“Just do the next right thing” is a quote from Anna in Frozen that I like to bring up a lot around here. (It’s a hazard of raising a kid through the Frozen era, but honestly, I’m totally good with it.)
The next right thing is what comes to my mind when I think about Living in the Now. Sometimes when we zoom out so far, we see mistakes in the past and mountains in the future, and moving forward feels impossible. But you are here. Now. Do the next right thing.
But how do you focus in like that? How can you remain present in the moment and in your current choices? Mindfulness (another popular word in Inspire(d)-land) is one of the most helpful tools for living in the now, and it’s a habit and practice in which we can all find rewards. When you’re mindful of your breathing, your shoulders relax; your stress eases. When you’re mindful of the food you’re eating, it becomes more enjoyable, and you’re more in tune with your body. When you’re mindful of your time and habits, you become more engaged and engaging with your loved ones.
Spring feels like a great time for mindfulness. It’s my favorite season of all. I love noticing the little green shoots that start poking out of the earth. I love the first 50-degree day that somehow feels like summer. I love the light that lasts just a little longer each day.
But if we aren’t living in the now, we won’t take note of these things we love. And then our lives pass us by. The only thing we can be certain of is this moment right now. What are you going to do with it? Regret something from yesterday? Worry about something for tomorrow? Or find something to be joyful about today?
I’m going for the latter. And while it might seem like that’s something I, as a “positive person,” do all the time, I can tell you: It takes work, every day. It’s worth it though.
In addition to this infographic below, Mental Health writer Olivia Lynn Schnur walks you through some ideas, practices, and tools to help engage your mindfulness and senses in her column for the Spring 2023 Inspire(d). Let’s get out there this spring and live in the now. You are here. What’s your next right thing?
At a time when buying novels might involve tapping a screen, physical bookstores feel especially delightful. Wander into a shop. Explore shelves packed with new releases and old favorites. Flip through some pages and escape into a story. It’s an immersive experience, and a reminder to focus on what’s at your fingertips.
Kevin poses with his son. / Photo courtesy Kevin Cannon
For Minneapolis artist Kevin Cannon, bookshops have long been that source of engagement and discovery.
“I’ve always loved independent bookstores. I was the kid who would go into a bookstore, plant myself against a shelf, and just start reading,” he says.
On Saturday, April 29, as Independent Bookstore Day events unfold nationwide, Kevin’s work will encourage others to plan book-based adventures. He illustrated the 2023 Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap, which spotlights more than 200 independent bookstores anchoring the Driftless. Equal parts whimsical collector’s item and serious resource, the paper map links readers to a network of diverse, book-focused businesses.
Creating connections is one aim of the Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap, a Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA) project now in its sixth year. MIBA is a nonprofit trade organization that supports locally owned and independently operated bookstores in 10 Midwest states. The group puts together trade shows, educational seminars, networking events, and other programs for its membership, which includes about 225 booksellers plus some publishers, distributors, wholesalers, and other industry professionals.
Kate Rattenborg Scott and her staff hand out nearly 1,000 MIBA maps a year to customers of her two Decorah bookstores, Dragonfly Books and The Silver Birch. Kate, past president and a current member of the MIBA board of directors, says the roadmap helps customers visualize the number of indie bookstores operating in the region. And, despite the independent nature of these bookstores, it facilitates relationships between the stores themselves.
The MIBA map in front of Dragonfly Books in Decorah, IA / @dragonflybooks
“It pulls us together as colleagues,” Kate says. “And it gives us a stronger voice against big-box stores and big online shopping sites.”
Customers light up when they spot their favorite home bookstore on the map. Many search for their second or third stores, too, sharing details about the places they like to shop while on vacation. In fact, some people plan whole trips around routes inspired by the bookstore roadmap.
“I thought this project was going to serve as a really nice poster to put up in the store or at home, but it has become more than that. We know that people do beer tourism. This is the book tourism version of that,” Kate says.
