“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us, when adversity takes the place of prosperity, when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” - Washington Irving
A little reminder about Mother’s Day....This year Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 10. It is the one day a year that mothers are “officially” celebrated for all of their hard work. This includes motherly figures such as a step-parent, guardian, grandmother or other notable women that have had an impact on someone’s life.
It is not a statutory holiday, however, many people treat it as mom’s holiday from housework.
Chocolates and flowers and sentimental cards with kind words and poems are popular gifts for mom, but if you’re looking for something different, remember that the best gift of all is time. Life keeps us busy (as it should) but we also have to stop and remember that some of the richest moments we have on this earth are with our families and those closest to us. Time waits for no one so make every moment count.
On May 10, give your mother the attention she deserves. Make her the centre of your life for the day.
The Foot Clinic will be in Clinton only one day in May, Friday, May 15. To book an appointment or to discuss your foot health, call Colleen Thom, RN, CAFCN at 250-374-1735.
The Clinton Seniors Association regular General Meeting is May 21 following noon lunch at the Clinton Seniors Centre at 217 Smith Ave. Come and join us!
Continuing a year of resolutions why not connect with nature in May? Research shows that spending time in nature can make us happier, more relaxed and even healthier. Such interactions can improve our mental function and alleviate depression. Challenge yourself to enjoy nature in simple but meaningful ways.
As a child you were probably outdoors part of every day and naturally curious about living things that flew or crawled or moved in some way. Spotted fawns or furry little mice or bats caught your attention. Baby birds that fell out of nests needed your help. Tadpoles that became frogs were a miracle. The wonder of it all! Can you remember?
Somehow as we got older we took to lose our connection with the natural world. We traded play time for organized sports and shopping trips and the busy-ness of life and our days became filled with to-do lists and running around like we never have enough time.
Nature will quiet your mind, open your heart and ease your body and soul.
It’s important that “people value the beauty and variety of the natural environment so that as a nation, for the future, we care about looking after that, and handing it on to the next generation” stated Dame Helen Ghosh, director general of the National Trust.
One approach is going for a walk with a child. A child may jump in puddles, kick up leaves or blow the seeds away from a dandelion head. Together you can listen to the birds singing from the tree tops or to the different sounds starlings and crows make, examine newly unfolding leaves or leaves changing colours in Autumn, have a good look at groups of toadstools or mushrooms pushing up through the soil, or note the birds returning in Spring looking for nesting sites, gathering dry grass or other materials to build a nest, or perhaps geese forming up in Vs getting ready for their long migrations south.
Check out a local pond or creek. See what creatures live in or around the water. There may be ducks or geese to observe. Are there tracks in the soft mud? What animal came by for a drink?
We rely heavily on sight. Use all your senses. Being engaged outdoors means doing something with your hands, your eyes, your ears and your nose, and it means you engage more with each other as well.
See the colours, the shapes. Feel the textures like the bark of a tree, the smoothness of stones. Hear the sounds of birds and insects. Smell the damp earth and leaf litter. Allow the natural world to embrace you.
You don’t have to be in a wilderness for nature to have an impact. A simple walk in the park can be beneficial. Nature is actually everywhere. As soon as you step out your front door you’re outside in the natural world. Tending a small veggie patch or herb garden allows contact with the earth. Bring nature inside with a house plant or jar of fresh flowers or a dish of shells or a few pine cones.
On a broader level, take part in a wildlife survey or bird count. Information could help scientists understand what’s going on with our outdoor world. Become a volunteer.
Zee Chevalier