By Misty Strieff Prine “Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.” – Suzy Kassem                 Do you know when they say “God is in this room?”. He is. Do you know when they say “God never leaves you when you are fighting battles or having troubles?” He doesn’t. Do you know when they say, “God is always on time?” He is. Do you know when the say “He will use you according to HIS purpose?” He most certainly will, especially if it comes from a genuine place of humility.                 He will use you as He needs to even if but a messenger and as a part of His plan. He puts you at the right place, right time.  I’m thankful for that time, even if really hard. Sometimes you have to stand in the gap and you have a peace about it.                 That’s when you know, God is in it.             This week we honor America’s military men and women who gave their all in service to their country. They made the ultimate sacrifice; they gave their lives for people they know and for complete strangers all across our land. As we know, freedom doesn’t come free. I thought the quote above fit perfectly for this week because strong people do stand for themselves but stronger people stand up for others. Those that give their lives for friends, family and strangers because they believe in what they are fighting for – God, America and freedom, well those, my friends, are heroes in my book. Thank you to the men and women who gave their all for our country. You will always be remembered.                 **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

Kim Whittington of Wesson recently served as a guest speaker for the Mississippi Lung Cancer Roundtable (MSLCRT) monthly meeting.   Whittington was asked to present as a recent advocate who represented Mississippi in Washington D.C. at the nation’s capitol for Lung Force Advocacy Day.   Whittington spoke to 89 attendees from across the Southeastern U.S.   “I shared about my trip and how I met with senators and representatives about our three asks, which were to fund the CDC, NIH (National Institute of Health) and Medicaid expansion – especially for lung cancer screenings to reduce cancer rates in our state,” said Whittington.   MSLCRT is a community and medical forum that emphasizes the importance of working collectively to reduce lung cancer incidence and mortality in Mississippi through screenings, early detection, education, and communication. Over the last 30 years, the cancer death rate in the United States (US) has dropped by 33%, translating to 4.1 million fewer cancer deaths during that time. However, people are still suffering, alarming disparities persist, and – for the first time – more than 2 million new cases of cancer in the US were expected to be diagnosed in 2024. The truth is that while many organizations are working to improve the lives of people facing cancer, no one organization can tackle this burden alone.  Through its National Roundtables, the American Cancer Society (ACS) brings diverse organizations and communities together in collaborative partnerships to advance solutions that move us closer to ending cancer as we know it, for everyone.   “Thanks to increased outreach efforts, early detection and advancements in treatment, we are seeing survival rates rising significantly. That’s the good news. It takes a lot of people to change things, I’m learning. Who wants to help?” said Whittington.   Anyone can register for the 4th Annual MSLCRT Meeting November 7-8 at the Flowood Sheraton. The meeting will be a great opportunity to learn more and get involved in this fight against lung cancer in Mississippi. Questions go to amy.ellis@cancer.org.

As a reminder, Mississippians need to be aware of upcoming important dates and deadlines. In-Person Absentee Voting Municipal Clerk's Offices will be open this Saturday, May 24, from 8:00 a.m. until noon for in-person absentee voting for the Municipal General Election. The last day to vote in-person absentee is Saturday, May 31. Municipal Clerk's Offices will be open from 8:00 a.m. until noon. All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Tuesday, June 3 (Election Day). To track your mail-in absentee ballot, visit the My Election Day portal. To learn more about absentee voting requirements, visit the Secretary of State's Absentee Voting Information webpage. UOCAVA Voter Registration Deadline For non-registered UOCAVA voters to vote in the Municipal General Election, Circuit Clerk or Municipal Clerk's Offices must be in actual receipt of a completed Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) from a UOCAVA voter by Saturday, May 24. For more information regarding how to cast a UOCAVA ballot, please contact your local election officials or email UOCAVA@sos.ms.gov. Campaign Finance Deadline All opposed Municipal General Election candidates seeking election this year, and political committees which have received contributions or made expenditures in support of or in opposition to candidates must file the General Pre-Election Report with the Municipal Clerk's Office by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27. The Secretary of State's Office is your primary and trusted source for election information. For questions, please contact the Elections Division at 1-800-829-6786, email ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, or visit YallVote.ms. 2025 Municipal General Election Dates • May 24 - Saturday In-Person Absentee Voting Begins for the Municipal General Election • May 31 - In-Person Absentee Voting Deadline for the Municipal General Election • June 3 - • Municipal General Election Day • Deadline for the postmark of mail-in absentee ballots

