|
|
|
|
Power in Daily Rituals by Tara Solomon-Smith
Power in Daily Rituals
When you think of rituals, you might imagine spiritual ceremonies or sports superstitions. Major events like weddings or funerals also come to mind. While these are classic examples, rituals are present in your everyday life. Research has found that rituals often reduce anxiety and, in turn, help performance.
We can think of rituals as routines that have special meaning. The repetitive action of brushing your teeth day and night may be a mundane routine, but maybe there is something else in your repeated habits that you can add some emotion to. Author, Michael Norton states that it then moves a task from just getting the job done to more about how you complete it and how you feel about it.
You already have daily routines. By adopting the right mindset, you can turn some of these routines into positive rituals. These rituals can help you stay focused, motivated, and inspired, ultimately aiding you in achieving your goals.
So how do you add intention and purpose to a routine and make it into a daily ritual?
• Part of it is about noticing what you already do. Think about your morning—what do you do? When you get to work, what do you do? What special things do you and your spouse do together? What special things does your family do with your kids? These are all rituals, even if you don’t realize it. When you do them on purpose, they can mean more to you.
• Reframe what you are doing, for example, my weekly trip to the grocery store doesn’t have to be a drudgery, I can think about it as fueling my family for success!
• Start small, pick one routine you want to add intention to and evolve into a ritual.
I’ve transformed my morning coffee routine from a groggy, half-asleep process into a cherished ritual. Now, I enjoy quiet time with coffee followed by exercise, making it a part of my day that I truly look forward to!
What will you start with? For more information, contact Tara Solomon-Smith, [email protected], or call 620-244-3826.
Common Courtesy: Look to the Endangered Species’ List by Patty LaRoche
Author: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection
www.alittlefaithlift.com
AWSA (Advanced Writers & Speakers Assoc.)
I am a stickler for rules and reasonable requests. Right now, I’m sitting on a plane, watching passengers board. The flight attendant just instructed us not to place two items in the overhead compartment. The smaller item needs to go under our seats. Two people in front of me placed both of their carry-ons above them, and now there is no room for other passengers’ suitcases. That irritates me. I want to rat them out to the flight attendant, and if my “don’t get involved” husband weren’t sitting next to me, I probably would.
The request over the intercom to “Please place your overhead items on their sides so that the overhead bin will hold more bags” is ignored by passengers three rows ahead of me. I tell Dave that I’m going to let them know. He suggests otherwise. After all, I “haven’t been a flight attendant for 50 years.” That irritates me too, and yes, I mean the selfish passengers and Dave. These rude ones need to be held accountable.
If that isn’t enough, the woman in the row ahead and to the right of me thinks it’s cute for her four-year-old son to entertain us for 20 minutes with “Jingle Bells” in his three-mile voice. When he tires of that, we hear the “ABC” song. Over and over and over again. Why are the two old ladies in front of me looking at him and smiling and telling him what a wonderful voice he has? They must be related. Lord, help me. I need ear plugs.
Personally, I believe that common courtesy has relocated to the “endangered species list.” People who don’t crowd in lines. Those who never say, “I’ve changed my mind and don’t want this hamburger, so I’ll just set it here by the Kleenex” but instead, do the right thing and return to its refrigerated compartment. Drivers who don’t tail gate or swerve in and out of traffic to get to their destination two minutes earlier. Dog owners who clean up after their pets.
Let’s face it. Too many people have become “the exception to the courtesy rule.” No doubt, you too can add to this list, but I wonder what would happen if people were held accountable…like the newlyweds who sent out this “Missed RSVP” notice: “We’re sorry you can’t make it to our wedding. Our RSVP deadline has passed, and you unfortunately did not respond. We would have loved to have you attend, but final numbers have now been turned in and your presence will be missed.” Signed, “Bride and Groom.”
I find great satisfaction in this response, and I applaud the nerve of the future newlyweds…unless the one who responds late is me. Case in point: within two months, I missed two very important get-togethers. No excuses, for there was no one to blame but myself. In those cases, accountability was not what I sought; I wanted mercy.
