Some of us look at January as a rather miserable and cold month when it is easy to develop a case of the ‘blues’ after all the hype and glitz of our Christmas past. As we now head into 2013, maybe we should look at it this way: the world was supposed to end (again) on Friday, Dec. 21 but it didn’t happen, we are alive and well, and we can now zoom into the new year with a fresh outlook on life and renewed vigour.
Sure it’s winter, the holiday bills are now coming in with absolutely no pity for our happy holiday spending spree, and it won’t be long before that dreaded envelope arrives in our mail box from the Canada Revenue Agency. Some of us are still suffering from NHL hockey withdrawal but then again maybe that’s a way of telling us that we can now get outside and watch the kids or seniors play for under $10, or that it wouldn’t hurt for us to spend a little more time exercising and participating, and less on the couch?
A little down time at this time of the year can really be quite beneficial, especially if spent enjoying quality time with the family, absorbed in a good book, or maybe even trying out some sort of a new hobby. Most outdoor and indoor winter events are just getting into full swing. Ready to accommodate all ages are activities such as dance lessons from tiny tap to full blown zumba, all sorts of sports, many courses on how to learn something new we never had time for before, visiting old friends that we haven’t seen for a while, spending a fun afternoon playing cards at the Ponoka Seniors’ Drop-In Centre, and many others, if you wish to inquire.
What a great time of a new year to start making exciting plans for the year ahead. Some will do a quick tan and escape for a few weeks to a hot weather getaway, while it’s never too early to browse through brochures and toss around a few ideas for your summer holidays or new projects and challenges for the next 360 or so days. One of the most gratifying and appreciated activities everyone can get involved with is to become a community volunteer in whatever capacity or commitment you wish, individually, or as a group or family.
Whatever the case, strive to look on the bright side of this early run into 2013, as a part of a great team at your work, and surrounded by a loving family and lots of friends. Hopefully, the first robin will appear and start singing in only four short months, there are lots of great bargains in the stores in January, and the television shows are much better in the winter. Even though we will all get to be one year older sometime in 2013, hopefully we will be just a little bit wiser and maybe even richer, but we should always look back at all of our great accomplishments, while trying to forget those dreams and lofty plans that didn’t always work out so well.
The worst punishment comes after the fact
With vigorous media campaigns and greatly increased fines and punishment, it has been quite clear our provincial law enforcement officers are really going to clamp down even more on those who drink and drive, operate a motor vehicle while distracted, or abuse our highway laws with excessive speed and careless driving habits. There should also be the fear of what might happen if we get home late, as shown by this priceless message:
An elderly man is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of the night. The man replies, “I am on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects that it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late.”
The officer then asks, “Really, who is giving that lecture at this time of the night?” The man quietly replied, “That would be my wife, who will then banish me once again to the couch!”
Just for fun exercise quotes
• If your dog is fat...you aren’t getting enough exercise.
• The fitness gym has no confidence in me because the first machine they put me on was a respirator.
• At my age I really don’t need buns of steel...I’d be happy with buns of cinnamon.
• Calories are tiny creatures that live in your closet and sew your clothes just a little bit tighter every night.
It doesn’t really matter whether we walk or run or how long it takes us to get there — it is the effort to exercise that counts. Please dress them all up warm, including yours truly, and have a great week, all of you!