Wednesday observances

I once dated a girl with a twin and people always asked me how I could tell them apart. It was simple. It was easy. Alison painted her nails red, and Bob had a beard.

Pro Tip #22: Ring your doorbell on your way to bed. This will clear the dogs off the bed.

I went to an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting. Anonymous my eye. I knew everyone there!!

In a society that has you counting money, kilos, calories, and steps, be a rebel and count your 'blessings' instead.

I just asked myself if I'm crazy, and 'We all said No'.

Don't worry about 'getting old. Worry about 'thinking old'.

You can do a hundred things right and someone will always point out the ONE thing you did wrong.

Being a 'little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me daily. He is from India and is very concerned about someone scamming me and hacking into my Computer/Banking details. He is always helpful and asks for my Password to fix my problem.

After that 'Covid thing' these past few years, my 'going out clothes have missed me so much. I put them on, and they hugged me so tightly, I could barely breathe.

I told my wife she should 'embrace her mistakes'...............She gave me a hug.

A Genie granted me one wish, so I said, "I just want to be happy". So now I'm living in a little cottage with 6 dwarves and working in a mine. 'whistle while you work.......'

and finally...... A few years ago, I took my 8-year-old grandson to the office on 'take your kid to work day'. But when we walked into the office he started to cry. As concerned staff gathered around I asked him what was wrong and he said:  "Granddad where are all the clowns you said you worked with?”

Face your fears

When I was about 7, I was terrified of horses. I did not know why, but I did not like to be around them. I was raised in the country until I was about 5 and was always around horses. When we moved to town when I was 5 or 6, I forgot I was always around horses. By 7, I realized I was afraid of them. I remember delivering my papers and there was a herd of about 6 horses coming down the country road I was on. I took my bike off the road, into the bush beside the road and I remained there frozen in time for what seemed like hours until my dad came and took me home.

I never told him what happened, and he did not probe. As I grew, I learned how to cope with my fear, and it was not until I was in my mid-twenties that I found out why I had this irrational fear. Once I realized what caused the fear, I could face it and I could overcome it. I do not spend time around horses, but I can tolerate them and have even ridden them, much to the delight of my wife, who loves horses.

Fear can paralyze you; unless you can overcome it, you will lose out on some of life’s greatest pleasures. I did not have a magic wand to overcome my fear. It took time, energy and patience and it was hard. However, I learned about myself, and who my loyal friends were. Trust yourself and face your fear to enjoy life to the fullest.

Dry January for some?

I don't drink much anymore, but I do have a drink once or twice a week. When I was younger, I drank a lot, especially around the Christmas holidays. Dry January, also known as “Drynuary,” refers to abstaining from alcohol for the month of January. It did not exist when I was younger and had not heard about it until recently. The idea has gained popularity in recent years as a way for people to reset their drinking habits and improve their overall health and well-being.

There is some evidence to suggest that taking part in Dry January can have lasting effects on an individual’s alcohol consumption. A study published in the journal Addiction found that people who took part in Dry January reported drinking less alcohol and having fewer alcohol-related problems in the six months following the challenge. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that people who took part in Dry January had a lower risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in the following year.

However, it’s important to note that the effects of Dry January on an individual’s alcohol consumption may vary depending on the person’s individual circumstances and motivations for participating in the challenge. Some people may find that Dry January helps them to moderate their drinking long-term, while others may return to their previous drinking habits after the challenge is over.

It’s a good idea to consume alcohol in moderation and to be mindful of the potential negative effects of heavy drinking on your health and well-being. Suppose you are concerned about your alcohol consumption or are experiencing problems related to alcohol. In that case, it may be helpful to speak with a healthcare professional or a trained counsellor or therapist.

Mask wearing

 Covid and mask-wearing are still uncomfortable issues for some and they should not be. I was at a meeting and one participant was wearing a mask. When I went over to talk to them before the meeting, they apologized for wearing their mask. I said to them, ‘Why are you apologizing for wearing a mask? If you need to wear the mask, that is your right and no one here will be upset at you for wearing a mask.”

COVID has not gone away. At a recent workshop I attended, one speaker said that more people will die of COVID in 2022 than died of COVID in 2021. In our approach to this Pandemic, we have become complacent. We need to continue to be vigilant and watchful and when asked to take the next shot; we need to take it. My age group is at significant risk and we need to be very careful if we hope to see the year to the end without illness.