Everyone is a Teacher and Everyone is a Student

Posted on December 20, 2019 by dfolstad58

 I am a Student 

As I think of my family, and my close friends, I realize how much I have been a student and influenced by them especially.  Life in general is teaching me also in an unceasing manner because none of us live in isolation.

I observe examples of kindness and consideration, smart decisions about planning, thoughtfulness for others, actions of character and I consciously, or unconsciously try to emulate them.

There are times also when I learn from the less positive behaviors of others.

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I am also a teacher 

and that thought is more than a tad scary and I say that without guile.  If I accept that role as a teacher, then I am obliged to be more aware both in the present and in the future, and more aware what it is that I am teaching.

Everyone around you is a teacher. They are teaching either by example or by warning. The key is to distinguish which. – Darren Hardy

I am an average kind of guy, if I am a student and a teacher, then I conclude my readers are also. Daily, and inevitably as we rub shoulders with family, friends, associates and the public, we teach and learn and those lessons that we gain and share are helpful on both sides of the coin.

Everyone is a Teacher and Everyone is a Student.

As we interact in society, and not just with family and friends – we are shaped by the people we come in contact with, similar to river rocks rounded by the river current.

That is the nature of interactions I think, that we copy the positive characteristics of others we observe and those behaviors we don’t abide with, we inspect ourselves to detach those aspects, metaphorically learning about hot stoves without burning ourselves.

I guess I just know I have a lot to learn and need to be aware of whether I am an example or a warning!

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Just sharing a thought today,  thanks for visiting and reading. Thank you for reading my blog in 2019 and in the past. – Dave

 

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Life Saving Gift Suggestion for Christmas

Posted on December 16, 2019 by dfolstad58

My post today is a little different from my regular posts. My post will include some statistics that are applicable in Canada, and I hope you will check and see what they are in your country (they may be similar – I would like to know).

30 Second Video – that’s all

This post is about giving saving lives by donating blood once-a-year. 

Cancer patients, transplant recipients, accident victims. For these people and so many more, a timely transfusion of blood can be the lifesaving difference.

Donating blood is a selfless act, and I would suggest to you that an annual tradition to donate annually like now in December would be a wonderful tradition. The person you save could be your neighbour or a family member.

Imagine if someone you love needed surgery but the blood components just weren’t there? Once a year is a small sacrifice, invite a friend to go with you.

It costs nothing to do except a few minutes and your body replenishes itself amazingly quickly.  Find out about the ONE hour process and book an appointment HERE. 

It’s something you can do today to ensure someone else is waking up healthy tomorrow.

My father has a rare blood type, and he told me that if all the eligible people gave blood, then everyone would only need to donate once every TEN YEARS. 

Most eligible people for donating blood don’t.

Only a fraction of Canadians are registered donors. Depending on where you live, there are different ways to register and decide what you want to donate. Learn here.

Half of all Canadians are fit to donate blood, but only 1 in 60 Canadians gave blood last year. Our organ donation rates are also lower than many countries, including the United States.

Quick link to check your eligibility – click here

The need for donors in Canada

In Canada, 52% of people say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products at some point in their lives. Our country also needs organ and tissue donors, but not enough Canadians have made plans to donate – 4500 people are waiting.

The need for blood donation

It takes many donors to help save a hospital patient. For example, it takes up to:

  • 5 donors to save someone who needs heart surgery
  • 50 donors to help save just 1 person seriously hurt in a car crash
  • 8 donors a week to help someone going through treatment for leukemia

Image result for blood donation imagesSome blood types are rare and powerful ! Understanding your blood type – learn more by clicking here

What happens to your donation? See summary below or Click here 

Canadian Blood Services collects blood donations to be used to treat patients. Whole blood is separated into two main components:

  •  Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs and tissues, removing carbon dioxide through the lungs. It is used during emergencies, surgeries, and cancer treatments.
  • Plasma is a liquid containing many of the body’s proteins that help fight infection and help clotting. Plasma may be transfused directly to patients or may be further processed to purify the antibodies and albumin it contains. The antibodies (also known as immune globulins) are used to treat patients with weak immune systems. Albumin is mostly used in emergency care to treat trauma or burn victims who have lost large amounts of blood.

 

 

 

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The Best Day

Posted on December 16, 2019 by dfolstad58

Nothing beats a heart warming story to put a smile on my face – better than hot chocolate on a winter morning ! Enjoy!
I remember the craziness of toboggans – it was an illusion that anyone could steer them LOL.
In Quesnel we would careen down a hill, bounce off a path and get air as we headed to a stand of trees ! And we loved it!

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Stuart M. Perkins's avatarStoryshucker

The wind was brisk as friends and I plodded through crunchy snow to the top of the hill. Heavy snowfall during the night ended and now in the morning light it appeared as though someone sprinkled glitter across the accumulation. We blew into cupped hands to warm them as we surveyed the glistening slope.

Snow doesn’t fall often in Richmond and if it does it’s rarely deep. Today a good snow had finally come, so we had headed to Forest Hill Park with sleds in tow. We hoped to get in several early rides before crowds reduced the snow to slush, but already we heard muffled voices approaching from across the park.

