Autumn

It's not that I'm getting slower. Well, yes it is.

It's that I can't hear as well, so I have to work harder at figuring out what you say. I can't see as clearly either, so I'm straining more to discern the little things. Those things you just glance at and don't have to figure out? I'm figuring them out. That takes time.

While the world moves farther from me, I find I'm less visible now, to others. Long ago, or so it seems some days, I was avoiding the second glances, closing my ears to the catcalls, cutting off my long hair to be seen as a person, not an object. I guess it worked. Now I am invisible.

For the first thirty years of life, we believe we can change the world, shake down the establishment, change the mistakes we've made. I am at the beginning of aging, just the turn of the season, yet I can see the obstacles that are looming. They cannot be moved; I must navigate around them. Will I do that gracefully or with the impatience of my younger self? As the occasional aches become constant, will I respond with forbearance or with bitterness?

This is why aging starts slow. You can, in that time, learn how to summon new strengths to move with the tide, instead of believing you must change its direction.

Mental Health is not something that just affects “some” people.

Just as every one of us has to deal with catching the flu, or to learn how to handle hereditary illnesses and natural aging, mental health is part of whole-body health for every person.  If you (or someone you care about) become mentally ill, treatment is necessary.

Just as there are preventative measures you can take to ensure a healthy body, there are ways to safeguard a healthy mind. Here are some books from Mississauga’s libraries that can help you manage your mental health.

For methods and exercises for your brain:

Step Back: Why You Need to Stop What You’re Doing to Start Living

By Norman Drummond

158 DRU

2016

We can't hope to achieve our potential unless we take time out to work out what is most important to us. Drummond focuses on the rich rewards of stepping back: clarity of thought, stronger objectives - and the ability to discern the true priorities of your own heart.

Reclaim your Brain: how to calm your thoughts, heal your mind and bring your life back under control

By Joseph Annibali, M.D.

158.1 ANN 
2015

Dr. Joseph Annibali has treated thousands of people with overloaded, overstimulated brains. Whether they are diagnosed with anxiety, disabling OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, or even substance abuse, Annibali’s approach is to address the Too-Busy Brain, a great irritant that interferes with attention, concentration, focus, mood, and often much more. Through practical strategies, understandable explanations, and prescriptive mind-management techniques, Dr. Annibali helps readers get back in control of their lives.

For healthy eating practices and managing children with mental health issues:

 

The disconnected kids nutrition plan: proven strategies to enhance learning and focus for children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological disorders

By Robert Melillo, M.D.

618. 928 MEL

2016

Dr. Robert Melillo’s Brain Balance program has helped thousands of families across the country, offering a drug-free, scientifically based method for addressing a wide range of conditions, including autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. He presents the nutritional side of the Brain Balance Program, featuring guidelines, tips, and kid-friendly recipes based on the latest scientific research on how food affects the brain. 

 
For inspiration:

Champion for health: how Clara Hughes fought depression to win Olympic gold

By Richard Brignall

796. 62092 HUGHE

2016

Clara Hughes pushed through pain to get to the finish line, trying to have her best race every day but few knew that the same determination and focus were also needed to fight her own personal battles. Clara's inspiring story does not end with winning gold. She has become a symbol of the fight to remove the stigma from mental illness by cycling thousands of kilometres in all kinds of weather to raise awareness. Clara is a remarkable athlete, but it is her strength and courage off the track that have made her a true champion.

Silent running: our family's journey to the finish line with autism

By Robyn Schneider

618. 92858 SCH

2015

Running is a way of life for the Schneider family, but not in the same way as it is for most runners. Twin brothers Alex and Jamie Schneider are severely autistic yet they have run almost 150 races, including six marathons. Their father Allan successfully manages his symptoms of multiple sclerosis with vitamins and miles of jogging on the trails near their Long Island home. Their mother Robyn, while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer six years ago, decided to run her way to recovery. In Silent Running, Robyn Schneider shares her family’s incredible story of triumph in the face of enormous hurdles, and of the shared passion that has fueled their fight.

Look for these books and more at your local library!

Laura Bilyea, Librarian

Mississauga Central Library

Originally posted at:

https://toughtimestabloid.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/tough-times-may-june-2017.pdf

Erosion

You know that it sweeps away pesky garbage, dirt, soil, plants, trees, rocks, boulders, glaciers, landforms.

It can start small, obviously, but once the big chunks start breaking off, it gets a bit harder to manage. The landscape's shape changes. Whole species of plants and animals are not seen any more. The place doesn't look familiar.