Who set a better example of mercy than Jesus Christ, clearly setting the example for how we all are to treat one another? He never knew the “satisfaction” of holding his torturers responsible or of punishing his disciples who left him hanging to his death on the cross. Quite the opposite. “Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.”
I read that and admit, I need to be a lot more like Jesus. But what would Jesus do if the people did know what they were doing, like the plane passengers who were being disrespectful to the other passengers? Would he confront them? I would hope so. And if he did, I would be the first to applaud.
Dear Lord, have mercy on my soul.
KS Rail Service Improvements Announced
|
| Stay Connected with Kansas Office of the Governor: |
    |
Self-Care Fair: Tomorrow, Jan. 17 at the Cloverleaf Event Center
A Self-Care Fair is being held tomorrow, Saturday, January 17th from 10 am to 3 pm in the Cloverleaf Event Center at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds on South Horton Street.
Eclectic Soul out of Pittsburg, KS will be having Qi Gong classes at 11 am and 1 pm for $5.
The Muscle Whisperer will be offering 10-minute chair massages for $10, and Locust Hill Lamanchas will be hosting a Free Soap-Making Demonstration. The Carrell Collective will have KETO Cookies available for purchase.
Vendors will be selling health and wellness products that range from skin care, herbal teas, and essential oils.
Emma Carpenter will also be available to answer Medicare questions.
Vendors include:
Eclectic Soul, Pittsburg, KS
Sisters 3 Essential Oils for Wellness, Nevada, MO
Locust Hill Lamanchas, Fort Scott, KS
Mary Kay, Karen Wagoner, Fort Scott, KS
The Muscle Whisperer, Fort Scott, KS
The Carrell Collective, Fort Scott, KS
Emma Carpenter, Carpenter Homestead, Fort Scott, KS
Mmm Flavor Shop, Fort Scott, KS
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Jan. 16
Love and Laughter Comedy Show To Benefit Care to Share Organization
Ad: Crack the case of local advertising with FortScott.biz
Advertising on FortScott.biz lets you solve the mystery of how to stay relevant as a small business in a rural local market. Reach out to [email protected] to find out creative ways your business can gain more customers.
Ad: What FSCC Offers
Looking for a college that gives you options? At Fort Scott Community College, students can choose from associate degrees in Arts, Science, Applied Science, and General Studies, along with a variety of certificates that lead straight to rewarding careers. Whether you’re interested in healthcare fields like Certified Medication Aide, Nurse Aide, EMT, Home Health Aide, Manicuring, or Phlebotomy, or want to take on a technical challenge with certificates in Ag Technology (John Deere), Construction, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Environmental Water Tech, Farm & Ranch Management, Harley-Davidson Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation, HVAC, Masonry, or Welding we’ve got you covered!
But college isn’t just about the classroom. FSCC offers plenty of ways to get involved through music and performance opportunities (band, choir, theater), student clubs and organizations (like Collegiate Farm Bureau, Phi Theta Kappa, SkillsUSA, STEAM Club, FSCC Media Team, and more), and even competitive judging teams in livestock and meat.
If athletics is more your thing, FSCC is home to intercollegiate sports for both men and women. Compete in basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, rodeo, track & field, or cross country, all while building friendships and representing the Greyhounds.
And the best part? We’re still growing. New programs, degrees, certifications, and athletic opportunities are on the horizon! There’s never been a better time to join FSCC!
Fort Scott Community College; where opportunity meets possibility.
Jan. 15: Bourbon County Commission Special Meeting
Bourbon County
Official Publication
January 15, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Special Meeting
1. Call Meeting To Order
2. Roll Call
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Prayer
5. Executive Session Pursuant to KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body of
agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship
6. Handbook Discussion
7. Create Agenda for Next Meeting
8. Adjournment
Obituary of Lorna L’Deana Slater
Lorna L’Deana (DeVilbiss) Slater, 80, of rural Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born Tuesday, May 29, 1945, in Waynoka, Oklahoma, to Loren V. and Jesse M. (Buckland) DeVilbiss.
