Tag Archive for time

Take a Nap Today–and Every Day

Feeling extra tired today? You’re not alone. The day after the start of Daylight Saving Time is when most people feel the worst sleep deprivation. That’s why today is National Napping Day–we may need a nap today. And we may need what the Spanish call (and take) a siesta each day.

Besides the Spaniards, other cultures have long recognized the value of a midday nap, going back to ancient Arabia, Rome, and Greece. They found napping to improve health and productivity.

So, celebrate this unofficial national day, for the sake of your health and well being.

A Small way to Fight Poverty

Think about it: the last poverty statistics (2017) show that 39.7 million people of all ages in our country are suffering from the ravages of poverty.  These are men, women, and children off all ethnic backgrounds.  They are healthy or unhealthy, mentally unstable or perfectly stable, families or individuals, unable to work or have been “downsized” and can’t find work.  In short, poverty can strike anyone at any time–and it has.  We can’t fix our economy overnight, but those of us who are fortunate enough not to be part of the 39.7 million can help through our donations not just of money but of time.

Everyone has a little time to give.  If serving at a soup kitchen takes more than you have, how about spending a few extra minutes while you grocery shop to shop for food items for a local soup kitchen or food pantry? Bake extra cookies for the kitchen or a shelter while you’re baking for your family?  You probably have some time to help an organization serving the homeless by packing sack lunches for distribution to them or sorting clothing at an organization’s clothes closet for people in need. If not, there’s no question that you have a minute to smile and say “Hi” to the homeless man outside the store, thus letting him know that he’s recognized as a human being rather than an objectionable object. After your daughter’s softball game, when you go with the team to pizza, you have a second to invite along as your family’s guest the girl who can’t afford to go. 

In other words, poverty can be fought on the human level–one human being to another.  And you fight the battle in little ways.  As I always say, Small things really DO count!

A Day for Christians and Jews

Today Good Friday and the start of Passover coincide. The Christian observance is all day, and the Jewish one begins at sunset. The idea of both is the same–to stop, reflect, pray, and give thanks.

My best wishes to all for a blessed Passover and Easter season.

Time Change Blues

Anyone else feeling like this? My body just wants to go to bed AND get up at 8.

Some Silliness: Changing Our Clocks

Yup. It’s that time again. We must “Fall Back” an hour this weekend. For those of us who are confused by this twice-yearly ritual, here’s a guide.

ANOTHER Darned Election???!!!

ANOTHER DARN ELECTION!  It never comes out the way I’d vote.  It’s just a waste of time and money.

Actually, it will be a waste if you don’t vote.  Even if there’s only one issue or candidate you really care about, make your voice heard.  Better still, take some time to get acquainted with more of the propositions and candidates.  They will determine how we treat our fellow human beings—family, workers, the poor, even us voters.  Find out about them from impartial sources who have thoroughly researched them, like the  League of Women Voters (www.smartvoter.org), and carefully read through the official Voter’s Guide from the Registrar of Voters. Think carefully, not emotionally or following what any other person or biased group says. Make up your own mind, then vote.

Why bother?  Because not voting would let a small handful of people (those who DO vote) make decisions you’re forced to live with.

Do You Pray?

You probably do pray sometimes when you don’t recognize it as actual “prayer.”  Even atheists pray.

Sometimes I come across something I think is a beautiful way to look at things. I found this on the Facebook posting of a friend and want to pass it on to you for today’s Thursday Thought.

Time to Enjoy

This Sunday morning we turn our clocks back.  What will we do with the extra hour we’ve gained?  Why not share it with someone who doesn’t necessarily consider time a friend, like that neighbor or acquaintance who is too ill or shy to get out much.  We can spend time feeding hungry families at a kitchen, gathering food for local food pantries that serve them, visiting veterans at the VA, bringing a picnic lunch and conversation to Aunt Sally at the nursing home.  Or give that extra hour exclusively to our children, playing, reading, or just being together.  Or nurture our marriage with an uninterrupted hour together, being present to each other. Through that one hour, we won’t let stress, overwork, or other pressures interfere with our relationships. In short, rather than waste that morsel of extra time we can use it to enjoy and share the gift of life.

 

Another Side to the V.A.

You’ve been hearing horror stories about how veterans have been treated by the V.A.  Let me describe our (my husband, who’s the vet, and me) experience yesterday at our local V.A. clinic.  It’s typical of the horrible treatment he has received there.

After he did his 3:00 check-in, we began our wait.  By 3:05 someone was coming around to see how long everyone had been waiting, to push things along if necessary.  A few minutes later we were in the exam room, talking to the nurse, who took his info. and vitals while we chatted amiably.  A few minutes after that the doctor arrived.

He clearly explained a couple of concerning blood test results, took my husband for a walk to determine oxygen levels, then sat him down in the room for more of a physical and a discussion that helped us understand what’s going on inside my husband’s lungs.  He ordered an antibiotic to have on hand so we wouldn’t have to wait for an Rx to be filled at first sign of an infection, which can be deadly to my husband.  We talked about my husband’s weight loss and why it’s important to get it back up and keep it up, then the doctor excused himself to consult with the dietitian.  The doctor acted like we were the only people in the world he needed or wanted to work with at that time, staying with us for about an hour.

Then the dietitian–the doc had asked her to see us now rather sometime in the future–came into the room and advised us and arranged for food supplements. She, too, seemed to be in no hurry.  Finally, at 4:45 we were headed home.

Throughout, both of us were treated with respect, concern, some levity to soften the situation, and warmth.  This has been the case for the five years we’ve gone to this V.A. clinic.

I realize that others haven’t been as fortunate as us with treatment through the V.A.  I just wanted you to know that humanity thrives at least at the San Jose V.A. clinic.

 

 

How to Spend that Upcoming Extra Hour

Let’s plan ahead for Sunday, when we turn our clocks back an hour.  What will we do with the extra hour we’ve gained?  Why not share it with someone who doesn’t necessarily consider time a friend, like that neighbor or acquaintance who is too ill or shy to get out much.  We can spend time feeding hungry families at a kitchen, gathering food for local food pantries that serve them, visiting veterans at the VA, bringing a picnic lunch and conversation to Aunt Sally at the nursing home.  Or give that extra hour exclusively to our children, playing, reading, or just being together.  Or nurture our marriage with an uninterrupted hour together, being present to each other. Through that one hour, we won’t let stress, overwork, or other pressures interfere with our relationships. In short, rather than waste that morsel of extra time, we can use it to live life more fully, sharing our time and selves with others.