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On May 14, 2018

Balance: “Having the capacity to remain upright and steady.” On this sometimes-daunting journey of life, we are constantly afforded opportunities to choose our next steps. These are typically based along two primary streams of thought. One: What are those elements of culture, which must be tenaciously guarded and practiced? Two: To what changes in our culture might Providence and a respected close friend or two guide us if we were simply open and receptive to hear? Wisdom emerges from the truth in tension. Think about that!

BE ON FIRE WITH FINDING THE POSITIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITY & DAIRY INDUSTRY
By Myrannda Kleckner, Communications & Marketing Manager,
Center for Dairy Excellence

LEBANON – Even if the environment is testing you, there are still reasons to smile. John Kline, a husband, father and dairy farmer from Myerstown, Lebanon County, was one of the forty-two Pennsylvania farmers to receive a termination letter from Dean Food’s roughly two months ago. Through this time of stress, John found himself reflecting on his values, relationships and self – and it turned out for the best.

“First off, I turned to my wife and asked, ‘How do I deal with stress?’”, John said. “I needed that time to reflect on myself and learn from others about my actions. Also, I found it beneficial to divulge myself into my interests and passions.”

From milking 220 head of cows to cropping 420 acres, John still is devoted to his love of music, art and worship. He is the executive director of On-Fire Youth Ministries of Myerstown and has been with this organization for twenty years. “I love the music and arts, so I stop and take time to listen to my favorites,” John said. “When I don’t have the time to sit and read scripture, it is easy just to turn on good gospel, spiritual music.”

Besides his interests, John finds other ways that have helped him to see the positives in the current situation, which he recommends to others in similar stressful situations. First, he recommends fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers to look into the eyes of their children and grandchildren, noting that it has changed his perspective on outcomes. Also, don’t be ashamed to take a nap. Some days, it’s uplifting, especially when long days can be overbearing. A power nap can be that extra push to get through.

“Even through the little stress relievers, it is still key to balance your life by continuing to serve others,” John said. “Finding ways to give back and serve can bring you to a different level, whether that is with your self-confidence, spiritually, or in relationships within the church or community. Farmers sometimes miss the fundamentals of serving others because they are caught up in personal struggles.”

“Also, and this can be a personal matter, but as aChristian, our identity is in Christ,” John said. “Even through the failures, we still keep our identity in Christ. Nothing will change with Him. We can find Him in any situation, any scenario. We are with Him.” Though the Klines received a termination letter, they were thankful to have a positive ending to the situation. Recently, Dairy Farmers of America were able to give John and his family a market, which stemmed from previous relationships that the two had with each other. John credits this outcome to his ability to balance capabilities, which he says is needed in the reality of where the industry is today. “Try your best to make sure all the pieces are covered, challenge yourself, and get done what needs to be done for the day,” John said. “We sure have been blessed in this situation. Through the good years and even in the downs, look at the small things that are encouraging, and they will help you to keep a focus on the outlook. This includes celebrating the baby steps.”

FINDING BALANCE
By Jayne Sebright, Executive Director,
Center for Dairy Excellence

LANCASTER – For many of us, farming represents both our business and our way of life. Our values, our social networks, our relationships are all wrapped up in the dairy farm. Unfortunately, that is why it is so difficult to find balance between our work and our life. We define who we are by what we do. In some ways, that is a very positive aspect of our profession, but it can also play a serious toll on your own personal mindset when things are challenging.

How often have you gone to a family gathering, only to spend the entire time talking about the farm or the dairy industry or milk prices? How often have you planned to spend an evening with your family only to have it side-tracked by a cow calving or a late-night emergency on the farm?

Some of these situations we cannot control. But there are some we can. Making sure you are taking a proactive approach to separating your work from your life is critical to maintaining your health and well-being in situations when your work life becomes increasingly more stressful. And, in farming, that’s happens often, whether it is because of the price, the weather, or something that goes wrong on the farm. A recent Forbes article written by Deborah Jian Lee offered six steps to finding work life balance. Below are those steps related back to our role as farmers.

