DAY LIGHT SAVINGS MEANS CHANGE

Twice a year we adjust our clocks and change the batteries in our smoke detectors. Day light savings is a reminder that change occurs without our control. We must adjust whether we like it or not. More accidents occur as sleep patterns are disrupted. Do we remember to be more careful-well not really! We should as twice a year we are reminded to be careful. Change happens to us all the time. What is ironic is older people are accused of being resistant to change. Actually I find the youth have more trouble. The older one gets the more change has occurred in one's life. Change of jobs, family size, empty nesting, retirement, health, loss of friends and loved ones- change is all around us all the time! Younger people get upset when they can not access the latest app on their phone! What is learned behaviour is to cope with change but not really needing to like it! So here I am an hour earlier getting ready for the day and hoping by next Monday it will be the new norm. Going to bed an hour earlier to adjust. But wait they will be more daylight and perhaps like everyone else has discovered something can be done with it! Oh yeah it is only March and the snow is still on the ground so gardening is out. Too early to put out the garden furniture. So maybe working on a project or just reading a book will help to enjoy the longer day. How about you? What will you do with the added hour of daylight?

Maybe a drive in the country is just around the corner. Planning for those spring adventures is encouraging to this blogger!!

MARCH 8TH-INTERANTIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

It seems ironic with all the advancement of women there are still girls and women in this world treated like second class citizens. Take the time to promote one cause here in Canada, your home town or somewhere in the world for the education and health of a girl. A girl with good health and education will grow to be significant woman and mother in her home community. Here's to all the men who love their mothers, wives, daughters and granddaughters promoting them to be the best they can be! Sons and daughters of good women grow into fine human beings. Celebrate the day with careful reflection of helping to be the change we need in the world.!

SOCIAL WORKERS KNOW WHAT TO SAY

And what not  to say! Counselling skills come with training and practice and more practice. Reflecting and identifying the person's concerns takes more than just saying the right thing. There are moments where honouring the person means so much to that person. Families of sick people take very long and painful journeys to care for their loved one. One comment I often make to such family members go like this. " I can tell there is a lot of love in the room." " You have been a loving and caring daughter/son!" Recently I said " what an amazing wife you have been!" Often no one ever tells the family member who has had a tremendously hard journey with a person they are losing all their care was noticed. Everything they have been doing matters. For me one memory I have, is when my father-in-law was dying in his last hours, two different nurses commented on the skin care that my mother-in-law had done on his body. Joe had endured ALS for 7 years and the last 3 he had been bedridden in diapers. A very difficult feat to maintain to have good skin care. I use those comments from those nurses when I do my End of Life talk to nursing mentorship. Those brief positive comments make a difference. A few days before my mother-in-law died I let her know I would tell her great grandchildren about her. As you see I still mention the wonderful care she provided for her spouse. So when I meet and deal with families who have experienced these painful journeys, I have clinical awareness as well as personal awareness of the long days that turned into years. So what's my point! You do not have to be a Social Worker to notice people around you dealing with a tough situation. Perhaps an elderly neighbour caring for a spouse with dementia- take some time to talk and support the person. A friend with a family member dealing with a life threatening disease- call, send some chocolates or just hold a hand and listen. 5 minutes, 20 minutes, a takeout coffee or just remembering means so much to those people. If you are dealing with such situations, do not say no if someone offers to do something. Let people into your world to assist and give support. Often we do not know what we need. So from one Social Worker to others- Happy Social Work Week! To people whose lives I have touched, it has been my honour to be for you in your time of need.

SOCIAL WORK WEEK IN CANADA 2015

Each discipline, each cause, each town, each country celebrates sometime. So this week is Social Work week in Canada. At our hospital there is a banner in the lobby. Today we had an Open House for the staff to come and see our poster boards as well as eat having some delightful donated food and drinks. It was a good turnout. The theme for this year in Ontario is-
SOCIAL WORKERS: MOBILIZING STRENGTHS IN INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES.
May sound a little pretentious but finding strengths that all human beings have within them allows for empowerment. Not every problem can be fixed but that is not what social work is all about. It is a profession that can be found in a variety of settings- school, hospital, community, urban, rural, clinics servicing all ages depending on the location. Working with other disciplines to provide the opportunities to optimize everyone in the best possible manner is great collaborative work needed in life. It is a profession that has provided many opportunities for me. A chance to use skills, expertise and compassionate care to give to others. Can it be draining? Sometimes. But dealing with a tough situation and being a facilitator is much easier than being the participant. So being there for others is not hard for me. When asked, how can I do what I do? My answer is simple- I know how to do it! It actually is an honour to be part of someone's life at one of the most difficult times of the person's life. Just being and doing with expert and compassionate care! Well that's Social Work! So to all my fellow Social Workers coast to coast- enjoy your week!!

