Are we winning the battle with the coronavirus?

We are certainly going through some difficult times. Never before has the entire world been brought to a standstill. Not being able to work, visit family and friends, go shopping, take a vacation or even be able to access familiar places like parks and recreational areas is causing unrest.  Isolation is not good for us. We were created to be in relationships and to have basic freedoms that have been taken away from us.

I fully understand the seriousness of this virus and I know we need to take precautions but has the world taken the right steps to ensure our safety?  I’ve been reading articles from many experts in health, virology and science. Some believe measures are not strict enough, others say they are too strict.

Yesterday I watched an interview with a former Swedish chief scientist. Sweden has not imposed strict lockdowns and yet they are managing to keep things under control. They are treating their citizens with respect, keeping them safe with realistic guidelines to follow and allowing them to use wisdom and common sense implementing social distancing and good hygiene. They are protecting the vulnerable and letting healthy people live their lives as normal as possible. Last week the World Health Organization lauded Sweden for their approach and said the world should use them as a model. Why are we not doing this?

It breaks my heart to see the number of deaths but we can expect this in a pandemic. What bothers me is that people are so caught up in the mass hysteria over the virus that they are not caring at all about what else is happening.  Isolation is causing a huge amount of stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness and hopelessness. People are losing their jobs, businesses are closing, domestic abuse and suicides are on the rise. In some countries people have been shot for not obeying lockdown orders and others locked in their homes and left to starve. So what are we protecting people from? The possibility of catching a virus? Yes, some people are dying and that is horrible but most cases are mild. We can’t live in a bubble. Every day we face the possibility of sickness, injury, accident or even death. But most of us don’t leave our houses fearing the worst. We accept that life is fragile and yet we keep moving forward.

The stats from this virus can look scary and there are now over 250,000 deaths but here are some even scarier stats. Every year in the world there are:

500,000 deaths from the flu

800,000 deaths from suicide

1.5 million deaths from accidents

700,000 deaths from mosquitoes

7.6 million deaths from hunger

71 million deaths from heart attacks, strokes

So why don’t we lock everyone in their houses forever to stop those mosquito deaths? Or why not stop driving cars so we can stop those deaths? It would be crazy right?  Life will never be the same after this. Some people will live with fear the rest of their lives. Others will face financial loss for years to come. Helplessness and hopelessness will become the norm for many.

Social isolation is very dangerous to our health as it increases the odds of dying prematurely from any cause. It is equally as dangerous as smoking and more dangerous than being overweight or having an inactive lifestyle. What will the stats be this year after being socially isolated? People have been using the statement that the cure is worse than the virus and I am inclined to believe this. As someone who struggles with depression, I am fully aware of the toll it can take on a person and I sympathize with others who are suffering from the lockdown.  Experts predict that the next pandemic will be a mental health crisis and we already don’t have enough resources to address this growing problem.

The media is fueling fear 24/7.  There is very little news about anything else but the coronavirus.  Many people stay confined in their homes either because they are afraid of getting sick or they are afraid of getting arrested.  People needing surgery are being pushed aside and this may well shorten the lifespan for many.  Other people with health issues will avoid seeking help for fear of getting sick and this may result in their death or a poor quality of life.  Our freedoms have been taken away and I doubt the world will ever go back to the way it was before.

Sadly death is inevitable. We have to take care of our health and not do anything foolish but when it is our time to die, we will leave this world. We can bubble wrap ourselves and hide in our closet and it won’t protect us. We need to use wisdom and make sensible choices and put our faith in the one who created this world. God is our best protection from the virus and I put my trust in Him.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:9-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you manage your emotions?

The way we manage our emotions affects the way we live.  If we allow our emotions to control us or just ignore them, they will create chaos in our lives.  However, if we learn how to control our emotions, we will have less stress and more peace in our lives.

Emotions are important.  They can tell us that something wonderful is happening and provide us with much pleasure and happiness or they can be a warning sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed.  Think about the warning lights on the dashboard of a car.  When you see a red light flashing, what action do you take?  You can do one of three things:

1. ignore it or even cover it up so you can’t see it flashing
2. smash the light with a hammer and stop it from flashing
3. take it to a mechanic and find out what the problem is

What would the first two actions accomplish?  Ignoring the problem or breaking the flashing light won’t make the problem go away and it won’t fix anything.  Your vehicle will eventually be damaged and stop running altogether.  The last action is the only way you will discover what the problem is and how to correct it.

