Incredible people doing incredible things: greetings and Kia Ora. Data Base 3294 carers

GRG Office Hours over Christmas:
The office will be closed from December 20th until January 14th 2007. We wish you a safe and happy holiday.

Ouch: Take care out there.
Rushing to collect mail from mail box in local town:

I rushed in to the Pharmacy with grand-daughter’s repeat medication box and dear Husbands diabetic empty boxes. Rushed down to the Post Office and cleared mail box. Back to the Pharmacy, I wait, wait and wait. For Goodness sake how long does it take to shove pills in a box and grab insulin from the Fridge…tapping my fingers on mail…decide as I am waiting, to open it.

Opened brochures of which I was expecting about 10 of those very shiny brochures. Finally meds are handed over. By now I am agitated and in a hurry, I walk quickly to the car, the next minute I am on the ground and pain is surging through my tail bone. I fell heavily, very heavily.

People from the real estate agents rush out to help. I unknowingly dropped those shiny brochures and my foot had hit one of them and it slid across the pavement. I had my left leg out in front of me, my right leg bent backwards but the full impact was upon my poor tail bone. If I had not been in so much pain, I could have just raised my arms above my head and pretended I was doing ballet. Now picture THAT!

A kind man had to help me up and two other women came out. They were most concerned; I sat on a seat nearby professing that I was OK. The mans departing words were, “just rest here for a bit and if you can’t get up just wave, we can see you through the window”.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IF I CAN’T GET UP, OF COURSE I CAN GET UP, gulp CAN’T I” screamed my thoughts. I sat for a while taking deep breaths and braced myself to stand, yes I COULD get up, walking, well that was a slow and painful trip to the car. I lowered myself into my seat, lifting each leg into the car. I have a manual car and found my leg could still press the clutch, so I had to be OK, RIGHT.

I am home and in dire need of a Zimmer frame, wheelchair, anything???

Dear Lord I am so lucky I did not go down on my hip I could have broken it.

Do you think someone is trying to tell me to slow down??...... WELL IT HAS WORKED I AM A SNAIL!

Not looking forward to getting out of bed tomorrow though and I was right, the next morning I am slower than a snail.
Update: Day two I am in agony, off to Doctor, not that they can do much, they can’t plaster cast bottoms, can they ????? Nah!

Bad news is I have fractured my Coccyx (tail bone) in that fall on Tuesday and it will take 6 weeks to heal and then I go to Physio, Doctor has given me a Morphine type (non addictive, nor drowsy pain meds) But more good news Accident Compensation will send home help in to help me with cleaning, now don't you ladies all go rushing outside and fling yourselves to the ground, will you! I can assure you the pain is not worth it!

Early Warning Signs of Changes in Driving Ability:
Keep notes to help you understand changes in your driving ability. Look out for patterns of warning signs and for an increase in frequency of the following:

• A loss of confidence while driving • Failure to stop or give way
• Distraction or loss of concentration • Comments made by family & friends
• Incorrect signaling • Other drivers honking horns at you
• Parking inappropriately • Failure to give way to pedestrians on a crossing
• Hitting curbs • Scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox or garage
• Incurring road rage • Increased agitation or irritation when driving
• Trouble navigating turns • Failure to notice important activity on the side of the road
• Driving too fast or too slow • Failure to notice or judge traffic signals
• Failure to anticipate potential hazards • Bad judgment while making right hand turns
• Relying on a ‘co-pilot’ • Delayed response to unexpected situations
• Near misses • Difficulty maintaining lane position
• Moving into the wrong lane • Receiving warnings or tickets for traffic offences or violations
• Confusion at intersections • Stopping in traffic for no apparent reason
• Getting lost in familiar places • Car accidents
• Difficulty in turning the head to see when backing or pulling out from parking
(Source: Seniority October 2006)

A letter about her Grandma: By Shaeane aged 8
Hello everyone my name is Shaeane, I am going to tell you about my Grandma. My Grandma’s name is Val. Val is a giving person because she looks after people. She is special because she takes me to bed and kisses me goodnight and she helps me do art and my homework. I love my Grandma and I know she loves me. Thank you for listening to my story about my special Grandma.
We think your Grandma is very special too Shaeane.

