Skating Uphill - January 2017
I know we are all sick of being better people, feeling more confident, losing weight and writing thank you notes, so I will not bore you with any of that stuff. We will also not promise to call mom more often, adopt a rescue pet, or eat kale. Been there, done that and got the T-Shirt. Yes, I promise not to say that any more either. I know it’s old.
So, if we are NOT going to do any of those things, what are we going to do? I only have three things to suggest this year. Please listen up because each one is very important, and at some point in 2017 may be more important than you can imagine.
First, if you don’t have a first aid book in your house and or car GET ONE NOW; I have Family First Aid by The Nursing Staff of the Lucille Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford (Klutz Press). It covers everything from Poison Oak and Ivy to Impetigo and anything else in between you absolutely never want to happen in your house.
The envelope size book is indexed for easy use and is complete with illustrations. Things covered in this book can and do happen to all ages at one time or another. The first thing in this handbook is allergy attack and the final listings are urinary tract infection, vomiting and warts. Buy the book; you’ll be glad you did.
The next bit of advice is something we all know we should do but put it off. Do you have a living will? You don’t have to go to a lawyer or even to a web. Although seeing a lawyer is the best way to make your wishes known, but if you can’t seem to do that, reach out to the person you trust the most in the world and ask them to sit down with you for 15 minutes and talk about how you wish to proceed through your final time. This is of such importance; I can’t emphasize it enough. Clearly write your directives down so there are no questions—just exactly what you want and don’t want for your life. I will repeat the word YOUR because it is yours, and as much as you have family, friends and loved ones, some decisions are not up to them, they are up to you. Be sure your document is available and in place.
The last of my three “to-do” things is just for you and your mental health and brain. Very simply, I will tell you to learn something new. That is all. Learn something new. This adult coloring craze is something new. Try that. Learn to knit or crochet. Join a good book club and offer to lead a discussion if you have not done that. Volunteer somewhere you might find interesting. Volunteering at a thrift shop is wonderful and not only fun, but personally rewarding. Volunteer to tutor or to teach a child something you know how to do. Learn a new skill on your computer. After all of these wonderful suggestions, I must confess that the new thing I have learned to do is play Canasta. After years of Bridge, I decided to learn Canasta. I am enjoying it and meeting new, interesting people.
Happy New Year to all and I hope and pray that 2017 is a red-letter highlight year for us all. —Love Judith