Whereareyou
ByDaveScott ByDaveScott
Ihavebecomemorereflectivelately (probablybecauseoftheaging process).Amemorywilljumpout frombehindthosecreepingcobwebs ofmysubconscious.Suddenly,Ifind myselfpiecingtogetherastoryfrom mypastwithadifferentperspective. Itmakesmewonderatthemefrom thosemoments.
Itisn'tbad.It'smoreofacollectionof situationsthatprovidedalearning momentIamonlynowrealizing. Betterlatethannever!These momentsofperspectiveinlifemakea lotmoresenseasIfigureoutwhoI am,whereIhavebeen,andwhereI hopetobedowntheroad.Those fracturedfragmentsoflifethatleft youlaughing,hurting,orwondering seemtoholdnewmeaningwithin themnow.
Itisfunnyatthisage.Thelessons havebeenlearned,andtheoutcomes havehappened.Nowisthe opportunitytostepforwardandsee whereyoucanchallengeyourselfin thedaysahead.
Don'tlookatyourageasanumber thatisclimbingforwardwithlimited
possibilities.Seeitasanacquiredexperience indicatorthatallowsyoutomovefreelybecause youknowexactlywhoyouare.
Itiswithinyounowtosharethatknowledge withthosewhomaystillbesearchingfortheir ownmeaning.
Don'tforgetthepast.Dealwithit,moveforward intothepresent,andstriveforabetterfuture.
~CharlesYu
ByDaveScott ByDaveScott
Growingupinthe'60s,'70sand'80s,Ioften wonderedwhyolderfolkswalkedsoslowly.I remembergoingtothepostofficeandbeing inlinebehindfolks,alwayswaitingforthemto openthedoorandgraduallymaketheirway totheirmailbox.Iwasthoughtfulanddidnot rushthem,butIalwayswonderedwhythey weresoslow.Iconsideredtheirhealthand suspectedtheyfelttiredthatday.Iremember visitingmygreat-grandfatherathishouseand walkingwithhimouttohisshed.Itwasalways oneofthoselong,intentional,slowwalks.He tookhistimetogetthere.Whatwasthatall about?Wasithiswayofconservingenergy? Wasithiswayoflookingaroundandseeing hislifeinadifferentlight?
AsIage(eversoslightly),I'mbeginningto understandGreatGrandpaGamble's reasoning. It'sfunnyhow,asyoumature,youlookat thingsdifferentlyandunderstandwhyyou're takinglifeslower.
I'vealwaysbeenveryactive.Ilovetobe outsideandcanspendthewholedayworking, beinginthemoment,andenjoyinglife.Ithas takensometimetotrulyunderstandthat aboutmyself.
IneedtoensurethatIgettheproperrestto beactiveandproductiveeveryday.Withall thesnowthispastwinter,IrealizedIneeded toslowdownmoreandenjoyeachmoment.
Iunderstandnowwhatmygreat-grandfather wasdoing.Hewasconservinghisenergyto
haveanotherstrongdaytomorrow.Helived intohis90s.Iwanttobethatway,too,andI considerthatnowwhenIwanttodothings outside.
It'sgreattoremovearottingtreethatneeds tocomedown,butImayneedtofinishitthe followingday.IfIdoeverythinginoneday,I amburnedoutthenextandprobablyalittle edgy,alittletiredandnotmyself.Ishould enjoymyopportunitiesoutsideandpace myselftoensureIcandothingsimportantto meandmyexistencethenextday.Enjoythe mentalhealthbenefitsandbestrongin mind,body,andspirit.Youwanttomake sureeverythingfunctionsatitshighestlevel asyouageandrelisheverymomentyou have.
Folks,enjoytheagingprocess.Takeyour time.Don'tfeelyouhavetocomplete everythinginoneday.Takeitallinasyougo. It'sabeautifuldaywhenyougetoutthere andplay.Remember,eventhoughyou're aging,you'restillouttherebeingthebest youcanbe.Youcanhavethose opportunitiesasmuchasyouchoose.Do themataspeedthatworksforyoumentally andphysicallyandisgoodforyoursoul.
