Author Archives: Ginger

Tireless Advocacy Brings Reults in NH!

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Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly – advocacy efforts pay off.

So impressed by Celeste Clark and her tireless work to improve society and the impact of lifestyle pressure on youths. Read this monumental success story (reposted from the Union Leader).

Stance on tobacco shows Hannaford cares

IT IS time to applaud Hannaford Supermarkets. They have taken a huge step forward stating they will be eliminating the sale of all tobacco products by this fall. This big step promotes public health and wellness and shows that as a community partner they care about keeping people safe.

We know in the world of substance misuse prevention that when you take away access to a product you reduce its use. It sounds so simple but it is quite a challenge. For as long as we can remember, for generations and decades back, people unknowingly used substances in some form not knowing that someday they would be considered harmful drugs.

As people became sick and developed health issues of many different varieties, doctors and scientists were able to link the issues back to the cause. The causes were often connected to products like tobacco (and alcohol) that soon became identified and classified as a drug, something that affects your body.

Do you know that at one time schools down in the south actually went on field trips to tobacco plants to learn how tobacco was grown and processed and students went home with a pack of cigarettes? It seems unimaginable but yet it happened. It is safe to say that parents and schools would never allow such a thing to happen today. Fast forward to 2020 and we now have evidence that tobacco is dangerous and harmful to your health, as well as being extremely addictive. Some people in recovery will tell you it is the hardest of all substances for them to quit.

So again, thank you to Hannaford! For some people being able to just grab a pack while shopping helped to keep that addiction going. I am sure they are the ones who will be thanking Hannaford for helping them in their desire to quit. Having to make that extra stop at another store might just be the incentive to realize they don’t really want them or need them.

Let’s hope and encourage those struggling to remain strong. There are free resources to help you quit, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) Please share this with anyone you know who needs it.

All of the reasons why we applaud Hannaford are similar to why it would be a great idea for Governor Chris Sununnu to sign the tobacco 21 legislation into law. It would help us reduce youth access to tobacco products and be one more step in reducing teen smoking and vaping. It would also ensure New Hampshire continues to get federal prevention dollars because we will be in line with the federal law that pushed the age to 21.

Hannaford’s big decision to stop selling tobacco shows it is not always about money. Some businesses honestly care about the health and well being of their customers and the community they are located in. They are raising the bar. We can hope others will follow.

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Celeste Clark is executive director of Raymond Coalition For Youth. She lives in Raymond.

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“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

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Pocket Worthy Stories to fuel your mind.

15 Useful Activities That Are Worth Your Time

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

Darius Foroux

Our time on this planet is limited. Most of us realize that sooner or later. And yet, we keep on squandering our time and running around in circles.

Why is it that we waste so much of our time? Most people think that we, humans, don’t understand the value of time.

I don’t think that’s the problem. You and I both know the value of time. It’s a depletable resource. By that definition, the value of time is high.

So if the problem is not our appreciation of time, what’s the cause of a waste of time and potential?

The answer is obvious: We simply don’t know what to do with our time. The stoic philosopher Seneca famously said in On The Shortness Of Life:

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.”

Most of us read that and get a temporary boost: “Wow, I need to value my time and stop wasting it.”

You know what we do next?

We open Instagram and waste 42 minutes on consuming shit. We go out for coffee for the 7th time this week. We play video games for 2 hours straight. We gossip on the phone for 55 minutes.

Ask yourself: Are the things that I’m doing worth my time? I’ve done that. And most of the things I did simply were not. But distinguishing wasteful activities from worthwhile activities is hard.

As an exercise, I recommend everyone to sit down and think about what activities are worth your time. This is a personal exercise. Everybody values different things. To give you an idea of how I spend my time, I’ve made a list of 15 activities that I consider worthwhile.

  1. Working out — I especially like strength training because being strong is one of the most useful things in life. Sitting behind your desk for hours, going shopping, traveling — your life will be a lot easier when you’re physically strong.
  2. Spending time with people you love — It doesn’t really matter what you do. It’s more about being around people you genuinely care about. That will lift your spirits and give you energy.
  3. Learning how your body works — Everybody should know how their body functions. I also like to read about the latest scientific research about health and fitness.
  4. Journaling — It’s always nice to sit down at the end of a day and reflect. What did I do today? What did I learn? What am I going to do tomorrow? Answering those questions is the best time you’ll spend every day.
  5. Learning a skill — Always be learning a new skill. I started practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a while back. I go to class every week and I constantly learn from YouTube videos. I always want to learn a new skill because it reminds me that I’m always a student.
  6. Making a financial strategy — I like to read and hear about investing strategies of different people. Even though I consider myself a value investor, I still look at what day traders do. I’m interested in finance because I don’t want to waste my hard-earned money.
  7. Watching good movies/tv shows — I sometimes make fun of people who binge watch tv shows. I think that’s a waste of your day. But I love movies and good shows. They can give you inspiration too.
  8. Listening to music — I listen to music a lot. It gives me inspiration and energy. The best thing is to listen music that fits your mood.
  9. Reading — I start and close my day with reading. And I never miss a day.
  10. Talking about life — It’s nice to have a good conversation with someone who has the same mindset as you. I’ve grown to hate shallow conversations. So I don’t waste my time anymore on people who I don’t have a deep connection with.
  11. Going to the sauna — I do this twice a week. It’s apparently good for you. But that’s not why I go. I love the heat and quiet. The time I spend in the sauna is like meditation to me.
  12. Discovering new books — I can spend hours browsing books that I want to read. But I try to not overdo it. Otherwise, you’re reading more ABOUT books than reading actual books.
  13. Watching sports — I used to play basketball and I still enjoy watching it. But I only follow the NBA, not all professional sports.
  14. Laughing — I love some good banter. Life is hard and if you don’t laugh about yourself, you only make it harder.
  15. Working on your goals — Every minute you spend on advancing your life is time you don’t regret spending.

At the end of a day, you must look back and think to yourself, “If this was my last day, I’m okay with that.”

Can you honestly say that? Look, it’s not about living every day like it’s your last. If everybody did that, we would have total anarchy.

Instead, make sure you spend your time well. Are you proud of how you’re spending your days? Answer yes, and you’ll never live with regrets.

Source: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/15-useful-activities-that-are-worth-your-time?utm_source=pocket-newtab

FindTreatment.gov Launches to Help More Americans Find Treatment for Substance Use Disorders

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Today, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll released the following statement after the Trump Administration unveiled FindTreatment.gov, a substance abuse treatment locator. The tool, which can be accessed at FindTreatment.gov, allows Americans to find substance use treatment for themselves or others.

“When someone opens up about their struggles with addiction, it’s critical they and their loved ones have the right resources to quickly find help, and that’s exactly what this treatment locator aims to provide.  Every situation is unique, and the Trump Administration continues to support people who seek substance use treatment on their journey to recovery,” ONDCP Director Jim Carroll said.

Treatment facilities can be sorted by the type of treatment they offer, including treatment for co-occurring mental illness and substance use and telemedicine care that can be accessed virtually.  The new locator also allows searches of programs based on payment option, age, languages spoken, and access to medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.

More than 13,000 state-licensed facilities are included in the treatment locator.

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/findtreatment-gov-launches-help-americans-find-treatment-substance-use-disorders/