The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Welcome to Wednesday, the 26th of January 2022. How are you today? Both Alvin and I are great.

Today is the BELL Let’s Talk Day. Today we destigmatizing mental health and raise funds.

The subject is no longer taboo. Finally!

For as long as humans have walked the Earth – we have stayed as far away from “mental health” conversation as possible. We shunned people with mental health issues and even worse.

Every family is touched by issues surrounding the brain.

Some may be small and barely noticeable to anyone including the person affected and others are noticeable a mile away. We are all affected by mental illness to some degree.

Although I used to think that I did not have any mental health issues but I was wrong. I like so many other human beings suffer from occasional bouts of depression which may be in varying degrees. Mine is “seasonal depression” and this is more common than one would think. This does not happen all of the time but mainly during long periods of overcast skies and blustery days. I just feel “blue” and not my usual bubbly self. So during these days I make sure that I surround myself with things that bring me joy and light. It helps.

Seeking professional help is important and surrounding yourself with positive influences is important as well.

You are important as is every other person on this planet. If you are not sure if you have depression or not, talk to a professional. They can help.

Everyone needs to “talk” to someone at some point in their lives. We cannot survive without talking – communicating our inner thoughts.

Have a great day and take care.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Always, Carol & Alvin

The New YEAR 2022

Good Morning ALL! Despite the rocky start to the New Year, things are starting to get better. Yesterday over my lunch break, I asked a neighbour to come over and check behind the stove to see if you know what was in the you know what! I won’t say because I am not one that takes taking a life no matter what lightly. All life is important for this Earth unfortunately there are some that are short lived. Anyway, K checked behind the stove and it was there, so it was disposed of properly. I felt bad but I also felt a massive sigh of relief and the anxiety that I had been feeling for two days was substantially lifted. I will not say that I was immediately anxiety free, as I was not. Continuing to work upstairs likely helped. After work I took a deep breath and started to empty the dishwasher, put away the clean dishes that filled the kitchen table and wiped the counter completely with disinfectant wipes once again before return any items. The only items on the counter are the electric kettle, food processor, stand mixer and the glass cake container which houses the bananas but I am using it as though they were a cake. They are covered. There are two containers with utensils. That is it. I also folded up some tin foil and placed it at either end of the top of the stove resting against the countertop. I pushed in more foil beside the bottom of the stove as well. It just gives me a bit more peace of mind. After that I started to gather some of the remaining Christmas decorations to put away. I even got brave on my own and went into the basement, not the furnace room but the “family room” and got some empty rubbermaid containers for the ornaments/decorations. In between I gave Mr. Alvin his supper. Every time I have food out I scrub and wipe to ensure there are no crumbs anywhere to be found. The lid from a new tin of Alvin’s dog food well I took it off the can, washed it and the can once emptied into a covered container and place clean items in a bag and put in recycling. NO CRUMBS. It took awhile but I managed to put away most of the Christmas stuff from the main floor. There are still a few things up and out but I think I will leave them until the weekend. I have to decide what things I will bring back up from the basement from my regular ornaments and things. I am again grateful to my neighbour for bringing me coffee yesterday late morning per my request and for her bringing me some today. Tomorrow the new coffee perk arrives and I hope it is early in the day. I will have to keep an eye/ear out for the delivery. My office is at the back of the office so not easy to see the street without getting up and physically going into my bedroom and looking out the window and I am unable to see the porch from there. Oh well.

All things considered it was a good day. Work is a bit on the scary side at the moment being short two people and issues with our computer system. I am happy that once again most of the anxiety has been lifted, erased. Although I am not able to sleep on the sofa in the mornings when we are up at 3 or 4 and 5 but I will in time. Poor Alvin has to make those steps a bit more often than he normally would. I do like having my workspace upstairs for a change but will have to decide if I leave it up here for awhile. Might be a nice change!