Send responses to: andybowman839@gmail.com The angry and resentful young man sat sullenly on the edge of his narrow cot in the cell.  He had no idea how long he had been sitting there, body motionless but with his brain racing in high gear. Ben’s pulse rate and stress level had shot through the roof when he heard the cell door clang shut, and they showed no signs of leveling off any time soon. He was a minor, so he knew his parents would be receiving a phone call, if they hadn’t already. A call that they had experienced many times before. A call they dreaded receiving again. What he didn’t know? The police chief of that small town had a plan in mind. Just like before, Ben had been placed in a holding cell. But this time, the chief specifically told the jailer to leave the cell door unlocked – “Clang it shut, but leave it unlocked and then leave.” He was going to have young Ben sitting in dejection and anger for a few hours in what was supposedly a tiny hopeless locked cell. Then he intended to stand in front of that cell, sharply call out Ben’s name to make certain that the kid looked up, and then slowly and deliberately swing the unlocked door wide open. Sitting on the cot near Ben, his ensuing lecture would go something along these lines. “Yep, just as you saw, all this time it was unlocked. You could have walked out any time you wanted. You just didn’t know it, so you sat there, sulking, cussing and blaming the police and everyone you could think of who got you into this place. And all the while, you could have opened the door and gone free. Ben, I deliberately instructed that they leave your cell door locked, so you just might understand what I am now gonna try to tell you. Son, you are doing this to yourself, keeping yourself in this hellhole of a life. But if you’ll want it, there is a way out your rotten way of living. That cell door on your life ain’t permanently locked. All you gotta do is decide you want out. The judge, the cops, your mom and dad, they all want it for you. But nobody can force you to walk out of that unlocked cell that you call Your Life.” Then he walked out. That story of a wasted, supposedly trapped, teenage life perfectly describes every person living. We do things wrong in life. We know when we die we will have to pay a heavy penalty for what we’ve done. The Heavenly Judge offers us an unlocked door, if we will just take Him up on His offer. But just like the teen and the police chief, God’s offer is valid only if we quit insisting that we can live our life exactly as we choose. Your choice. Walk out of an open door that only looks locked, or live in your prison cell forever.