ADD/ADHD Secret #1:
The key to focus for someone with ADD/ADHD is passion. When something is truly interesting and "on purpose" for someone with ADD/ADHD, it evokes their passion which in turn triggers the legendary ADD/ADHD hyper-focus.
Hyper-focus is more powerful than regular focus. It's about 5 times as intense. It allows one to solve difficult problems easily and it maximizes the energy available for the task at hand.

To learn more about how to cultivate and harness the power of hyper-focus, read "The Power of Hyper-focus" in The DaVinci Method.

ADD/ADHD Secret #2:
Morning exercise minimizes hyperactivity throughout the day. If you want someone with ADD/ADHD to be calmer throughout the day, make sure that they get plenty of exercise in the morning. People with ADD/ADHD have greater than average energy systems and so they NEED more energy and action than others.

The best way to help someone with ADD/ADHD cope with a low energy environment like a classroom is to give them a high energy outlet earlier in the day. If someone with ADD/ADHD has recently had a vigorous workout, they will be much calmer and they can achieve a sustained and gentle focus.

ADD/ADHD Secret #3:
It has been said that people with ADD/ADHD have, on average, 20% higher IQs than the rest of the population. This is due largely to the amazing problem solving capacity of people with ADD or ADHD wired brains.
Most IQ tests are designed to prefer lateral thinking ability over linear thinking because it is a greater sign of high intelligence. Albert Einstein was primarily a lateral thinker, as was Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Lateral thinking is a problem solving approach where you attempt many different angles in order to find a solution. You think "outside the box" and you discover many new ways of framing problems rather than staying stuck.
People who are highly capable lateral thinkers are great solution finders; inventors, entrepreneurs, pioneers, explorers and artists. Their temperaments tend to be creative, energetic, impulsive and "distractible" because those are the qualities that facilitate great lateral thinking ability. Leonardo Da Vinci epitomized this kind of temperament, so that is why we call people with this temperament, "DaVinci types".

Most people with ADD and ADHD have the DaVinci type temperament and thus excel at lateral thinking ability. Lateral thinking is most effective in certain environments - generally situations where there is little or no established procedure for success - situations where the solution must be discovered as opposed to merely regurgitated.
Most entrepreneurs, inventors and pioneers find themselves in circumstances where strong lateral problem solving ability is a greater asset than any formula one might have memorized. Lateral thinking is creative and difficult to teach anyone who doesn't already have a penchant for it. It is the opposite of linear thinking, which is the kind of thinking encouraged and graded for in most public school systems.

If someone is a DaVinci type (most people with ADD/ADHD are) then they already are natural lateral thinkers. MENSA riddles can be used to further develop and hone this gift. MENSA riddles offer the following therapeutic benefits to someone with ADD/ADHD:

1) Difficult, sometimes baffling, genius caliber MENSA riddles are often compelling enough to capture the attention of someone with AD/HD and evoke their hyper-focus.
2) Good MENSA riddles have satisfying and elegant solutions, which are in and of themselves reward enough for the mental effort required to crack them.
3) MENSA riddles are a great mental workout – similar in effect to physical exercise – because they calm and focus the ADD or ADHD mind by releasing pent up energy.
4) MENSA riddles build self-esteem with each subsequent victory and show the AD/HD-er how brilliant they really are.
5) The mental effort required to do MENSA riddles effectively exercises the DaVinci type mind, making one smarter and smarter. (I have seen IQs boosted by about 35% simply by doing a handful of MENSA riddles every day for a few weeks.)
6) The solution finding ability that doing MENSA riddles develops in your mind makes solving other day-to-day life problems surprisingly easier

How ADD & ADHD can lead to Compulsive Behaviour & Addiction:
Individuals with AD/HD have several characteristics that make them more vulnerable to substance abuse, addiction and compulsive behaviours. These characteristics are impulsiveness, sensation-seeking, risk-taking, thrill-seeking, and low levels of inhibition.
The Dopamine reward pathways of the brain are different in people with AD/HD. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that feels good when it is released and it acts as part of an internal reward system. Dopamine rewards are critical for survival since they provide the pleasurable feelings associated with things like eating and reproduction.
The same release of dopamine and subsequent sensations of pleasure can be produced unnaturally with substances like alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and other drugs, by compulsive activities such as eating, gambling, and sex, and by sensational risk taking behaviours. While only a minority of individuals become addicted to these substances or behaviours, there is a prevalence of people with ADHD who are addicted to them.