If you handle your negative emotions by ignoring them or allowing them to explode, this will certainly not fix anything.  You will damage your relationships and your own health.  The best way to take care of your emotions is to deal with them and learn how to control them.  It isn’t always easy but if you pay attention to your emotions and consciously try to calm yourself, it can be done.  Here are some ideas:

• try to avoid situations that cause your emotions to get out of control
• never react immediately – practice taking a deep breath and count to 10 before having an out-of-control emotional reaction
• try to focus on something positive
• pray for guidance
• leave the situation if you are struggling to maintain control and come back when you have calmed down
• practice using positive self-talk and looking at things from a different perspective
• vent your emotions in a positive way –  write them down on paper or talk to someone you can trust
• examine your feelings and make positive changes in your life

It takes a lot of practice to manage your emotions but if you are consciously aware of your thoughts and work hard to stop yourself from reacting immediately, you will soon develop a habit of self-control.  How do you manage your emotions?

Are you using toxic products

I keep reading books and articles about toxic substances that are in foods and products.  Let’s face it, the world uses all sorts of dangerous chemicals that are harmful to our health.  Many of the food items we eat contain additives and preservatives that we are not even aware of and many of the products we use contain chemicals that we should be avoiding.

It can be very hard to avoid everything that is dangerous to our health because there are toxins in the air we breathe and in many of the things we come into contact with, but we should keep informed so we can make healthier choices.  I’m certainly going to be more careful when I buy groceries and other products.

When it comes to food, we should choose natural, whole foods that are not processed to death.  Following is a list of foods that have toxins which can cause serious health risks.  For detailed information check out this link…..http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/10/9-unhealthy-foods.aspx

• canned tomatoes – the lining of the can contains BPA
• processed meats – have been given growth hormones and antibiotics, filled with sodium nitrate, preservatives and chemicals
• margarine – contain trans fats, free radicals, preservatives and solvents
• vegetable oils – highly processed
• microwave popcorn – lining in bag contains chemicals
• non-organic potatoes – treated with pesticides that absorb into the potato
• processed table salt – we need salt but table salt is not like the natural salt we need
• soy products – most are genetically engineered
• artificial sweeteners – contains chemicals that can wreak havoc with your body

David Suzuki tells us that some of the ingredients in most beauty products contain industrial chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious illnesses. Here is a list of these ingredients.  Detailed info at this link…..http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals/?gclid=CLSKr4HVg8kCFYU5aQodG9AGtQ

• BHA and BHT
• Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as ‘CI’ followed by a 5 digit number
• DEA related ingredients
• Dibutyl phthalate
• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
• Parabens
• Parfum a.k.a. fragrance
• PEG compounds
• Petrolatum
• Siloxanes
• Sodium laureth sulfate
• Triclosan

There is also an article that details certain dangerous products sold in dollar stores.  Following is a list.  Detailed information at this link….http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/advice/g1798/the-10-most-toxic-items-at-dollar-stores/

• electronic accessories contain chlorine
• black plastic kitchen utensils contain bromine
• flannel backed and vinyl tablecloths contain high lead
• metal Christmas garlands contain bromine
• silly straws contain DEHP
• vinyl floor coverings contain chlorine and phthalates
• holiday light strings contain cholorine and bromine
• metal children’s jewelry contain lead
• metallic beads contain bromine
• window clings and removable wall stickers contain PVC

If you want to read about more dangerous chemicals in everyday products, check out these links…..

http://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1009710-12-dangerous-chemicals-avoid-everyday-products/

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/environmental-breast-cancer-links/household-products/

 

 

 

 

 

If you owned a pedigree dog, would you feed it french fries?

If you owned a special animal like a pedigree dog or race horse that was considered to have great value, how would you treat it?   Most people would take great care in feeding it healthy foods, keeping it well-groomed and making sure it got plenty of rest.  You certainly wouldn’t feed it junk food like french fries and chocolate bars.  You wouldn’t leave it standing in the rain and all covered with mud.  You wouldn’t keep it up late nights exercising or doing some kind of work.

Yet, how do we treat ourselves?  We fill our bodies with unhealthy foods, don’t always take time to care for our bodies and we fill our days with so many activities that we don’t have enough time for a proper night’s sleep.  Do we not consider ourselves as valuable?  For many of us, the answer is ‘no’.  We don’t treat ourselves as the special, unique and valuable person that we are.

