It’s Christmas morning. And, I offer these words of wisdom for you to consider on this day:
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
— Dr. Seuss
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
December 23, 2018
Entopic – adj. – occurring inside the eye
December 24, 2018
Punim – n. – a person’s face
December 25, 2018
Graphology – n. – the study of handwriting
December 26, 2018
Telic – adj. – directed or tending to a definite end
December 27, 2018
Deictic – adj. – denoting a word whose meaning depends on context
December 28, 2018
Fortissimo – adv. – very loud or loudly
December 29, 2018
Septennium – n. – a specified period of seven years
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
December 23, 2018
Surprise someone, send them a message.
December 24, 2018
Have the courage to reach out to someone you’ve not met.
December 25, 2018
Master yourself. Start now if you never have.
December 26, 2018
You can get experience while looking for something else.
December 27, 2018
Sometimes it’s best to hear all and say nothing.
December 28, 2018
To not relish in the pain of others.
December 29, 2018
Jumping from the frying pan into the fire is heavily discouraged.
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
December 23, 2018
“The consumer dictates whether we’re in business or not.” – Fitzgerald
December 24, 2018
“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” – Goldwyn
December 25, 2018
“Talent wins games, but teamwork wins championships.” – Jordan
December 26, 2018
“There are a hundred thousand useless words in the English language, but they come in handy in college football yells.” – Anon
December 27, 2018
“You never know how many friends you have until you rent a cottage at the beach.” – Kristofferson
December 28, 2018
“He went to an Ivy League school – so he can write on bathroom walls in Latin.” – Evans
December 29, 2018
“I don’t pick on politicians. They ain’t done nothin’.” – Skelton
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
Quote(s) Of The Day – For the week of For The Week Of December 16, 2018
So, it’s the Christmas season. The time where everyone is supposed to be bright, happy and of good cheer…
I got a ping from an old friend that they’d been admitted to the hospital for some tests. Our families have known each other for several generations and since the tests were taking a while and it’d been some time since I’d seen them, I wandered down for a visit. We talked for a while, the hospital doctor came in and tried his best to act competent. After he left we talked some more until I felt it was best that I left and let them get some much needed rest.
Shortly after I left, the doctor returned with the test results. It wasn’t good news. It was cancer…and in a big way.
Now, I’ve had 2 major death diagnosis in my life, and my father and I were both given cancer diagnosis within 2 weeks of each other back in 2001. He’s no longer with us. But what do you say to someone that’s never been in a hospital and just had a tonne of lead dropped on them? …and at Christmas…?
Simply: there’s hope for your future. Not that there’s some magic bullet cure, but that there’s hope in the reason we have the Christmas season. The same scriptures that lead us to the Christmas season also tell us in John 3:16 that we have a future if we believe in the person who’s life and gift we celebrate at this time of year…regardless of when the Christ child was actually born. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life…” This doesn’t mean that we’re not going to die in this life, but that we have hope in the next.
I’m not going to tell you I have all the answers. I don’t. In fact, I have way more questions than I have answers. But I believe there’s hope.
Many of us have been lead by preachers and self proclaimed theologians that we need to believe and practice the way they prescript. Frankly, I rejected that long ago. The only thing that matters is your own walk and relationship with your friend and savior. And I don’t think it’s really as complex as most organized religions would like us to think. I firmly believe that those that seek will be led in the path that is theirs to walk.
If you get the chance, pick up a copy of Tim Jennings’ book “Could it be this simple”. And get ready to unlearn and relearn a lot of what hope lies in your future. Hope really is that simple.
So, remember, there’s hope…and that’s the REAL reason for the season….
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
Well, once again, it’s that Happy Merry Partying time of year! And, we’ll all be doing our best to eat and drink and be as happily merry as we can. But, there can be some major health implications to over doing it… So, let’s look at a few things that we can do to maybe help all of your celebrations to be good ones.
Think Moderation
This time of year it’s so incredibly to over do on so many things. So when you see that incredible layout of food, save some for someone else. You don’t have to go back for that third round and it’s sometimes good to be able to see some plate showing under all those layers of chow. Just because Santa is over stuffed doesn’t mean you need to be or should be. Let your comfort fill level be your guide and let Santa be the one with the over stuffed belly…or, pillow. And, don’t forget to eat the salad. Focus on the foods that you enjoy the best during the season and it’s also good to experiment with some new ones if the opportunity presents itself.
