Safety Highlight

Modern Day Slavery

“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity.  We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become ever more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society.”  ~ Pope Francis

            Human trafficking is exactly what it sounds like, the selling of a human being into the bonds of slavery for the purpose of engaging in sex for pay or for forced labor.  In school, we learned that President Lincoln ended slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation 154 years ago, on January 1st, 1863.  The reality is that the slave industry is alive and well here in the United States as well as all around the globe.  Where slave markets were once a public affair, the new slave market operates in the shadows of abandon buildings and the cross roads of the interstates.  Due to the dark nature of this “industry” there are no hard, confirmed numbers but agencies that fights this abomination such as the US Institute Against Human Trafficking estimate that in the United States alone there could be up to a million persons ensnared in this vial trade as victims.  The victims of this modern slavery are people of every age, gender, and orientation…no one is immune. 

            While Victims can come from every walk of life, there are certain tendencies and vulnerabilities that trafficker seem to be attracted to.  According to Polaris, one of the many agencies fighting human trafficking, many victims are runaways or who are homeless as well as victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.  These victims are targeted because of their vulnerabilities and are often forced into situations of harsh labor or for sex trafficking.  It is estimated that somewhere between 100,000 to 300,000 persons are forced into the sex trade with most of these children under the age of 18 and as young as 5 years old.  It is believed that as many as 15 % of those sold for sex are boys and that number is growing.  I’m sure some of you might have heard on the news about how host cities step up vice enforcement as tens of thousands of football fans pour in to their city to party…some of those parties involve the exploitation of the innocent to the highest bidder. 

            There are warning signs that might allow a person to help a suspected victim of trafficking if they are aware… (from https://polarisproject.org/recognize-signs)

Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question

• Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
• Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
• Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
• Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
• Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
• Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
• High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

• Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
• Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health

• Lacks health care
• Appears malnourished
• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

• Has few or no personal possessions
• Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
• Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
• Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other

• Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
• Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
• Loss of sense of time
• Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

          Human trafficking is a horror against humanity and must be fought with all resources long before we build a wall or cancel health insurance to millions of people…our humanity depends upon it.  If you have questions, please call the US Institute Against Human Trafficking (844) 600-7774 or Polaris (888) 373-7888 or if you suspect someone is being held against their will, call your local authority…every bit helps.  Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a safe week moving forward.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Norovirus, The Stomach Bug

            Maladies of the gastrointestinal track are often referred to as a stomach flu or as food poisoning by those who think they have been poisoned by consuming some form of undercooked mystery meat product served up by their favorite greasy spoon restaurant.  What they are most likely suffering from is an acute outbreak of the norovirus which wreaks havoc on the digestive system of those who are unfortunate enough to contracted the highly contagious bug.  Norovirus is an illness that involves the inflammation of the stomach and of the intestines which causes severe symptoms that usually start within 24 hours after exposure and can last up to 48 hours after the symptoms start.  Norovirus is a tough bug that has the ability to mutate easily and due to the design of the virus, it is hard to kill and is easily transmittable.  Even though the illness in very unpleasant, most people recover just as quickly as they came down with it.  The most common time of the year to become ill from the norovirus is during the late fall into the winter which is why so many people confuse it with the flu but it should be understood and recognized for what it is in order to help minimize its spread.

            The symptoms of norovirus can be severe and sudden as the most common symptoms involve the onset of nausea, cramps, and a headache followed by vomiting and watery diarrhea and all usually at the same time.  Other symptoms also include feeling feverish, muscle aches and fatigue.  This illness usually lingers for up to 48 hours for most people but for the elderly and those who already have weakened immune systems, the illness can last longer which is why dehydration becomes such a serious concern.  There is no known vaccine for the norovirus so the best thing for those who are suffering from norovirus is to try and relieve the impact of the symptoms they are suffering from.  The best thing to do is to make sure that the patient is getting plenty of fluids in order to prevent dehydration.  Medication for the headaches, fever as well as muscle aches such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen (over the counter products) will work as well as long as the patient can keep the medication down long enough to allow it to work.  The body will want to purge anything that is in the system and it will do so with regularity until the illness has run its course.  As a patient is coming out of the illness, items like dry toast or crackers are often a good food to help get the system back in order again but most likely the patient will not feel too keen to dive in and eat until they are good and ready which may be a couple of days.

