New Year, New Moments (Not Sports Related)

Patty V • December 31, 2022

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Forgive me in advance, there are no sports discussed in this article.


What is it that brings you happiness?


As we head into a New Year, we all (hopefully) have hopes and dreams, goals that we would love to accomplish. Most people take the change in a calendar year to plan for their future. They look towards how they can better themselves.


For me, I take the change in the year as an opportunity to reflect. The last few years have been extremely challenging for many folks. Politics, health, crime, heck, even sports misery can factor in to why folks look to plan for a better tomorrow. If you're anything like me though, you live in the moment. You feel in the moment. After the moment has passed, you quickly move on to the next thing. I am constantly trying to better myself, so resolutions for me are non existent.


As I reflect, it allows me the opportunity to look at how I've grown through the year, and how I can better focus heading into the next chapter of life. Im aging. We all are. How do I continue to grow whilst managing day to day life?


There's a book that I'm very fond of. It's called "Power of Moments" by Chip and Dan Heath. Essentially this book discusses how small moments in life carry an immense amount of power. It's why when we take vacations we remember the highs and forget the lows. One defining moment is both memorable and meaningful.


In 2022 I faced many things. For me, 2022 represented more change than I have seen in recent history. I experienced every spectrum of emotion, and somehow have had to manage those emotions, channeling them into a better life for my loved ones. I got married, we moved into a new house, created many great new memories as a family, grew closer with friends, changed jobs, learned crafts, built things, and joined on as a writer/podcaster with The Kneaux. I also lost though. I lost one of my dearest loved ones. He was special, and left one of the largest impacts on my life that anyone has.


In dealing with this loss, it has made me wonder how I can overcome the hurt. How do you overcome the pain of loss? For me, I am an eternal optimist. With this, I go back to that book I discussed, "Power of Moments". This book states that there are five things you can do to find great good in great suffering. They are: Look for small peaks, celebrate and honor relationships, acknowledge your strength, identify new possibilities, and look for spiritual insight.


Now you may be wondering, "Patty, why are you sharing this junk, what does this have to do with resolutions or 2023?" My answer to you, is that I suggest as you look towards 2023, and you look for resolutions or changes, incorporate those 5 recommendations into your daily life. Everyone wants to lose weight, or stop drinking, and those things certainly matter. However, I implore everyone to make their 2023 memorable, make it matter, that way when you look back at the end of next year you're not wondering why you couldn't stick to your resolution, but you look back fondly of all of the memories made.


Expanding on this more, a little more sideways, go create moments. Go live, respectfully, full of love. Create happiness in the dark. Be the beacon of light for others who need it. I am so thankful for the memories I've made this past year.


May your 2023 be blessed with happiness, wealth, and health.


All the love in the world,



Patty


Follow Patty V on Twitter.