“It’s like when you pick up an antique map and go to all the little towns and comb through all their antique shops. This feels like that, but much larger,” says Mary Flicek, who owns Driftless Books in Wabasha, Minnesota.
Mary’s cozy shop is a haven for customers who want to chat about their favorite books or simply browse.
“I just play quiet music and let them have a quiet, contemplative visit,” she says. “It gives everybody a chance to open a real book.”
Mary frequently welcomes road trippers who stop by after spotting her store on the MIBA map.
“Some will say, ‘You’re my sixth bookstore today.’ We have a bookshop basically every 30 miles up and down the river valley between La Crosse and the Twin Cities. Neighboring bookstores and I send customers to each other’s shops,” she says.
Even Kevin, who drew the MIBA map, uses it as a trip-planning tool. He and some college friends often meet up in various Midwest destinations. A few summers ago, after sketching a new bookstore called Paper Moon, he suggested they gather in the store’s hometown of McGregor, Iowa.
“We based a whole vacation around this incredible bookstore. It was amazing,” Kevin says.
While visiting Paper Moon, Kevin chatted with a traveler who happened to stop in with the bookstore map in hand.
“That was a very serendipitous meeting, and a lot of fun,” says Jennifer White, who co-owns Paper Moon with her mother, Louise.
The roadmap gave Jennifer a list of other regional booksellers to connect with when the pandemic left her, as a small-town store owner, feeling isolated. Bookshops help customers build bonds, too, and Jennifer’s own shop is a hub for diverse community members.
“We have been very vocal about being a safe place for people who might not feel safe or don’t feel like they belong,” she says.
“We need spaces for community members to gather and get to know one another. Bookstores offer that. They also offer inspiration, especially if you haven’t exactly found yourself yet. Bookstores open pathways for young readers to discover who they are. And, bookstores support their communities by hosting events, giving to schools, and donating to causes,” says MIBA Executive Director Carrie Obry.
A Passport for Book Lovers
In 2016, Carrie and the MIBA team created a Twin Cities bookstore passport, encouraging Twin Cities MIBA members to embrace opportunities to build community through collaboration. The project’s success inspired today’s Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap, open for all MIBA members. In addition to appearing on the main map, some owners partner with regional neighbors to create passports, punch cards, and contests related to Independent Bookstore Day, held annually on the last Saturday in April. (See sidebar below for details on upcoming events at Driftless-area bookshops!)
“Over and over again, we hear from stores that the map works. Customers get inspired by it. New customers are coming into stores and saying, ‘I found you on the roadmap,’” Carrie says. “It highlights this super-impressive ecosystem of independent bookstores, and customers love it when one store promotes another. The map connects stores in a way that’s vibrant, colorful, and fun.”
As a cartoonist and illustrator, Kevin sketches playful store images and highlights architectural and cultural elements on the map. Some stores then use their individual illustrations on websites, social media feeds, advertisements, postcards, t-shirts, mugs, or keychains. One shop put its illustration in a snow globe. Another replicated it on the side of a bus.
“Kevin gives us this wonderful way of showing that every one of our stores is unique and quirky and delightful, but also that we’re absolutely in this together. It’s hard to put into words how special his work is to us,” Carrie says. “Kevin is a hero for bookstores, and we’re thrilled to work with him.”
The Bookstore Superhero
As mentioned, Kevin is a true bookstore enthusiast. In fact, he and his wife, Maggie, snapped their engagement photos inside Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. These days, the couple enjoys taking their young son to Cream & Amber, a bookshop in nearby Hopkins.
In addition to loving books, Kevin has worked on a few books of his own. He and Michael F. Patton released an all-ages graphic novel, “The Cartoon Introduction to Philosophy,” in 2015. He earned an Eisner nomination (the comic-world equivalent of an Oscar) for his arctic adventure graphic novel, “Far Arden.” Kevin has illustrated several children’s books, too, and he’s animated online games for Cartoon Network.
