JANUARY COMING TO AN END

A month full of celebrations, dinners, movies and continued work on projects, it seemed there was not enough time to get everything done. The winter months bring time to catch up on indoor projects before the garden pulls with all its work. So February will be a continuation of plugging along with those little indoor projects. Yes real spring cleaning can wait until the Spring. No sense having items by the door to take to the curb with the existing snowbanks or to charitable organizations or even- maybe a garage sale until the nicer weather returns! January the hopeful month as the beginning of the New Year!

A WRINKLE IS LIFE'S WAY TO SAY YOU'VE LIVED

Aging brings wrinkles to the body. Often showing up on the face with those lovely laugh lines near the eyes. Happy people. Sourpusses get deep frown lines on the forehead. Miserable people. Surgery, wrinkle creams and limiting smiling may reduce some wrinkles. Are they badges of honour or something to cry over? Do some cultures really age better outwardly than others? Hum- food for thought. I think not- I usually can surmise the age of anyone. Usually the way someone carries their body is the best indicator- stooped over and shuffling is a good sign of being elderly regardless of the number of wrinkles on the face! The attitude gives everyone away- there are happy middle aged people and those who are starting to have those chips on their shoulders. So instead of trying to reduce wrinkles, perhaps keep a skip in your step! Take the chips off the shoulders! The alternative to aging is not being here at all. So accepting a few wrinkles and even age spots is not a bad thing. If you want less wrinkles on your face, stay fat. The fat cells fill in those wrinkles, not as healthy but if you have the need to try to look younger, well stay fat!! Those cultures that have fatter people or rounder faces could have less wrinkles!! Low lighting and makeup helps with one's appearance. The question- why is there a need to look younger? Why is there a need for someone to guess your age? Why not brag about the fact you feel good and your health is doing okay for your age? Here's a thought to annoy others, why not just be as happy and as healthy as you can be every day enjoying your life- wrinkles and all!!

SOUP AND WINTER GO TOGETHER

Cold weather brings the need for comfort food. What is better than a nice bowl of hot soup with a meal. Even having a head cold in some cultures require chicken soup as the proverbial remedy for the cure. So pull out a big pot or your slow cooker to have your soup of choice simmering in the home. A container of soup taken to work makes a nice lunch on a wintry day! Why does soup makes us feel better? Is it the taste or just the heat needed to warm up the body and soul? A fast meal or part of a meal? With crackers or without! Homemade is best but there are some newer healthier brands on the market that are tasty too. If too much sodium, just dilute with some water or milk-if a creamy one to reduce it! With the wind blowing outside my window as another blast of Artic air is breezing across Southern Ontario, I feel warm already.

LIFE IS LIKE ONE LONG CELEBRATION

Saying goodbye to one big Celebration and on to the next, keeps life interesting. Putting away Christmas and Chinese New Year's and on to Super Bowl Sunday. Valentine's Day is around the corner. Trying to keep the celebrations fun gives life a lift. What if there is not a celebration but just a day, a lunch, a dinner? Making life good with little celebrations with a small "c"! Okay most people celebrate Fridays because they occur before the weekend. Deciding each day to find something to "celebrate" would make life just more enjoyable. Even the simple pleasure of that first cup of coffee while greeting the day is a lift. Singing songs with celebration in them! Well you know the one- celebrate, good times, come on!! By planning to celebrate something, it helps to energize the mind and body, might even put a skip in one's step. Even laying down on one's bed at night can be a celebration of returning to a favourite spot! Life enjoyed, celebrated!

NANA SAYS TALK MENTAL HEALTH TODAY

It's Bell's Let's Talk day- all about mental health. Recognizing and acknowledging depression and anxiety are important to the overall health of our children. Dealing with it by obtaining the help needed. Preventing suicides in young people is paramount. As there will be coverage on the TV and radio today, use the opportunity to discuss the subject with children especially your teenagers who are more vulnerable. Our own Clara Hughes has done a tremendous job with her across Canada ride and the documentary of the journey. If you have family members needing your help, well no time like the present. If therapy is needed, then seek it out. Knowing positive strategies in dealing with difficulties like exercise, diet and positive activities along with family support help in maintaining good mental health. So today talk, read, plan and do!

WINTER SNOW BLASTS BRING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

As North America continues to experience winter, some areas are harder hit than others. The blizzard of the year is slamming parts of the Eastern Seaboard as I write. Even though downgraded, it will be a big blast before it is over. Hopefully with the closures of roads and schools and businesses for a day, there will be less harm done. The emergency crews can clear the roads. If hydro is out, those crews can be working to restore it. Emergency preparedness is now part of our conscienceness. Charge your cell phones, buy water, have batteries, gas up your car- well you know the drill. Amazing how weather continues to effect our lives. No matter what the technology we have, Mother Nature rules. Which brings me to a point? Depending on technology is not a good thing. GPS is great but it still helps to know how to read a map. Texting is okay but picking up a phone or actually going and seeing someone talking face to face is good too. Having electrical appliances are fine but make sure there are ones that can be manually used. Campers usually have equipment in their homes that can be used in emergency. Backyard barbecues always come in handy. Wood burning stoves or fireplaces are more than decorations. Some people use the garden solar lights in an emergency for lights at night. No matter how prepared we want to be, emergency situations do bring a sense of concern and anxiety. Some people have to report to work regardless of the situation. So next time you have a day off due to weather, think of the emergency crews out there working on your behalf.

VACATION IS OVER

Once one vacation week is over, why is it human nature to be planning for the next one? The start of time off is so desirable. Returning to work is not! Even loving one's job does not take the sigh out of my mood! Maybe not missing having to bundle up every day and face the cold unless I wanted to do it. So when is the next time off! Oh yeah, a long weekend in February! Well it is a start!