Same thing goes for drinking. This is the time of year that the bubbly flows…and flows… But knowing your limit is key to having the best time of the season that you can. Give serious consideration to alternatives to drink. Things like soft drinks, juices, good ole water with a twist on ice, there’s so many options that have you feeling great at the end of the evening versus dreading the rays of the sun in the morning. Also, stay hydrated if you’re drinking. Alcohol can raise havoc with your fluid and electrolyte levels, to some water, juice, even a hit or 2 from your favorite sports drink are definitely in order during the party season.
Set some goals and keep them
We all have some history we can look back on, so look back at it. Some of the things you did in the partying past you wouldn’t do again, so don’t. Some things were cool – so do them again. Know your limits and keep them.
There’s other things you need to set some goals on and well talk about them next.
Exercise and Fresh Air
Set and keep your fitness goals. If you’re already in a program, be it your own or otherwise organized, stay with it. If you don’t have one, get or make one. Something as simple as a nice walk in the fresh air can do some incredible wonders for your body and outlook on life. Take your mutt for a walk with a glass of fresh squeezed homemade lemonade or even a nice cup of joe! You’ll both enjoy the outdoors.
Take your vitamins
Even though you’re eating a lot, make sure that you stay balanced from a nutritional standpoint. Most of us take some form of a supplement or another and now’s not the time to take a vacation from that. If you have a concern about your proper nutrient intakes, well, that’s a great thing to be talking with your family doctor about.
Monitor Holiday Stress
For some it’s having to deal with that total idiot relative that you have to go visit during the season, for others it’s past memories or something else, but regardless of what, this time of season also brings it’s own variety of stressors. Don’t let them get the best of you. It’s easy to take them out on either how much you eat or drink so be careful and understand what’s happening to you and why. If you’re having to deal with an issue, consider how much you’re eating or drinking and adjust it to your best and most healthful benefit. If you think the stressors and issues are more than you can handle, well, talk to your health professional or clergy. Help’s there, all you need to do is ask for it.
If you over imbibe, DON’T DRIVE!
It’s just too easy to have one too many at this time of year. Please, know when to say when. Further, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking a cab home (or TO the party as well for that matter) or asking a sober friend to drive for you. This isn’t an ego issue, we all want YOU to be around for the next holiday season! And, part of that is your responsibility as well…
Here’s hoping you have the happiest and merriest holiday season and that we’ll see you next year!
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
December 16, 2018
Animism – n. – attribution of a living soul to inanimate things
December 17, 2018
Paronym – n. – a word derived from another with related meaning
December 18, 2018
Loosey-goosey – adj. – relaxed and comfortable
December 19, 2018
Oleaginous – adj. – rich in, coverered with or producing oil
December 20, 2018
Typo – n. – a typographical error
December 21, 2018
Parol – adj. – given or expressed orally
December 22, 2018
Dialect – n. – a language variety peculiar to a specific population
Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At
December 16, 2018
Never stop asking the right questions.
December 17, 2018
Survival is ensured by the quest for wisdom.
December 18, 2018
Have a specialty and make it yours.
December 19, 2018
Enjoy life while you’re alive.
December 20, 2018
Leading takes more than strength.
December 21, 2018
People change when they are given power.
December 22, 2018
Keep your eyes on the road.
Last Week’s Thoughts Can Be Found At
December 16, 2018
“The individual servers the industrial system not by supplying it with savings and the resulting capital; he serves it by consuming its pruducts.” – Gailbraith
December 17, 2018
“With every decision we make, the last question we ask is what does the consumer think of this.” – Fitzgerald
December 18, 2018
“New consumers are never-satisfied consumers.” – McKenna
December 19, 2018
“Man is the only creature that consumes without producing.” – Orwell
December 20, 2018
“Unsafe at any speed.” – Nader
December 21, 2018
“Make your bargain before beginning to plow.” – Arab proverb
December 22, 2018
“Contracts are agreements made up of big words and little type.” – Ewing.