We have to realize that we only get one body for life and it is very important that we take good care of it.  Eating healthy foods, exercising and getting proper rest is the key to having good health and maintaining a healthy body.  If we don’t take care of ourselves, we can end up with serious health issues as we grow older.

You are much more valuable than a pedigree dog, so start taking care of your health today!

 

Busy?

When you ask people how they are doing today, the answer is often ‘busy’.   Many people spend every waking hour involved in so many activities that they are exhausted by the end of the day.   Between work, home, children, meetings, events, shopping and various other things, there is basically no time left for any down time.  I spent most of my adult life being ‘busy’ all the time, thinking that the more I did, the more valuable I was.  What was the result?  Burnout, stress, frustration, unhappiness, depression!  Everything we do has consequences and we have to make sure we are not wasting our precious time on unimportant things.

Keeping busy is good for our health but we have to make sure that we are busy doing things that will add value to our lives.  When I was trying to be a ‘super-woman’ I did get a lot accomplished but the things I was doing didn’t account for much.  Working long hours gave me more money to spend on stuff but it didn’t give me more time to spend with my children.   Filling my time with meetings and other events helped me learn things but also gave me a lot of unnecessary stress.    I missed a lot of the important things by keeping myself so ‘busy’.

I now fully know the importance of living at a slower pace and I try very hard to take the time and enjoy life – not just rush through every day.  However, lately I’ve slipped back into being too ‘busy’.  Thankfully it is only temporary and by the New Year my life should be slowing down again.  My working hours have increased and we are also moving to a new house that needs renovations.  Once we get everything fixed up and our stuff moved in, we will be able to take it easy again.  I’m hoping that we will be all settled in by Christmas so we can enjoy the blessed season.

My posts will likely be a bit sporadic until my life gets back to normal (whatever that is) and I have some time to sit and think.  So if you ask me how I am doing in the next few weeks, the answer will be ‘busy’!!

 

The benefits of exercise

When some of us hear the word, EXERCISE, we might be tempted to groan and say, Oh no!   Exercise requires time and effort but there are so many benefits when you get active and take care of your physical body.

If you want to feel better and enjoy good health in your later years, it is important that you do some daily exercise.    This doesn’t mean you have to join a fitness club or buy expensive exercise equipment.   It also doesn’t mean you have to spend hours a day working out.  Just taking a 20-30 minute walk each day is the best exercise you can get and it doesn’t cost anything except your time.    Walk with a family member or friend and enjoy some great conversation.

Here are the benefits of regular exercise:

• increases energy level
• relieves stress
• lifts your mood
• reduces depression
• helps you sleep better
• boosts your immune system
• relieves digestive disorders
• increases your self-esteem
• increases your longevity

You can work hard and make all the money you want, but it won’t help you maintain good health.   Try exercising for 30 minutes each day and don’t miss a single day.  At the end of 30 days you will probably be feeling better.

Too busy to enjoy life?

When was the last time you stopped from your busy schedule to relax and just enjoy life?  Was it yesterday, last week, last month, last year?  Do you even remember?

People today are so busy running around taking care of the family, the kids, the work, the house, the pets and a variety of other activities, that they are so worn out at the end of the day and still haven’t completed everything they wanted to.  Our to-do lists are getting longer and longer but the days don’t get any longer.   Every day has only 24 hours but we try to cram as much as possible into those hours and are never satisfied.

When are you going to start enjoying your life?    I’ve heard a lot of excuses and used most of them myself.

• ‘I’ll start tomorrow.’  Well, we all know this won’t work because tomorrow never comes, so you can say this every day for the rest of your life.  Why not start today!
• ‘When I get everything caught up.’  This doesn’t work because nobody ever finishes all the things they have to do.  Even if you manage to complete one task, there is always another one waiting to be done.
• ‘When my children are grown up and move out’.  How do you know that your children will move out and if they do, maybe they will come home again.  Besides when your children have homes of their own, there will be different things to spend time doing.
• ‘My spouse/friend/boss expects things of me.’  People will always have high expectations of you, especially if you continue to do things for them.  Being helpful is great but learn to say ‘no’ so you aren’t wearing yourself out.

Using excuses to continue rushing through life is not helping you at all.  Being too busy is harmful to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.  It can cause stress and all sorts of health issues.  Your body is important and if you don’t take care of it, nobody else will.

