The Tots Got THe Toys

Yesterday, we handed out toys to over 365 children who participate in the Headstart Program of Sullivan County, NY.  Santa and Mrs. Santa were there to greet all the children and one by one, each child sat on Santa's lap to tell him all their wishes and receive a gift from the big guy.  The smiles on their faces and the joy of having their photo taken with Santa will be embedded into my brain for a very long time.
It isn't easy coordinating this type of event and it takes many good hearts to make it happen.  Christimas isn't my own holiday, but it's very special to these children.  To help give them this happy day makes all the hard work worth it in the long run.

There's No Healthy Tip of the Day:  Instead, I want to reach out to all of you who helped make this happen.  Your kindnesses of gifts, donations, time and elbow grease gave much joy and happiness to children who appreciated it.  Maybe these kids don't have designer sneakers, ATVs in the back yard or their own cellphone (some parents think these items are 'musts' for their children), but the love the parents show for them and the love they have and show for their siblings is truly something to see.  Unspoilt, these children truly love and appreciate life itself and all those around them.

It's December 1st...Countdown!!

Oh, it's December 1st.  I'm being bombarded with every retailer who knows that this is my birthday month.  "come on in, we've got a gift for you", "25% off because it's your birthday", and every other obtuse method of flattery to entice me into purchasing something I really don't need.  But, I'm not complaining...at least they recognize the fact that there are some of us out there who had the nerve to be born during the Christmas season...much to the inconvenience of most people I meet.  Having a "Christmas time birthday" means that everyone else has just spent all their money on Black Friday Christmas shopping so they have no disposable income to go out with you for any celebrations...oh yes, unless we just go to their corporate Christmas party and get them both over with at the same time.  No birthday cake because everyone is stuffing themselves with Christmas cookies all day at work, or they've just gorged themselves at Thanksgiving and are popping their pants buttons.  No really thoughtful birthday gift because as usual...you get one 'combined' gift at Christmas and in most cases, totally and conveniently forgotten by the time Christmas Eve rolls by.  My answer to 'combined gift' is 'COMBINE THIS'.  One tradition my mother always maintained while I was growing up was that there were no Christmas ornaments nor tree put up in our home until the day after my birthday.  My presence here on this earth (and too many times over at this point) was acknowledged.

Here's a Healthy Tip for all You December Babies Out There:  You all have my sympathies and empathies.  But, we have no problems.  How would you like to be this dude, Jesus?  He really gets the shitty end of the stick....after all, it's HIS birthday and nobody ever buys him a gift or a cake......when was the last time he got a birthday card????

Holiday Madness Has Arrived

Does anyone remember the story of how an acorn dropped on the head of Henny Penny; she then had all the animals crazed and running amuck because she was convinced the sky was falling down!!!!
This past week, I've quietly been listening to the conversations of people creating their own drama and stress and I'm quite fascinated and disgusted by all of it.  It seems that the bell has rung...DING!DING!  People seem to think that they've got 3 weeks (like a 3 minute round in the ring) to make themselves into pseudo-superheroes...the prize???  Biggest Gift Giver, Best Baker, The 'Jesus' Who Sacrifices Their Home For the Holidays and has all the Relatives Over....wow.....big prizes, indeed!
Oh, and let's not forget the Black Friday Madness!!!!  Hey!  If you don't buy it today by 3am, then you're out of luck!!!  That item will never be on sale again and millions of people want that exact same plastic reindeer that sings "Mama Kissing Santa Claus".
I removed myself from this stupidity many years ago.  No stress, no annoying obligatory visits to be with people you don't care for, and better health for it.  My favorite memories of spending the holiday was sitting in my parents' living room, listening to some quiet music and reading with the quiet companionship of my late father.  The man despised fanfare, pretense, and ostentaciousness.  It was just another day, like any other - and we enjoyed it.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  At the end of the day, no one really cares if you bring the pasta salad or pies.  A simple and meaningful gift is always much more appreciated than the 'latest, greatest' gadget.  You are not obliged to visit or do anything that is distasteful or against your grain.  Why not get involved with some charity for poor kids and give a child a gift of joy, play and something to broaden their horizons.  It doesn't take much money and you will be truly experiencing the spirit of the season.