Oh,andifyouseemestrollingleisurely alongtheway,it'sbecauseI'verealizedthat lifegoesbyfastenough.Iamslowingdown toenjoylifeandsavingthatenergyfor anotherday!
Starting
IreceivedatextonFebruary15frommyfriend Joe."IguessyousawthatJeromeDraytonhas died,Charlie."Ihadnotknown.Duringmyearly formativeyearsinrunning,Draytonwasaseminal figure.HewasthegreatestCanadianmarathoner, rankednumberoneintheworldforatimeinthe mid-1970s,thelastCanadiantowintheBoston Marathon(1977)andtheCanadiannational marathonrecordholderfor43years,upuntil 2018.Ihadmethimin1978,afewminutesbefore thestartofmysecond-evermarathon.Hewasone ofthegreatestrunnersofmylifetime,andwe werealmosttheexactsameage.
IdecidedtoGooglehimtoseeifIcouldfindany informationaboutthecauseofdeath.WhatI discoveredputmealmostintoastateofshock. JeromeDraytonhaddiedasaresultof complicationsduringkneesurgery.Iwas scheduledtohavekneesurgerythreedayslater. Myheadbegantospin.
Thenextday,Itoldtwoofmyclosefriendsabout theexperience.Imadecertainthe locationofmywillwasknown, andIseemedtosubconsciously beginreviewingmylifetomyself.
Iamnotsomeonewhohaseverfeltcomfortable withtheconceptofmortality.Ifnothingelse,I don'tliketheideaoftheworldcarryingonandI amnotexistingaspartofitinsomeway,orat leastknowingwhatisgoingon.
Assuchthoughts,undiscussed,swirledaboutin mybrain,Ibegantofeel,moreandmore,thatmy lifewasactuallyprettymuchinorder.Therewas nolonglistofwrongsIwantedtocorrector peopleIneededtosee.Infact,Iwasfeelinghappy andfortunate.Ihaveunbelievablefriends,andI haveasmanyasIlike.Ihaveawonderfulsupport group,anawesomedogwhowillalwaysbe lookedafterwhatevermyfuture,andnodebtsor thingsthathavetogetdone.Ifthesamethinghad happenedtomethathappenedtoJerome,Ithink everythingwouldhavebeenokay.
AsmyfriendJohnwasdrivingmeuptoBrantford formyoperation,Iwasthinkingaboutthese matters."Mementomori–rememberIdie",but myreactionwasnow,forthefirsttimeinmylife, oneofpeace.IfeltIhaddonealright.
AsIwasbeingpreppedfortheoperation,the anesthesiologistcameintomeetme.Hewasa greatguy;Ilikedhimimmediately.Heseemed verythoroughinhisexplanationofwhathewas “It’llbejustlikestartingover.”~JohnLennon “Havingasecondchancemakesyouwanttoworkevenharder.”~TiaMowry “Chancefavoursonlythosewhocourther.”~CharlesNicolle
Over
goingtodoandthevariousoptionshehadathis disposalifneeded.
So,eventhoughIfeltthatwhathadhappenedto JeromeDraytoncouldhappentome,Iwasnot anxiousorworried.IfeltrelaxedasIwaswheeled totheoperatingroomandtransferredtothe operatingbed.
ThenextthingIrememberiswakingupalmost threehourslater(Ialwayschecktheclock). Someonebegantosetsomesortofcoldcompress downthesideofmybodyandaskedmeifIcould feelit.AsIbecamelessgroggy,Ibegantofeel thankful.Yes,Iwasstillhere!Iwasgettinga secondchance.
Ispentalongnightinthehospital.Myfriend Clayton,whohimselfisrecoveringfrommajor, life-threateningsurgery,cametovisitme,andwe talkedaboutmanythingsforalongwhile.After heleft,Ispentthetimetryingtorestbetweenthe frequentmedicalchecksandmedications.AllI couldseewasabigclockonthebarewallacross fromtheendofmybed.Thehandsmoved incrediblyslowly;Ineverfellasleep.