Special to Wesson News The 2025 Mississippi regular legislative session has come and gone, but Governor Tate Reeves will be calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to finalize the state’s $7 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget, after deliberations between the House and Senate broke down in the waning days of the session. The lingering question is whether Reeves will add other policy items to the special session call, namely legislation aimed at expanding education freedom, all of which died in the regular session, or reducing the regulatory burden on the state’s healthcare system by way of further certificate of need reforms. Here is a look back at some of the most talked about headlines from the 2025 regular legislative session:  1. Governor Reeves signed the most significant tax reform legislation in state history.  The flat income tax rate in the state will drop from 4.4 percent this year to 3 percent in 2030 (an annualized cut of $647 million).  Additional cuts to the income tax rate down to 0 percent will occur beginning in 2031 based on the state meeting revenue growth triggers.  The sales tax applied to grocery purchases drops from 7 percent to 5 percent on July 1, 2025 (an annualized cut of $127 million). Approximately $200 million in additional revenue for roads and bridges will be produced through a 9-cent increase in the fuel excise tax over a 3-year phase-in period.  A Tier 5 in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) for newly hired government workers is created based on recommendations from the PERS Board (does not impact existing workers or retirees). 2. A new law will prevent universities, community colleges, public schools, and charter schools from using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices when selecting faculty, providing academic opportunities, and offering student engagement. 3. Three measures to increase education options for families in the Magnolia State died without a vote in the Senate.  One would have made a process already in Mississippi law for a child to transfer between public schools slightly easier by removing the veto power of the school the child wants to leave.  The Tim Tebow Act would have allowed homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities at the public school where they live.  Another one sought to expand where public charter schools could be opened in C-rated districts. 4. An early voting proposal was not well received by Governor Reeves, resulting in a social media battle that carried over into the Capitol.  After Reeves expressed his displeasure with England’s 15-day, no excuse proposal, the House decided to back away and offer their own tweaks to absentee voting. 5. The Governor vetoed a bill that would have raised the threshold for a medical facility to seek a Certificate of Need (CON) when purchasing medical equipment and tasked the Mississippi Department of Health with conducting a study to see what other changes may need to be made to CON laws, particularly as they relate to small hospital dialysis units, geriatric psychiatric units, and acute adult psychiatric units. 6. State consumers using e-cigarettes will now have to buy exclusively from only three manufacturers, and virtually all flavored vaping products have been banned. 7. Mississippi residents are now allowed to receive direct shipments of wine. Mississippi was one of only three states that prohibited this. 8. Governor Reeves vetoed a bill that would have modified several provisions within Mississippi’s Medicaid program.  Reeves said the Medicaid Technical Amendments Bill essentially expanded Medicaid, something he has adamantly opposed and repeatedly spoken against.  In his veto message, Reeves said that the bill would have incurred additional recurring costs of $40 million to the overall annual Medicaid budget, of which the state would have to fund 24 percent.  9. Legislation meant to conform Mississippi’s Medicaid provisions regarding presumptive eligibility for pregnant women to federal regulations has gone into law without the signature of Governor Reeves. Presumptive eligibility refers to the process of granting Medicaid services to those who may qualify before their eligibility is verified by the program. 10. Each chamber of the Legislature has now adopted the other’s redistricting plans, setting up special elections for House and Senate seats later this year. 11. Lawmakers have agreed to form a task force to study workforce and social service reform in Mississippi towards improving the state’s labor force participation rate and raise the earning capacity of working Mississippians. The ultimate goal is to integrate social safety nets and workforce development in a manner that moves people off of welfare and into a sustainable job through a one-stop-shop holistic approach. 12. State employees will now be eligible for paid parental leave through a law that will provide a state employee who is the primary caregiver of a newborn with six weeks of paid leave. 13. Mississippi lawmakers have agreed to deal with kratom by taxing products containing the opioid-like substance at a higher rate. 14. Lawmakers agreed to outlaw camping on any sidewalks, streets, sports fields, sports complexes, highways, alleys, roads, passageways or any other public property, except a public property that is otherwise designated for camping by a municipality, county, political subdivision or state, or by state law.

By: Kara Kimbrough This delicious, easy-to-make dish filled with chicken, pasta, tomatoes, spinach and cheese is the perfect make-ahead dish to throw in the cooler and take to the beach for reheating for a quick meal.       Counting the days until it’s time to pack the car and head to the beach? Nothing’s quite as therapeutic as a vacation of sun, sand, shimmering water and seafood. As much as I enjoy dining at restaurants while on vacation, taking a few ready-made meals to bake in the condo, beach house or RV for at least one meal each day is not only cost-efficient, but a time-saver. There are always times when a quick meal is in order after a long day of beach activities and the thought of getting dressed for dinner is not appealing.      To keep from having to actually cook on vacation (never an appealing thought) why not plan to throw a few dishes together before leaving home, popping them into the refrigerator (or freezer), then transporting them to your destination in a cooler. Once there, the refrigerator can be stocked with a few essentials that can be pulled out and baked or reheated for lunch or dinner when the thought of having to actually get dressed and drive to a restaurant is not appealing.     And, plenty of sweet treats to snack on is essential to keeping everyone happy when a case of the munchies emerges and the nearest supermarket is a few miles away.     Here are two of my favorite easy-to-make-and-transport beach vacation recipes. There are more where these came from, so feel free to drop me an email if you’re looking for something specific. In the meantime, I’m off to a short beach trip. When I return, I’ll share a new place to stay, dine and experience new adventures this summer. Beach Condo Chicken, Spinach and Tomato Pasta 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni or other shaped pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup chopped onion 10-ounce pack frozen spinach, thawed 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken breasts 14-ounce can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained 8-ounce container Philadelphia chive & onion cream cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1-1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese     Prepare rigatoni according to package directions for al dente. Spread oil on bottom of 9 x 13 in baking dish; add onion in a single layer. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or just until tender. Transfer onion to large bowl, set aside.     Drain chopped spinach well, pressing between paper towels. Stir in rigatoni, spinach, chicken and next 4 ingredients into onion in bowl.     Spoon mixture into dish and sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese. (If baking later, cover with foil and refrigerate until time to bake. Then remove from refrigerator 30 minutes prior to baking while oven is preheating.)   Bake covered at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake additional 10-15 minutes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving. Moistest (and Easiest) Pineapple Cake You’ll Ever Eat 1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow or butter cake mix* (I recommend Pillsbury, as their box size has not been reduced) 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup pineapple juice 4 large eggs For the glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar 3/4 cup pineapple juice 4      tablespoons unsalted butter     Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease and flour a 10 to 12-cup Bundt pan. Use an electric mixer to combine the cake mix, vegetable oil, pineapple juice, and eggs in a large bowl.  Beat about 2 minutes.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan.    Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake is just starting to pull away from the sides.  Allow the cake to cool in the pan while you make the glaze.     In a small pan, combine the powdered sugar, pineapple juice, and butter. Cook over medium-low heat until the butter has melted, stirring frequently. Use a skewer or toothpick to poke holes in the cake. Pour the warm glaze over the cake while it is still in the cake pan.    Allow to cool for 15-20 more minutes, or until the cake is cool and most of the glaze has been absorbed, then invert cake onto a serving platter. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

