Cup of Joe - January 26, 2026

By Joe McKenzie

MHD: Have you taken a day off to just breathe and rest, maybe to try to get your head on straight? It’s a potentially life saving idea. I saw a local coffee shop post a notice on their facebook that they would be closed for a mental health day (MHD). Smart. Whose mental health? How does one take action to make this day valuable? Sleep. Talk. Walk outdoors. Reduce caffeine. Increase caffeine. Listen to music. Turn off the news. Sit quietly with a pet. Talk with a friend. Laugh. Find a place of solitude. See a therapist to unload stressful concerns. Is one day enough? Between MHD’s a lot of resilience may be required in our near constant search for comfort and love. 

X: Did you notice the early January contrails in the Salina sky that formed a huge X? I did not follow it to see if wise people had found a new Messiah or an old one in the guise of a Central Kansas farmer/rancher. Yes, it was around the traditional time of the Epiphany. It happens. We look for signs. They could be in a bright blue winter sky. Why not? It’s the meaning that confuses me. Symbolic or literal? Or just a cool sky. And perspective, perspective always makes a difference. I was on a journey to Dillon’s for milk. Just saying. Not saying I was a wise man. Those original guys came from the east.  They were not looking for milk. Keep your eyes open.  Listen to your heart.

8 Hours: The smiles on their faces said they were so glad to be at the Stiefel Theatre in Salina to see and hear country music. The place was sold out and rockin’. These two women drove 8 hours from Minnesota to see a show. They thought the Stiefel was awesome. It was worth the long trip. This anecdote is not as uncommon as you might think. People come from all over the country to see concerts in Salina. Does that sound weird? How far would you drive to see one of your faves? They take photos as a memento. They go home and tell their friends. It’s nice to see Salina so appreciated.

Jesus Freaks: Because we’ve heard Elton John’s Tiny Dancer a million times.  Because of that long E, it rolls easily off the tongue. We think we know the Jesus Freaks. We might see people in Salina pulling a cross around town or a denomination going door to door or a group on a street corner protesting abortion. Are they freaks? Not. Look close. There are many caring people who pray daily, help the poor, love their neighbors, and they’re just mainstream average working and retired folks of every race and economic group. Nothing freaky. Are we all freaky focused on something? Food? Horses? Politics? Sports, as in sports nuts? I guess we all need a song.

Tight: Feeling a bit tight from indoor time and lingering holiday angst? Hopefully not, but if so, another cause could be the pressure from your River Festival wrist band. Have you taken that off? It’s just been 7 months. The attractive rainbow colors could obscure the large print message: Do not Overtighten! This is always good advice. Like the wrist bands, sometimes our winter lives cannot be loosened - easily. Maybe remembering the annual summer art  party in Oakdale Park - the sunshine, art, music, food and more food, plus the wonderful community vibe, can loosen us up from the realties. Realities? This word shouldn’t always be associated with stress and craziness, but it often fits. Try a funnel cake - extra sugar, please.