With COVID, I’m not sure just how many people will be going to a party. However, if you are planning on ringing in the new year, please have a plan!
THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK!
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!
This is a repost of a previous article. Here’s the original article.
Have you ever done this? You’re sitting with a group of friends at a bar, drinking. Then, when it’s time to go home and there was no designated driver, you decide who’s had the least to drink, and “probably will be okay” to drive. You volunteer and say…”I’m fine, I’ve only had a few. I’ll drive…”
One night almost 26 years ago, on St. Patrick’s day, on a highway in Colorado, my best friend from childhood, Bobbie Pfeiffer, was killed in a drunk driving accident, a head on collision, along with her fiancee and their 2 dogs (and the drunk driver). So, the issue of drunk driving is an important one for me. I decided to put together an article, highlighting some drunk driving statistics, as well as some things you can do, along with designated driver information.
Here are some drunk driving statistics. (3, and MADD)
Drunk driving costs each adult in the United States almost $800 per year
Drunk driving costs the United States $199 billion a year
Each day, people drive drunk almost 300,000 times, but fewer than 4,000 are arrested.
Every 90 seconds a person is injured in a drunk driving crash
An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest.
Males were more likely than females (15.1% vs. 7.9%) to drive drunk
Every day in America, another 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes, one every 53 minutes.
Almost half of all drivers who were killed in crashes and tested positive for drugs also had alcohol in their system.
Alcohol levels above the legal limit were found in 21% of such drivers.
Each day, people drive drunk more than 300,000 times, but only about 2800 are arrested
About one in seven teens binge drinks, yet only 1 in 100 parents believe his or her teen binge drinks.
Over 40% of all 10th graders drink alcohol.
Kids who start drinking young are seven times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash.
The rate of drunk driving is highest among 26 to 29 year olds (20.7 percent).
If you’re arrested for drinking and driving, it will cost you anywhere from $4500 to $18,000 just for fines, insurance increases and legal fees. This does not include crashes and hospital bills. For more information, follow this link.
Most of the planet is in agreement that driving with a BAC of .08 is too dangerous to allow.
A common guideline is that after each typical drink, you must wait 45 minutes before attempting to drive.
You’ve had a drink and must wait 45 minutes before driving. A quarter hour later, you have another drink. Now you must wait 45 minutes PLUS the 30 minutes left over from the first drink. That’s one and a quarter hours before you should drive. Got time for another? For more information, follow this link.
Cold showers, coffee or getting some fresh air have absolutely no effect on getting sober. How about eating a large meal before drinking to “soak up” the extra alcohol? NOT! Maybe you will gain a few pounds but otherwise this only DELAYS the alcohol being absorbed. For more information and other myths, follow this link.
Know where and why you are going out to party. What’s the setting? After you drink, will there be an opportunity to wait for alcohol to wear off before driving home? Can you spend the night where you are going? Should you be extra cautious about how much you drink?
Know how much you are drinking and how it affects you.
Get a second opinion. You are NOT a good judge of how drunk you are!
Know when to stop drinking. If you must drive, leave enough time for the alcohol to wear off. Realize this can take at least 45 minutes per drink.
Wait as long as possible before driving.
Do not wait in your car. It is possible to be arrested for DUI even if you are sleeping it off in the back seat.
Remember the contact in your phone for the taxi.
If necessary, get a room. Hopefully you checked out what was available before partying.
Put a contact in your cell phone for the local taxi. Make the first character of the contact name a SPACE “ “ so it will appear first in your contact list.
It costs around a buck, but dialing #TAXI from your cellphone will get you connected to the nearest taxi anywhere in America and Canada.
Write your address down on a piece of paper and put it in your pocket to give to your Taxi driver. Have cash ready to pay for your ride.
“The Virtual Bar uses the latest science to help you not only get a better understanding of how different factors affect your blood-alcohol concentration – or BAC – on an individual level, but also can help you see how your night could go depending on the food you eat, the water you drink throughout the night, and other important variables.”
With the Virtual Bar, you enter in your gender, age, height, weight, what you’ve had to drink, what you’ve eaten and time since you’ve had the drink. It then gives you an estimate of your BAC, and how long until your BAC is back to zero (it even tells you how you should be feeling). For smart phone apps, follow these links: IPHONE and GOOGLE PLAY. I have also placed a link to the Virtual Bar on my left side panel.
Here’s how it looks:
Fair warning,
the following videos
are not for the faint of heart.
Viewer discretion is advised.
Drunk Driving Awareness Video (2:18)
Choices: The Dangers of Drunk Driving (2:52)
Drunk Driving- Car Crash Compilation (21:04) – this one is long. You don’t have to watch the whole thing to get the idea.
Closing thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to look through this important article. I hope it gave you something to think about the next time you are out having fun and drinking with your friends and family. Remember, choose a designated driver…THINK BEFORE YOU DRINK!