1. Let go of perfectionism. A farmer wears many hats. Depending on the type of farm, at any given time, you could be the general manager, mechanic, crop planning, equipment operator, feeder, human resource contact, milker, hirer, firer, counselor and so on. You cannot do everything perfectly, and you cannot do everything yourself. Put best management practices and goals in place and challenge yourself and your team to achieve them. But recognize and accept that you are not perfect, and neither are the people around you. The best we can do is the best we can.

2. Unplug. In different industries, that means different things. For the farmer, it means putting down your cell phone, your computer, your milk records, your farm paper and whatever else ties you to the business that you operate. Take time to separate yourself from it and recharge. Find other hobbies and activities to enjoy. You need that break for your own personal well-being.

3. Exercise and meditate. Most farmers would say they exercise enough, but physical labor is not the same as exercise. A recent article I read said the typical brain is about 2 percent of your body weight but uses 20 percent of your energy. Stopping to take a deep breath, going for a long walk, or exercising can relieve stress from the brain. The article stated that a brisk 10-minute walk reduces the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in the brain by 50 to 70 percent.

4. Limit time-wasting activities and people. Sometimes we can spin our wheels all day long and not accomplish anything. In Lee’s article, she reminds us to first identify what’s most important in your life. “This list will differ for everyone, so make sure it truly reflects your priorities, not someone else’s,” she says. “Next, draw firm boundaries so you can devote quality time to these high-priority people and activities.” Some farmers require people to make appointments before driving in their driveways. What you do to limit time-wasting activities is entirely up to you.

5. Change the structure of your life. Lee suggests that, “Sometimes we fall into a rut and assume our habits are set in stone.” Taking a broader view of your life and asking yourself what you would change could enhance your life. Remember, to focus on the controllables and not spend excessive time worrying about the things you cannot control.

6. Start small. Build from there. Lee’s article ends with reminding people that you cannot accomplish all of this at once. She encourages people to bite off things they think they can do, small bites at a time, and work from there. A farmer could consider planning a family night where you quit at 6 p.m. to go hiking or out for ice cream. Take a Saturday afternoon and read a book, not related to farming, that you have been wanting to do. Take Sunday off to visit relatives after going to church. Remember, finding a balance between work and life is entirely up to you.

SEEKING HELP
By John Noullet, Mental Health Care Educator,
WellSpan Philhaven

We all feel a little overwhelmed from time to time by life’s challenges. How can you tell when what you’re experiencing is more than just life’s ups and downs, and it’s time to reach out to someone else for some help?

Some common signs include:

• You have withdrawn from neighbors, family, and activities you used to enjoy, such as going to the diner for coffee or attending church.

• You feel hopeless, sad or guilty.

• You feel tired or exhausted most of the time, feeling weary at even the prospect of your regular chores.

• You have little or no motivation. Maybe you are putting off animal care or don’t have your usual excitement for seasonal tasks like planting or plowing.

• You have severe mood swings. You feel very angry when you get bills from the seed company, veterinarian or other businesses.

• You seem more restless, irritable or anxious.

• You have trouble making decisions, concentrating or remembering things.

• You start neglecting your personal care and appearance.

• You feel tearful or have had crying spells.

• You have intense worries or fears that may affect your ability to work or carry out daily activities.

• You have reckless or impulsive behaviors, perhaps drinking more than you used to.

• You have persistent physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive problems that don’t respond to routine treatment.

• You feel preoccupied with death or suicide. It’s very important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional immediately if you are having suicidal thoughts.

Here is a screening tool that can help you figure out if you are having some issues with depression:

screening.mentalhealthamerica.net/screening-tools/depression

If you are struggling and think you may need some help, start with your family doctor or local mental health organization, such as Mental Health America. They should be able to refer you to a therapist or other resources that can help you.