Are We Thankful?

Are We Thankful?

         Are we really thankful? The Thanksgiving holiday makes me think a little deeper about that. On Thanksgiving day it is easier to get in touch with all we have and to be thankful. The challenge seems to be the in between days when we have the routine of "life." Some days it is easy to be thankful . . . others maybe it seems impossible.

       It is interesting also to study the history of Thanksgiving in our country. Although the first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the pilgrims in the early 1600's, and George Washington declared a day of "Thanksgiving" in the late 1700s, there were many lapses in the celebration of Thanksgiving. It wasn’t until Abe Lincoln’s 1863 "Proclamation of Thanksgiving" that Thanksgiving then became official.

        Perhaps we too "lapse" in our personal Thanksgiving. I have written elsewhere articles entitled Pursuit of Happiness and Have a Happy Heart, and although being thankful may be part of those perhaps it has another component. Thankful people appreciate what they have.

        Sometimes it is amazing to us at Daggett Shuler how seriously injured and disabled folks can seem to be so thankful even in their most difficult of circumstances. People who are in seemingly, to us, in very bad situations still can be thankful. Perhaps we can learn from them.

        As I was observing and wondering about some of our clients who remain thankful during what most of a would consider bad times, a common theme seemed to be developing. These people tend to look at what they have, instead of looking at what they don’t have.

         I suppose human nature causes many of us not to be so thankful during tough times. Maybe we can work to be super human and learn to see all we do have instead of what we don’t. Let’s be thankful!

Giving Thanks Safely

Giving Thanks Safely

        Our Daggett Shuler family wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. We also hope you and your family are safe, so we will share with you a few safety tips we have researched for the holiday.

      Home fires are the number one most frequent calls to fire departments, and cooking fires are the most frequent reason. Thanksgiving is the day with the highest number of home fires with three times more fires than on normal days. The leading cause of fire is unattended food on the stove or in the oven. Stay in the kitchen w/ cooking food. Pot holders and towels should be kept away from the stove. For more tips see www.firesafety.gov

        Food safety can easily by slip with large meals and lots of leftovers. Be careful to thoroughly wash hands and counters after touching raw turkey, and other meats. Be sure to keep hot food hot, and cold food cold until the leftovers are safely put away.

       Take careful when carving the turkey. We don’t take out the family carving knives very many times during the year, and so we usually are not in good practice using them. Please be careful carving the turkey and ham, and keep those knives out of reach of youngsters.

       Choking hazards are increased during big holiday meals. The very young and the very old are particularly susceptible to choking. Eat slowly and enjoy the meal. Only encourage talking after food is swallowed. Remind children to take small bites and not to talk with food in their mouths. 

        Take care of your pets too. They make like a little turkey, but please be sure to make sure the little pieces are free of bones. Turkey bones splinter causing a severe threat of choking and other damage.

      Lastly, Thanksgiving is the kick off for the holiday season. Safety first! Drinking and driving seems to go way up making our roads more dangerous. Please join our team and encourage safe sober driving as well as being defensive and courteous on the road.

        Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Veteran Appreciation

Veteran Appreciation

         Have you taken time to thank a veteran? Veterans Day seemed to sort of slipped up on me this year. We probably tend to take for granted the sacrifices of our living veterans who served honorably so that we all can be free.

       Maybe we can all learn along with the first graders. Veterans Day was originally Armistice day which was to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954, after World War II, it was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. It is a day to honor and thank all of those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

An 87 Year-Old Veteran with First Graders

       There are currently about 25 million living veterans in the United States. These are the folks who have supported the law and legal system we have today. Our freedom is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. For most of the history of mankind the rules were determined only by the rich and powerful. Here, because of the freedom our veterans have protected, the law helps and protects all of us.

       Veterans Day is certainly a day to be thankful for in our country, for our freedom, and for those who have helped protect it. Please join us today by thanking a veteran and telling them we appreciate their service.

        Let us also thank our on duty service people around the world. Let us not forget that we are at war and our armed forces are defending our freedoms and sacrificing themselves for this country we love. Let us not forget the values for which they sacrifice.

       Happy Veterans Day, and Thank You Servicepersons and Veterans!

Internet Safety

Internet Safety

         Computers can be a terrific educational tool, and the internet makes the ability to learn and explore our world almost limitless. These learning opportunities are available to everyone and there is (usually) no charge. What a great opportunity! But, then, we also need to know what dangers are out there lurking.

        So many kids put their names, photos, and even addresses on My Space,Facebook, and other teenage internet spaces and then get into trouble with predators. Some recent studies show that approaching two-thirds of all teenagers have an online profile, and over one-third all of "kids" have been exposed to unwanted sexual material online.

        These issues are starting to become so prevalent that public service organizations, schools, local law enforcement, and even the FBI have become involved in efforts to help make the internet safer for our young people. State and Federal governments are beginning to pass laws regarding privacy and information regarding minors (under 18). The FCC now has guidelines and the authority to enforce them.

         What can we do to help our children? First, supervision, household discussions, and general household awareness of the issues. Recently there are a number of computer monitoring software programs designed to reduce the amount internet dangers.

         We can also look for other signs of "issues" beginning. We can pay attention to our phone and credit card bills for unusual activity which could indicate a problem. We can watch for signs of grades slipping, or unknown absences from school. Many of these signs could be very similar to what we see at the beginning of drug or alcohol use.

         The number one thing we can do is communicate with our children regarding the very real dangers that exist. Parental guidance, support, supervision and communication go a long way toward heading off the dangers that are lurking. Please help us to help our youth. Thank you.

         Members of our Daggett Shuler Team speak frequently to school groups, youth groups, and parent groups on internet safety. We are available in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, and throughout the Triad area of North Carolina.  Please contact us if you are interested in a presentation for your group.