DECLUTTERING-BUT I LOVE MY CRAP

Stuff, processions, things are around us all the time. We fill our houses, cupboards, closets full of stuff. Some things are needed but most of what we posses is decoration or just things. Whether we like it or not there is an emotional attachment to lots of our stuff. It is hard to get rid of it. Some people are hoarders and just have rooms and bins full of useless stuff. Do you watch the American Pickers and Canadian Pickers shows? Well if it was thought we had lots of things some of those people have barns and houses full of stuff! A rusty, dusty old thing can not be sold because the person featured on the show likes it too much. Even though the pickers found it under a pile of other rusty, dusty stuff! Forgetting it was there but loving it anyway! I love those two shows because it gives an idea of what is collectible. I love them even more because they give incentive to weed stuff. I personally do not want rooms so full I could not use them. Nor do I want cupboards that can not be opened because stuff will fall out. Nice neat cupboards are my thing. However I have lots of neat organized "crap" in my house. But I am on the road to getting rid of stuff. However, I really love my crap! How about you? Do you love your crap?

MIDDLE AGE JOB LOSS

Losing a job is equivalent to a divorce or even losing someone. With job cuts coming in the Health sector, there is a need for the understanding of the market that restructuring does not mean someone deservced to lose a job. The manufacutring sector may face some job cuts. Staying strong and knowing job loss is not one's fault helps the middle age worker to pick up and keep going! Sometimes going from management back to front line is a given. However some people never make it back. Losing a job can mean losing an identity. Have you faced a job loss? Have you reached to someone to help you job search?

HELP IN A HEARTBEAT

If needed, would you help in a heartbeat? I often say this to my children if I have helped, I would do it again in a heartbeat. A baby listens to his/her mother's heartbeat during the pregnancy. Music is supposed to be the rhythm of a heartbeat. A life can be lived if there is a heartbeat. The magical note for life- a heartbeat!

JANUARY COMING TO A CLOSE

Last working Friday of the month means doing work statistics, finishing some reports and looking forward to the start of the short winter month. Even have a long weekend thrown into the mix. The beginning of the year with some people having resolutions that may have fallen by the wayside! Plugging away at the regular stuff has been my mantra. Some done and some in process. Trying to go in several directions which doesn't help with the energy or sleep! Decluttering! What can be said about all the stuff that has arrived over the years. Sorting collections! What to keep, what to sell and what to give away. Oh the Spring with the curb where some stuff goes and luckily gets picked by a passerby or two! Endings and beginnings are always time for reflection! Birthdays celebrated, recent movies seen,  photos ordered from the last six months and need to be sorted for families, scrap booking to be done, writing and craft projects on the go! Many people hoping the winter will fly by! Not me! Always a time to get the indoor activities done and fend off those winter blues with jobs completed! Cleaner cupboards! Neater rooms! If the grandchildren visit, time to play in the snow! January a good start with the hope more will get accomplished in February!

MENTAL HEALTH- A CANADIAN DISCUSSION

Yesterday was Bell Let's talk day to bring awareness to Mental Health issues such as depression and anxiety. A wonderful idea with many people talking about the topic. Celebrities discussing their issues and supporting community resources. Today who is talking about it. I hope many people. Look around and support those in need. If you are in need, then tell someone so the hope and help can be given to you. Mental Illness is just that an illness that needs treatment and support as any other one. Is there a death sentence attached? Yes of course. Suicide! By reaching out and supporting hopefully lives can be saved.

NANA SAYS BE A ROLE MODEL FOR APPRECIATION

Parents struggle with the demands of raising children and the numerous daily tasks that must be accomplished. It is difficult to be told daily- I don't like this food, I don't want to go, you're a mean Mommy or Daddy. How to nurture appreciation of what you do by your children begins with being a role model. Listen to your own voice. Do you nag or yell at your children or does your voice also tell them- thank you, what a great job, thanks for listening. As a Nana, the thanks for listening is often said to my grandchildren. After a visit, I love you, you were so good for Nana- well sometimes that is a stretch as they are just children. Does your voice thank other people like store clerks and neighbours and friends and relatives. Even when you think children are not listening or paying attention, like little sponges they observe your behaviour constantly. Hearing good compliments to others and sincere conversation is the way to teach and model appreciation. Crusty adults were brought up by crusty parents. Expecting your children to thank others for their birthday and Christmas gifts, a meal out, the Mom or Dad of a birthday party attended, the coach, the dance teacher, the teacher for any activity given is a good practice. Making them stop and think about it. Appreciation of the small things every day, not just the big things. If I take my grandchildren on an outing or activity, I usually ask what was their favourite part. The answers are always interesting. Sometimes the outing was very stressful for Nana. But hearing there was a good time and what it meant to my grandchild is always refreshing. Bedtime is often a good time to reflect on the day and tell each child something special that was done. How you liked something. Teenagers whether you believe it or not need, yes need to hear you noticed something about them too. Look past the negative behaviours often given and find the positive. Again it may be a stretch but a needed one. Happy people find it easy to show appreciation. It comes naturally. Appreciation with a little happiness for having a life is a great way to start and end a day. I had a cute blessing recently. My precious grandchildren wrote some personal messages in their handmade birthday cards to me. In their own way they showed appreciation for me. Yes it takes work to find the time for appreciation but the lifelong rewards of happy, healthy appreciative adults will come your way. Meanwhile one day at a time with one good thought, word, conversation showing appreciation for others is a good method to be a role model.

BELONGING-A SOCIAL NEED

Being part of a social group is part of life. A family. A workplace. A profession. The ladies group at the church. The curling team Well you get the picture. Even the ones who get their coffee at their favourite shop everyday feel part of a group. When life changes- a group layoff, retirement, empty nest, relationship breakup to name a few, the loss is about more than the incident but the loss of the social network. Perhaps it is why the obsession with gadgets- cellphones, i-pads, tablets- another way to stay connected to a social group. Hundreds of facebook friends may be an illusion as they are not all your real friends but it gives a place to belong without much effort. Collectively we cheer on our favourite teams- belonging! Our faith group and local place of worship let us belong unconditionally. Why such a social need for humans? In the Animal Kingdom, there is such a phenomena  with many animals- gorillas, elephants, lions, antelope. Other animals are loners- polar bears, tigers! There can be different social groups for the same person!  Social belonging, acceptance, a sense of order.