Here at midlife, I'm beginning to feel like an island in the middle of the river during spring runoff. Pieces of me are breaking off, washing away. Nice parts; soft ones like moss. Sweet-smelling ones like flowers and new grass.

What's left is sharp-edged, rocky and smaller somehow. Smaller-minded, with smaller amounts of patience, tenderness, willingness.

I don't own the river. I don't control the amount of water flowing past. But I do need to hang on to some of those softer plants far more tightly.

Welcome to Canada!

Welcome to Canada!

Welcome, new immigrant, to the red-and-white land of socialized healthcare, public education and government-funded social agencies, all waiting to help you feel at home. But just where does one start?

Have you just arrived? Try a settlement agency—there are over 40 to choose from in the Peel Region alone. Your local library can help you find one close to where you live. Settlement agencies can help you with information on housing, personal identification cards, even learning what clothing you’ll need to make it through our varied seasons.

Is there information I can find on my own? Absolutely. The Ontario government has a website set up for new immigrants. http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/index.htm

The City of Mississauga does, too. http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/newcomers

And there are books you can read at your local library that can help you prepare for life in Canada. We also have books and films in 25 different languages and as well as kits to help you improve your English skills. Drop in, and we’ll help get you on your way!

 

365 Tips for Newcomers : Your First Year in Canada

Nick Noorani

325.71 NOO

2014

This book provides 365 tips for your first year in Canada on everything from finding a doctor to opening a bank account to searching for the right schools for your children to buying real estate. It is an indispensable guide on how you can make your first year a great success that will establish you in Canada sustainably for the rest of your life.

 

You're Hired--Now What? : An Immigrant's Guide to Success in the Canadian Workplace

Lynda Goldman

2010

650.13 GOL

You're Hired...Now What? will give people from different countries and backgrounds an understanding of Canadian workplace culture and norms. The material is presented as a general guide to adapting to a professional environment and explains common best-practice procedures at work. Examples are given to help explain and illustrate the positive results of working within these general guidelines. 

 

Newcomer's Guide to Canada: Information to Help Newcomers Before and After Arrival

Barbara Dixon

2015

325.71 DIX

The Newcomer's Guide to Canada is a practical resource to help immigrants and refugees succeed in Canada and the Canadian workplace. It contains six chapters on: Pre-Arrival, Coping with Culture Shock, Settlement, Finding a Job, Cultural Differences and Canadian Workplace Culture. It has Pre-Arrival, PTSD Symptoms, Rental and Settlement checklists. Worksheets on professional transferable skills, taking initiative and taking ownership are included. Sample cover letters, resumes and interview questions and answers are provided. The Newcomer's Guide is a resource for immigrants, refugees, settlement workers, HR professionals and managers.

Adults are not the only immigrants. Children need to learn more about their new country, too, and these books can help:

 

Canadian Geographic Canada for Kids: 1000 Awesome Facts

Aaron Kylie

2015

J 971 KYL

In this patriotic celebration of Canada's superlatives, complete with 300 color photographs, kids are presented with thousands of unique facts, figures and feats that make the country unique.

 

ABC of Canada

Kim Bellefontaine

2002

X421.1 BEL

From Arctic to Zamboni, kids can follow the alphabet on a colorful tour across Canada. On their journey, they'll visit Canadian landmarks, including Jasper National Park and Peggy's Cove. They'll also meet friendly characters enjoying Canadian pastimes, such as riding in the Calgary Stampede, playing hockey and watching the Northern Lights. Vivid illustrations and simple language guarantee that even the youngest traveler will enjoy this trip!

See you at the library!

Laura Bilyea, librarian, Mississauga Central Library.

Originally published at Tough Times

Easter eggs, dyed naturally

Fresh from their onion skin wrappers, still warm to the touch. I am grateful that got this "recipe" from an Estonian friend--I love the natural hues and patterns that emerge from this dyeing method. I still have 12 more to dye with my kids in those expected blues and pinks, but for me, these are the best.

He is Risen! Happy Easter!

Mighty Crocus

These are my most favourite flowers.
They are tiny, they look frightfully crushable, they last such a short time BUT they are plant-heroes.
Why?
They are a heart-stopping shade of indigo blue.
They are a vanguard of colour in a grey pre-spring world.
They are the fearless first of all our gardens to resurrect after the winter.
They will push through snow to reach the sun.
They have true grit.
They give me courage.

My life is full

My life is full.

