What is a new habit or piece of new knowledge you gained this year, that helps the planet Earth? I learned to leave soda cans and empty plastic bottles as they are, in their original shape, and to screw the plastic cap back on the empty bottles before placing them in the recycling bin. I aim to avoid bringing any plastic or cans into the house as much as possible, and to use refillable water cups or tumblers. Sometimes though, this is unavoidable. When so, recycling can minimize the damage to the planet and to our bodies over time, through the microplastics in our water and food. At some point last year I had gotten into the habit of flattening and rolling empty plastic water bottles, as well as stomping on soda can tops to flatten them out before placing them in the recycle bin. I saw someone doing that and I thought that it is a good idea because I am saving space in my recycle bins and they take less space anywhere on earth. However, after researching online, I saw it is suggested to avoid flattening the cans and the plastic bottles, as the machines that process them (optical sorters at recycling facilities) might misidentify the flattened bottles and cans as paper, leading to contamination. If we recycle cans and bottles rinsed and intact we will ensure they are processed correctly.

Daydreaming much? I do, and until today I never heard of it being mentioned in a positive way or context. My teacher colleagues seem to consider it an undesired distraction in students that interferes with their focus on the task. Today, though, I got some insightful and encouraging new perspectives on it. Until now, it has not occurred to me to look at daydreaming as productive, solution finding, invention territory, or having evolutionary survival value. As one who - I suspect - have always been daydreaming to an extent, I did have shame and guilt about it. Starting today, those unhelpful feelings are about to be ousted. It may be a process, not an event, but I plan to practice the empowering thought that daydreaming is a strength, not a weakness. I can even frame daydreaming as another superpower associated with ADHD (ADD subtype). How relieving!

Why are some people in the US scared of a Friday that falls on the 13th of the month? Is it a superstition? Is it pop culture trend inspired from horror movies? An opportunity to make macabre jokes?

I wish I had a solution on how to fix the homelessness problem in the country, and in my area… I don’t have a solution yet. I hope to find it one day. It is just very sad that it persists. I don’t judge the homeless people as irresponsible or addicts. Some ar whom else’s due to a health situation that made them bankrupt. If I decide to give them some money, I don’t worry about them using it to smoke, to buy illegal drugs or to drink alcohol. I leave that judgment up to Higher Power. Sometimes I ask them how did they become homeless. Sometimes I asked what can I give them that they could use. If I am able, I will bring it to them the next day or the same day. I feel compassion for them, especially when the weather is too cold or too hot. I feel helpless and hopeless for them. Please share your thoughts and feelings about this. Can you think of a feasible solution to help with this societal issue?

To have wellness with pets, what does it take? It takes basic training, obedience training (with gentle, not cruel methods). It takes establishing dominance with the dog. It takes walks and runs and hikes, depending on the dog’s breed and energy level. It takes a good fit among the energy levels of the owner and the pet. It takes a possible commitment of almost 20 years if the pup is very young. Turtles can live hundreds of years, so who will take take of the turtle if we don’t live as long? It takes more than food and water. It takes fresh, clean bowls for food and water every day, every 8 hours. Kibble is not good for the dogs, and the healthy chow for pets is expensive. It takes a financial commitment for vet bills. It takes deciding what will happen to the pet when/if a couple gets divorced, as pets are property. It takes writing it in our living will what happens to the dog if we were to “go too soon” or suddenly. It takes an allergy check test before we get a pet, so we don’t have to re-home the pet or return it to the shelter after we adopted it, due to discovering we have an allergy to dog, cat, or horse hair. It takes close supervision when little children are around, and teaching the kids to act gentle and quiet during their attempt to pet the dogs. Toddlers and babies should never be aloud to ride dogs as ponies. The dog’s spine is not made for that. Kids should never be allowed to pull a pet’s ears or tails. Many little kids have been bit by dogs because their parents didn’t watch them closely in the presence of the pets, or didn’t teach the child to respect a dog’s space and body. Dogs are not allowed in certain places, such as at the beach or restaurants. Understandable. However, we turn to them for sniffing drugs at the airport, rescuing people after an earthquake, tracking dangerous criminals, or used as service dogs or emotional support pets. What can YOU add to the list? What does it take to have wellness with and from pets?