Aurora

The world is reeling from the news of the massacre at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado.  The senseless death of twelve innocent people and the injuries of dozens more, all of whom were simply out to enjoy a movie, is almost beyond comprehension.   The fact, as we are now learning, that the killer must have planned this evil act for months and knew that many people would die by his actions is horrifying.  He left booby-traps behind in his apartment, putting at risk the lives of the police officers he knew would be entering his home.  The horror is intensified because this murderer apparently lived a normal life, had a university education, in fact excelled at college and was at the top of his class, and because he came from a middle-class family -  just like so many people we know and grew up with.  How is it possible for one person to hurt so many people in a calm and planned manner?

 Out of the ashes of this great tragedy, stories are emerging of ordinary people performing heroic actions.  We are hearing stories of people, true heroes, who risked or even gave up their lives to save another’s.  We already know of two men who threw themselves on their girlfriends to protect them, and lost their lives but saved that of their loved ones.  Mothers risked their lives to protect their children.  Total strangers helped each other as the horror played out all around them.  Ordinary people became super heroes.  The strength and compassion of the human soul was in great evidence that night.  That is the important element of this tragedy which we need to remember.  It was not “each man for himself”, people helped each other and in some cases put themselves in harm’s way to do so.  In the aftermath, the world has put a collective arm around the families who lost a loved one, have offered compassion and prayers for those who were injured and have given support to those who witnessed the terror and survived.  Each time another horrific assault like this one occurs, dozens of unlikely and ordinary heroes emerge.  Theirs are the stories we need to remember.

 Rather than lose faith and hope in mankind because of the cruel act of one man, let us marvel at the bravery and unselfish acts of those in that theatre, and at the compassion of so many others all over the world who offer prayers, support and love.  Finding hope, friendship and love in the face of great horror . . . it’s a good thing!

 

The Attic

I was asked recently where my favorite place to go as a child was.  I was instantly transported back to my grandparents’ house and their wonderful attic.  I spent many long summer afternoons in that attic, rummaging through trunks in search of precious (in my mind, at least) treasures I knew I would find.

            Each summer, I would spend a week or two at my grandparents’ house.  It is no wonder I loved going there.  I had the total attention of Grandma and Grandpa all to myself and did not have to compete for that attention with anyone.  There would be wonderful shopping trips into the city where Grandma and I would shop for clothes for me.  I loved spending time with Grandpa in his garden.  What I enjoyed most, however, was climbing up the stairs to their attic to see what I would find that day.

            Their attic was filled with objects gathered over their lifetime, and had many trunks, boxes and containers.  There was one trunk filled with souvenirs from France brought back by Grandma on her many trips there.  There were pictures of Grandma and Grandpa in their younger days.  I found an entire photo album of pictures of Mom and her sister, of cousins and relatives.  The album was an old-fashioned scrap book with black pages and the pictures were held in place with little golden inserts on each corner.  One day, in yet another truck, I found a pair of fur hand warmers which, Grandma later explained, woman would use to keep their hand warms when riding in open sleighs.  I loved the feel of the deep, soft fur and there, in that hot summer attic, I was in a sleigh racing over snow keeping my hands warm.   I came across old passports belonging to my grandparents.  As I held them in my hand, I imagined it was my name on the passport and that I, too, had travelled the world (or at least a good part of it).  I sat on an old rocking chair with the passports in my hand, trying to make out the different names stamped there.  I loved looking through the boxes of postcards my Grandma had collected over the years, mostly from France.  I found notebooks which had belonged to my Mom, the penmanship perfect as was expected from teachers then.  I found many treasures there and my imagination grew with each new discovery.  The items I loved the best, I would take downstairs at suppertime to “show” Grandma, knowing full well she would tell me to keep my cache.  I still have many of those treasures Grandma let me keep and they mean as much to me today as they did back then.

            I loved looking out of the window in the attic.  It looked down on the front yard.  When I heard a car pull in, I would look down from the window and watch the activity below me.  I felt like a queen looking down on her subjects and loved the fact that no one could see me, but I could see them. 

