DEAR FRIENDS,

I was at a pharmacy recently when a woman walked up next to me.  “I want some pressure tablets,” she said.

The pharmacist was puzzled.  “What kind?  Do you have a prescription?”

“No,” the woman answered, seeming slightly embarrassed.

The pharmacist questioned, “Did you go to a doctor?”

“No,” the woman said.  She only knew that her pressure was high.

At that point I could not resist butting in.  “How do you know your pressure is high?”

“The machine at home,” the woman said.

“You need to go to a doctor,” I said.  “If your pressure really is high, the doctor will advise you about food and exercise, and will tell you why your pressure is high and will treat that too.”

The woman nodded and drifted away.  A little later, I met her by the door and reminded her about going to the doctor.  She nodded, but from her vague expression I wondered if she would go.

Perhaps, she really did think she was doing the right thing.  Maybe she is like so many people who believe that all they need is a tablet a day to cure them.  And if the little pill doesn’t work, they give up.  “Well what me can do?” they say.  “Dat is life.”

No, dear friends, that is not “life.”  Life is asking questions; life is reading and educating ourselves so we can make better choices.  It is being more responsible for our bodies and our well-being.  It is not depending only on a little pill to make the problems go away. 

Life should be a nation of healthy, thinking women.

What do you think?  Write to the Chronicle or email savannahwomenscircle@gmail.com.

CRAFTY LADY.

How to do the running stitch (continued from last week).

Master this stitch and sew almost anything – babies’ clothing; pillow cases, bed sheets, table cloths, curtains, quilts, cushions.

(1.) Now that you have learnt to fasten the thread (see last week’s page), begin your running stitch.  (2)  On the under side, push the needle through one small space away from the first stitch (from last week’s instructions), to the top (3).

(4.)  Pull needle and thread to the top.  You now have a small space between the first stitch and the place where your next stitch begins.  (5.)  Push the needle down one small space away from the thread.  (6.)  Pass the needle down and up through the fabric – make sure the top stitches are equal in length; the stitches on the underside are also equal, but they are half the size of the top stitches.  When you are done, fasten the end thread on the underside, the same way you did at the very beginning. 

EARTH WOMAN.

Indoor plants (continued from last week) – putting life in your workplace.

The modern office can make you sick.  The windows are locked with no fresh air entering the building.  Is it any wonder that many workers suffer frequently from colds, allergies, fatigue, dizziness, headache, dry throat, coughing, irritated eyes, skin and airway?

Why does this happen?  The air in your office is polluted.  Toxic chemicals are trapped in the sealed building.  To make matters worse, air-conditioners regurgitate these chemicals in the air daily; after time, oxygen level drops.  The chemicals come from the artificial fabric of your office furniture; from electrical equipment and modern, synthetic, construction materials; they are in plastic, air fresheners, cleaning fluids and sprays; insecticides, glue and markers.  They can cause nausea, headaches, coughing and fever, and worse, cancer. 

If this happens to your employees, wouldn’t you lose whenever they call in sick?  Doesn’t it make sense then to keep your staff healthy and happy?

Science research shows that putting live, green plants in the office can help.  Plants absorb the carbon and chemicals in your office and boost oxygen levels.  This in turn pushes up concentration and productivity. 

Plants also control humidity.  If humidity is too low – if the air is too dry – employees suffer from colds, viruses and allergies.  Too dry air also damages building materials and equipment.  If humidity is too high, mold spores – not good for people – can grow.

Plants lift moods…and good mood is linked to dopamine, the hormone which controls information flowing through the brain.  In other words, plants help boost productivity.  They make the workplace pleasant…and as we know, an agreeable atmosphere reduces stress and fatigue.  People sitting in front of a computer with plants nearby do tend to feel better. 

As you can see, with just a few plants you can keep your employees feeling fine, you can reduce absenteeism in the workplace and boost efficiency.  Doesn’t that make sense…and cents?

Next week: more about those harmful chemicals…

HOW TO…

…Keep track of your pre-menstrual symptoms.
Because Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) comes with over 100 symptoms, it is difficult to diagnose.  One friend said that an old, male family doctor told her that her symptoms were in her head.  Wrong!  PMS is real because of hormonal changes that take place before your period.
Normally, when symptoms occur before your period and end when it begins, they are caused by PMS.  But go to the doctor to rule out other problems such as anaemia, diabetes, alcohol, hypothyroidism, and side effects from oral contraceptives, pre-menopause or other health issues.  If your doctor rules out these, you can assume that you suffer from PMS.  To confirm this, keep track of the symptoms.
On the day that your period begins, count twenty-eight days after.  Your next period is due then, give or take a few days.  Two weeks or a week and a half before the next period, write a list of the symptoms or talk with a girlfriend.

Once you link those symptoms to your period, go on a full-scale operation to control your body instead of letting it control you.
Next week: steps you can take…

BEAUTIFUL YOU…INSIDE & OUT.
Building confidence.
Would you like to see your world as exciting, filled with possibilities? Would you like others to respect you and not put you down?  Do you want to stop doubting yourself and calling yourself stupid?  Do you want to fulfil dreams, solve problems without having to depend on others every single day?  With confidence, you can. 
And even if you were not born with it or were not brought up to believe in yourself, you can develop confidence.  How do you begin?
Take an honest look at yourself. 
Go past the physical, look inside you.  Who do you see?  What makes you happy?  What makes you angry, sad or frightened?  What do you day-dream about?  What do you give to life?  What do you take from it?  Five years from now, ten years from now, what do you want from life? 
Do you like who you see?
How do you feel about the woman you see inside?  Does she make you sad?  Does she make you feel bad, guilty or glad?  Find the person you like.  Write down your good points.  Everyday, read this list to your self.  If someone puts you down, read your list.
How do you change?
Think of the home you love.  It gives you food, rest, shelter.  Right now, you like this home the way it is, but one day you will make changes here and there.  Now, think of yourself as your home.  You like yourself as you are, but one day, you will do some renovations.  For now, love what you are.  The changes will come when you are ready to make them.
Next week: more on building confidence…
Enjoy the rest o
f your week, ladies.  Be good to yourselves, take care of you.