"The deadline to choose your 2014 Medicare insurance coverage is December 7, 2013." www.medicare.gov
It is time once again to go online to check on the price of prescription drug plans. Every fall I go to the government website (listed above) and check for both the care receiver and myself to see if changing prescription drug insurance plans would save us time and money. For the first time, I am opting to stay with the plans we have. There would be a slight savings in money to switch, but that would be offset by changing to pharmacies that are less convenient. It did not take long to check. You just go to the official Medicare website (www.medicare.gov) and follow the links for Open Enrollment. I have created a list of current prescriptions in previous years, so those are saved and that saves time each subsequent year. The website then brings up comparison costs for different insurance plans in your area for the prescriptions you have listed. Very neat. It is nice to have one more thing taken care of.
Nov 7, 2013
Nov 6, 2013
Thanksgiving
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with song, And shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a Holiday celebrated in the U. S. and Canada. Other countries have harvest celebrations with November being a time to bring in the crops in many geographic areas, and - in doing so - it is a time to be thankful. Thankful for the blessings in our lives. Some people in some parts of the world are working such long days that they may not have the leisure to reflect on thankfulness. I heard recently that some people in China work from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If Maslow was right, we need to have our basic needs met before we can be self-reflective. What are you thankful for today? I am thankful for the blue sky and clear air. I am thankful that I finally have my snow plow dug out from the earlier heavy snow after paying someone and spending time shoveling myself. I am thankful for family and friends and good health.
Nov 5, 2013
Avoiding the Flu
"The flu season is about to being, and you know what that means -- get a flu shot and do what you can to stay healthy. And don't forget to boost your body's immune system with these natural flu-fighting foods". AARP Bulletin
Black-Eyes Peas are rich in zinc, and so are pinto beans, peanuts, roasted pumpkin seeds and wheat germ. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene. Other sources are dark green vegetables, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and winter squash.
Green, black and oolong tea all contain compounds that reduce the risk of flu. Yogurt, with probiotics, strengthen the immune system. If you do not like yogurt, try cottage cheese, kimchi or sauerkraut. Tomatoes and other vitamin-C rich foods help our body's natural defense system. Mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses which heighten the body's resistance to viral infections. Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, which can help your body fight off infection.
In addition to getting the flu shot, be sure to get enough sleep, eat right, have fun every day, and exercise.
Black-Eyes Peas are rich in zinc, and so are pinto beans, peanuts, roasted pumpkin seeds and wheat germ. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene. Other sources are dark green vegetables, sweet potatoes, pumpkin and winter squash.
Green, black and oolong tea all contain compounds that reduce the risk of flu. Yogurt, with probiotics, strengthen the immune system. If you do not like yogurt, try cottage cheese, kimchi or sauerkraut. Tomatoes and other vitamin-C rich foods help our body's natural defense system. Mushrooms are nutritional powerhouses which heighten the body's resistance to viral infections. Almonds are a rich source of vitamin E, which can help your body fight off infection.
In addition to getting the flu shot, be sure to get enough sleep, eat right, have fun every day, and exercise.
Nov 4, 2013
Reflections
"An unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates
Most mental health people support the idea of self reflection -- time spent in examining one's motives and actions. Some people spend very little time considering their lives, and perhaps others spend too much time -- turning examination into self absorption. It is important to consider one's beliefs, one's motives and one's actions in order to live a fully conscious life. One way to do that is to consider what triggers us; what actions cause us to react. By considering our actions we can become more congruent in life, more true to ourselves.
Most mental health people support the idea of self reflection -- time spent in examining one's motives and actions. Some people spend very little time considering their lives, and perhaps others spend too much time -- turning examination into self absorption. It is important to consider one's beliefs, one's motives and one's actions in order to live a fully conscious life. One way to do that is to consider what triggers us; what actions cause us to react. By considering our actions we can become more congruent in life, more true to ourselves.
Nov 3, 2013
How to be Happy
"The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for." Joseph Addison
We who are caregivers certainly have something to do. Do we also have something to love? Perhaps for you it is the caregiving. Perhaps it is a hobby, a talent, an interest. What do you love doing? I love treks in nature, time with people I love, serenity and peace, time to connect with my Higher Power, writing, and oil painting. And, what do we hope for? I hope for world peace, good health and prosperity for all, friendship and something of interest to do. What do you hope for?
We who are caregivers certainly have something to do. Do we also have something to love? Perhaps for you it is the caregiving. Perhaps it is a hobby, a talent, an interest. What do you love doing? I love treks in nature, time with people I love, serenity and peace, time to connect with my Higher Power, writing, and oil painting. And, what do we hope for? I hope for world peace, good health and prosperity for all, friendship and something of interest to do. What do you hope for?
Nov 2, 2013
What do you love?
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." Rumi
I once heard Deepak Chopra say that he told his children to follow what they loved in choosing their professions, not what they thought they should do. How few of us have that kind of counsel, and perhaps few of us have that kind of financial support. What would you be doing if you were really doing what you love? For many people, especially women, we are cultured out of knowing what we love. Our societies often shape us into service to others, rather than following our own heart. I have often wondered what work I would have done if I had had the encouragement to do what I loved. But, it is never too late. Today, what would you be doing if you were doing what you love? What a celebration if you can say you already are doing what you love. For the rest of us, it is something we can start. Right now.
I once heard Deepak Chopra say that he told his children to follow what they loved in choosing their professions, not what they thought they should do. How few of us have that kind of counsel, and perhaps few of us have that kind of financial support. What would you be doing if you were really doing what you love? For many people, especially women, we are cultured out of knowing what we love. Our societies often shape us into service to others, rather than following our own heart. I have often wondered what work I would have done if I had had the encouragement to do what I loved. But, it is never too late. Today, what would you be doing if you were doing what you love? What a celebration if you can say you already are doing what you love. For the rest of us, it is something we can start. Right now.
Nov 1, 2013
Our Life Perspective
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." Anais Nin
An interesting concept. Does life expand or contract depending on our courage? Probably it does. Do we keep ourselves in a narrow, limited life because of fear of breaking out? Many do. Or, do we live life with an open heart - knowing that all is well, and that life is good? Do we seek new experiences, new friendships? I recently heard someone say that the safest way to live life is with an open heart: trusting, really trusting, that life is good and that all is well. It seems a good place from which to live. What new thing can you try in your life today? I think I will try an entirely new food.
An interesting concept. Does life expand or contract depending on our courage? Probably it does. Do we keep ourselves in a narrow, limited life because of fear of breaking out? Many do. Or, do we live life with an open heart - knowing that all is well, and that life is good? Do we seek new experiences, new friendships? I recently heard someone say that the safest way to live life is with an open heart: trusting, really trusting, that life is good and that all is well. It seems a good place from which to live. What new thing can you try in your life today? I think I will try an entirely new food.
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