            In a twist of fate, my sister now lives in the same town my grandparents lived in and my grandparents’ old home is within view of my sister’s house.  Each time I visit her, as I drive into her driveway, I look over to the old house and check out the attic window.  It never fails to make me smile as I think of the hours I spent in that wonderful attic and how I watched over my kingdom from that window.  Having a favourite place to remember . . . it's a good thing!

A Healthy Cup Of Java

I love my coffee. Until recently, coffee was considered a guilty pleasure and we were advised to cut back on the amount of coffee we drank (something, by the way, I never did). Well, now experts tell us that caffeine is actually good for us!

Some time ago, I wrote in my column about the health benefits of drinking a glass of wine a few times a week. Now I find there is a great deal of research which proves coffee is also good for our health.

The University of California has done research which proves that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 60%! The researchers found this applied to people with normal levels of blood sugar as well as those who have been diagnosed as pre-diabetic. The researchers studies 910 adults over an average of 8 years. How much coffee are they talking? Well, about four cups a day. OK, so I drink a little more than that each day, but at least I don’t have to feel guilty about those first four cups. Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health and in Sweden and Finland all came to same conclusion that drinking coffee can drastically reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

The National Cancer Centre in Tokyo conducted a study of 90,000 Japanese. They found that people who consumed one to four cups of coffee each day had half the liver cancer risk than those who drank no coffee.

Recent studies have resulted in other surprising findings: indulging in your daily java can actually be a healthy habit. It has been shown to enhance athletic performance, increase mental alertness and protect again diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and colon cancer.

I know it sounds too good to be true, but I’m not making this up! Scientists and researchers all over the world are changing their views on coffee. Toxicologist and food-safety expert, Dr. Eileen Madden, told a symposium on coffee and health at the New York Academy of Sciences, “Coffee consumption fits into a very healthy diet, and if anything, may have a beneficial effect” (Who knew there was even such a thing as symposium on coffee and health?).

I love it when something I like to consume is found – by scientists, no less – to be good for you (ok – in moderation, but still).

Drinking wine and coffee because it’s good for you . . . it’s a good thing!

Life's Colours

 

I am a “colour” person and am influenced by colours. I first became aware this was true in one of my very first classes at university.  The class was for first year students to learn how to study. We were taught different ways in which to study, with the idea that we should find the way that worked best for us.  We were told that if we were “colour” people, our study notes would be more effective if each topic or section was written in different coloured ink. In order to decide if we were or were not colour people, the instructor asked us to think how we feel about colours. Do we buy things like notebooks and pens in certain colours because they “make us feel good” or do we just buy these items in whatever colour we happen to grab first? Do certain colours make us feel happy or do colours have no effect on us at all? I knew after answering those two questions that I am a colour person. I definitely bought notebooks, pens, pencils, pencil-cases, and rulers in colors I enjoyed looking at.  It does make me feel good to see colours I like.

I used the “coloured ink” system for my notes and it worked very well for me. By dividing my notes by category and giving each category a specific colour, my brain more easily remembered what I needed to know.  I found that studying for exams was easier when things were divided by colour.  I also noticed that, without realizing it, I used colours I liked on the subjects or sections I enjoyed and that on those I didn’t enjoy so much, I used colours I liked less.   I still find I am influenced by colour today.  Even at work, the items I use everyday are usually in colours I like. For example, I will go out of my way to buy a journal for work with pink cover rather than a blue or black one.

Now, I find there has recently been actual scientific research completed to back up the “colour person” theory. A survey of 600 people was done in which their pill-taking habits were examined. Over 75% of those studied were more likely to take pills if they liked the colour! They also found people were less likely to forget to take their pills if the colour pleased them. When I think back to my own pill-taking experiences, I realize that I too am more likely to remember to take a pill or a vitamin if I like the colour.

So, go ahead and enjoy the colours in your life.  Surrounding yourself with colours that make you happy. . . .it's a good thing!