            Norovirus is really a highly contagious bug as the virus can survive up to 72 hours on an untreated counter or door knob.  People who have been ill with norovirus are still contagious even after they start to feel better so it is advisable that those who are ill take an extra day to fully recover before going back to work as they could pass the illness on without knowing it. The virus is passed on by contaminated surfaces or objects that might have vomit or stool on them.  A simple towel that might have been used to clean up after a mess can carry that virus for days until it is washed and dried properly and everything that towel touched becomes contaminated for up to three days.  The make-up of the virus makes it resistant to common disinfectants and the only way to kill the virus is by using bleach or heat to kill the virus.  Decontaminating the living areas and washing hands frequently with hot soapy water is about the best defense against the spread of the virus.  The norovirus has been making repeated trips around our communities this year so I felt the need to share…I hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope that for those who are planning to attend Super Bowl events and parties, be safe and have fun.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

The Land of Opportunity

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

~Emma Lazarus

            In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue to become one of the earliest explorers to come to the North American continent and take word back to the rest of Europe of this mysterious land.  Even though Leif Erikson was here 500 years before Columbus, it was his sailing in the name of the Queen of Spain that allowed the news of his journey to spread the way it did.  With word of a land rich with opportunity explorers from all over Europe began to explore and exploit the vast wealth of the Americas as each European power raced to establish claim to these lands new to the old world.  From the humble beginnings as settlements to growing colonies which finally bonded together to form a new nation called the United States, this region of the world has always drawn industrious people with the hopes of starting anew in this land of opportunity.  These United States of American are built upon the toil and efforts of the early Europeans who immigrated to this continent with hope in their heart for a better future. 

          The History of the United States is steeped in waves of immigration from various countries from all over the world.  Each wave immigration brought with it new fears to those who had already come but it also brought new talents that have allowed our country to shine like no other in the world.  We all come from somewhere else.  Some of us have been here longer than others but at the end of the day, unless you are 100% native American, your ancestors have come from some other part of the planet.  The number of people immigrating to the United States was such that even the other nations of the world recognized this when France gave us the copper colossus which stands in the harbor of New York titled, “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World".  The Statue of Liberty is a symbol that yells out to the world those famous words written by Emma Lazarus inviting those who are oppressed and downtrodden, come and we will give you respite…come and we will give you hope…come and we will give you a place of freedom to raise your family.  This is what makes America great.  America is a land where a person can live in freedom to grow as much as they want and do whatever they set their heart out to do as long as they work hard enough to earn it.  That is the light that has drawn millions upon millions of people from all over the globe to this great land, this land of opportunity.  Opportunity for better jobs, opportunity for better living conditions, opportunity for better education, an opportunity for a better life.  The United States is known throughout the world as the great melting pot as immigrants of the world come together.

           Throughout our history our government has thrown up road blocks as to be prejudice against one people or another be they of Irish, Italian, German, Japanese or Chinese background.  Those blockages have always been torn down by those who relied on cool heads and didn’t fall prey to the unfounded fears spread by those who harbored hate deep within their heart.  Fear brings about behavior that is despicable and despised by civilized society.  To judge an entire people by the behavior of a few is as ignorant as summarily dismissing the elephant in the room by just saying that it just doesn’t exist.  Immigration of various peoples of the world to this country make it stronger through diversity, not weaker.  Prejudice and fear are born out of lack of understanding and a lack of love for our fellow humanity.  My father was an immigrant who came to this country over 60 years go to escape religious persecution and to further his education, I imagine similar stories can be found by all of us if we traced back our ancestry to the first person who braved the unknown to immigrate to America.  Thanks for reading, as we move forward this week, ponder how you plan to live…with fear or with humanity.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Slipping Away