A group of excited kids, probably half our ages, led two men and a woman in our direction. The children dragged sleds and pulled eagerly at the adults who were stepping through the fresh snow at a painfully…

View original post 681 more words

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A Very Brief Post and my Epiphany

Posted on December 16, 2019 by dfolstad58

Yesterday I  learned something I didn’t know about cars and I have been driving since Fred Flintstones had blistering feet!

My car and my wife’s car have their gas tanks

on opposite sides; and without admitting anything about getting older, I regularly forget which side of each car the gas tank is on.  Maybe regularly is overstating it, but I digress.

Arrived at the pump and on the wrong side, then I have to go, restart the car and move it to a different gas pump while wondering how I get it wrong so much with a 50% chance of being correct! . (maybe you forget sometimes also, or you can say you do just so I feel better, pretty please?)

Did you know ?

On the gas gauge in your car, if you look really closely – there’s an arrow beside the gas pump symbol in the gas gauge AND the arrow points to the side of the car where you pump gas!  (Forehead slap)

That’s it.  I just thought I would share my epiphany and forehead slap! 

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A small interaction inspires thought

Posted on December 15, 2019 by dfolstad58

Hello friends near and far, yesterday I drove up the valley as my 

hearing aid was repaired and I could pick it up. It was a beautiful day for the drive, roads were quiet and my son came with me making the trip undoubtedly more enjoyable.

The road north up the valley has a view of Okanagan Lake all along, so we cruised along, sharing a coffee,  just talking, no radio. I was not expecting how much an upcoming brief encounter was about to make me think.

coffee shopWe were early for the appointment, so we stopped to grab a breakfast 

sandwich at Triple O’s and kill a little time reading the newspaper.

It was 9:15 and my appointment wasn’t until ten so we could relax for a bit.

These Triple O restaurants are open early for travellers, who grab a bite, inhale a coffee and keep on going.

I went to the counter and placed my order with the mature male employee.  After I paid, and he was getting my change, I asked him about his day so far, and how was he doing?

“You are the first person to ask me that so far today” – he responded,

and his tone indicated he was surprised I had interacted with him.  He told me he had been working over two hours at that point, and no one had even said “Good Morning” until I did.

I told him that was surprising, and we chatted.   He was a really nice guy, and wished me a good day when we left ten minutes later.  

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As I went through the rest of the day, I thought about this gentlemen, and all the other people who have lives and stories of their own but somehow are treated invisibly. 

Ironically I have done surveys from businesses who ask questions like:

  • Were the staff friendly?
  • Did the staff make an attempt to know you? 

I believe the onus is on me!  I am surrounded by people all day as I go about my life, I hope I never forget take a moment to see the people who are helping me, in person or not; and to acknowledge them somehow.  If they don’t have time to chat, I always have time for a nod and smile thank you.

I don’t know if it is karma or something else; but in my opinion relationships are a mirror and you get what you give. 

 “Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.“ The Red Circle (Sherlock Holmes) 

 

dr seuss

Thanks for visiting. 

I may take a break over the next few weeks from blogging, to read a book, play a game or just lay on the floor and relax. 

I love a good book, a walk, and a board game with family (I might even win one this year!)

Maybe that’s in your plans also, and if that’s the case I will look forward to reading your blogs and comments next year.

Thank you sincerely for all your encouragement this year, the encouraging comments, and your blogs that made me smile!  I never knew blogging was going to include the warmth and support you give. 

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I am feeling grateful

Posted on December 13, 2019 by dfolstad58

I am thinking how rich I am today 

as I think back over the past 12 or so months.  A few years back someone shared with me a metaphor about our personal health as a table.

On our “table” –

We want to keep as many legs on our “table” strong so that if one is wobbly – the table still stands, and doesn’t topple because the other legs are there to keep us upright. 

On our individual tables we have multiple legs, together those leg support the table – those legs include: 

  • Diet – healthy foods, avoid sugars, limit meat
  • Exercise – daily is essential
  • Spiritual Activity – Proverbs, praying
  • Social Support – being with and supporting friends
  • Sleep – plan beginning and ending sleep times, wind down at night
  • Avoid Negative Speech – positive language using words like Thank you
  • Water – three litres a day, starting with a big drink in the morning
  • Deep breathing – concentrate on the breath alone a few times daily
  • Sunlight – get outside, nothing like fresh air and sunshine
rubber path not concrete on this section of promenade
the leaves remind me of apricots
Today Skaha Lake was looking good

I was thinking about that metaphor because how regularly

I have been refreshed and supported by family and friends throughout my life.  That includes the genuine support last year when I was forced to succumb to kidney dialysis again, and this year again when I was recovering from transplant surgery are top most in my thoughts today.

To all of you I share Proverbs 11:25 today: 

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Thanks for reading today- I hope your “table” is strong, and have a wonderful day and as you bring blessings to others, you also feel refreshed. – Dave

 

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