Wesson High School cheerleaders Courtney Carr and Allison Hamilton will continue leading cheers in college. Pictured front (left to right): Laura Curtis (her mom), Carr and Justin Curtis (her stepdad). Back (left to right): Michelle Berch and Anna Traxler (WHS Cheer Coaches). Carr inks scholarship with East Central Community College Warriors Cheerleading squad. She is captain of the Wesson High School cheerleading team.  Pictured front (left to right): Brad Hamilton (her dad), Hamilton and Kimberly Hamilton (her mom).  Back (left to right): Michelle Berch and Anna Traxler (Wesson Cheer Coaches) Hamilton will continue her cheerleading career as a member of the Mississippi College Choctaw cheerleading squad.

MAY IS NATIONAL WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH Although wildfires seem more common in other parts of the United States, Mississippi is not immune to the disaster. Wildfires can happen anywhere. They can spread quickly, traveling up to 14 mph. In their wake, wildfires cause erosion and loss of vegetation, which can lead to other problems, like flooding.  Homeowners can reduce their wildfire and flooding risks by retrofitting their homes, clearing debris from their properties, and creating defensible spaces. Defensible space is the buffer you create between your home or a building and the grass, trees, shrubs, and any wildland area surrounding it. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recommends these steps to create a defensible space around your home:  • Install hard surfaces close to your home, such as a concrete walkway or rock mulch. • Regularly water your lawn and plants to prevent dry vegetation.  • Remove dead plants and tree branches and trim low-hanging tree branches.   • Find more tips here, https://disastersafety.org/wildfire/d-space/ "Homeowners policies usually cover the repair or replacement of the built structure of your home and items damaged by flames, smoke, soot, and ash. However, you should check with your insurance agent to ensure your policy covers wildfires and whether there is a separate wildfire deductible," said Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. "Homeowners insurance is not designed to cover damages to your car. A comprehensive car insurance policy may insure a car against fire damage. Check with your agent to find out what your policy covers." If your property is damaged by fire, your insurance company may ask for an inventory of the items in your home at the time of the loss. Use the NAIC's Home Inventory App as an easy way to prepare. Most homeowners and renters policies help with recovery expenses through additional living expense coverage, known as ALE. While a homeowners policy may provide a benefit during a mandatory evacuation, some insurance companies impose conditions such as waiting periods or actual damage to your property. ALE coverage typically includes things like extra food and housing costs, furniture rental, relocation and storage, transportation expenses, etc. Be sure to keep all receipts so you can submit them to your insurance company.