Big Risks - Big Rewards:
When you have ADD or ADHD your brain does not reward you with a rush of dopamine easily, so you have to go to more extreme measures just to get that experience of well being. That's why many AD/HD-ers are driven to take big risks and go after big accomplishments like the rebellious thrill-seeking billionaire Richard Branson (Founder of Virgin).

That desperate desire for stimulation is also why many ADHD-ers self-destruct with compulsive gambling, sexual addictions, binging or finding one crisis after another. Extreme situations, whether positive or negative tend to lend enough excitement to evoke that dopamine rush and let ADHD-ers feel alive.

"If the game you're playing isn't big enough, you'll do something to screw it up just to make it interesting."
~ J-R

People with ADD or ADHD are what we call DaVinci types, because they are some of the most brilliant, energetic people in our world today; and also because their temperament is the same as Leonardo Da Vinci's.
Environments that lack enough challenge, freedom and stimulation to keep a DaVinci type engaged are likely to lead them to develop compulsive behaviours and addictions. Just knowing this may help one avoid such difficulties.

If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, chances are ADHD is playing a key role. Here's another secret: Finding a creative pursuit that is truly engaging can be a great remedy to addictive tendencies, because it is unexpressed creative impulses that are the driving force behind compulsions and psychological addictions. Discover the keys to this effective therapy in the new book, The DaVinci Method.

You can get it here now:
http://www.DaVinciMethod.com

Will Your Kids Still Be Living With You When They Are 35?:
by Dr. Noel Swanson

Today I met with a 15 year old and his mother. Nothing too unusual in that. What was unusual was that this teenager did not like to go out of the home. In fact, his social anxiety was such that he was barely attending school, rarely visited any friends, and never went shopping - with the one exception of the corner store nearby and only then because he personally knew the shopkeeper.

Now, for most parents the worry is that their teenagers are out too much and too late. But for this mom, the worry was that Tim would still be living at home, with no job and no friends, when he was 35. And she is not the only mom with those kinds of worries.

So what do you do when you can't get your teenager to "get a life"? Tim, you see, is actually quite happy with his lot - he enjoys the comfort of home, enjoys his mom's company (in fact, he makes a fuss when she goes out and leaves him home alone), and sees no real reason why he should venture out into the scary world. Sure, he has some notions that he should go to college and then get a job. But when it comes to actually getting out of the door and onto a bus, it is a whole different matter.

Far easier to stay at home, playing on the computer.

How did he get into this mess? There are two parts to this.

The first is that he is genetically predisposed to having anxiety problems. His mom, after all, was (and still is) just like him - socially isolated, with anxiety when faced with dealing with people. This aspect of him is unlikely to change over time.
But the second part is that he has learnt that he can get away with the easy route. If anyone tries to "motivate" or force him to go out, he kicks up enough of a fuss, getting quite angry and even violent, that people (his mom, mostly) back down and let him have his way.

Naturally, as this has gone on, he has learnt how to play the system to his advantage.

To improve the situation will, therefore, also take two approaches. These have to happen in parallel; doing one without the other is very unlikely to work.

First is to help him overcome the anxiety itself. This is most effectively done with cognitive behavioural therapy, usually provided by a clinical psychologist. Medication might also be considered.

Along with that there MUST be an effective behavioural strategy to get him out of the house and into real life.
The key here is to make staying at home doing nothing less and less enticing and rewarding and, at the same time, offer incentives that make going out doing things more desirable.

In doing this it is best to start with small, achievable goals. Focus not on huge things like "going back to school regularly". Instead, aim to develop life skills necessary for independent adult life, such as getting on a bus, shopping for food, using the library computer instead of the home one.

As success is achieved in small areas, work up to bigger ones.
Tim will never be the life and soul of the party. Aiming for that would be unrealistic and counter-productive.
Most likely he will always be a recluse with very limited social contact. But that is no reason that he cannot live independently and hold some kind of job.

By aiming for realistic life skills, while helping him with the anxiety, this can be achieved.
What is more likely to happen, however, is that mom will not have the strength and the patience to be that tough on him. Once he starts resisting the changes, she will back down for an easier, more peaceful life. But if she does so, there is a good chance he will still be living with her (and dependent on her) when he is in his, twenties, thirties, and beyond.
If you are in a similar situation, don't let that happen to you. Take firm, decisive action now.

