Conflicting Medical Advice

 Medical experts were asked if it is time to ease the COVID lockdowns.  

Allergists were in favour of scratching it, but Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
 
Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but Neurologists thought the government had a lot of nerve.
 
Obstetricians felt certain everyone was labouring under a misconception, while Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.
 
Many Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while Paediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"
 
Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while Radiologists could see right through it.
 
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and Pharmacists claimed it would be a bitter pill to swallow.
 
Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter."
 
Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but Urologists were pissed off by the whole idea.
 
Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas, and Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.  

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to assholes.

 

 

 

 

Living Longer

Reading some of the medical opinions being advanced to live longer, it seemed to me to be simple common sense. But, I suppose, it’s a good idea to be reminded from time to time that what we do or don’t do affects the state of our health and quality of life. Not smoking is high on the list, followed by exercising 30 minutes each day, choosing to eat a well balanced diet with at least five servings of fruit and vegetables every day, controlling blood pressure, and learning to relax to decrease stress. All very sensible things, but not the only ones.

If you increase your social networks and reduce stress you may reach a biological age benefit of up to 30 years according to the RealAge science team, while laughing a lot can give your immune system an eight-year boost. Things certainly worth considering especially since such changes can only make life that much more enjoyable.

Telling funny jokes seems to be second nature to some people. They don’t forget jokes and have the ability to keep you in stitches for a long time. I regret that I’m not in that category. I have absolutely no talent for telling jokes. Especially when I try to impress my grandchildren. They simply roll their eyes while saying: Good one, grandma! Well, at least I try. 

I know some people who seem to be afraid to laugh. It’s simply not in their nature. Life is hard and then we die appears to be their motto, no doubt born of some type of depression or anger, or both. These people don’t even seem to have the ability to smile. One woman of my acquaintance is especially notorious for admonishing those who do enjoy a good laugh. To her it’s silly. Personally, I see it as sad because she’s not only missing out on a lot of fun, she’s also punishing her immune system. After all, who wouldn’t want to have the age benefit of laughter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Future

The other day, one of my granddaughters asked me what I thought the world would be like once the pandemic is over. It seems to me that the signs are already starting to appear when it comes to the new post-pandemic normal.

            For one thing people seem to more community minded, to care more for those around them, be they relatives or neighbors, than they used to. People are more conscious that many individuals have lost their income and are struggling in so many ways. That’s the reason people who are in a position to do so have been generous in supporting all sorts of agencies and volunteering to help to those who need it. People are also checking regularly on those around them to offer assistance. I believe that this caring will continue because the pandemic has taught us that we must rely on each other if we are to survive.

 Right now, loneliness is a major side effect of covid as people have been isolating at home and working remotely and, as a result, are cut off from regular outside relationships. One fellow who has been working at home for almost a year told me recently that he not only misses his coworkers, but that he also misses his connection with those he saw everyday--from those on the commuter train to the young woman who prepared his coffee every morning. “They are not friends by any means,” he said, “but I still miss not seeing them, not interacting with them.” In the future new normal, I believe we’ll be much more aware of all those who make our lives more pleasant in many small ways.

And I believe that will include our realization that we should deal with people in our neighborhoods instead of going afar when it comes to purchases and services. Small businesses have been very impacted by covid and we should make a point of helping them get back on their feet.

            Another result of the pandemic is that people are realizing that there is more to life than material things. I believe that the new post-pandemic normal will be simpler and more geared to the important things in our lives. We realize how much we missed being with family and friends so will cherish them more.   

One thing is clear, first and foremost we have to take care of our world and of those around us because we’re all in this together.

           

 

Test your Brain

Sharing an email I received recently.

 

Count every "F" in the following text:  

 

 FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI
FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...

 

 HOW MANY 'F's did you count?

 

 Count them again.

 

 

 

 

If you got three you’re normal

four is quite rare

 

You win if you counted six.

