Stop Existing and Start Living!

Are you still daydreaming about the goals you had set for yourself, but still have not achieved yet? So you start to daydream about what it would be like if you really had achieved the goals you had hoped for. Is it the fear of the unknown? Fear of Failure? Fear of Change? Fear of Success?

Don’t laugh…these are real fears that a lot of people have to overcome to move forward. This is not the same type of fear that you get when you’re scared…You know, sweaty palms, shaky knees, goose bumps, etc. No, this fear stalls you in your tracks while you’re trying to reach the goals you have envisioned for yourself. So you ask yourself…”self, why can’t I move forward and reach my goals?” Mainly, because of the BIG GORILLA in the room: FEAR. In one form or the other, it sneaks up on you and stalls you cold.

You’ve heard of PROCRASTINATION? This is actually another fear that can totally shut you down as you never quite move forward on anything. If you repeatedly do this it actually becomes a habit and it’s very hard to break.

PERFECTIONISM is another example of fear. You never finish anything because you feel that it’s not quite right or good enough and it becomes a problem that can also shut you down. Have you ever felt overwhelmed when doing something and so you just don’t start. This is a very common fear that you need to address and get over or you won’t be able to move forward.

Be especially careful about perfectionism because this one can cause you to read endlessly and educate yourself, but then you fail to take action so the process of reaching a goal or goals you wanted for yourself just stops.

Doing busy work all day long, but not accomplishing anything, is yet another form of fear. You seemingly work hard, but unfortunately not toward any of your goals. Some tasks will always need to be a priority over others but be careful about filling up your day with to-do’s that do not add to the quality of your life – rather they just become habits of circumstance that end up filling up your life. Find a balance.

One of the best ways I’ve found for overcoming some of these “fears” is to just TAKE ACTION. It’s amazing how simply taking some action gets you moving in the right direction and closer to those elusive goals you wanted for yourself. I’ve found once you get some momentum going, in the right direction, those fears you had start to diminish. Soon your fears subside and your ENTHUSIASM takes over.

However, none of this will mean anything if you start taking action that is the wrong kind. By that I mean:

1. You need to choose a goal that is very clear and that can be measured. If it isn’t clear and can’t be measured you’re not going to know that the direction you’re moving is correct.
2. You need to create a “road map” as you would if you were going for a walk or drive, so you know where you are going and where you should end up.

I hope this short article gets you thinking about how to improve your existence and starts you thinking about really living. When you are reaching your goals you will find yourself feeling alive as you now have a purpose about you and you know where you’re going.

Article by Patrick Brennan, Reprinted with Permission from Senior Living Magazine, www.seniorlivingmag.com

Heart Healthy Recipe: Lip Smacking BBQ Drumsticks

Makes 5 servings

Ingredient

1 tsp (5 mL) canola oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp (10 mL) chili powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) fresh ground pepper
2 cups (500 mL) tomato passata
3/4 cup (175 mL) chopped pitted Medjool dates
1/4 cup (60 mL) cider vinegar
1 tbsp (15 mL) chopped fresh thyme
1 tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp (5 mL) hot pepper sauce
10 skinless chicken drumsticks (about 1 kg/2 lbs)

Directions

In a saucepan, heat oil over medium heat and cook onion, garlic, thyme, chili powder and pepper for 3 minutes or until softened. Stir in tomato passata, dates, vinegar, Worcestershire and hot pepper sauce and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Scrape into blender and purée until smooth. Makes about 2 1/2 cups (625 mL) of sauce. Place drumsticks on greased grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. Turn and grill for 5 minutes more. Start brushing with about 1 cup (250 mL) of sauce, turning often and basting for about more 10 minutes*. Serve with some of the remaining sauce, if desired. Cover and refrigerate remaining sauce for up to 2 weeks. 

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1 of 5) – Calories 229, Protein 27 g, Total Fat 8 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 97 mg, Carbohydrates 12 g, Sugar 10 g, Fibre 2 g, Sodium 182 mg, Potassium 491 mg.

Recipe developed by Emily Richards, P.H. EC. for Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Reprinted with Permission.

Seniors Tip: How Does Age Affect Blood Donation? - Part 1

Q – I heard there is an age cut-off for donating blood – is this true? What are the most common reasons a senior donor might be deferred from donating blood? And what are the most common reasons a senior might need blood products to stay healthy? 

A – These are great questions and will hopefully help spread the message about the importance of blood donation! We’ll start with answering your first question in this edition of “Maturity Matters”, followed by responses to your second two questions in future issues. For many years, Canadian Blood Services deferred donors from giving blood once reaching a certain age – either 61 years of age for first time donors, or 71 for regular donors. Over time, increasing evidence indicated that healthy, senior donors could safely donate and also, many of our loyal, long term, and highly motivated senior donors were advocating that they be allowed to continue donating. In December 2004, after careful assessment, Canadian Blood Services obtained Health Canada approval to allow seniors to begin donating blood after age 61 and continue donating beyond age 71, after assessment of their fitness to donate by their physician.

Seniors are asked to complete a medical document, called the “Letter to the Attending Physician” which is given to their doctor, to indicate their assessed fitness to donate and, which is then returned to Canadian Blood Services. The form can be obtained at your local blood donor clinic or online at www.blood.ca, and should be completed if you are a first-time donor above the age of 61, or annually for donors above the age of 71. 

Today, senior donors are an important part of Canadian Blood Services’ donor base. In British Columbia, for example, while donors above the age of 65 account for 3.7 per cent of the overall donor base, they also account for 5.2 per cent of all donations, proving they’re among our most loyal and frequent blood donors. 

Dr. Mark Bigham is a Medical Consultant for both Canadian Blood Services and Fraser Health Authority in British Columbia. Reprinted by Request.

Did you know? What Are the Risks Associated with a Concussion?

Lately, there has been significant public focus on the ‘vulnerability’ of our brains in relation to sports injuries. It has me thinking a lot about brain health in general and I would like to highlight a few issues relevant for all of us and, in particular, for those among us and in our circles who are aging.

I will focus my reflections this month on the risks associated with concussions (mild traumatic brain injury). 

It is becoming a newly accepted fact that there is a significant link between repeated concussions and depression, as well as early onset dementia. In fact, there are estimates that with at least three concussions, the risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease increases five-fold! Athletes, veterans and others who have built their careers putting themselves in harm’s way have a much higher risk of developing these debilitating illnesses due to the development of abnormal proteins in the brain caused by repeated brain injuries. 

But as we age, our risk of injuring our brain from a fall or light sports injury can be just as serious. A head injury, even a minor one caused by a fall, can result in a concussion. A concussion is literally a ‘bruise to the brain’. It can knock a person unconscious and cause memory loss, headaches, dizziness, confusion and ringing in the ears. It can also damage a person’s ability to think and to speak clearly. Many times the signs and symptoms of a concussion are not immediately manifest and a common reaction of people who have hit their heads is to try to ‘shake it off’ and minimize the injury. Ignoring symptoms can make the situation worse as a medical assessment does not occur and the important healing process is neglected. 

After any concussion, a person’s brain is extremely vulnerable for at least a few days. Any further concussions or even minor trauma to the brain, during this period can seriously affect the brains ability to heal and can even be deadly.

Recovery from a concussion depends on how severe the concussion is, a person’s age, how healthy they are and especially how well they take care of themselves after the injury. Rest and nutrition are very important in restoring health and well-being. And patience, because this healing takes time. So, be aware and take good care of your brain! 

Laurie Duke, RN, CPCA, www.gigaluma.com, Reprinted by Request

Joke or Quote of the Month: Appreciate the Present

“The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present, and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.”

Audrey Hepburn