Lorna grew up on the family farm near Waynoka, helping raise Hereford cattle. She graduated from Waynoka High School in 1963 and later from the Oklahoma School of Banking and Business in Oklahoma City.
On October 22, 1964, she married Larry “John” Slater. They began their married life in Cashion, Oklahoma, followed by three years in Waynoka before making a big move in 1974 to a farm near Chetopa in southeast Kansas, where they lived for 30 years. They later moved to rural Fort Scott.
Over the years, Lorna worked for several school districts, including Cashion and Waynoka, Oklahoma, and later Chetopa, Kansas. Her most fulfilling work, however, was raising dogs on the farm. She raised Dachshunds, Corgis, and her favorite breed, the West Highland White Terrier. She especially enjoyed meeting the many people who came into her life through selling her puppies.
In addition to her love of farm life, Lorna and her family raised show lambs, an endeavor that connected her to 4-H and FFA kids and families. For many years, she clerked the annual show project sale, where she enjoyed visiting with families and encouraging young people. These show kids and their parents became an extension of her own family, and she took great pride in watching them succeed with their projects they purchased.
Lorna was an active member and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Edna, Kansas, and later the Hiattville Methodist Church in rural Fort Scott.
She treasured time spent with family, which often included a competitive game of dominoes. She enjoyed bus trips with local friends and never passed up a good garage sale, especially when accompanied by her friend Phyllis. Lorna proudly embraced her role as “Aunt Lorna,” always front and center at family gatherings to inspect the new prospective members.
She is survived by her husband, Larry “John” Slater, of the home; her daughter, Diane (Mark) Brillhart of Fort Scott, Kansas; her son, Daren (Tiffany) Slater of Dacoma, Oklahoma; grandsons Clay Brillhart of Fort Scott, Kaden Slater of Dacoma, and Kolby (Kaytin) Slater of American Fork, Utah; and great-grandson Emmett Slater. She is also survived by four step-granddaughters and their families: Jenny Brillhart (Joseph and Peyton) of Santa Rosa, Florida; Megan Brillhart (Vander and Jagger) of Fort Scott; Brianne Brillhart (Cooper) and Cameron Brillhart (Riley, Trevor, and Moe), all of Nevada, Missouri. She is further survived by her brother, Mac DeVilbiss of Yukon, Oklahoma, and numerous extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Adrian and Glenn DeVilbiss.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, January 23rd at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle, 502 S. Margrave St., in Ft. Scott, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday January 22nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. On Saturday, January 24th family and friends will gather at 12:00 P.M. at the Waynoka Methodist Church, 110 Flynn St. Waynoka, Oklahoma. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 P.M. at the Memorial Hill Cemetery in Waynoka, Oklahoma. Memorials are suggested to the Hiattville United Methodist Church or the Memorial Hill Cemetery Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Saw A Need: Trying to Meet That Need
The congregation of Fort Scott’s First Baptist Church noticed a need for a coat drive following the recent holidays.
“We have high hopes of making sure everyone in Fort Scott who needs a coat has a coat,” said Christy Graves, church secretary.
“When we began, it was for sharing in the church, then by word of mouth, other people heard, ” said church assistant Glenda Lalman.
The coats are all sizes, mostly adult size, currently.
Coats can be tried on during the times between noon and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lalman said.
People are asked to come in on the west side of the church at 123 Scott Avenue.
The church’s phone number is 620.223.3080.
Other outreaches of the congregation:
* a food pantry and hygiene pantry in front of the church which are filled six days a week.
*a care home service on the 4th Sunday of each month
* a collection center for Operation Christmas Child
Sunday services are 10 a.m. Sunday School, 11 a.m. Morning Service, with youth group, young adult group and adult Bible Study at 5 p.m.
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. is a men’s Bible study and women’s prayer group.
Saturdays, there is a women’s Bible study at Common Ground Coffee Shop, 12 E. Wall, at 9:30 a.m.