LOOK AT WHAT SHE’S WEARING! I’ve said this to myself often, impressed by colorful ethnic dress. But because I haven’t gone up to the person to compliment her, I’ve missed a chance to get to know someone new and probably learn something about a culture I’m not familiar with. Too often we miss such chances. People from ethnic backgrounds different from our own are all around us. We can grab the opportunity by sitting with them at church or asking to join their table at the Fellowship that follows. We can engage them in conversation at a party, during work breaks, before and after meetings. Where we are gathered gives us subjects to talk about (the meeting topic or a critique of what the boss said or a new place to shop in the area). Our kids have been doing this since 2002 nationally and locally at “Mix It Up at Lunch Day.” If we follow their lead we’ll enrich each other’s lives and build a stronger human community.
Archive for September 18, 2018
Things are Looking Up in the World
Feeling frustrated and fearful about a present world that seems hell-bent on destruction? Wonder why you bother to do little things to protect the environment and help people in need? That’s because all we hear is how bad things are. And that’s why I really like this upbeat, encouraging video that gives reasons we can and should be optimistic about our world.
(Note: The video takes a short while to load, and you’ll probably have to right-click on it, then select “unmute” to get sound.)
https://www.facebook.com/PachamamaAlliance/videos/10155967448238305/
A Woman’s Purse is a Mysterious Thing
Happy Friday! I thought we’d end the work week with some humor. Or is is truth? In any event, enjoy this video.
Note: You may have to right-click to get the menu, then click on “unmute” to get sound.
https://www.facebook.com/itisasouthernthing/videos/2025739971089347/
Why this Week and Month are Important
Instead of a quote, today’s Thursday Thought is one reason why Suicide Prevention Week (this week) and Month (September) are so important.
Just Let Me Die!
I want to die. Life isn’t worth living. I can’t go on like this. You may not feel like this right now, but you probably know someone who does. The U.S. suicide rate is the highest it’s been in 30 years. It’s up to those of us in a good space to help those in a dark one. We can’t erase all the negativity in the world–we don’t control oppression, war, power-hungry dictators, or devastating disease. But we can keep a positive attitude around others (we never know when an affirmative word or action is just what the person we’re with needs). And we can speak up against public people who constantly spew negativity.
In everyday life we can watch for suicide warning signs (read the signs of potential suicide), keep the Suicide Prevention Hotline number (800-273-8255) handy to give to an at-risk person, and lend him/her our cell phone to call immediately.
Together, giving of ourselves and positive, concerned actions can stop that suicide rate from increasing and bring hopeless people back into the light.
(This is Suicide Prevention Week, within Suicide Prevention Month.)
Why We Choose to Remember
Why choose to remember that horrifying day? Because, despite its horror, that day brought out the strength, compassion, unity, hope, and even gratitude that is, in a word, America.
Wrap it Up!
I don’t mean this as an ad. I don’t do ads here. But I just discovered something that is practical, reusable (just wash them), biodegradable, and organic–the total package!
We all know about the growing plastic garbage patch in our oceans and about wildlife dying after eating or getting tangled in plastic. What’s probably one of your biggest uses of plastic, especially if you have kids? Plastic wrap and containers.
Check out the Etee Food Wraps. Perfect for lunch box items, preserving cut vegetables, storing things like banana bread, covering bowls in the fridge…all sorts of things. The odd (and nice) part is that the more you buy the less expensive they are–a Family pack (16) is $4 cheaper than a Starter Pack (3), and shipping is free.
Again, I’m sorry if this comes across as an ad. I get excited about products that are good for me and for the environment.
How to Tell if that Gas Pump Has a Skimmer
This is information all drivers should have. We can protect ourselves from the bad guys who install credit card skimmers in gas pumps to collect credit card data from us so they can sell it to other bad guys who then use it, knowing that the bill will come to us, not to them. I was surprised at how simple this is–just takes a second to glance up and be safe. And it’s yet another reason to find ways to use less gasoline.
(Be sure to wait for the video to load, then right-click to unmute to get sound.)
https://www.facebook.com/DeniseWhitakerKOMO/videos/595471964183943/
Is That Legal?
There’s SO much arguing back and forth about what is legal. As today’s Thursday Thought quote points out, that isn’t the real issue.
“Something must happen so as to touch the hearts and souls of [all people] that they will come together, not because the law says it, but because it is natural and right.” — Martin Luther King, Stride Toward Freedom, 1958
A Lyft for Voters
Some elderly people don’t trust vote-by-mail but can’t drive themselves to the polls. In some families, the breadwinner has the only car, and they’re at work. In some places, there are few polling places, often not near where people live. Whatever the reason, in 2016, 15+ million people registered but didn’t vote because of transportation problems.
Lyft plans to enable more people to exercise their American right to vote. They’ll offer half-price rides to the polls–even free rides in some instances. They’ll encourage voting, too, by having drivers remind passengers of registration deadlines and hand out registration information and materials. Plus, they’ll offer voter registration for their employees at the Lyft offices.
I applaud what Lyft is doing. Voting is not only our right, it’s our responsibility. And, as close elections prove, every single ballot elderly,cast (or not cast) really does matter.
Get details at https://blog.lyft.com/posts/2018/8/22/get-out-the-vote