I have chosen for it to be so. I have filled it with paid work that I enjoy, that I sought and won, which gives me pride. My life has commitments to children that I chose to raise, to a marriage that I continue to choose every day.

I choose to write, to fill my spare time with personal learning and stretching my skills.

I am valued by those I respect in my life. My life is rich and I am grateful for it.

The little jobs that keep life going? Those I take on without resentment, at least on most days.

February Robin, revisited

A year ago, I posted my first sighting of a robin in my cold Canadian neighbourhood. This year, it's today, Feb 16th--not 19th as in a year ago--and I encountered a whole flock of robins. There were about ten of them along the same three fruit trees on my street. Fresh off the cloud and full of song. The singleton from last year must have told his buds about the frozen fruit buffet.

Hope it will last for all of them! It's still a long way to spring!

Night Animals

What is it about winter darkness that brings out the primal in us humans? As I fall into bed after a long day, shouldn't I feel accomplished, serene, peaceful? And yet, I sense the animal instead.

Like a dog with his thrice-made circle or a squirrel with her fussed-over tail, I have strange rituals. I hunch into a protective curl. The blankets must reach my ear. I wrestle with my pillow to get it rise under my cheek and lower under my nose.  Just so.

And that's just the falling to sleep. What about the waking in the middle of the night? Suddenly then, my covers become a hardened shell from which I shall not be detached. Better to stay inside their protective layers than brave the cold bathroom floor, the creak on the stairs, the plaintive call of my not-so small child.

I growl at the intrusions. But I do get up, and rejoin the human race. Temporarily.

Melon-baller

It's how it feels--like someone's got one of these babies inside my skull and is carving pieces of me away. Small bits at first; at my ear canal, at my eye, even at the back of my throat. De-lish, I know. But it's one of the ways that I can begin to identify that I'm getting a migraine. I don't get auras (have once and they are certainly not as beautiful as they sound) or distortions, but I do get this.

Just hope it doesn't completely serve me up.

New Year; New Directions

It’s 2017, time for new directions, embracing things you’ve never done, and expanding your skills and relationships. Yes, as Mom said: “Try new things and meet new people.” Kids need to have New Year’s resolutions, too. They don’t have to cost much, except a bit of time and some healthy curiosity. That’s where libraries come in. Here is a list of books that children and their caregivers can use together to learn about foraging in the outdoors right where they live, or using up crafting material “ends” to make new things that are fun, useful or can move! And as always, drop in to your local branch library to find out what programs are being held for kids and for adults! Most Mississauga Library programs are free. Who knows what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet?

Check out these links for library programs:
www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/childrensservices  
www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/librarynews

Let Your Kids Go Wild Outside: Creative Ways to Help Children Discover Nature and Enjoy the Great Outdoors,
by Fiona Bird

J 796.083 BIR

 In this inspirational book, with ideas for children of all ages, foraging expert Fiona Bird shows the value of playing outside and discovering nature. For those who don’t want to be far from home, there’s plenty to do such as making a snail holiday village or making seasonal recipes from natural ingredients. This book also teaches children about their environment, including conservation guidelines and tips on forecasting the weather.

Bugs, Bees, and Other Buzzy Creatures: Full of Fun Facts and Activities,
by Margaret Parrish

J 595.7 BUG

 Learn about the insect world with fun activities and amazing facts. Discover why bees buzz and why ladybugs are red, as you complete fun craft activities. Each page has clear, engaging photos with clear text and step-by-step instructions.

Let’s Get Crafty with Paper & Glue: For Kids Aged 2 and Up; Let’s Get Crafty with Salt Dough: 25 Creative and Fun Projects for Kids Aged 2 and Up; Let’s Get Crafty with Fabric & Felt: For Kids Aged 2 and Up; 
J 745.5 LET

Each book in this series by CICO Kids staff has 25 activities all made possible using scraps, and bits-andbobs that you might have around the house. From paper chains to decorate your child’s bedroom, to preparing salt-dough sculptures, to creating a pom-pom bumble bee, these books can teach fine motor skills and inspire your kids to get crafty!

 Decorative Card Crafts,
by Annalees Lim

J 745. 5941 LIM

 Cards for special occasions are expensive but the personal touch is always missing. My own kids have been making personalized cards for family and friends for over 15 years! This high-interest crafting guide teaches readers how to create decorative cards for birthdays, Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day, Eid-Ul-Fitr, and more!