Inthemorning,mysurgeon,Dr.Lam,camein brieflytoletmeknowthattheoperationhadgone perfectlyandthattherewerenorestrictions.Iwas
allowedtoputfullweightontherepairedlegas soonasIcouldmanageit,andIcouldnotdamage thenewreplacement.Heencouragedmetobegin physioassoonaspossible.IfIpassedthetesting bythehospitalphysiotherapist,Iwouldbe releasedlaterthatmorning.AllIhadtobeableto dowasbeabletowalkdownthecorridoroutside theroomwithmywalkerandclimbupanddown athree-steppodium.Aftercompletingthattask,I receivedinstructionsformyat-homecareand prescriptionstobefilled.ThenIwaitedformy ride,waswheeledout,andheadedhomewith John.
PhysioappointmentswithBarbatNorthShore HealthAssociatesweresetupandIhadmyfirst sessiontwodayslater.Ihavebeengoingdaily duringthefirsttwoweeksandwillbecontinuing regulartreatmentsaslongasadvised.My personalmantraatthemomentis"todothe maximumthatisrecommended,butnothing more."
Ihaveshort-termandlong-termgoalsinthequest toregainmymobilityandtobeabletowalk fluidly.Thereisnocommitmenttogettingbackto runningatthistime.Myimmediategoalistowalk unaidedindoorsandthenoutdoors.Anewspring iscoming!
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SCANME
SCANME
HolisticPractitionerstakeallaspectsoflife intoconsiderationwhentheyaresupporting theirclientsorpatients.Balanceand moderationaregoingtobeapproachesthat servemostpeople.Whendisease, dysfunctionordysregulationseemtobe causingamultitudeofsymptoms,sounding alarmsthroughoutyourbodyandbrain,it maytaketimetousemoretargetedand disciplinedstrategiesandtools.Thelonger theissuesareleft,themoretime,workand effortitcantaketoresolveproblemsand findanswers.Preventionandproactivecare arebyfartheeasiestroute,butlifebeinglife andpeople,beingwhoandwhattheyare, seldomlistentothewhispersbeforetheyare confrontedwiththeshouting.
Oneofthemostfrequentlyignoredand misunderstoodaspectsofwell-rounded healthandwellnessistheconceptof everydayemotional,mentalandspiritual wellnessandresiliency.Theenergyofour internalthoughtprocessesandreactionsisa virtualpowerhouse,vibratingthroughevery aspectofourcentralnervoussystemand
havingthemostamazingcapacityforcellular communication.
Ourthoughts,ingrainedpatterns,habits,and behaviourscanbedownrighttoxic.Perhapsyou feeltired,angry,depressed,apathetic,orhavean increasedperceptionofpain?Yourstress hormonescanelevateinflammationandblood sugarsandeventuallyerodeimmunefunction. Manytimes,whatweareconfrontedwithis transientandsituational,butwhataboutthe emotionaldepths,theinsufficientcoping strategies,thedenial,andthe"stiffupperlip"or theperceptionofshowingfeelingsasasignof weakness?
BarbAnstead, RHN,
Weareemotionalbeings.Thinkofit,one ignorantorthoughtlesscommentcanstart yourdayoffwrongandputyouintoanegative stateofmind,possiblycausingyoutohavea headacheorbackache,elevatebloodpressure, orcauseyoutosnapatacoworker,spouseor child.Situationsspiral,emotionalbaggage getsheavierifwedon'tsortthrough,dosome laundry,mendthetearsorreplacewhatwe've outgrown.Howmanytimeshaveyoudreaded ameeting,aneventoragatheringbecauseof apreviousnegativeexperiencewithsomeone youknowwillbethere?Mostofushavea checklistofgrievances,hurts,slights,orunmet needsonsomelevel.Whenweanticipateor knowweareabouttowalkintoasituationof exposuretoapersonorplacewithahistory, eventhehealthiest,mostgroundedindividual maybechallengedtoshowupwithjusta "carryon"attitude,asopposedtopacking theirlargestpieceofluggage,fullofevery grievanceandemotionattachedtotheir memory.Thatresidualenergychargesthe situationandcolourstheinteraction,creating staticandinterferencewithrelationshipsand communicationgoingforward.
