Small Things Count

Shopping for shoes?  Choose ones with the Earth under your feet.  Look into OAT shoes (with proper microbes, they take only 6 months to biodegrade 90%) or Simple Shoes (made from   recycled paper, hemp, cork, bamboo, and old tires).

[For more easy, money-saving, Eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or e-book device. For a description of the book go to My Free Books).

One of the many frustrations of a woman fighting cancer is her home that needs a good cleaning. It may seem like an unimportant thing, but it’s a reminder of her physical weakness and lack of energy. And a clean house is healthier for her.

That’s why the organization Cleaning for a Reason was formed. They will clean the home of a cancer patient at no cost to her, thus brightening her life a bit. They have served 33,000 women through the 1200 maid services working with them.

If you are or know a woman who could benefit from this service, look into it and apply. Find information at https://cleaningforareason.org/.

In today’s Thursday Thought quote, Carl Jung explains why we so often rush to judgment.

I just hugged my washing machine.  I’m over my mad about my old one’s not lasting the 25 years I’d expected of it.  Instead, I’m in love with my new washer.

I couldn’t believe the tiny bit of detergent it takes–maybe an ounce?  And I was flabbergasted when I let it fill with water, peeked inside, and could see damp clothes but no water.  It’s Energy-Star, to boot.  So I’m saving $$$$ and being eco-conscious while getting cleaner clothes than I got with the old machine (may it rest in recycled peace).  It wasn’t an expensive model, either, especially after my energy rebate.  And it isn’t one of those front-loaders that so many people are having trouble with (no mold for me, thank you!).

I admit that little things like this excite me.  Okay, maybe I should get a life.  So sue me.  Better still, when your old machine gurgles down it’s last sudsy gulp, buy one of these.

Today is National Child Health Day. Let’s celebrate it by seeing not just to their physical health but also to their emotional health. Let’s hug our children!

Extended illness causes loneliness. The sick person wants to interact with others but may not have much energy. The parent/spouse/child caregiver is often just as lonely, seeing their loved one in their weakened, vulnerable, less communicative state while they, themselves, find their caregiving isolating them from their friends and normal life. For both, the loneliness can be as devastating as the illness itself. Which is where you come in. Brighten their lives with a card, note, or voicemail, just to let them know you’re thinking about them but not asking for a response. If they’ve been part of a group you belong to, call to fill them in on details of the last meeting or some silly thing that happened at a social event (this IS a good time for light, harmless gossip). Drop off a meal or special goodie. Bring over old pictures of times you spent together and share memories. Always call first, and stay only as long as you aren’t tiring them. Such little things go a long way to brighten lonely lives.

Today’s Thursday Thought quote is logical, yet so often we don’t operate according to it.

I thought it was time for a chuckle, well, a chuckle with a warning to all who post on Facebook.

Tonight, cook and throw away 1/3 before serving it.  Sounds wasteful and stupid.  But that’s how much food we grow in our world that goes to waste.  Meanwhile, famine, hunger, and food insecurity among children exist while our landfills overflow.  Supermarkets put out only the perfect produce.  They know we won’t pay their prices for misshapen vegetables or fruit that has a slight bruise. So they toss it out, even though it tastes the same and is just as nutritious.  After all, it’s grown the same, in dirt or dangling from buggy trees.

I like the idea of a Canadian company who packages its appropriately named  “No Name Naturally Imperfect” produce.  These fruits and veggies can sell to markets cheaper, then markets can sell to us for less, and some major chains are planning to do just that.  I’ll be in line to buy it.  And I’ll lobby my lawmakers not to cut out farmers’ livelihood but put the extra produce to work feeding hungry people.

To all of my Jewish friends, readers — everyone, actually: Happy Rosh HaShanah!

For those who aren’t familiar with this day, it’s the beginning of a new civil year. This Christian (me) is partial to the two-day observance because of what it celebrates: the creation of Adam and Eve and, therefore, the human race. I like the idea that ALL humans, no matter color, religion, politics, country of origin, or position in society, are related to each other through those two people (either physically or symbolically, I don’t care which). So, it makes sense to me that we should treat everyone who crosses our path like long-lost, cherished family.