More recently, Kevin has developed an interest in illustrating maps. His hand-drawn cartography projects explore neighborhoods, cities, states, transit systems, and everything from the U.S. Naval Academy to the Minnesota State Fair. That combined love of maps and books landed him on the Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap project.
The latest MIBA Indie Bookstore map was turned into a 1,000 piece puzzle in 2022 / Artwork by Kevin Cannon
Sometime around 2015, while dating Maggie, Kevin started sketching caricatures of the independent local bookshops that she loved. Eventually, he shared those drawings on social media. After spotting Kevin’s work, a MIBA representative reached out and asked him to help with the original Twin Cities bookstore passport. That set the stage for the multi-state map now released each April.
Kevin enjoys the challenge of fitting more than 200 distinct stores and 10 states into a cohesive design.
“As a cartoonist, I can be pretty loosey-goosey with locations. Even if the bookstores geographically are condensed to one side of the state or another, I have the flexibility to spread them out and give myself the breathing room I need,” he says.
The production process starts with a spreadsheet of store listings that Kevin plugs into Google Maps. In addition to documenting store locations, he explores exterior photos and street-level views. From there, he scours social media feeds to get more familiar with each store’s design features and details. Kevin sketches stores by hand, scans the sketches into Photoshop, and completes design, color, and editing work on the screen. Each year, he deletes closed shops, positions new additions, and re-layers existing images to create an updated map.
“I love delivering a product that people can really dive into. It’s almost like a good novel. They can look at my map, enjoy it on a base level, and then go back again and again and find something new,” he says.
Along those lines, Kevin tucks place-based surprises –”little Easter eggs,” as he calls them – into each new map. These range from images of books by local authors, to Paper Moon’s solar panels and shop cats, to a wine glass set next to Prologue in Charles City, Iowa, which sells books along with wine by the glass or the bottle.
Another “Easter Egg” Kevin puts in the map each year is an illustration of his family. You can see how they’ve changed and grown over the years. / Artwork by Kevin Cannon
“I have had many tourists come to the bookstore because of the MIBA roadmap,” says Prologue owner Darci Tracey, who opened her shop in December of 2021. “I refer to them as Indie Bookstore ‘groupies!’ Many people are trying to visit as many bookstores on the map as possible. It’s lovely!”
And in the fall of 2022, MIBA worked with Kevin to turn the latest map into a 1,000-piece puzzle, produced by Minnesota company PuzzleTwist. For Kevin, each expansion of the project introduces his artwork to a wider and more enthusiastic audience. That’s not the only reward, however.
“The idea that this gets into 200 stores every year is so exciting. People come up to me out of the blue because they recognize me from the map,” he says. “It’s also nice to know that my art is out there supporting bookstores in 10 different states. That is really gratifying.”
Renee Brincks (reneebrincks.com) buys most of her books at Dragonfly Books in Decorah, and that’s where she picked up a Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap puzzle after writing this story.
Independent Bookstore Day
April 29, 2023
Select bookshops throughout the Driftless are teaming up to celebrate 2023 Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 29. Swing by your local store to pick up this year’s Midwest Indie Bookstore Roadmap and keep an eye on individual shop websites for details on special events and related in-store surprises.
The Ridges & Rivers Book Festival will bring the community and visitors face-to-face with authors and illustrators in a variety of ways – through readings, book-signings, workshops, presentations, and conversations – that explore ideas and foster engagement in literary and visual arts. The performances and activities will appeal to all ages and interests, readers and non-readers alike.
Decorah’s own Dragonfly Books will be coordinating book sales and small/independent presses at the onsite book fair. Find additional information at www.facebook.com/RidgesandRiversBF
Helping Services was founded in 1973 by a group of Luther College students and faculty. It originally began as a drop-in center for youth called the “Hobbit Hole,” located on Water Street in Decorah, Iowa, and a “trouble line” for folks to call with questions and concerns, many related to drug and tobacco use.