“Glaucoma is a thief of sight.  Each day it seals from you precious memories, not of what was, but of what is to come.”  ~Jeremiah Lim

            Today I am going to share a little bit of information about the leading cause of blindness in the United States, glaucoma.  Glaucoma is a slow-moving illness that affects about three million people here in the US and affects about sixty million people world-wide.  There is currently no known cure for glaucoma and the effects of the damage are irreversible.  The sad truth is that many people who suffer from glaucoma may not realize that they are in the early to mid-stage of the disease as it can only be detected by an eye exam…and unless you wear glasses, you may not be too inclined to get an eye exam.  My sudden interest in this disease hits a little closer to home as I found out last week at my eye exam that the interocular pressure (IOP) is a little high in my left eye which has caused some small amount of damage…early onset glaucoma.  I am glad I found out now versus years from now when the damage could be greater still.  Needless to say, I have been doing a little bit of reading as to find out more information about glaucoma and the risk factors of the disease as there is no known trigger or cause for glaucoma. 

            Here is what we know, the risk factors for glaucoma are over age 40; have family members with glaucoma; are of African or Hispanic heritage (African Americans are six times more likely to develop glaucoma than Caucasians); are of Asian heritage; have high eye pressure; are farsighted or nearsighted; have had an eye injury; have corneas that are thin in the center; or have diabetes, migraines, high blood pressure, poor blood circulation or other health problems affecting the whole body.  Of the risk factors, I qualify for a few of them, I’m over 40, I am nearsighted, my IOP is higher than normal and I am a diabetic...but as of today, it is only effecting my left eye, for now.  This is all good information to know but what is the next step?  Since there is no known cure, what damage has happened is there for life but there are treatments that are available to help slow down or arrest the progression of the illness and minimize further damage.  There are special medications in the form of eye drops that one can utilize or oral medication in the form of pills that can help mitigate this disease and depending on the type of glaucoma one has, there are different medical procedures that can be performed on the eye to reduce IOP and thus halt the advancement of the illness.

            I recommend that if it has been a while since your last eye exam that you go ahead and schedule an eye examination to discover the level of health of your eye sight.  If you wear glasses you are more than likely to have an ophthalmologist that you see on a regular bases but if you don’t wear glasses, ask your family doctor and they should be able to recommend who might be available in your area.  You get one set of eyes, take care of them…like our quote at the beginning tells us, blindness is a thief that steals our future memories.  As always, thanks for reading.  I hope everyone has an excellent week moving forward and if you have any follow-up questions about glaucoma, there are several great web sites that provide a wealth of information such as glaucoma.org or nei.nih.gov/health/glaucoma (The National Eye Institute).  I hope everyone has a good week moving forward, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

A Day of Transition…

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."  ~The Presidential Oath of Office

            Today, January 20, marks the day in which the United States will once again demonstrate to the world how a democracy can undergo a peaceful transition of governments as the nation says goodbye to one presidential administration and ushers in a new presidential administration.  The peaceful transition of government is one of the many positive hallmarks that the United States can carry to our global community and share.  I am writing about the presidential inauguration today from the point of view that many Americans (as well as the global community) have great fear and trepidation about the incoming administration and how it will impact our nation as a whole.  There are many Americans (as well as at least one from the global community) who are celebrating this day as a day of triumph over perceived ineffectual leadership from career Washington insiders.  No matter which philosophy you tend to identify with, the fact remains that today we will witness the inauguration of this country’s 45th president.

