HumanaCare

Just like everyone else, from time to time I find myself stuck in a rut. I feel lazy and bored with my life. I start to loose sight of all the good around me. Luckily, for moments like these, I have inspirational quotes posted around me that really help to lift my spirits. These are some of my favorites.

-  When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us. Helen Keller

-  100% of the shots you don’t take don’t go in. Wayne Gretzky

-  Think of dealing with problem people like going to the gym. They are giving you a workout of your communication muscles! Dr. Rick Brinkman

Post some of your favorites. It could really help to lift someone’s day!

I truly feel that Canada is one of the best places in the world to live. As Canadian citizens we are exposed to many diverse cultures and lifestyles. Nonetheless, we still face situations that can catch us off guard. What should you do if a friend or family member comes out to you as a homosexual? Remember these six things, and you will be just fine.

1. Listen
2. Remain neutral and non-judgmental
3. Be supportive
4. Don’t ignore it
5. Don’t let the topic dominate future interactions with the individual
6. Be honest and open

Feel honored that this person has chosen to share information about their life with you. It means they trust and feel comfortable with you.

Before the kids are stuck inside for the long winter months, they get one last night of outdoor fun, Halloween.  However, each year parents seem to be more and more unsure of how safe it is to send their kids trick or treating.

To help keep your kids safe Canada Safety Council recommends you follow these ten safety tips.

1. Children should be accompanied by an adult.

2. Children should wear clothing that can easily be seen at night. Retro-reflective materials are best.

3. Children should trick or treat in one well-known area and not wander into unknown neighborhoods.

4. All candy should be inspected by an adult to make sure that no one has tampered with it. If it looks suspicious, the police should be contacted.

5. Children should avoid stray animals.

6. Children should wear masks that do not interfere with vision. Better yet, they can avoid masks by wearing makeup.

7. Children should watch for moving vehicles when crossing streets.

8. Costumes should be short enough that the child will not trip.

9. Trick or treaters should dress appropriately for the weather and carry a flashlight.

10. For extra safety, organize a Halloween party for children in your neighborhood.

The crisp scent of autumn leaves is in the air, reminding us all that the long sunny nights of summer are slowly slipping away from us. As we say goodbye to summer people keep telling me to hold on to one thing as winter approaches… vitamin D.

The recommended amount of vitamin D an average person should have daily has recently increased, and as summer fades away the amount we obtain naturally decreases. Vitamin D is important because it helps your body absorb calcium and helps your muscles, nerves, and immune system work properly. Some research has shown that it can even decrease your risk of getting serious diseases like cancer and has a positive effect on your mood.

Vitamin D supplements are available at many grocery stores and pharmacies. Check them out! You won’t be sorry you did.

I remember sitting across the kitchen table from my Grandmother every Sunday morning as she spent hours clipping coupons from the Sunday paper. Hundreds of tiny scraps of paper overwhelmed the tiny table as I watched the ritual skeptically.

“SAVE 25 CENTS ON TOILET PAPER,” “BUY ONE GET ONE FREE CAT LITTER,” I wondered… was it really worth all this time to save a couple of dollars? Nowadays, the public is screaming, “YES.”

Although the savings are small, many people say that couponing helps reduce stress related to finances because it changes the way that you look at spending money. Cutting coupons forces you to look at the price of the things you buy regularly, plan shopping trips ahead of time, and think before making a purchase.   It has become a hobby for many North Americans who claim to save hundreds of dollars with coupons. Furthermore, couponing has become virtual. Some websites allow you to look at coupons online, order only the ones that interest you, and have them sent right to your doorstep. Others simply allow you to print coupons at home using your own printer. 

I decided to try couponing for a couple of months and see if Grandma had the right idea all along. After two months I had saved $33.50. I don’t think that’s too bad for a beginner. If you have a couple hours to commit to couponing every month, why not try it out?  You may end up not only saving a few hard earned dollars but also learning about the way you shop.

The dictionary definition of participate is “to take or have a part or share, as with others; partake; share (usually followed by in)”

So what does this mean to us?  I have found that the act of participation has greatly increased my knowledge and awareness of life and what it has to offer.  By just simply ”joining in” you can learn so much about your own interests and add to them.  Not only have I found out recently that I rather enjoy Jamaican food and water color painting, I have developed some other new interests to keep the conversation going within my relationships as well as filled a void on those boring Tuesday nights.  Rather than staying in why not enjoy a conversation or a local festival.  Participate in a friends yoga class or a spouses golf game.  By doing this you guarantee that you will be heard and you will broaden your interests and experiences.  Life is about finding yourself so why not help it out by participating in it.

We often do it when we pass our neighbor in the hall. We always do it when we see a friend, and sometimes we even do it while we’re sleeping. Smiling is something so common we rarely give it a second thought. . Smiling takes very little effort. However, faking a smile is considerably more difficult.
Studies have now shown that a smile may not only be a manifestation of a happy feeling, but also a cause for it. A psychologist named Robert Zajonc studied many different aspects of smiles and other expressions by having people repeat vowel sounds, forcing their faces into different positions. “Subjects reported feeling good after making the long ‘e’ sound, and feeling bad after the long ‘u’. ” Scientists theorize that the action of smiling releases chemicals in our brain, making us feel happier. Other studies conducted on facial expression and mood and have found similar results.
Does this mean that every bad feeling can essentially be turned off with a fake smile? Could all of us be truly and permanently happy, just by smiling? I’m not entirely convinced, but it’s worth a try to ‘put on a happy face’ once in a while. After all, a smile is contagious!