Over the past 50 years, Helping Services has evolved to meet changing community needs. The “trouble line” became the Domestic Abuse Resource Center Hotline [(800) 383-2988]. The focus on drug use and smoking tobacco education and prevention expanded to include vaping and the opioid crisis. And the organization itself went through name changes and expansions in scope, size, and geography.
Today, Helping Services for Youth and Families is a thriving and exemplary nonprofit, with 26 full time staff members overseeing services at nine offices in Northeast Iowa.
“Your programs have really made a difference in our family.”
– Helping Services client
While some things have changed, the organization’s mission remains the same: to create healthier and safer communities in Northeast Iowa.
“Our organization is here for you,” explains Ben Krouse-Gagne, Director of Community Engagement. “If you need help or want to get involved today or 10 years down the road. You may not see many of our advocates driving around and meeting with survivors of domestic violence or you may not think anything of an adult with a youth, but that’s our youth mentoring in action. You don’t always see it, but it’s there, it’s real, and it strengthens our communities.”
Helping Services operates under four pillars of service that focus on different areas of community need: youth mentoring, prevention education, family education, and domestic abuse advocacy and resource hotline. Their service goals are straightforward: to provide tools, resources, and encouragement for community members.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my mentee & it’s been great showing her new places & exploring new places together. It has also been great seeing our relationship grow.”
– Mentor, Allamakee County
“We may be helping your neighbor, your relative, you may not even know it,” adds Carson Eggland, Helping Services Executive Director. “I guess I would just say that sometimes it’s hard to see the impact. But I’d like people to know the impact is real and meaningful.”
It’s an impact Helping Services has every intention to continue far into the future.
“We want to be in your communities,” affirms Eggland. “If you see a need in your community that either is not being addressed or if you see that there may be some connection to the work we’re doing currently, don’t hesitate to reach out. I see us as a continued driving force in NE Iowa for healthier and safer families and communities.”
So in honor of 50 years of Helping Services, here are 50 Ways Helping Services Helps in Northeast Iowa:
Tim & Kaden particpate in the mentor program / photo courtesy Helping Services
Adult volunteers pair with youth mentees for a year full of shared experiences, fun, support, learning, and cross-generational friendship.
1. Mentoring Coordinators match caring adults with youth ages 6-16
2. Mentors spend 4+ hours per month with their mentee
3. Mentors provide a positive role model for lifetime impacts
4. Mentor for a Day (MFAD) program allows interested mentors the opportunity to mentor a youth on the waiting list for a full-time mentor
5. Bowl-a-thons in Decorah and Manchester bring the communities together and raise money for the Youth Mentoring program
6. Tasty Thursday Ice Cream Events at Sugar Bowl, Decorah encourage mentorship community
Amerra & Cindy enjoy Tasty Thursday at the Sugar Bowl in Decorah. / Photo courtesy Helping Services
7. Mentors/Mentees look forward to the Annual Summer Picnic celebration
8. Mentoring encourages: – Skill building
9. – Relationship building
10. – Mutual learning opportunities
11. – Increased sense of belonging
“I enjoy the one-on-one time with my mentee while also being a part of a bigger group. I like being able to spend quality time & try to make a positive difference. I like that my mentee is given different experiences through the group outings.”
This includes a wide variety of services, programs, and training, with the goal of prevention, aiming to ensure that community youth are safe, drug-free, and grow into responsible adults.
