FRESH START

BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

A new week is a fresh start: clean, quiet, and full of possibility. It does not ask for perfection, just presence. Let go of last week. Breathe in, and begin again. This one is yours.

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CLASS OF 2025

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES This afternoon, I attended a Class of 2025 high school graduation, an event marked by songs from seniors, memories shared by speakers, and inspirational reflections on the years this class spent in high school.  It feels like yesterday that I graduated from high school. Now, with my master's degree and a "real" job, I feel so disconnected from that time in my life. That is not necessarily a bad thing; it is a reflection of the way we grow and mature as we feel the heavy hand of time.  There are many lessons I would tell my younger self at that point if given the opportunity.  A.) Life is too short to spend it worried about what people think about you.  B.) Your matter is not determined by the way people treat you.  C.) You are perfect just the way you are, and there are no questions about that.  ... and I could go on, but I will not. I am not alone in thinking about these things; if given the opportunity, the majority of people ...
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TOUGH PEOPLE

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES Tough times do not last, but tough people do.  Given the flooding events our community saw, I have thought a lot about this in recent days and weeks. Countless times throughout my life, I have seen people in my home community grapple with devastation, loss, and immense grief.  Despite that, they maintain their deeply rooted faith. It speaks to who we, as Appalachians, are: mountain folks with unrelenting grit and resolve. There is real beauty in that, a kind of beauty that no negative narrative can still, nor any perfect portrayal, incapsulate.  When the going gets tough, we dig deep. We find a sense of resolve instilled in us by previous generations of our families, those whose labor built the developing world around us. I often think about them: coal miners like my great-grandfather, Robert, who stood tall for a world much more extensive than any man. Our country is at a crossroads. We can feel the deep wounds of political and social divisio...
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MOZZARELLA STICKS

 BY WALLACE CALEB BATES Tonight, I had dinner at Applebee’s with my friend Nataley, whom I have known since third grade. Life looks a lot different now. We are both working on our degrees, juggling jobs, and trying to keep up with everything life throws our way. It is easy to let time with friends slip through the cracks. But this evening reminded me of something important: you cannot make old friends. There is something sacred about sitting across the table from someone who knew you before you had it all figured out, who has seen every version of you and remained present anyway. We laughed, we caught up, and for a little while, the stress of adult life gave way to shared stories and mozzarella sticks. Time with friends is not just a treat. It is fuel for the soul.  So even when you are busy, make the time. The world will keep spinning, but moments like that are what keep you going.
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