“Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you,” said Princess Diana.
February is the month of love, and hopefully, we are surrounded from all directions: family, friends and pets. Love and kindness all make a difference and are never wasted. Please add a random act of kindness to the many other resolutions you are trying to keep.
Senior lunches
Our senior lunches continue on Wednesdays at The Lookout, starting at 11:30 a.m. It’s a good time to relax and see friends and maybe meet new people. We don’t order from the menu but the staff always has a nice surprise planned for us and the cost is $5. Our local group is diverse so one never knows where conversations will lead. It is always good to let me know you are coming so I can give The Lookout a general idea of numbers. Please remember that The Lookout is a busy restaurant and don’t ask for special food or special service. It is also only respectful to arrive on time. The Lookout has given us a home for many years and we are very appreciative. Each month I send a report to the state (the state contributes $0.85 to each lunch) and the town of Killington (which contributes $3.15 to each lunch). When our $5 is added, the total is $9. So The Lookout is losing money but still welcomes us with a smile every week. The entire staff makes us feel valued so let’s be sure to show them the consideration they deserve.
Sherburne Library events
As usual, the library is offering lots of choices in February. Movies, a book discussion, a painting class, a discussion group, an American sign language class and a special event.
The movies are held on Mondays and start at 1 p.m. There is popcorn or you can bring your lunch. The selections for February are as follows.
- Feb. 5: “The Boys in the Boat”
- Feb. 12: “The Color Purple”
- Feb. 19: “A Million Miles Away”
- Feb. 26: “Maestro”
Book Ends Book Club will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. The selection for this month is “Once There Were Wolves” by Charlotte McConaghy. A story of a woman desperate to save the creatures she loves. She also must care for her sister as they both are trying to heal from terrible secrets that drove them from Alaska. Set in the remote Highlands of Scotland, it is an unforgettable tale.
Every Friday from 11:15 a.m.-12-noon there is an American sign language class. This has been going on for sometime so there are difference levels of expertise in the class. Maybe you just want to brush up on your skills or maybe you are starting from scratch. All are welcome.
The third Wednesday of every month we have a discussion group called Thoughts on Aging. It starts at 1 p.m. and we talk and talk. You would be surprised at the various conversations we have had. One thing for sure, if you have a problem so does someone else and it helps to talk about it. This month’s theme is: draw a line in the sand.There are only two rules: everyone’s opinion is valid and what we discuss does not leave the room.
On Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m., a very special event will honor Killington Resort founder Preston Smith. A new display in the meeting room will include a sign he made for the Sherburne Fire Dept. and many photos of the department from many years ago. Pres Smith himself will attend via Zoom and all are invited to attend.
TMD information, dinner
A public information meeting before Town Meeting Day is Monday, March 4 and the Little White Church will be providing a takeout dinner from the public safety building on the Killington Road. The dinner will be lasagna, salad, bread and a dessert, all for a suggested donation of $5. Serving will be 4:30-6 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Little White Church.
Breathing, etc.
Breathe deeply, choose your thoughts wisely, live in the moment, open your heart and accept yourself as the beautiful being that you are. These directions were sent to me by a dear friend that I had not heard from in years. She is on a spirtual journey and part of that journey was connecting with old friends to share the new philosophy that she is trying to embrace. With her permission, I am going to share some of what she told me.
Breathing deeply is key for good health. We can all learn to do this. Choosing thoughts wisely impacts our body, mind and soul. We can all learn to choose our thoughts. Living in the moment gives us the power of choice. We can all learn to live in the moment. Open your heart to loving and being loved. This will set you free from stress. We can all learn to open our heart. Accepting yourself as you are lets go of anxiety and most of our fears. We can all learn to accept ourselves.
Can we all learn these things at our age? I don’t know. With my friend’s encouragement I am going to try. But this is not the end of the story.
I think I shared with all of you that I had received a little book for Christmas called “Daily Sunshine” by Clare Josa. As my friend and I chatted about her present life and also what I had been doing all these years, we realized that we were both reading the same book!
She was reading every page over and over. Unfortunately, I had barely glanced at it. However, I am reading it now and will share other tidbits throughout the year.
Focused yet serene
Green tea….one of my favorites and thankfully, the more I read about green tea, the more I learn about its value. It is known for its health benefits but it can also make you happier. Who doesn’t want to be happy? Scientifically, there are bioactives in green tea that keep the mind focused yet serene. It is not a stretch to think they contribute to the overall wellbeing experienced in Okinawa, where locals often drink jasmine infused green tea. You have often heard me mention the Blue Zones, known for their longevity, and Okinawa is one of those zones. Okinawans also have lower rates of cancer, heart disease and dementia. Plus, and this is important, women live longer there than in any place on earth. Three cups a day is about right. Supposedly, same day and long lasting elevation of mental health and mood as well as potential anti-inflamatory effects will be your reward.
The wall sit, a simple body weight exercise that can be done virtually anywhere, isn’t just for body strength. It can also help lower your blood pressure. The British Journal of Sports Medicine recently reported that wall sits, also known as wall squats, have been proven to lower systolic (the top number) and the diastolic (the bottom number) of your blood pressure reading. Find a wall you can lean up against. Take a couple of steps forward, keeping your feet hip width apart and slide your back down the wall until you appear to be in a seated position. Go only as far as your knees will allow you. If you hold a wall sit for two minutes and then rest for two minutes and repeat four times, it takes only 16 minutes to complete a set. Actually this exercise engages a lot of muscles, helps build strength and improves balance and range of motion.
After completing the above you can have a piece of cake! I haven’t shared a recipe in a while so thought I’d share one of my favorites.
Submitted
- 2 cups applesauce
- 1 box spice cake mix
- 1 chopped apple
Mix all together and bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.
This tastes good but smells absolutely wonderful while baking on a cold winter day.
Please reach out to each other and always be grateful. Love who you can. Help where you can and give what you can.
Best regards, Gerrie