Ongoing,unresolvedmentalandemotional issuesmayverywellbetherootcauseofmany healthissues.Theymayshowupinspecific mannersorpatternsofdiseasewithinthe body,andtheycertainlycanimpactourability torecover.Scienceisdelvingintothisrealm moredeeplythanever.
Talktherapy,timeinnature,physicalactivity, coaching,counselling,balancedwholesome nutrition,sleep,relationships,senseof purpose,community,spiritual,mentaland emotionalconnection,creativityandlaughter, tonameafew,areallcomponentsofhealthwe cantuneintoandimprove.
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AbsoluteHomecareisadivisionofAbsolute Respiratory,alocal,trustedrespiratory companyfoundedbyLyndseyRosswith over15yearsofservingthiscommunity.At AbsoluteHomecarewe'rededicatedto providingcompassionate,high-quality homecareservicesthatallowindividualsto maintaintheirindependence,dignity,and overallwell-beinginthecomfortoftheir ownhomes.
Lyndseyrecognizedthegrowingneedfor in-homecare,andAbsoluteHomecarewas createdtoexpandbeyondrespiratory services.Thisserviceofferscomprehensive supporttothosewhoneeditthemost.Our servicesincludepersonalsupportwork, skillednursingcare,structuredexercise therapy,andpersonalizedfootcare.
Wetakeaclient-centredapproach,meaning thateverycareplanistailoredtofitthe uniqueneedsoftheindividual,ensuring theyreceivetherightlevelofsupportwhile maintainingasmuchindependenceas possible.Ourmissionistoprovide compassionatecarewhilefosteringasense ofcommunity.Werecognizethattruewellbeinggoesbeyondjustphysicalhealth.It's aboutemotionalandmentalwell-being too.Webelieveinempoweringindividuals tolivelifetothefullest,whichiswhyour servicesextendbeyondtraditionalhome servicestoincludeexerciseprograms designedtopromotemobility,strength, andoverallhealth.
JessiSibb,RPN,istheClinicalNursing LeaderforAbsoluteHomecare,bringing yearsofexperienceincommunitycare, paediatrics,andpublichealth.Shestarted outasaPersonalSupportWorkerbefore
advancingtoRegisteredPracticalNurseand hasbeenpractisingasanRPNsince2018. Throughouthercareer,shehasworked acrossvariousareasofcare,butshefound hertruepassionincommunitynursing, whereshe'sbeenactivelyinvolvedfor severalyears.Withastrongbackgroundin communitycareandleadership,Jessihas beenmanaginghomecareservicessince 2021,workingtobridgethegapswhile ensuringindividualsreceivehigh-quality client-centredsupportinthecomfortof theirhomes.Sheunderstandsfirsthandthe challengesfamiliesfacewhennavigating thehealthcaresystemandiscommittedto makinghomecaremoreaccessible, compassionate,andempowering.
Jessiispassionateaboutholisticwellness, recognizingthatwell-beingextends beyondphysicalhealth.Shebelievesa community-drivenapproachtocare, meaningfulconnections,andastrong supportsystemarejustasimportantasthe servicesprovided.Whennotworking,Jessi enjoysspendingqualitytimewithher familyandpets.She'salsoanavidpaddle boarder,findingpeaceandjoyoutonthe water.
AbsoluteHomecareisexcitedtoshareour mission,discusstheimportanceof homecareandprovidevaluableinsightsfor familiesnavigatinghealthcaredecisions. Whetherit'sofferingdailyassistance,skilled nursing,orcreatingpersonalizedwellness plans,weareheretoensureeveryclient receivesthehigheststandardofcarewitha teamthattrulycaresbecause,attheendof theday,there'sabsolutelynoplacelike home.
