The mosquitos are here

We are having a particularly bad year for mosquitos. This is due to a heavier than normal spring rainfall, and a latter than normal return to warmer weather. This has left the area open to the breeding of these pesky insects. I am lucky in that these pests do not like me so I get off easier than my friends and family when these are biting.

If you do not like commercial products, mosquito and small fly bites can be treated for minor swelling and itching by using a number of natural methods. If you have tea bags in the house, you can make a cup of tea and remove the bag to cool. Once the tea bag is cool enough to place it on the arm, let it sit for approximately 10-15 minutes to draw out any fluid associated with the bite.

Tea tree oil is another effective method to treat bug bites, and this should be used if it is possible for the bite to become infected. It is a triple threat in that it also relieves the pain and itching associated with a bite like those issued by horse flies.

We hear a lot of the uses of coconut oil in terms of healthy eating, yet it can also be used to treat bug bites. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties and can help reduce the itchy feeling associated with bug bites. Coating a bite with coconut oil will help keep dirt and dust from infecting any open bug bite and it can be applied just like a sun screen.

A good night's sleep

 One of the most popular workshops is on “How to get a good night's sleep”. Many seniors suffer from insomnia. Having insomnia can cause other issues as a person is deprived of the deep restful sleep needed. Once insomnia has been experienced, the best thing to do is address it quickly. However, many people self-diagnose, which is a mistake. Always check with your doctor if you are having problems with your sleep.

Here are some ideas that may help you move towards having good sleep hygiene which may allow you to sleep better.

Saying a mantra once the head hits the pillow, has been shown to be very effective. The simple mantra used in yoga is, “Om” Using the phrase Om repeatedly, does work for some people. As it is the only phrase repeated, it induces deep peace within the body, allowing it to drift off.

Many people prefer to come up with their own mantra, which has a deep meaning to them. Frequently they will journal their thoughts and narrow phrases down until finding the perfect one for their needs. An example of a personal mantra would be, “I am safe while drifting amongst the warmth and light.” Along with the mantra, music very low in the background is helpful for inducing sleep. The type of music used, should be something along the lines of Gregorian chanting. The repetitive nature of the music has a hypnotizing quality to it.

Making your own healing tea can be an enjoyable time, as you learn what mixtures work best for you. Even making tea just for general enjoyment, can turn into a bit of a hobby with…different pots, cups and special tea bags to fill with your choices. Herbal teas can certainly help with bouts of sleepless nights.

Magnesium helps your tense muscles to relax and has also been shown to combat stress. Both these issues can contribute to sleepless nights. Magnesium can be introduced several ways. Having a warm bath before sleep is always good and why not try adding magnesium flakes to the bathwater. Your skin can absorb the magnesium and get it into the blood stream. The other method to try is magnesium in capsule form. Make sure to read the prescribed dosages for males and females…as it differs.

If your natural melatonin production is off, it could be causing issues with your sleep. Melatonin is what the brain releases when we settle down for sleep and the variety of sleep stages we go through. When using melatonin capsules, take the lowest amount possible at first and watch for side effects before increasing the dosage. Taking melatonin can cause dizziness or headaches if the dosage is too high.

 

Sea gulls and crows

I was reading  A Retirement Blog about being "mugged in broad daylight by a winged predator (a seagull) and was reminded of the many times I and my friends have been "mugged" by these birds.

Growing up on the coast I am used to seagulls being around and seeing them as scavengers, keeping our beaches clean of dead shellfish and other creatures that drift onto the shore. 

In Caree's blog post she had her food taken when she was sitting next to it. The gulls in our area are not as brave, they lurk just outside of range and wait. They will wait and watch, sometimes parading up and down in front of you pretending that they are not interested in the food you are eating or carrying. Best not move too far away from the food, because when you do, they swoop in and are gone in a flash with your food.

Over the years I have had many sandwiches taken by these sneaky birds. Crows are also birds that can and do steal food if you do not pay attention.  We were golfing about 40 miles outside of Vancouver and one of my friends bought a sandwich. It was his turn to hit and so he placed the sandwich on the seat of the golf cart and walked over to his ball. My ball was a bit in front so I was waiting for him to hit. He did and walked back to his cart, and said, "Where's my sandwich?" I looked over and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a seagull with his sandwich in its beak flying towards the nearest tree with a seagull in fast pursuit. I laughed and pointed, and my friend, who normally does not swear, let out a number of curse words that would make a baby blush.  

Crows and Seagulls are very smart scavengers and they can cause havoc wherever they go, so if you are thinking of picnicking on a beach or just having a sandwich in the park, always keep an eye out for these birds as they can ruin your day or at least your lunch.

Bits of Advice 4

  Here are the final bits of advice that I received from my young friend, I hope some of them you found useful and I also hope that you found some of the strange, or funny and finally I hope that before you take any bits of advice you follow number 23 on this post.

1.               Take note if you find yourself wondering “Where is my good knife? Or, where is my good pen?” That means you have bad ones. Get rid of those.

2.               When you are stuck, explain your problem to others. Often simply laying out a problem will present a solution. Make “explaining the problem” part of your troubleshooting process.

3.               When buying a garden hose, an extension cord, or a ladder, get one substantially longer than you think you need. It’ll be the right size.

4.               Don’t bother fighting the old; just build the new.

5.               Your group can achieve great things way beyond your means simply by showing people that they are appreciated.

6.               When someone tells you about the peak year of human history, the period of time when things were good before things went downhill, it will always be the years of when they were 10 years old — which is the peak of any human’s existence.

7.               You are as big as the things that make you angry.

8.               When speaking to an audience it’s better to fix your gaze on a few people than to “spray” your gaze across the room. Your eyes telegraph to others whether you really believe what you are saying.

9.               Habit is far more dependable than inspiration. Make progress by making habits. Don’t focus on getting into shape. Focus on becoming the kind of person who never misses a workout.

10.          When negotiating, don’t aim for a bigger piece of the pie; aim to create a bigger pie.

11.          If you repeated what you did today 365 more times will you be where you want to be next year?

12.          You see only 2% of another person, and they see only 2% of you. Attune yourselves to the hidden 98%.

13.          Your time and space are limited. Remove, give away, throw out things in your life that don’t spark joy any longer in order to make room for those that do.

14.          Our descendants will achieve things that will amaze us, yet a portion of what they will create could have been made with today’s materials and tools if we had had the imagination. Think bigger.

15.          For a great payoff be especially curious about the things you are not interested in.

16.          Focus on directions rather than destinations. Who knows their destiny? But maintain the right direction and you’ll arrive at where you want to go.

17.          Every breakthrough is at first laughable and ridiculous. In fact, if it did not start out laughable and ridiculous, it is not a breakthrough.

18.          If you loan someone $20 and you never see them again because they are avoiding paying you back, that makes it worth $20.

19.          Copying others is a good way to start. Copying yourself is a disappointing way to end.

20.          The best time to negotiate your salary for a new job is the moment AFTER they say they want you, and not before. Then it becomes a game of chicken for each side to name an amount first, but it is to your advantage to get them to give a number before you do.

21.          Rather than steering your life to avoid surprises, aim directly for them.

22.          Don’t purchase extra insurance if you are renting a car with a credit card.

23.          If your opinions on one subject can be predicted from your opinions on another, you may be in the grip of an ideology. When you truly think for yourself, your conclusions will not be predictable.

24.          Aim to die broke. Give to your beneficiaries before you die; it’s more fun and useful. Spend it all. Your last check should go to the funeral home, and it should bounce.

25.          The chief prevention against getting old is to remain astonished.