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By Abdul Abusada November 8, 2025
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns have beaten the Texas State Bobcats 42-39 in a back and forth thriller. FOURTH QUARTER Q4 2:00 Update - Louisiana got the ball back with three minutes left in the game, and just as when it seemed like it would be a three and out, Shelton Sampson was able to make a play as he was open for Lunch and obtained a first down. Followed by three back to back to back offside penalties on Texas State, the Cajuns found themselves in plus territory as time continued to wind down. Q4 3:12 Update - Texas State just led an 8 play, 65-yard touchdown drive in just over three minutes that concluded with a spectacular pass to Chris Dawn Jr. QB Brad Jackson has now thrown for 360 yards and three touchdowns as the Bobcats have made this a 3-point game. Q4 7:05 Update - Texas State has forced Louisiana to a three and out and are about to get the ball back. RB Zylan Perry went down on the 3rd and 8 play where he lost two yards. Texas State is still very much in this game thanks to their 468-yard performance so far through three and a half quarters, which has left the Cajuns defense struggling to slow down the Bobcats. Q4 8:19 Update - Lunch Winfield has been intercepted for a second time this game, also on a pass that was tipped by the receiver. LB Michael Boudoin III caught the interception and gave the Bobcats really good field position on the 38-yard line. Then on the very next play, the Bobcats executed a perfect trick play where the running back ran a sweep before tossing it across body back to Brad Jackson, who found Beau Sparks WIDE open for a 38-yard touchdown pass. Their two point attempt was no good. Louisiana's lead has now dropped to 10, where they are now up 42-32. Q4 12:05 Update - Texas State responded very quickly to UL's touchdown, with a 4 play, 70-yard drive that only took 49 seconds and resulted in a 49-yard touchdown run by WR Beau Sparks. The Bobcats did go for two to make it a 14-point game, but failed as Brad Jackson throws a way-too-tall one to Chris Dawn Jr. Louisiana up 42-26. Q4 13:02 Update - After a very slow third quarter, the Cajuns found the end zone for a sixth time today, this time for Lunch Winfield's second rushing touchdown and fifth total touchdown. An offsides and a face mask penalty by Texas State helped revive this Cajuns offense who was quiet all second half to get them the score, ending a five minute 51-yard drive as the Cajuns look to milk the clock. THIRD QUARTER End of Q3 Update - The Cajuns lead the Texas State Bobcats 35-20 at the end of the quarter. The Cajuns have yet to score in the second half, only moving the ball for 16 yards on 9 plays. Q3 2:57 Update - The first points of the third quarter go to Texas State on a 24-yard field goal that cut their deficit down to 15. It was a 12 play, 67-yard drive that included a 40-yard pass to Chris Dawn Jr. Texas State QB Brad Jackson now has 240 yards passing. Q3 7:17 Update - After forcing a turnover on downs, the Cajuns trotted their offense out in an attempt to extend their lead, but false start and personal foul penalties put the Cajuns back in 1st and Breaux Bridge situation and was forced to punt on fourth and long. The Bobcats now have the ball on their own 27-yard line after a poor punt. Q3 12:34 Update - Louisiana opens the third quarter with possession of the ball, however, they turn it over after Lunch Winfield's pass to KeDarius Wade got picked off of a tip by Wade. Bobby Crosby gives the Bobcats good field position on their own 40-yard line as they look to shrink the deficit. SECOND QUARTER Halftime Update - Make it four touchdowns for Lunch Winfield, who ran for a 1-yard touchdown to conclude a 10 play, 64-yard drive to give the Cajuns a 35-17 lead in the final seconds of the first half. This drive was filled with big plays, with a 16-yard pass to TE Trey Miller and a Zylan Perry run for 10 yards. A combined 540 yards now for both teams as they head into the locker room. This game was filled with huge plays from both teams, and all five red zone opportunities for both teams ending in successful scoring attempts. The Cajuns end the half 8-9 on third downs and nearly 2/3rds of the total first half possession time. Q2 4:16 Update - Texas State just led a five play, 77 yard touchdown drive that concluded with a touchdown pass to Titus Lyons. The Cajuns defense had no answers for the Bobcats as Brad Jackson and Co. moved the ball swiftly and efficiently. Bobcats now only trail 28-17. Q2 5:36 Update - Lunch Winfield has now thrown three touchdown passes in the first half of this game after a 12-yard pass to Shelton Sampson, who now has two touchdown catches this game. The Cajuns continue to take advantage of great field position and moving the ball well, averaging 6.7 yards per play. Q2 6:58 Update - Texas State's scoring search fails after Brad Jackson fumbled the ball as he was winding back to throw, forced by Jordan Lawson, and recovered by Cameron Whitfield to give the Cajuns great field position in the red zone. This now makes it two straight turnovers by Brad Jackson and the Texas State offense in back-to-back drives. Q2 8:29 Update - Louisiana finds the end zone again with a 12-yard touchdown run by Bill Davis. Redshirt freshman WR Landon Strother, who is in replacing WR Terrance Williams who was injured earlier in the game on a kickoff return, has played tremendously so far, catching a 14-yard pass on this drive. Q2 10:15 Update - Texas State QB Brad Jackson on 3rd and 4 on their own 21 throws an interception off of a tipped pass to his intended receiver, Chris Dawn Jr, caught by S Kody Jackson. The Cajuns now have great field position as they look to extend their lead. Q2 11:24 Update - Louisiana QB Lunch Winfield finds TE Caden Jensen for a WIDE open pass in blown coverage, leading to a 27-yard touchdown. The Cajuns now find themselves up 14-10 against the Bobcats following a 10 play, 94-yard drive, filled with lots of decisive plays by Lunch Winfield. FIRST QUARTER Q1 0:27 Update - Following a three-and-out by Louisiana, Texas State's Lincoln Pare found a huge open hole in the Cajuns defense for a 54-yard touchdown run to put the Bobcats up 10-7. Q1 4:45 Update - Texas State is on the board after an eight play 68-yard drive that concluded with a 25-yard field goal by Tyler Robles. Following a holding penalty on the Bobcats, Brad Jackson threw a 62-yard pass to a wide-open Beau Sparks that set them up inside the 25. However, the Cajuns defense held up well, even after a roughing the passer penalty, to only force three points. Q1 8:06 Update - After a three-and-out by Texas State, WR Shelton Sampson catches a 10-yard pass by Lunch Winfield to conclude a 10 play, 80-yard drive by Louisiana. Zylan Perry and Bill Davis on a combined five carries ran for a total of 52 yards on this drive. This makes it four straight games where the Cajuns score on their opening possession.
By Abdul Abusada November 8, 2025
The Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are set to face off against the Texas State Bobcats at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium today at 4pm as they look to keep their bowl eligibility hopes alive. The Cajuns are coming off of a 31-22 win over South Alabama last week to boost them up to 3-6 on the season. A season of what-ifs for the Cajuns has now turned into a season of sudden boom or bust for these last few games, as one more loss would make them ineligible for a bowl game. The last time Louisiana missed a bowl game was in 2017 after a 5-7 season under Mark Hudspeth's final season at the helm. Texas State is coming into this game riding a four-game losing streak and 0-4 against Sun Belt opponents in what is their final season in the conference. Redshirt freshman Brad Jackson, who has been on fire this season averaging over 250 yards per game, looks to face off against a Cajuns defense that only allows 201 yards per game through the air. They also come in with one of the nation's best rushing attacks, averaging 217 yards per game on the ground, and is led by redshirt senior Lincoln Pare. Defense is expected to be at a premium in this game, with both defenses among the worst in the country in terms of yards allowed. UL's pass defense is expected to be a strength, however, which could limit Brad Jackson's ability to sling the ball today. Jackson had a 444-yard passing game against Marshall earlier this season.
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