Changes

We all know that in life, nothing is static. Change is the name of the game. Just like the ocean, our lives are constantly in a moving pattern. Some changes are unseen and have little influence on our daily lives, while surface patterns are constantly pushing us to take a new course, but it does not mean we have to let them.

This is especially true when it comes to new technologies. Case in point, I recently heard a woman remark that her mother was really behind the times. “She doesn’t bank on line and still pays her bills by mail,” she complained. I did not comment, but my reaction was that I may also be behind the times. I don’t see why I should necessarily handle my financial affairs on line simply because it is available. I suppose that I feel comfortable with the way I do things, but also part of me still does not fully trust the internet. If hackers can access sensitive data I don’t think it’d be very difficult for them to play footsie with my bank account. Not that there is much to play footsie with. I just feel safer paying my bills myself at the bank.

Before taking to the road for a few hours when going to visit family or friends, I stop at my local library and take out an audio book. It is enjoyable to hear the narrator’s voice as the miles add up, and by the time I return the CD, I’ve been entertained and/or I have learned something new. “That is so passé,” a friend told me recently. “You should download material yourself.”

My first reaction: What’s the difference? Just because I can download books on a portable device does not mean I must do so. Not just yet, anyway. In time, I will no doubt do it, but for the moment the traditional me, says: What’s the point of forever adopting every new thing that comes our way. There is enough surface change in my life as it is.

 

 

Fall Prevention Month

November is fall prevention month, something that concerns people as they age. And that means a lot of people since Baby Boomers are turning 65 at a rate of 10,000 people per day. And that number can only continue to increase.

A misstep at home or a patch of ice can start a deadly chain reaction for seniors or the mobility impaired of any age. Since one in five falls results in a serious injury such as broken bones and head trauma, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer sound advice for preventing falls. Talk to your doctor if the medicines you take make you feel sleepy or dizzy. Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve balance, such as Tai Chi. Have your eyes checked at least once a year, and if you wear bifocal or progressive lenses, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only distance prescription for outdoor activities such as walking. Poor footwear can cause falls, so make sure it is good.

There are many steps that can be taken to prevent falls in the home like getting rid of things you could trip over such as throw rugs, putting railings on both sides of stairs, and have grab bars in your tub or shower, as well as next to the toilet. Also make sure the lighting in your home is adequate.

Falls can have psychological consequences even when they don’t result in injury because it often leads to people being afraid of falling and thus limiting their activities and social life. Prevention is all important.

In November we begin to feel the cold winds of the season to come. In winter using a cane can prevent falls and their consequences. If you are a Canadian you may want to take advantage of a company’s Cane for Life initiative.

            “We have pledged to give away 1,000 canes for qualified seniors and mobility-impaired Canadians.” said Renato Cavaliere, CEO of Canadian Safe Step Walk-in Tub Co. The company is an advocate for safety and quality of life for seniors and the mobility-impaired.

            Canadians can apply for a free cane through acaneforlife.com

Honor to our Veterans

The first time I went to Europe some years ago, I visited two military cemeteries honoring fallen soldiers. The white crosses all in a row as far as the eye could see brought tears to my eyes. A cross for every young man who gave his life for freedom in bloody wars. We don’t often think of how many soldiers perished to ensure the enemy was defeated, but we should. And we should also never forget the number of soldiers who came home after giving their all in battle. We owe them so much. What courage!

At the November ceremonies honoring veterans, we see a quickly diminishing number of older men who served in WWII proudly at attention, but there are also so many younger veterans these days. The ranks of young men and women who served their country in varied far-away places with honor keep growing. Let’s show them we appreciate their sacrifice. As someone put it: A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'citizens of my country' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is honor. There are too many people who no longer understand what it means.

This November, let’s pay homage to all those who ensured our freedom. We owe them that much and so much more. And let’s make sure our children and grandchildren understand the sacrifices of our veterans.

Lest we forget, lest they forget.