Special to Wesson News   No one is too young to use a library.   That’s how Marilyn Britt at Wesson Public Library (WPL) sees it, and she has been guiding a unique program there over the past few weeks to reach an age group she thinks libraries forget.  Babies.  The little ones from zero-years old to two-years old.   A prize basket full of baby goods for moms lured mothers with their babies to WPL to participate in a special drawing that was the centerpiece of the local library’s Books & Babies program during April.   “Mothers came to the library with their babies to sign them up for library cards and, in the process, register for the drawing,” Britt explained. On their visits to the library, the moms learned about library resources for babies, read to their babies and also allowed their children to use the special books that feature not easily damaged hard board covers and colorfully illustrated simple short stories, often with Christian themes, and nursery rhymes.   “We hope the visits started reading and library use habits for moms and their babies alike,” Britt says.   According to Britt, reading to babies provides numerous developmental and relational benefits for them: fostering language skills, building vocabulary, promoting brain development, and strengthening the bond between parent and child. It also helps babies learn about the world around them and develop their attention and listening skills.    “Babies hear and learn new words through reading, expanding their receptive and expressive vocabulary,” she pointed out.  “Reading aloud helps babies become familiar with the sounds of language, which is a crucial foundation for later reading skills. Reading to babies early on lays the groundwork for future literacy development, such as understanding that words are written and that print carries meaning. Reading aloud stimulates brain development, especially during the early years when the brain is rapidly developing.”    Britt says she knows of no other libraries with programs geared to babies – “certainly not in the area, probably not in the state, and only a few nationally.”  “Wesson Public Library is a leader in bringing resources to all age groups,” she says.

In an effort to enhance the Secretary of State's accessibility and efficiency, Secretary Michael Watson has announced the launch of a new elections resource "TextMyGov." Utilizing smart technology, Mississippi voters may now access important election information and report issues via text message. By texting "HI" to (601) 586-7600, users can initiate a conversation with the Secretary of State's Office to solicit guidance on a variety of topics. The system utilizes keywords to categorize inquiries, directing users to appropriate responses or information sources. Residents can text the relevant keyword to receive an automated response or a link to the Secretary of State's website for more detailed information. For example, texting "Precinct" will provide voters with a link to the polling place locator. Additionally, our office has instituted a new text alert system. You may receive a text notification from the number 80946. This is a legitimate text from the Secretary of State's Office. Residents who receive the initial text message and opt-in will benefit from election alerts, which will provide important election information. Users may opt-out at any time by texting STOP. If you DO NOT receive the initial text message, you may opt-in by texting "MS ELECTIONS" to the number 80946. You will be prompted to reply with "YES" to complete the opt-in process. The Secretary of State's Office will utilize this service to distribute important reminders in preparation for Election Day.

By Bob Arnold   Nekitha Jackson A local cottage baker is moving to her first permanent retail location outside her home in the 6,700 square foot mini shopping and office complex under construction on the southwest corner of Church Street and Highway 51.   Nekitha Jackson will open Destiny’s Delights in the first of three commercial spaces Salmon Point Development has rented – a 1,000 square foot structure.   Jackson says she makes cakes, cookies and all kinds of treats with love the secret ingredient.  Since 2014, she has done the bulk of her baking  at her Wesson home on Lott Smith Road and sold her products and baked some of them on site at farmers and other outdoor markets throughout southwest Mississippi.   Now she’ll go to work in her own bakery, where three or four workers will also help her serve customers regularly.  It’s a status that has been a dream since her childhood, Jackson says.  Being known as a baker in her community beyond her home base.  The pink and brown colors that she has made a trademark of her business as a tribute to her sister who died in a car crash will also be part the new status.   Ron Bath, a former Reno, Nevada, commercial and residential developer who retired to Wesson and transplanted Salmon Point Development here, expects construction of the bakery to be completed this month.   His goal is find tenants for the 2,100 square foot and 3,600 square foot units and finish the new development by year end.   The additional units will be built as commitments are made for occupancy.  Bath estimates total cost of the complex will be approximately $700,000.   Over 52 years, Bath developed two million square foot of shopping center space in and around Reno, Nevada, before resettling in retirement with his wife Teri in the Wesson area, where she had family roots and now serves as Wesson Chamber of Commerce president.   Bath found Jackson, who has long been active in community service, on the Wesson Chamber of Commerce board.  For many years, Jackson also served as president of the Wesson Attendance Center Parent Teachers Organization.