            My health perspective for today as I write this blog is from the perspective of anxiety.  There are a great many people of whom I know who have a great deal of anxiety over the incoming administration.  I think it is natural for a good deal of people to feel uneasy with an incoming administration but the popularity for President elect Trump (soon to be President Trump) is the lowest approval rating for an incoming president in over 40 years showing an approval rating hovering between 40 to 44 percent depending on the poll you wish to read.  So the anxiety I write about is real and confirmed by a great many different pollsters from around the country but how does one deal with this stress?  The options vary from the challenging to the absolute silly but as for myself I will choose to hope.  I will hope that the new administration will do the best job it can for all of our country and not just a select few.  I will reach out and communicate with my elected representatives in hopes that they might hear and understand my concerns.  I will pray because I believe prayer helps.  I will have a positive attitude because fear accomplishes nothing but propagating fear and fear leads to a host of negativity.  I will take the high road and be proactive in reaching out because those are the things I can control.  I urge you to try and do the same.  I can’t change the results of the election and neither can you but we can change our attitudes and outlooks.  So many people are afraid of change but change is a constant in the universe…sort of like death and taxes…it’s always there so embrace it with courage and look for the positive…you never know what you might find.

          I am not advocating for one political group over another…I am advocating for common sense and for the respect of all humanity.  I hope you are too.  Thanks for reading and as we head into this new era and administration I hope you have a great weekend.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Friday the 13th

Friggatriskaidekaphobia:  The Fear of Friday the 13th

            Happy Friday the 13th everyone!  As we prepare for the weekend ahead of us I wanted to take a few moments and talk about this particular day and what makes it so special.  Growing up, I’m sure you have all heard about or even been nervous about the thirteenth day of a month that happens to fall on a Friday…that superstition, that thought that bad omens or luck that will befall all as potential disaster lies just moments away all throughout the day.  You might be wondering how this superstition has woven itself into the fabric of our lives and why so many are literally paralyzed with fear and are incapable of not only leaving their home but who are afraid of getting out of bed on a day such as today.  As always, I am writing to inform and not to judge, if Friday the 13th causes your level of concern to skyrocket to the stratosphere, then you my friend are not alone and there is no judgement or condemnation on my end. 

            Friday the 13th gained a great deal of attention as a day of ill luck early in the 19th century as various literary works used that day as the anchor to create havoc within those books but it was those books that awakened the notion that both Fridays and the number thirteen were both bad luck.  Friggatriskaidekaphobia (I know, it’s a mouthful) is the fear of Friday the 13th.  Frigga is the name of the Norse Goddess of whom Friday is named after (for centuries Friday was considered a day of bad luck).  The number thirteen has long been a number that has been associated with ill omens and events and thus the fear of the number 13, triskaidekaphobia, has been felt by countless numbers for thousands of years, this belief can be traced back to ancient Babylonia in 1700 B.C.  Throughout history, 12 has been considered a number of completeness but 13 a number of trouble, the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 Descendants of Muhammad, the 12 Apostles of Jesus, the 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 months in a year and the pattern goes on and on.  Twelve is complete, thirteen is out of balance…unlucky.  During Medieval Age, Friday the 13th became a day to be feared as the Christian church recounted stories of how there 13 people at the last supper and how Christ died on a Friday.  These fears were further engrained the leadership of the Knights Templar, the one-time guardians of the holy lands, and a multitude of their following were rounded up on Friday, October 13, 1307 and accused of an array of crimes including consorting with the devil and were put to death. 

Even though there have been many pop culture books and movies over the years that seem to feast on the fears of those who dread this day, there seem to be some positive that come from this fear.  According to one study by the insurance industry, the occurrences of auto accidents are lower on Friday the 13th as compared to any other Friday as drivers tend to be more careful on the 13th in hopes of fending off the possibility of bad luck striking while driving.  Some people say they are immune to superstitions because they don’t believe in them but I’m of the thought that we all are a little superstitious about something…thousands of years of human conditioning is bound to rub off on us a little bit.  As a kid playing ice hockey, I always put on my left skate first because I believed it was good luck to do so…to this day, thirty years later, I still put on my left shoe first…always…without even thinking about it.  I thank you for reading and I hope everyone has a safe day as the impending ice storm bears down on us…take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together!

