April 22 is Earth Day!

April 22 is Earth Day. It is the 40th anniversary. Why does this matter?
It should because this is your home; it's your family's, friends, pets home too. It's a place of beauty and amazing wonders. It's alive.
With all of the information that we have been receiving from scientists, naturalists, ecologists, and many more who care--this should be a day to be thankful for everything we have been able to enjoy that has been given to us by this magnificent planet. It's also a day that we should make a promise to start helping to clean it up and repair so many damages that we have done.
I don't know about you, but I hope that my children and their children are fortunate enough to continue to live here, breath clean air, drink clean water, and view the beauty that abounds on this planet.
Stop for a minute or two on this day, look around you and find something to appreciate.

Quit Smoking!

I was talking to a person very close to me the other day. She was telling me that when her husband goes back out on the road to do a job, she would like to try to quit smoking. I, of course, told her that would be wonderful. I quit 9 years ago. I smoked for 20 and at 3 am on January 1, 2000, I smoked my last one. I psyched myself up for a year before I did it. Every time I lit a cigarette, I would tell myself "one day soon you won't be doing this any more." I would concentrate on as much negative stuff about it that I could. I would notice that I smelled of smoke even with perfume on. I noticed how a cigarette in my hand only gave me one hand to use. I noticed how others felt (who didn't smoke) when the smokers always got to go on breaks at their jobs. I noticed my breath wasn't always pleasant. I noticed the money I was spending. I noticed my children watching me. I decided I'd had enough. So, I made a list of my reasons to quit and I concentrated on them all the time:
- Cigarette companies are making a profit on your addiction and impending ill health. You're
putting THEIR kids through college, feeding THEIR families, buying THEIR homes, cars,
jewels, etc.
-You're polluting the planet with the butts and you're polluting other people's lungs
-The government makes a profit from the taxes
-If you should suffer ill health due to smoking, YOU pay your bill or WE pay for your insurance
(Medicaid)
-You stink
-Your breath stinks
-You get more wrinkles
-You honestly look dumb; not glamorous or cool; especially when you're standing outside in the
rain or freezing cold because you can't smoke indoors
-You set a bad example for your kids
Figure out how much you spend a year on cigarettes (careful; it may shock you). What is something positive you could do with that money?
JUST QUIT--YOU'RE WORTH IT!!