Image via Freepik There’s something deeply personal about health. It’s stitched into our routines, tucked into the meals we make, and echoed in the advice we give to people we care about. But when your interest in health goes beyond self-care and morphs into a kind of duty—to your community, your neighbors, your field—it becomes more than a hobby. It becomes a form of quiet leadership, a way to move the needle, not just for yourself, but for those whose voices may not always carry as far. You don’t need a title or a platform. What you need is conviction—and a few creative strategies. Lead by lifestyle, not lecture You don’t have to be loud to be influential. In fact, the most powerful kind of advocacy often starts in the silent choices you make every day. When people see you walking instead of driving, cooking instead of ordering, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, they’re watching something real and doable. You become a mirror for what’s possible , not a bullhorn telling others what they’re doing wrong. You’re not trying to “inspire” as much as you’re quietly shifting the norm. Use your kitchen table as a classroom Some of the best conversations about health don’t happen at conferences or webinars—they happen over food. Sharing meals with friends and neighbors, especially when they’re built around fresh, accessible ingredients, turns education into experience. It’s one thing to post about a healthy recipe; it’s another to have someone try it in your home and realize they love it. The intimacy of that moment—the way it strips away stigma or assumptions —builds trust in a way no infographic ever could. Start where passion meets purpose Launching a health-based business isn’t just about loving wellness—it’s about being ready to turn that passion into something people can trust and access. You’ll need a clear mission, a tight grip on your audience’s needs, and the kind of grit that keeps you moving when enthusiasm runs low. Whether you're opening a plant-forward café, launching a fitness app, or consulting on nutrition, building a solid foundation means learning how to wear every hat—strategist, marketer, customer service rep, and sometimes even accountant. Tools like ZenBusiness  can ease the growing pains by helping you form an LLC, stay compliant, build a site, or keep your finances clean, so you can focus more on impact and less on paperwork. Make room for local stories Advocacy isn’t just about what you say—it’s also about who gets to say it. If you’ve got a platform, big or small, use it to spotlight local voices who are doing health work in your area. That might be a barbershop owner running free blood pressure checks, a teenager turning corner-store snacks into school lunch hacks, or an immigrant parent making plant-based meals on a tight budget. Elevating their stories adds texture to the health conversation, and it makes your advocacy feel lived-in, not abstract. Challenge the systems, not just the symptoms You can’t talk about health without talking about access. If your community doesn’t have fresh food within walking distance, or the parks are unsafe after dark, or your neighbors can’t afford the medications their doctors prescribe, your passion needs to get political. Write op-eds, attend zoning meetings, ask hard questions of local leaders. Policy might sound like a big machine, but it runs on the quiet pressure of everyday people  who decide not to stay silent. You’re not just rooting for better outcomes—you’re helping to build the conditions that make them possible. Turn social media into a sidewalk conversation The digital world can be just as personal as the physical one, if you use it well. Instead of trying to go viral, try to be real. Share moments from your day that reflect your relationship to health—your struggles, your wins, your curiosity. Respond to others. Ask questions. Make your feed feel like a front porch , not a pedestal. When people feel seen, they’re more likely to engage—and when engagement becomes mutual, advocacy starts to grow roots. Create something small and stubborn You don’t need to launch a nonprofit to leave a mark. Sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is start a walking group that meets every Sunday , rain or shine. Or host a monthly potluck that trades takeout for whole grains and conversation. Or print a few pages of local health tips and leave them at the laundromat. Small acts, repeated consistently, become hard to ignore. They don't need permission. They just need someone to start. Be honest about burnout If you're pouring yourself into community health work, you've got to protect your own spark. The truth is, doing this kind of advocacy—especially as a solo citizen—can be lonely and tiring. And if you're not careful, your passion can turn into pressure. So build boundaries. Take breaks. Let people know when you need help , and let them show up for you the way you try to show up for them. The most sustainable advocacy comes from people who know how to refill their own cup. Your passion for health isn’t just personal—it’s political, it’s cultural, and it’s deeply needed. When you move through your world with care and intention, you send a message that wellness isn’t a luxury or a trend—it’s a birthright. You don’t need credentials to make a difference. What you need is belief in the idea that small, consistent choices can build a culture of care around you. You may not always see the ripple, but trust that it’s there, moving outward from the things you do without applause. Because that’s how real change starts—quietly, and right where you are.   Stay informed and inspired with the latest stories and insights from Wesson News , your go-to source for local news, reviews, and community updates!