News

Summer is officially here! Even without a calendar, the higher temperatures we are experiencing let us know summer has arrived. During these hot days, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the heat for long periods, and, above all, have a sense of humor. Humor can make these hot days more bearable.

Summer is associated with picnics, vacations, barbecue, watermelons, fresh peaches, and family gatherings. Summer is also associated with long hot days and nights, known as “the dog days of summer”. Just as staying inside, drinking iced tea and eating ice cream can help keep you cool in the summer, a pleasant outlook can always help to keep you “cool”. With this in mind, allow me to share with you something that a friend recently sent to me:

Smiling is infectious;
you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner
and someone saw my grin,
When he smiled, I realized
I’d passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile,
and then I realized its worth,
Single smiles, just like mine,
can travel round the earth.
So, if you feel a smile begin,
don’t leave it undetected.
Let’s start an epidemic quick,
and get the world infected.

I hope this brought a smile to your face, and that you will keep that smile going by sharing it with a friend. Remember when the day or night is much too hot for your comfort, soon, very soon, the temperature will be changing. Why not begin by helping me honor my friend’s wish and smiling the summer away.

Have you noticed lately that as the summer begins to heat up that you are spending more time on the couch or in your chair enjoying the air conditioning? Have you ever wondered why exercise has to be so exerting or sweaty. Exercise may be on the bottom of your to-do list if it makes the list at all. In the health column written by Doctor K (Komaroff), he gave several good exercises for a “couch potato.” His information was from a physical therapist Kailyn Collins who gave him these suggestions:

1. While lying flat on your back on the couch or bed, lift one leg 8-12 times concentrating on using your thigh muscles. Repeat with the other leg.

2. Turn to your side and lift your leg up 8-12 times using your thigh muscles (imagine a half “Jumping Jack”). Roll to the other side and repeat.

3. Lying on your back again, lift both legs while you tighten your stomach muscles. Hold for ten seconds. Don’t forget to breathe. Relax for 10 seconds and repeat every commercial break.

4. Sitting upright with your feet flat on the floor, practice standing up. Repeat 10 times. Another variation is to almost stand just raising your bottom off the chair and sit again. Make sure your chair is sturdy and not a rocker. This exercise can be repeated in reverse

where you begin standing and squat like you are almost sitting and repeat 10 times. When you are ready to sit make sure your chair is under your bottom (gently sit without a plop).

5. Move your wrists by rotating; waving up and down; Open and close your fist; Twiddle your thumbs and other fingers.

These are just a few simple exercises that you can do while sitting on the couch. If you take the dare and give these a try, you may be pleasantly surprised that energy, strength, and balance will improve. If you like these, I have many more exercises you may find useful. Check out the exercise class at 11:00 am in the Arts and Crafts Room on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I dare you to try it. – Mary Hand, Oasis Coordinator

Happy Father’s Day! It’s that time of the year again when we should stop and recall all that our father’s taught us. Like how to be truly thankful and what it means to be a real friend; the importance of integrity in everything we do; and the simple things that can make you and those around you happy.

Be grateful – when people make time to write thank you notes or letters of gratitude to people who have helped them in some way, the note and letter writer, both feel better afterward.

Be optimistic – people who spend time just thinking about an ideal situation, report increased feelings of well-being.

Count your blessings – people who write down three good things that have happened to them show a significant boost in happiness.

Use your strengths – one study asked people to identify their greatest strengths and then try to use that strength. For example, someone with a good sense of humor can try telling jokes to cheer up friends.

Commit acts of kindness – As it turns out, helping others is one of the best ways we help ourselves feel better. Maybe it’s time you asked Cheryl Grimes how you can volunteer at Kirby Pines.

This Father’s Day, I’m grateful for all my father taught me; optimistic that each day can always be better; happy that I can count more than three blessings; believe that one of my strengths is writing these short letters each month; and knowing that each day when I come to work at Kirby Pines at least one resident is going to help me with a simple act of kindness – a smile.

Happy Father’s Day!