Well time to sign off. I hope that you are doing well. Hopefully things in your home are good. I am trying to remain positive and hopeful that this does not happen again. I fully realize that had I had the virus or everyone around me had it – I would have been in a much worse place. I did try and contact a professional but for a time yesterday I was unable to make outgoing calls or take incoming ones. That has now been rectified.

Continuing to live this life WITH kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus and possibilities.

Today is a much better day and I am so grateful for my awesome neighbours. I could not have got to this place and I am happy to be here both mentally and physically. Thank you.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you this morning? I/We are doing well. Just out of the shower and dressed and feeling so refreshed. Alvin is resting on his little bed in my office. Today, later this afternoon he has his regular nail trim and anal gland and ear check appointment. I will also be picking up the special treats that were ordered for him. He is doing well only having his food although he does ask for some things when I am preparing or eating. I cannot believe that it is has one month today that Mr. Alvin had the surgery to remove the stones from his bladder and some other tests. Amazing how much things can change in one month. I am eternally grateful. Now comes the dilemma for the future. Working at the office. At this time we are only required to go once a month or so but that may change. With his new food and doctor’s instructions to drink more water, how will that work? If I am not at home he most certainly is not going to drink more water …. if not able to go outside. He may in time be trained to pee on pads. Even on these one trip a month to the office, I am uncertain. If my neighbour is unable to come over …. what to do? Perhaps I can make arrangements on those days for Alvin to stay with his BF, if they are going to be at home. That would only work if I am required to go to the office once every month or so. We are in our comfort zone at this time, working and living from/at home. This next scheduled time for me to go to the office does not work out with my daughter’s schedule so I will see if I can change that as I do not wish to be catching the bus and then the travel time would be well extended passed riding in a car. Hopefully I can work this all out. But that is what is on my mind this morning. I am certain it will work out but will take some discussions for sure. Working from home has been amazing and I am hoping that I can continue until I am able to retire. I appreciate not having to spend hours travelling back and forth, the month saved on carpooling and bus passes/tickets, having the fridge to access for lunch instead of having to have a sandwich or something everyday. I feel that my well being, my peace of mind, my mental health is all the better for me working from home. Now that is not to say that some days I may be stressed but not nearly the pressures of working from an office. Big feelings today.

Well time to head on downstairs and get the coffee brewing and start work.

Grateful that Mr. Alvin is doing so well.

Grateful that for now I am working from home and hopeful for the future.

Grateful to be in good health.

Continuing to live with kindness, respect, compassion and patience.

Always, Carol & Alvin

2021

Good Morning ALL. How are you doing this morning? We are well. Another night where Mr. Alvin was up and down. I think it may be his arthritis. Poor guy. He has pain meds when he needs them and of course takes glucosamine daily. Which I need to go and pick up more this week. Starting to snow about 4:30 this morning, just lightly.

Last night I was thinking:

“What have we learned in 2020”

Patience

To be more patient

Not to take family and friends for granted

To be grateful at all times

That grocery shopping is a good outing

That we gave Nature a deep breath and that they would like more

To be good to nature in 2021

All creatures are important to our planet

To be responsible

To be compassionate

It is okay for women to go without makeup (who makes these rules anyway)

We no longer need heels

To Live simply

We do not need so much “stuff”

Have an organized house and workspace is important

Yes, you can do anything you put your mind to

Technology

Learning things

To laugh more

Taking care of our Mental Health

Going for a walk

Being in Nature

Exercise is important for body, mind and soul

Getting up from your desk (home) or at the office and moving about

To dance even if someone is looking

Smile even if you are alone

Call, text or email those you love or even those you do not

Keep in contact

Snuggle with your dog, cat and children more

Play board games

Appreciate just being quiet

Masks are mandatory to wear in a bank now

How to bake break and a good banana loaf

That stretchy pants and sweats are okay for everyday wear

On that note, I have to go and get to work in a few minutes.

I guess I/We have learned a lot in 2020.

Living with kindness, respect, compassion and learning to be more patient everyday.

Always, Carol & Alvin