 Let’s Sew

J 646.2 LET 

 Learn how to sew with 10 easy projects for kids and beginners. Children will learn the invaluable skill of sewing on a button as well as a running stitch. Easy to-make projects include birds, badges, and fish bookmarks. Let’s Sew is a fun sewing book that teaches practical skills to last a lifetime.

Project Kid: Crafts That Go! : 60 Imaginative Projects That Fly, Sail, Race, and Dive

By Amanda Kingloff

J 745. 5928 KIN

 Project Kid: Crafts That Go! has more than 60 inventive craft projects for parents to make with and for their children.The book is organized into seven chapters: City, Rails, Sky, Space, Water, Country, and Dirt. Projects feature clear instructions and step-by-step photographs wherever they are needed, easy for both kids and non-crafty adults to understand.

 Make Build Create: Sculpture Projects for Children,
by Paula Briggs. Children of all ages are encouraged to explore how they might transform a wide variety of natural and man-made materials through a series of open-ended projects. Inspiration is taken from architecture, landscapes, figures, and objects in the everyday environments around us. These carefully selected activities enable children to learn sculptural techniques such as casting, carving and construction while making personal sculptural artworks.

Originally published at Tough Times

Who Needs Books?

This little booklet is the transcript of a lecture given for the Canadian Literature Centre as part of the Kreisel Lecture Series. At 49 pages, it is more than ideal for a coffee-talk or brief book club meeting. It is written (and was delivered) by Lynn Coady, author of Hellgoing and The Antagonist.

The premise is that books are at their marketable end and “who needs ‘em?” The fact that this essay was published as a book after being a lecture might head-off the reader where the author is going to go. The medium is indeed the message in this case.

Coady begins with relating her first introduction to an interactive metafiction.   The book in question was narrated by Grover, as in Sesame Street’s blue furry monster, who doesn’t want the young reader to make it to the end of the book, where there is a terrible monster.

The fact that this book celebrated the physical experience of moving through a book, engaging each page as the weight of the pages shift from the one side of the cover to the other, is just as important as the fact that this brilliant little book was based on a TV show. Wasn’t television seen as “the idiot box”, or the “natural enemy of books in the wilds of modern life”, as described (tongue-in-cheek) by Coady?  Does that one villainous fact outweigh the other virtues inherent in this book that so inspired young Coady?

It is important to point out that books did not disappear in the ensuing years after television.   Readers did not give up reading in order to only watch TV. Yet here we are, bemoaning again the loss of the book under the shadow of another medium. This time it is the Internet. Despite all the worry inspired by other well-established authors who are quoted in this treatise (Jonathan Franzen, Will Self), this anxiety has proven to have little foundation.

Coady offers perspective by quoting from an 1859 Scientific American article that finds the pervasiveness of a new hobby “an amusement of a very inferior character, which robs the mind of valuable time that might be devoted to nobler acquirements.” The writer is lamenting about a preoccupation with the game of chess.

Chess did not supplant books. Nor did the printing press cause cathedrals to fall (another terrific citation found by Coady), but it did make people aware that spellings and grammar vary constantly, that language is always changing--or deteriorating, if you are a negative thinker. But the presses are still churning out physical books 577 years later. And stories are not born until they are received; read, heard, seen, felt in whatever form. 
Don't you need books?

Originally published on the Mississauga Library System Nonfiction Book Blog

The Unwinter

"There's a reward at the end of a hard winter. There's a great longing for spring, an eagerness for warmth and green, an excitement for sightings of crocuses. You feel as if you've earned the right to the rain and mud.

But what about a winter that never was? A few snows, a bit of freezing rain but more thaws and mud than I care to measure; does this equal a winter? Should I be grateful?"

I wrote that in late February of 2016. This photo is of my herb garden. It was taken today. I think my thyme is actually growing. I fear this winter is going to be just the same as last year's. Why bother with a winter season if there is no snow? Hibernation cannot work if even the bugs don't know when to sleep. The temperature has been hovering around a damp 3 Celsius for almost 2 weeks, now.

January; your thaw is up. Let's get on with it.

Wolf Moon

A full moon in January has such an evocative name.

Think of it; the silence of a deep-cold night, lit in long blue shadows by a giant moon, broken by the chilling sound of a howling wolf. Prey that is anywhere in its echo will hunker down deeper, seek darker shadows, hope for the best. Food is scarce, and you yourself might just become the next meal.

Even if you are living in the city, it makes you feel utterly alone, like only fear can do. It reminds you of a time past when walls were thin, food was hard-won and light was only for the sky to dictate.

And that is all in the power of a name.