12. Teaching safe medication practices
13. Teaching safe prescription drug disposal and providing community drop-off points
19. Youth leadership: high school groups that are teen-led with experienced Helping Services staff offering guidance
20. Helping Services’ Annual Youth Leadership Day at Camp Ewalu in Strawberry Point
21. Presentations for schools and community organizations covering topics such as: drug trends, marijuana, prescription drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and gambling presented by Prevention Specialists
22. Curriculum-Based Support Group (CBSG) Program allows youth to meet in confidential, small group settings and learn essential life skills, including how to: cope with difficult family situations, resist negative peer pressure, respect others, set and achieve goals, make healthy choices, and refuse alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
23. CBSG also teaches protective factors and major messages such as: Autonomy–“I am,” Confidence–“I can,” Interdependence–“I have,” Problem Solving–“I will,” and Sense of Purpose and Future–“I believe”
24. Education regarding the Social Host Law, which makes it a criminal offense in Iowa to allow youth to drink alcohol in your home or on your property
25. Alcohol/Beverage Server Training for local retail establishments and their employees
26. Prevention Specialist presentations for businesses to explain laws regarding sale of alcohol and tobacco products
Sara Neuzil, Pivo Brewery & Blepta Studios owner, with TIPS certification. / Photo courtesy Helping Services
27. Cheers Award for businesses that complete and pass the Alcohol Retailer Risk Assessment
28. Assisting companies in creating workplace policies that best define the restriction of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol in the workplace
29. Supporting and partnering with community coalitions that are made up of business owners, educators, law enforcement, and community leaders
30. These coalitions provide training, policy changes, educational experiences, and awareness campaigns
31. Coalitions also equip neighbors and youth with the knowledge to make educated decisions when it comes to substance use
Madi Brauer, Family Educator, leading a playgroup. / Photo courtesy Helping Services
Family Educators work with young families to help them start off their parenting journeys strong by learning about developmental stages, offering support, and connecting with other families.
32. Using the Parents as Teachers™ approach, families who are pregnant and those with a child age birth to three work with a bilingual family educator to receive a myriad of support and services, including:
33. – Breastfeeding support
34. – Child passenger safety
35. – Developmental assessments
36. – Healthy home environment checklist
37. – Vision/Hearing screenings
38. – Weight Checks
39. – Resource referral and parent support
40. – Zumbini (baby Zumba) group movement classes
41. – Parent-Child playgroups
“Family Educators helped me gain confidence as a first-time mom. They answered any concerns or questions without judgment.”
Highly trained Domestic Violence Advocates and volunteers listen without judgment and empower individuals and families to overcome dating and domestic violence and become survivors. All services are free and confidential and are client led.
42. Domestic Abuse Resource Center Call line [(800) 383-2988], a free and confidential 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week emergency and non-emergency phone line, offers assistance related to intimate partner violence. It is staffed by highly trained volunteers who listen without judgment and provide support.
44. Support offered such as: safety planning, crisis counseling, community resources, and referrals to area providers
45. Individual and group advocacy, including: legal advocacy and child and teen advocacy
46. Support group facilitation
47. Transportation needs for clients provided by volunteers
48. Gas or grocery gift cards
49. Supply pantry with diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, canned goods, boxed food, peanut butter, cereal, pots, pans, silverware, and stamps
Domestic Abuse Resource Center Pantry / Photo courtesy Helping Services
50. One final way Helping Services helps all of us in the Driftless: Holiday Lights!
“If we can bring a little bit of joy to people, especially in these dark hours, it’s nice,” said Krouse-Gagne. “And Holiday Lights also supports all of our programs!”
Bonus: 3 Ways YOU can help Helping Services:
1. Invest in Helping Services by donating your time, money, supplies, gas/grocery gift cards, and used cell phones
2. Join Helping Services for a community celebration honoring 50 years of service in NE Iowa on April 22nd!
3. Be an advocate! “We need you to be an advocate for what we’re doing,” Eggland implores. “However that fits into your life right now.” The easiest way to do so? Share this article and/or tell a friend about the many amazing services Helping Services for Youth and Families continues to provide in Northeast Iowa, and advocate for the organization as it heads into the next 50 years of service and education!
Christy Ebert Vrtis is a teacher, writer, mom, and crime drama enthusiast who loves to curate book lists for family and friends, run (slowly) on the Trout Run Trail, and adventure around the world and throughout the Driftless with her husband and kids.