Last Week’s Quotes Can Be Found At
Quote(s) Of The Day – For the week of For The Week Of December 9, 2018
OK, we all know that high school and college is the time to do our hell raising, stretch the limits, do things we know we shouldn’t because, well, we’re kids and it’s our time. And given some of the subjects raised during the last Supreme Court nomination fiasco, perhaps we should look at a few things.
One of the things being used to stretch limits and limit rational thinking is alcohol. No, I’m not writing a column about prohibition. I’m writing one because I’m concerned and you should be as well. I just want you to think about your kid’s future…or perhaps even your own…for a few minutes. Gimme that?
OK, so, the concerns are simple. In the last month: over 7 million people under the age of 21 drank. Over 30 percent of high school students drank. 14 percent of high school students binge drank. Over 6 percent drove after drinking alcohol and 17 percent rode with someone that had been drinking. By the time they get out of high school, over 62 percent of high school students and 23 percent of 8th graders will have experimented with alcohol.
Over 4,300 kids will die from alcohol related incidents this year and about 120,000 will be treated in hospital ER’s for alcohol related injuries.
And, if you’re not awake yet, under aged drinking is a direct lead to unwanted, unplanned and unprotected sexual activities, not to mention pregnancies and STD infections. It also directly leads to disruptions in a person’s normal healthy growth, physiological and emotional development and opens them up for physical and sexual assault.
By the way, these aren’t numbers I pulled off the top of my balding head, they’re directly from the CDC.
So, what’s causing some of these things? Well, let’s consider a few things: Major social and/or psychological transitions during middle and high school. Getting a driver’s license leaves one to a much free’er life. There’s also the situations where someone has a history of depression, social or other emotional issues. The ever looming use of alcohol in the family – face it, your kids are mirrors of you, and if you think you’re finding the answers to your problems at the bottom of a glass or bottle, so will they. Then there’s the ever present peer pressure of being a kid – my friends are drinking so I should as well to stay kool.
Many think under aged drinking during this time of development is normal and acceptable. After all, kids need to experiment to learn about life, so they say. Really? How many of you intentionally put your kid’s hand in the fire to prove to them it’s hot and dangerous? Likewise, it’s incredibly important to consider the incredibly negative ramifications and consequences of these actions and is it really worth what your kid may pay for this education either now or in the future?
So, how can we help our kids to have good healthy lives while developing normally mentally, socially and physically by preventing their underage drinking? Let’s look at a few things.
Stay involved in your kid’s lives. Be proactive in developing your relationship with them. They ARE your future, as well as part of all of our futures.
Get to know who their friends are as well as where your kids are and what they’re doing. A major part of successful parenting is proactive management. No, I don’t want you to become a little Hitler in their lives, but but you DO need to be involved and provide direction(s) – and that includes with who they associate with and when.
Part of parental guidance and management is setting and enforcing clear standards – and this includes standards regarding use of alcohol, drugs and other things that are damaging to your kid’s future and life.
Stay away from alcohol yourself. Especially in higher risk scenarios and don’t allow anyone to operate a vehicle or other dangerous activities after drinking.
Don’t allow under aged drinking in your home. Better yet, just don’t have booze in the house if at all possible.
A really important thing to remember is: none of us has a monopoly on brains. If you think you have an alcohol problem or your kid might have a problem get help! Talk to your family doctor, pediatrician, clergy or someone else that’s a medical professional. There’s no dishonor in understanding that we all have limitations and there are times when we need to get help that’s qualified and knows more than we do. Hell, you goto a mechanic when your car needs fixing, so don’t be bashful on other topics as well.
Finally, talk regularly with your kids. Let them know that you care and that you have expectations. Explaining these expectations to them and the “why” behind them today may be the reason that they’re here tomorrow…
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.
Don Rima
Don Rima is an Information Systems consultant with over 30 years experience in Information Systems. His roles of responsibility have included programming, systems management and IT department management. He's also a technical editor and writer, does regular product reviews, is a very good cook, gardener and avid reader and writer. His sports interest include: the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Orioles, Clemson Tigers and Chelsea Football teams. The articles on this site are written to be correct, informative, laconic, provoke progressive thought, informative and sometimes make you laugh. They're not designed to be the writing of just another politically correct drone.
