Monthly Archives: November 2019

Deck the Halls, Decorate with Lights indoor and outdoor, Lifestyle, Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD, Turn on the Lights, Winter Blues

Festival of Lights on Black Friday

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Brighten Your Mood with Lights

 

If this time of year tends to dampen your spirits and energy, it could be a result of shorter days and longer nights. A condition known medically at SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called the “Winter Blues” – is a documented mood disorder where people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year, become depressive in winter months.

Although experts were initially skeptical, this condition is now recognized as a common disorder, prevalent across the U.S.  SAD was formally described and named in 1984 by Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, a researcher, professor, psychiatrist and author of the book “Winter Blues.”

The National Library of Medicine notes “some people experience a serious mood change when the seasons change. They may sleep too much, have little energy, and may also feel depressed. Though symptoms can be severe, they usually clear up.”

If you feel a dampened-down mood change coming on, considering adding more lights inside and outside your home. Energy efficient bulbs now offer instant-on bright white and daylight options that will reduce your electricity bill if used to replace older filament bulbs.

Our small town has a delightful tradition. On the Eve of “Black Friday” – a parade of lighted horses and over 20 floats make their way through main-street. Family and friends gather on the sidewalks wrapped in winter coats and warm blankets (if weather demands), to watch the parade and join in the sounds and songs of merriment that fill the air.

The last float, a shiny fire truck covered in twinkle lights, ushers in Santa. With a wave of his hand and his jolly “Ho-Ho-Ho” the truck siren brings in the season and the entire downtown and waterfront area come alive with sparkling lights.

It doesn’t have to end there. Stores are filled with packages of inexpensive lights designed to adorn your home and landscape. Lighting contests are held throughout our area bringing people of all ages out to tour the spectacular scenes.

Sparkling starlight elicits a feeling of joy whether it is in summer or winter. With the arrival of longer winter nights, even a few sparkling lights within our homes can add a feeling of joy.

“Deck the Halls” both inside and outside to increase your enjoyment and spread holiday cheer throughout the neighborhood.

Wishing you a cheery and bright Holiday Season.

Bev Erickson

In Northern MN

Family, Parenting, Thanksgiving

Thanks Mom

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Our mother, Lila Edith Thias was born November 25, 1916. She married our dad on her Pic #2 - Gordon & Lila Taken in 1935birthday in a small rural church a snowy Thanksgiving Day on November 25, 1937.

We are thankful for having had a strong mother who loved us and taught us to love and care for others.

Mom passed away in 2006, with her family by her side.

It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed since then and even harder to write about Mom using the past tense, because she was always so full of life and energy. She exuded an endless pursuit of learning and teaching throughout her 89 years. In fact, the month before she died, she was teaching cribbage to local high school students, a game she had enjoyed playing over a lifetime.

Of German and Irish descent, Mom was a daughter, a sister, a wife, widowed twice, a mother of four daughters, grandmother of twelve, great grandmother of 28, an aunt, an excellent cook, baker, seamstress and dog lover. She was creative, skilled, resilient, ambitious, a good friend to many, a devout Lutheran and above all else, loved her family dearly.

Lila -80th birthday - LL BlogThe photo of her is one we cherish. It was Mom’s 80th birthday. Attendees invited to Mom’s surprise party were asked to bring one flower. Nearly 100 family members and friends gathered from near and far. The bouquet in the photo includes some of the flowers she received that day. Being among so many who loved and honored her made for a magnificent celebration.

After our dad died, Mom held increasingly challenging jobs until retirement. She loved life, baseball, gardening and was an avid reader. On the Heartland trail near her home, she walked a couple miles a day well into her 80s. In inclement weather, she picked up a friend and drove to the high school to walk the halls prior to the start of classes. Yoga later replaced walking and helped her stay limber as osteoporosis crept in.

Mom broke her hip March 15, 2006, requiring surgery. Her recovery did not go well. She required oxygen related to a worsening lung condition and after several failed physical therapy sessions to help her walk, she asked to have all treatment and medications stopped.

Rather than move her to a care facility, we chose to move Mom to her cabin where we could all gather and care for her. With hospice support, we, and our husbands, provided her care.

