HUNTERS AND GATHERERS

Do you ever watch people haul food home? When returning from work there is always someone carrying groceries home! We hunt for bargains! We gather food! What would the cave men and women think of us today! Have we really changed hunting and gathering- accumulating food and other stuff? Our caves are definitely bigger!

WHAT WISDOM AESOP HAD WITH THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE

As I was powerwalking this morning, I was passed by a runner not a jogger. When I tell people I walk, there is always someone who says they run. If I say I exercise for 30 minutes, someone always does it more. We live in a competitive world to the point where whatever you do does not seem good enough according to someone else's standards! Or does it? The tortoise according to Aesop just kept on plugging away even though the hare was faster. Should we just keep on plugging away at what we do? Will we see results? Will we win our own race of life? There is room in the world for those that want instant gratification and those that are willing to be patient and keep going. I like being a "tortoise". I have goals and plans that take time. What are you? The tortoise? The hare?

MENTAL HEALTH WEEK IN CANADA

We are told that a certain percentage of all people experience some mental health issues in Canada. In my role as Social Worker on  Surgery and Woman&Child programs, issues of depression and anxiety along with situational disorders present themselves on a daily basis. Treating people with dignity and not the stigma that is still attached to a mental health issue is a continual struggle for the people that suffer form mental illness. It is an illness like any other illness if not treated well has a fatality rate similar to leading physical illnesses. There is a correlation between depression and many physical diagnoses such as diabetes. During this special week, raise your awareness to those that are experiencing mental health concerns. Do you know someone with depression or extreme anxiety? Do you yourself suffer? Women postpartum are at risk for depression. Give extra support to the new Moms in your life! Open your mind to the difficulties people have with their disorders. Good community support along with medication if prescribed are the backbone for assisting people. If needed there are psychiatric services in not only the hospital but the community. Look around your own family and support those people with problems. Read and learn about the concerns Canadians face. Different cultural communities may have different concerns. Learning, supporting and being aware to be there for our Canadians in need is one of the goals of this weeek. Have you tried to be aware of the concerns of people in your lives? Here's to all the Health Care Professionals who assist the community with their mental health concerns.!

CANADIAN HEALTH CARE AND OUR NURSES

As Nursing Week is ending in Canada, I thought about some considerations of the ideas and events of the last week. One nursing speaker asked the audience what made a good day at work. My response as I was one of 3 people that actually put up my hand and answered the question was the chance to work in a health care setting with so many wonderful staff and many of them are nurses. As a Social Worker, my role is a secondary, supportive one to the team. Primary medical and nursing care are the norm in a hospital setting. Counselling, bereavement, resources, team support, discharge planning and many miscellaneous tasks and processes are the standard requirements for many social workers in health care settings. So what makes a good work day for me- when I am challenged by complex cases and situations, when I am able to console and counsel a patient/family in a difficult situation and when I witness the appreciation that many of our families show for the staff. The hospital setting is complex with many different programs and services. It hums! But it saves lives or gives compassionate care at the end of life and everything in between! I am hoping I will be able to end my career in this hospital setting. I work at York Central Hospital in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. It is an amazing thriving setting. As for our Nurses, I hope they enjoyed their special week! Do you have a favourite hospital? Have you had an experience with a nurse that was memorable? Are we the best health care system in the world? Perhaps,but it is the one I know and I try to work every day to put it on the road to being the best. If you work in health care, what are you doing to ensure Canada ranks the best in the world? What do you bring to your job? If you are not a nurse, congratulate the nurses in your area for the fine work they do!

TULIPS-THANKS TO THE PEOPLE OF NETHERLANDS

Every year in Ottawa  Canada we celebrate the tulip festival. During World War Two, the Dutch royalty was housed in Canada and as a thank you the people of the Netherlands gave Canada tulip bulbs.

From Ottawa and to the East coast then to the West coast and everywhere in between, tulips are popping up in Canadian gardens.

So it is possible to have our own little tulip festival in our own yards. Do you have tulips in your garden? Aren't they so beautiful?

WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS!

Life can create a series of bad events and twists and turns. It seems that just as you feel better, something else comes along. So if it rains then pours, make sure you have a good umbrella and rain boots to help weather the storm! Are you having a series of bad events lately? How do you weather your storm?

NANA SAYS WARM WEATHER BRINGS SOME CONSIDERATIONS

Along with creative outdoor play, the warm weather brings some renewed considerations. Bike riding safety is a must for older children and adults using helmets and reviewing the rules of the road. Remember riding on a sidewalk means the pedestrian has the right of way- please do not try to run people down! Street hockey is fun with a reminder to watch out for oncoming cars! Learning to drive does not mean drag racing on country or city roads- look at the number of fatalities every year! Sunscreen, sun hats and bug spray should be a part of daily life. On the very hot days- drink liquids to keep up proper hydration for the little ones and the old ones! Revisit the traffic rules- how to cross the street safely! If you like air conditioning, keep it at a normal setting! Freezing homes and hot outdoors are fodder for spring and summer colds! Since I have an allergy to bee and wasp stings, benedryl is a part of my stash of emergency items. There are allergy creams for both children and adults along with after the bite sticks that help with any bug bites! Take care of any little cuts as ordinary garden dirt is full of germs! Love the warmer weather and outdoors! Do you have any other suggestions for a fun and safe time? Do you have your stash of warm weather items?