NANA SAYS MARCH BREAK IS QUICKLY APPROACHING

With March break quickly approaching, parents have planned or are making last minute plans for their children. A premium time to travel, often necessary as everyone can be off. Vacation days at work are focused around children's breaks from school. Perhaps not a bad thing as many family vacations occur. For a family to be together and enjoying a beach or ski hill makes memories. But all the togetherness can bring stress along with the fun. So planning something everyone will enjoy can be very tricky. Little children are easier to please. Teenagers not so easy. Taking a break from all the electronics in a distant place can be difficult for many. Too many people have been burnt by their roaming charges and heightened cost for minutes used. Getting a prepaid phone for the trip may be the best solution. A gadget with wi-fi potential is best. Many places such as hotels do have that capability offering it as a bonus for the lap top computers. However, disconnecting from the constant texting and checking of a smart phone can teach there is a life to be had. Staycation have many places offering March Break deals. I remember trips to the Art Gallery of Ontario when my children were little and the activities offered were fun. Make sure the staycation does not become a clean the house vacation. Putting in fun times during the day such as breakfast or lunch out breaks up the day. Patience is so necessary- for airports, train stations and highways. With parents and children travelling, it will be busy. The old ideas of having easy to travel activities on hand for all ages is good. For example, I keep a little pocket Sudoku book for travel. Fits nicely in a jacket pocket! So items that are accessible are best. A little waist purse for all with just enough things will work for a plane. No fussing in a carry on bag that must be put up in storage on the plane. Of course the mother/wife needs a bigger bag to keep all those little extras like tissue, gum, pens/pencils, tickets etc. I know I am always the keeper of stuff! Then make sure there is someone to watch your house or property. Like a willing grandparent! I will be spending my week keeping an eye on things for my travelling children. Makes me wish I was going somewhere too. Memories of past trips south! Glad I have lots of pictures. Oh yea lots of pictures! Nothing like group shots everywhere! Catch everyone in fun moments! Enjoy!

DON'T BUY IVORY PRODUCTS-SAVE AN ELEPHANT

CTV-W5 had an amazing documentary Saturday night on the illegal ivory trade and poachers on some reserves in Africa that are decimating the elephant population. Ivory art is sought in China by the Nouvelle Rich! The stock piles of ivory confiscated when the trade was deemed illegal is released in small portions annually. However, the amount of ivory carved in China surpasses that amount. One advocate of the elephants stated the animal could be extinct in the wild in 10 years. What is disturbing is the fact that those that have ivory can keep it and when a new supply is no longer available, their ivory will increase in value. Some advocates say there are just not enough people and police forces who can work in this area due to the fact that drugs and other areas take priority. The commentator stated that maybe ignorance is a factor as some may believe the ivory tusk is like a tooth that falls off the elephant and the animal does not need to die!! Well let's teach the ignorant! Teaching about elephants and how intelligent and family oriented they are, may help with their survival. Endangered animals are every one's responsibility! If possible go to the CTV website and try to view the documentary yourself! I have not done it justice!

IN LIKE A LION-THE START OF MARCH

February was one of the coldest for the GTA in recorded history. Sure hope March will begin the Spring thaw. My friend out west has shown blossoms on Vancouver Island- well our blossoms will follow in a few months. We need the cold for the Maple Syrup to run. School children make trips to local areas to participate and enjoy an old Canadian tradition. The school break is coming soon with lots of local events planned for those not going to warm southern climates. My girls and families will be headed south for the break. Means no babysitting so can continue to purge and organize areas of my house before the outdoor work starts.

No there are no flowers in the garden yet. But underneath all that snow the mighty crocus is waiting to emerge from the soil and show its colours.