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Grief and Grieving

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die…”  Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2

            The bible is full of little nuggets of wisdom to help us though this journey of life and whether you’ve read it or not…whether you believe or not, the fact remains that there is much wisdom to be gained from its words.  In the past few days it seems like I have been surrounded by friends and co-workers who have all lost close family members since the new year.  Some losses have had a profound impact on our community and others the impact weighs heavily on family and friends.  No matter what the situation, the loss of a loved one creates a void that can be painful for those of us left behind who are often full of questions that are often left unanswered.  Life is a circle that starts at birth and ultimately ends with death and there is no getting around this fact…we are all born and then we all pass on.  Even though we all know this and understand this fact on a basic level it is still never easy for us to look towards tomorrow when we experience the loss of a loved one.  We all deal with grief and the process of grieving differently and in our own way…the important thing is that we do grieve, that we do allow ourselves to mourn the passing of a loved one as a part of the process of healing and recovering from that grief. 

            Mental Health America shares that even when the death of a loved one is expected the bereaved experience a multitude of emotions such as Denial, Disbelief, Confusion, Shock, Sadness, Yearning, Anger, Humiliation, Despair, & Guilt.  These feelings are normal but may be experienced with greater intensity and for a greater duration but it is all normal.  The key to recovering from a loss is to go through the process of mourning and experiencing the grief that is associated with the loss.  There are physical responses to loss as well as psychological responses and they can manifest themselves in many different ways.  It is critical to the healing process to allow the body to go through these various states of grief and allowing the expression of the feelings that are welling up inside your body.  By expressing these feelings openly, you are in essence opening a release valve and letting the stress of the event escape rather than holing it in.  Holding in the emotions and feelings brought on by the grief of loss can cause physical and psychological harm over time.

            In dealing with grief it is recommended that the bereaved seek out caring people and express their feelings.  One of the worse things a person who is grieving could do is shut themselves off from the world and those that care for them.  Take care of your health, resist things that numb the pain of loss like alcohol and drugs as this will only prolong the healing process.  Eating well and getting out for a walk can help boost the bodies mood boosting abilities.   Postpone major life changes, the midst of grief is not the best time for life changing decisions, the added stress brought about by major changes could magnify the feelings of loss and create more long term lasting issues.  The final bit of advice is to be patient.  The mourning process is just that, a process and it takes time and that time is different for all of us but time does help lessen the pain of the loss.

            My thoughts and love go out to those who have lost loved ones so recently and to those who are still grieving for those who have passed on months or years ago, it is a process, stay with it, the process works.  Thank you for reading, if you think you might know someone this could help, please pass it on.  I hope everyone has a good week moving forward, take care of yourself and each other, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Happy New Year

I Thus Resolve…

            Happy New Year to all my followers and readers out there!  Yes, I know that today is January 6th but all the same, it’s my first post of the New Year and I wish to share with you my desire for all of us to have a safe, prosperous and happy 2017.  Today I would like to take a moment and comment about the long standing tradition of committing to a New Year’s Resolution, that little promise we make to ourselves to make some kind of improvement to our self and to those around us.  The most common resolutions are to lose weight, the promise to improve one’s self, to quit smoking, better money management and to work out/exercise more.  I’m sure not sure if you are one of the 40% - 50% of Americans who subscribe to this annual tradition but if you are then you have a higher chance of success at achieving your goals that those who do not declare a resolution at all.  I like the ideas of resolutions, for me it is a chance to try something different to try and be a better version of myself for my own benefit and to the benefit of those around me.  I know it is a New Year’s tradition but when did it all start?  Who came up with the idea and why?

            The notion of a New Year’s Resolution is thought to have originated with the Babylonians over 4000 years ago as they are one of the first cultures to celebrate the coming of a new year which was celebrated in mid-March, the time of planting new crops.  The common resolutions of the time were to repay debts and return things borrowed, simple by today’s standard but still goals of self-improvement.  The ancient Romans practiced this tradition as well.  (Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and made the date of the New Year January 1st…January, named after the god Janus, was the god of doorways and openings, looking both backwards and forwards.)  The Romans took this opportunity to reflect on the past year and try and seek improvements for the upcoming year.  This tradition wove itself into Christian religious traditions of reflecting upon past sins and seeking better conduct for the upcoming year.  This tradition became such a part of the church that it eventually became a separate service for some churches called the watch night service where parishioners spend the night of the incoming year in prayer versus boisterous celebrations.  Today, resolutions are more secular in nature in the form of promises to one’s self versus the religious commitments to a higher power as in the days of old…but the idea is the same, resolving to be a better person in some form or another.