You may love your work but are you getting any pleasure out of what you are doing?  You may love your family but do you allow enough time to stop working and enjoy each other’s company.  Consider the things you do and start cutting back on what you do each day.   Try to organize your tasks so that you aren’t wasting time doing things that are unnecessary and unimportant.

Look around at other people and see what they are doing.  I’ve noticed that people who are rushing around often wear a frown and a worried look on their faces.  I’ve also noticed that people who are relaxing and chatting with someone are smiling and happy.    Being too busy is certainly not the way to happiness.

If you have been busy for so long that you can’t even think about what you can do to enjoy yourself, here are some suggestions:

• read a good book
• take a nap
• listen to some classical music
• sit and meditate
• laugh
• go to church
• take a walk
• play a game
• do a puzzle
• go fishing
• plant flowers
• talk to your spouse
• exercise
• ride a bike
• watch a funny movie
• write a story
• visit a friend
• watch the sunrise or sunset
• write a love letter
• bake cookies
• go for a picnic

Falling is not fun

Did you know that falls are the second-leading cause of unintentional death? Not many people do.  Every day people fall in their homes which often leads to injury and possible death.  Working with seniors has made me very aware of how many things can cause a person to fall – loose or uneven flooring, slippery mats, loose railings, cracks, clutter.

In the United States, June is National Safety Month and they work hard to educate and encourage safe behaviour so slips, trips and falls can be avoided.  In Canada, we don’t have a specific month for safety awareness, however there are specific weeks during the years that bring safety issues to light.  In May we have the North American Occupational Safety and Health Week and in November we have Seniors Safety Week.

The American Recall Center has created a graphic that outlines how to prevent falls and possible traumatic injuries.  With help, we can educate our loved ones to keep their homes in a safer condition and live a healthier lifestyle.  Below is the graphic or you can read more by clicking on the following link… http://www.recallcenter.com/prevent-slips-trips-falls/

Parents are allowing their children to become overweight

In today’s world, being overweight is becoming a huge issue.  More people are overweight now than ever before.  Obesity rates in Canada alone have tripled in less than 30 years!!  Unfortunately this problem often starts in early childhood and is actually allowed by parents. sometimes without them even realizing it is happening.

Children’s weight can be influenced greatly by TV and internet use.  I read an article today about 2 different studies that have been done with groups of children who were overweight.

In the first study, they broke the children into 2 groups and gave them a plan for managing their weight and weekly goals.  One of the groups was given a game console with active sports games and the other group was give a game console with less active games.  At the end of the study, the group that was following the plan and doing the active games had lost some weight.

What the researchers were trying to prove is that children need activity.  They were not promoting the use of active video games, however it likely helped the participants adhere to their goals easier.

In the second study, reports were done comparing the weight of children who watched more TV than others.   The study revealed that children who have TV in their bedrooms and who watch more TV every day will gain more weight than children who don’t sit and watch as much TV.    When people watch TV they tend to snack more and exercise less which contributes greatly to weight gain.

As parents and caregivers, we need to realize that we are hurting our children if we allow them to just sit and watch TV instead of getting up and doing something active.  We all know that once we gain weight, it is hard to take it off.  So start being a responsible parent and take care of your child’s health.   Stop allowing your child to be passive, encourage them to do something active.  The best thing you can if you love your child is turn off that TV and limit those video games!!

Here is a link to the complete story.  http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/children-s-weight-affected-by-bedroom-tvs-active-gaming-1.2558270

X…er….size?

I tried to camouflage the title of this post but you already know what the topic is.  Exercise.  Most of us don’t like this word because it takes time and effort.

However exercise has so many benefits for your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.  Exercise:

• controls weight by burning calories
• helps prevent or manage health conditions and diseases
• gives energy and helps build endurance
• boosts your mood and helps you feel better about yourself
• builds confidence and increases esteem
• helps you sleep better
• has a positive effect on your sex life
• can be enjoyable, especially if you exercise with family or friends

It doesn’t have to cost a lot to have good exercise.  You don’t need special equipment and you don’t need to go to a gym.  Walking is an excellent way to exercise and it doesn’t cost anything.  Get together with some friends and take a nature walk or join a walking club.

Try to exercise for about 30 minutes a day if possible.   Always check with your doctor if you have any health concerns.

Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person’s physical, emotional, and mental states.  ~Carol Welch