 

 Taking Care

Hope is in the air these days as the corona virus seems on its way to being conquered with vaccines. But it’s not the only good news at the moment. The sun is getting warmer so we know that spring is not too far behind.

            In my world, spring is not acknowledged until St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone because until then a snow storm could appear without warning. But as soon as the Irish celebrations are over, spring begins to display its gifts to winter-wearied souls. We’ve been patient throughout the cold months so we feel we deserve to welcome a season of renewal. Even if it’s still a few weeks away, we have no qualms about beginning to plan for it.

            At this time of year, as the snow is slowly melting, I always find it interesting to see the things that have been lost along the way over the winter. I sometime see a lone mitt or glove or a scarf as a matter of course, but this year masks are a new element that I come across regularly on my daily walk. Have these masks been lost or simply thrown away, I wonder. I hope they were not simply thrown away on the sidewalk instead of being discarded the way they should have been.

            But then again, many people still see no harm in discarding things anywhere instead of making an effort to keep our world clean. As I pulled into a parking spot at my local mall yesterday I was somewhat puzzled to see that two take-away coffee cups had been left on the yellow line separating two parking spots. Obviously the person who left the cups there could not be bothered to walk a short distance to dispose of them properly in the available bins near all the doors to the mall. Or take them home and discard them there. I suppose that person felt someone else should do what he or she should have done.

            When things are discarded any which way they’re often picked up by the wind and blown away. It’s no wonder that our rivers, lakes and oceans are full of garbage that threatens fish. I feel strongly that if we don’t care about our environment today, our children and grandchildren will have to pay the price.

 

Forces All Around

Do you believe there is a force, a collective consciousness that unites all of us? I certainly do and I find that such a force might even become stronger as we age.

Many of what might be termed unusual occurrences occur often, but I think that we simply dismiss them. For example, we don’t pay much attention to such things as that while thinking of someone, that person calls, or we know before picking up the phone who is calling – without having seen the name display. Some say that the reason is that we are all subconsciously aware of higher level vibrations. After all, we all know that not all communication is actually heard or seen, don’t we?

I think mothers always know –- without being told – that one of their children is in trouble of one kind or another. Just as other people can send us messages they feel are important. A couple of years back, when I woke up one morning I knew I needed to call an old aunt who was living in an assisted living environment. When her phone was answered I learned that she had passed away in her sleep and that attendants had found her a short time before my call. I visited her as often as I could, and perhaps she put out a vibe to let me know right away that she was gone.

            I don’t think such things are just random occurrences. I believe that at our higher self we entwine through our thoughts with those around us especially those we care about. As long as we are open to it, of course.

 

New Words

I find it fascinating how the English language is ever evolving. In the last little while we have become familiar with new words and expressions because of the pandemic such as: social distancing; patient zero, and flatten the curve. Without forgetting the term remotely which is the opposite of in-person or face-to-face as workers and students interacted before covid.

            Also, among the words and expressions trending in 2021 there is: second gentleman (the husband of the female Vice President); binge watching (what a lot of isolating and bored people do--watch episodes upon episodes of the same program); using friend and unfriend as verbs contrary to what we learned in school all those years ago; hangray (being angry because of hunger); chillax (chill out and relax); no biggie (not a serious problem); chirpse (flirt).

            And, did you know what podcast meant until it began to be a popular method for anyone so inclined to offer comments on life, politics, etc?

            What about the cloud? It may sound mysterious but it is simply a service offered by tech companies for storing and accessing data on the internet rather than on a computer hard drive.

            What about neurodiversity? It means people being valued for their individual strengths. About time, I say.

            And a term that will surely become ever more in the news: net zero – a balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere. Let’s hope it’s something all nations will continue to strive to achieve.

            But, I hope not everyone is looking to polyamory as a way of life. What is it? (See last week’s blog). It’s the practice of non-monogamy with the consent of one’s spouse. A deliberate excuse for each partner to cheat??