Need Information on:
Dyslexia: Dysgraphia: Dyscalculia or Dyspraxia check out these web sites.
http://www.k12academics.com/dyslexia.htm
http://www.k12academics.com/dysgraphia.htm
http://www.k12academics.com/dyscalculia.htm
http://www.k12academics.com/dyspraxia.htm

Absolutely the best chart I have seen in years. SHARE THIS CHART

apples Protects your heart Prevents constipation Blocks diarrhoea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints
apricots Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzheimer's Slows aging process
artichokes Aids digestion Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease
avocados Battles diabetes Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin
bananas Protects your heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhoea
beans Prevents constipation Helps haemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar
beets Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengthens bones Protects your heart Aids weight loss
blueberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation
broccoli Strengthens bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure
cabbage Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Helps haemorrhoids
cantaloupe Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system
carrots Saves eyesight Protects your heart Prevents constipation Combats cancer Promotes weight loss
cauliflower Protects against prostate cancer Combats breast cancer Strengthens bones Banishes bruises Guards against heart disease
cherries Protects your heart Combats cancer Ends insomnia Slows ageing process Shields against Alzheimer's
chestnuts Promotes weight loss Protects your heart Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Controls blood pressure
chilli peppers Aids digestion Soothes sore throat Clears sinuses Combats cancer Boosts immune system
figs Promotes weight loss Helps stops strokes Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Controls blood pressure
fish Protects your heart Boosts memory Protects your heart Combats cancer Supports immune system
flax Aids digestion Battles diabetes Protects your heart Improves mental health Boosts immune system
garlic Lowers cholesterol Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Kills bacteria Fights fungus
grapefruit Protects against heart attacks Promotes weight loss Helps stops strokes Combats prostate cancer Lowers cholesterol
grapes Saves eyesight Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Enhances blood flow Protects your heart
green tea Combats cancer Protects your heart Helps stops strokes Promotes weight loss Kills bacteria
honey Heals wounds Aids digestion Guards against ulcers Increases energy Fights allergies
lemons Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy
limes Combats cancer Protects your heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin Stops scurvy
mangoes Combats cancer Boosts memory Regulates thyroid aids digestion Shields against Alzheimer's
mushrooms Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria Combats cancer Strengthens bones
oats Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Battles diabetes Prevents constipation Smoothes skin
olive oil Protects your heart Promotes weight loss Combats cancer Battles diabetes Smoothes skin
onions Reduce risk of heart attack Combats cancer Kills bacteria Lowers cholesterol Fights fungus
oranges Supports immune systems Combats cancer Protects your heart Straightens respiration
peaches Prevents constipation Combats cancer Helps stops strokes Aids digestion Helps haemorrhoids
peanuts Protects against heart disease Promotes weight loss Combats prostate cancer Lowers cholesterol Aggravates diverticulitis pineapple Strengthens bones Relieves colds Aids digestion Dissolves warts Blocks diarrhoea
prunes Slows aging process Prevents constipation Boosts memory Lowers cholesterol Protects against heart disease
rice Protects your heart Battles diabetes Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Helps stops strokes
strawberries Combats cancer Protects your heart Boosts memory Calms stress
sweet potatoes Saves your eyesight Lifts mood Combats cancer Strengthens bones
tomatoes Protects prostate Combats cancer Lowers cholesterol Protects your heart
walnuts Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Boosts memory Lifts mood Protects against heart disease
water Promotes weight loss Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones Smoothes skin
watermelon Protects prostate Promotes weight loss Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure
wheat germ Combats colon cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Improves digestion
wheat bran Combats colon cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stops strokes Improves digestion
yogurt Guards against ulcers Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol Supports immune systems Aids digestion

GOD BLESS NANA’ & POPS:

When God made Nana’s & Pop’s
He took lots of extra care
He made them very special
With heaps of love to spare
He made them very happy and
He made them very kind
So that when you talked a lot
He knew they wouldn’t mind
Nana’s & Pops understand everything
And their kind and patient too
And you know they’ll always Love You
No matter what you do.

"Why God made Moms" answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other Mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your Mom?
1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms works at work & works at home, & dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic. They make you feel better without medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes in the back of her head.

On behalf of the GRG Trust board members, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and safe holidays. Please take care of yourselves and those you love.
God bless each and every one of you.

Di

National Convenor and the team.
E te Atua, aroha mai..... O God shower us with love
Ka kite