            It’s true that many resolutions fail over time as people give in to their weaknesses and get tired of the challenge they set before themselves (but those who resolve change still succeed more than those who don’t!).  I think that some resolutions fail because the goal is too unrealistic.  As much as I would love to lose X number of pounds or be able to run X number of miles every day, I know I need to keep the goal realistic in order to achieve success.  This year, my goal is one that is a low pressure goal that I believe is achievable as it is also very flexible.  This year I have resolved to make better choices.  So far so good.  Maybe my better choice for the day is to walk a little further or maybe not have a second serving of my favorite dish.  Maybe my better choice for the day could be to let the other car in front of me or practice a random act of kindness to a complete stranger.  I believe that by making small yet better choices will have a long lasting accumulative affect over the course of the year and I believe that this is very achievable each and every day.  What-ever you have resolved for 2017, I hope you see the change you wish to see.  Thanks again for reading and I hope everyone has a better 2017 than 2016, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Happy Holiday!

From all of us at Best Home Care Services to all of you, wishing you the warmest and happiest holiday season.  We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!

Just a Thought

Gratitude Attitude

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but is the parent of all others.” ~Cicero

            Thank you…such a simple phrase, such a simple concept but oh the power it holds.  The ability to say thank you (and really mean it) is something that seems to be lacking a little more each day in our society.  The ability to show and express gratitude without expectancy of something in return seems to be considered old fashion and out of step in our modern self-centered society where feelings of entitlement rule the day.  That may be fine and dandy for some but as for me and my household, we choose gratitude not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is also the healthy thing to do…it just feels good, way better than one might think.  As our journey through the 2016 holiday season comes closer to a conclusion, some people embrace the holiday spirit by being a little kinder to one another, a little more giving and a little more willing to be understanding in difficult situations all in the name of the season.  Some people express more gratitude during the holidays because it makes them feel good as they take a nostalgic turn down memory lane visiting all those happy thoughts of years gone by.  Being thankful and expressing gratitude during the holidays for some is what helps make the season that much more magical…but there is a reason it feels so magical.

            Our ability to feel gratitude and express that gratitude has a profoundly positive benefit for not just our mental health but to our physical health too.  In a 2014 article written by Amy Morin she extols seven different virtues of having an attitude of gratitude.  The first of these is that by expressing gratitude to the people around you, you are more likely to open the door to new relationships (friends) both personally and professionally.  Being thankful and having a heart of gratitude improves physical health as grateful people feel less aches and pains and are more likely to take care of their body.  Being grateful is good for your psychological health as people who express feelings of gratitude are less likely to feel the toxic emotions of envy, resentment and regret.  Having an attitude of gratitude also reduces feelings of aggression and enhances feelings of empathy making you a much better person all round to hang out with.  Grateful people also sleep better, have better self-esteem and have a higher level of mental toughness all because they feel thankful for what they have and who they are.  Kindness radiates from people who practice the life skill of gratitude because they seem to be in this happy place where they are just thankful for what they have instead of stressing out about what they don’t have.  I’m not saying that people who live by gratitude don’t have moments where they want something more but I am saying that they won’t implode if they can’t get what they want right away.  They will just happily work towards their goal with a thankful heart until they get it.

            Christmas time usually brings out the best in humanity and for that I’m thankful.  We live in a land that abounds with opportunity and I believe that the glass is always half full and I know that speaking for myself, I feel better about the world with a little bit of optimism in my heart.  Call me old fashion, call me naïve, call me what you will but I believe we can all be the change we wish to see in the world and with an attitude of gratitude I believe we can make it happen.  I would like to thank you all for reading and as we rapidly approach Christmas day I urge you to try to keep that giving spirit in your heart all the year-long.  Stay warm and safe out there, take care of yourself and each other, and remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com