Joy and profound sadness filled our hearts during those last two weeks as she said her goodbyes to friends, family members and family dogs. Her strength helped us through those last days.

As a child, Mom’s red curly hair and freckles were an indication of her Irish ancestry. Her strong will, work ethic, and attention to cleanliness and order were expressions of her German heritage. But, her love of family was the truest expression of who she was. As her daughters, we were unconditionally loved and were treated to the some of the finest cooking ever, especially on Thanksgiving Day with turkey, and her homemade lefse and apple pie.

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Bev, Betty, Barb and Brenda

 

Women's Advocacy, Women's Rights, Women's Suffrage

Women’s Rights

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Your Voice, Your Choice

 

The Lipstick Logic Motto

Symbolic of the individuality of each woman’s life, this lip print represents each woman’s unique story. By changing lip colors, a woman can change her appearance.

By making new choices she can change her life.

It’s a man’s world. Despite great accomplishments, women are repressed today just as they have been for centuries. We have a long way to go to abolish patriarchy and achieve equality. The time to start is now. Be persistent. Make change happen.

Women are products of their environments. Some are fortunate enough to have been born into a financially stable, nurturing, stimulating family. Others, must rise from poverty or abuse, from the depths of disadvantage and pain.

Applying what we learn from mentors and lessons from powerful women can enrich our own lives. Through their strength, determination and actions, some women have changed the world, but each woman can take action to change her own life.

We follow in the footsteps of suffragettes who fought hard for a woman’s right to vote, yet many women do not vote. Women have traveled to space, yet some women have never learned to drive a car. Some have become bank presidents, while others have never written a check.

Women have excelled in many fields without being acknowledged for their competence and brains. Nursing is one example of an underpaid, female-dominated field, where it took more men entering the profession for wages and status to improve. A stark reminder from the past is when women served in the military during WWII. Often, they did not receive military benefits, burial benefits or medals, so when women in the war died, their fellow females pooled money to send the body home.

More than 250,000 women served in the armed forces during WWII. They worked in many capacities. Some were captives. Some died. Thousands were pilots, yet these brave women were not given equal compensation. Finally, in 1979, these women were rightfully granted veteran benefits. I recently met a young female helicopter pilot who flew combat missions in Afghanistan. Women in the military today have earned respect in broad leadership, combat and technical roles.

A few years ago, I met a motorcycle enthusiast riding cross-country alone at the age of eighty. She enjoyed traveling alone. Self-dependence remained at her core, just as it was during WWII when, as a military pilot, she flew transcontinental aircraft deliveries with minimal navigation instruments, and when aviation weather-forecasting was nearly nonexistent.

Marge Piercy, an American author, feminist and social activist, once said, “A strong woman is a woman determined to do something others are determined not be done.”

Women are multitaskers. Managing businesses and households, bearing and caring for children, assisting aging parents, supporting mates in their work, and participating in community and school projects, all this is often accomplished while working a full-time job.

Women are strong. They are resilient, developing skills through necessity and employing them throughout life. Women must remain goal-oriented and avoid people who impede their progress.

Most working women have experienced the abuse of power. Many women develop skills in the business realm, but are not treated as equals. Sometimes management level women participate in deriding other women like entitled men who abuse and use their power against subordinates.

Although women are socially defined as unequal, we are developing voices and taking action to stand strong against repression. With change, conflict is inevitable. When conflict is suppressed or hidden, issues are not addressed. View conflict as an avenue of growth. Learn from adversity.

The ability to cope in a crisis is strengthened by experience. Life lessons from strong women show this to be true. Adversity teaches wisdom, wisdom that can be shared with others.

Leave your negative past behind. Become the person you want to be. Face life with strength and a positive attitude. There is hope, but the fight for equality goes on.

 

Report abuse

Run for Office

Vote for rights

Defend yourself

Find your passion

Become self-reliant

Refuse to be put down

Do not become a victim

Take charge of your future

Learn skills for independence

Develop a roadmap for your future

 

Betty Kuffel, MD

Lipsticklogic.com