The Good Samaritan...Please Read This Today

If you don't know the story of the good Samaritan, I'll fill you in on it briefly:  the story comes from the New Testament and it is a story the Jesus told to a crowd:  there was a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead on a road.  He was ignored by 'righteous' and 'religious' people.  There came that road a Samaritan who didn't think twice about cleaning the man's wounds, feeding him and setting him upon his donkey; taking him to shelter and help.  He asked for no money or gratitude...he did what he did because it was the 'right action'.  Now, for those of you who think you know everything...did you know that the Samaritans were cursed, looked down upon and treated as lepers by the mainstream 'righteous' and 'religious' of Judea at the time?  Yup...the Samaritans were up there with the 'whores', tax collectors, and pork eaters.  (note...Matthew, one of the Jesus' followers had been a tax collector himself).
This weekend, there was a terrible motor vehicle accident on the road just down from our dealership.  A man was thrown off the road and snapped his neck on a tree down an embankment.  The police who were on the scene wouldn't go into the embankment because they decided they'd wait for a rescue team to show up with a saw to cut through the trees.  There was a woman driving down the road, who had been an EMT in her past; she stopped her vehicle, jumped over the embankment, down the hill and tried to help the victim who still had a pulse at the time.  The victim was too large for her to get him upright so he wouldn't asphyxiate in his own blood.  She begged the police to help her get him out of the embankment.  They refused because they said they had no gloves and didn't want to touch the blood.  She called 911 twice and was put on hold...TWICE!  The man died at the scene.  The police left the man's wife and 16 year old son at the scene.  They did not offer to drive them home.  They said 'he's dead' and left the scene with the body. The 16 year old only had a driver's permit, and after watching his father die on the side of a road, was expected to drive his mother home.  Only this Samaritan was there to bring them to her home, where she gave them badly needed fresh clothing, food, drink, consolation and took care of certain necessary arrangements.  She stopped off at our dealership for a pair of sweatpants that would properly fit the woman and spent the remainder of her day and evening with these complete strangers until their relatives arrived to take them home.
This Samaritan came into our dealership the next day for two reasons:  she had been on her way to us the day before to get a list of the toys needed for the Santa drive and still wanted the list so she could donate toys.  She also wanted to reimburse us for the sweatpants she took from the store for the wife of the deceased (which we naturally refused).  I wanted to cry when I heard all this.  You see....this woman is very much looked down upon by the 'righteous' and 'religious' because of her visage, her lifestyle and her no-nonsense vernacular.  Very much like the Samaritan of the Gospels, the 'righteous' and 'religious' would leave the man to die like a dog because it wasn't convenient for them.  I spent over an hour with this woman and have learned her whole life story and we laughed and shared our opinions and adventures.  I told her how greatful we were to have her in our lives and that God will smile on her kindness.  Her answer was that it was 'the only thing to do...the right thing'.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  For the people out there that attend their church, synagogue, or temple every week and beat their breasts in the mirror - proud of their social standing and 'righteousness' and look down on those who do not conform....just remember this.....that 'slob' or 'slut' you ignored yesterday might just be the person who does the CPR on you tomorrow and saves you from YOUR judgement day.
Give this one some thought today.....it's good for your soul....

Keeping It Simple In My Own Words Today

 Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  "Greatness should not be measured by one's material wealth, but by the the enormity of positive differences a man can make in another living organism's life."
- Kelley Mondesire'
...have YOU made a positive difference in anyone's life today?  Start with giving a dog a bone.  There will be no blog tomorrow; I'm taking the day off for a creative experience!  Have a great weekend and stay tuned for more Healthy Tips next week!

Wow! It's November!!!

Holy Smokes!  It's November 1st!  I'm just back from a weekend filled with Halloween fun and fantasy and have arrived at the office to emails and telephone calls from patients who are already getting those nasty fall colds and stressing over holiday family get togethers.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  The change of seasons and stress lead to compromised immune systems.  This is how we get those nasty colds, flus and bouts of depression - especially during the onset and onslaught of holiday season.  Boost your immune system and de-stress yourself by coming in for a treatment today.  If you are physically and mentally balanced, you will be better equipped to handle the stress and drama of the holidays.  You will not become physically ill, nor will you become depressed.
Here's another tip for you:  Don't be a turkey!  Just because it's called a 'holiday'  doesn't mean you have to spend it with people you don't like (that's like doing time in prison), even if they're called 'family'.  Spend your holidays with people you like, or volunteer to help others that have nothing....or, better yet, spend the day and have a 'me' day!! Do all those things you always want to, but never seem to have the time because you're always so busy.