A N UA R Y / F E B R UA R Y
P ICTURE THIS
LONGVIEW CHAMBER AND LEDCO HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE ANNE HUGMAN, KATHY HALL
LONGVIEW | LONGVIEW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 12/9/2015 Photos by CHRIS LOZANO
Members of the Longview Chamber of Commerce gathered in early December at the chamber’s downtown offices to share Christmas cheer.
JORDAN AND MICHELLE MILLER TRACY AND ROBBIE SHOULTS, SUZANNE BROWN, MIKE AND JACKIE WHYTE
ALEXIS MORAN & CJ CLAYTON
ASHLEY LLOYD, JESS MITCHELL
RICKY MARTINEZ & MISSY SAUNDERS
DARRELL HUTCHINSON, DAVID WILLARD, VICTOR MCGEE
JON CROMER, LINDA THOMAS
mycharmonline.com 39