No matter where you are around the world, December is a time for celebration. In this post, I’ve included a video which highlights 12 of the celebrations around the world during the months of December and January.
SO, Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Dongzhi, or one of the many other holiday celebrations around the world, I would like to wish all of you a
VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.
Christmas
Dongzhi
Hanukkah
Christkind
La Befana
Yule Lads
Saturnalia
Hogmanay
Junkanoo
Yule/Yuletide
Kwanza
In this video, we explore 12, unique winter holiday celebrations, (in honor of the 12 days of the Yuletide season or Christmastide)
I know I said I’d be back on December 7, 2020. However, I’ve decided that this will be my last post until the new year. I had Cataract surgery on one eye on December 2 and the other eye is scheduled for December 16. As I sat down to do my posts today, for the next few weeks, I realized just how straining computer work is on the eyes. In reality, I’m trying to do my computer work with one good eye, which is now at 20/25 and the other eye is 20/800. Needless to say, my eyes are really tired and I’m getting a headache. If I’m going to do this right, now is the time to rest my eyes.
With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday shopping season has officially begun, and with it, we have #GivingTuesday. Each year, I publish a list of gifts that give back to those in need.
I always keep the previous year’s list and
add 10 new companies.
This year, we have 50 companies!
I have gone through the list to check links and see if the companies are still active. A few changes were necessary, and I’ve compensated for a few losses. If you have one to add, please do so in the comment section, with a link and description! Thank you!
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Yule (the pagan celebration of the winter solstice), this is the season for giving. It is my hope to help people get past the hustle and bustle, the decorating, the baking, annual holiday Letter, and get to the heart of the reason for the season: love of others, and giving to others.
What better way to do that than give a gift that gives back to those less fortunate?
It all began about 7 years ago when I worked for a local Credit Union. Part of my job there was to write their blog. Every year at this time, I would post my annual list of GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK: a list of organizations that sell items with one great bonus, with every purchase, something is donated to those less fortunate. I missed doing this, and decided to get back to it. I post a list of some of my favorite gifts that give back. If you are a regular follower of my blog, you’ll know that one of my favorite things to do is highlight non-profit organizations. So, it seemed natural to include this list each year. (I’ll also post a link to this list on my sidebar, so you can access it quickly, should you need to.)
This year, I have a list of 40 different organizations. If you have an organization not on the list, PLEASE feel free to post a link in the comments, along with a description, for everyone to see. THANKS
Everybody employs people with developmental disabilities,
“Over the last several years, Everybody Inc has employed 15 people and provided over 8,000 hours of employment. These hours of employment that Everybody has created equate to financial freedom and independence, buying power, dignity, and economic stimulation in our local community. Most of all, the impact of our brand brings equality and respect to individuals with developmental disabilities.”
“Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. We do this through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.”
“We started GlobeIn with the vision that there are millions of people working really hard around the world producing great products that are both beautiful and practical.”
“GlobeIn is a purpose-driven company growing in parallel with entrepreneurial artisan partners from around the world with the aim of enriching individuals and their communities. We are devoted to transparent business practices, equitable and sustainable partnerships, and respect for cultural continuity. We strive to connect conscious consumers with delightful products and the talented artisans who make them, thereby strengthening the bonds of our global community.”
“We’re committed to supporting small scale makers and artisans as a way to end poverty and protect the planet. We are passionate about women’s empowerment and creating opportunities for marginalized and disadvantaged populations.”
Earth Love is a quarterly subscription box service
“Every box supports a cause voted by the Earthlove community. We partner with environmental non-profits each season who protect our ecosystems.”
Best Friends Animal Society
“The mission of Best Friends Animal Society is to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. We believe that by working together we can Save Them All”
“In many places around the world, children are orphaned or abandoned because of poverty. We believe that no parent should have to make the devastating choice to give up a child because they cannot afford to care for them. By partnering with local Artisan Businesses in vulnerable communities, we help families earn stable, dignified incomes that allow them to keep their families together.”
A portion of every purchase is donated to WIGS FOR KIDS.
Wigs for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides hair replacement pieces for kids that have lost their hair due to cancer, alopecia, burns, etc. This organization is very dear to our hearts and we are so grateful to connect with you and be part of this movement, together.
A portion of the proceeds from every purchase are donated to Living Heart Peru.
“Living Heart is a charity that is near and dear to our hearts. Having traveled out to Peru in 2017, it is our goal to bring color to the lives of children living in some of the most impoverished and remote areas of Peru. For every sale made on IllusionPhotograph.com, a percentage of each sale will be donated back to Living Heart“
For every backpack purchased, 25 meals are provided to families in need across the U.S.
“There is more food produced on the planet than can be eaten. At the end of each harvest, there are farmers around the world that have to throw away their excess produce that isn’t purchased by major supermarket chains or restaurants. Through Feeding America, Adventurist buys this excess food in bulk from farmers across the U.S. and then distributes it to food banks in each state, helping to reduce the food waste in our country, support local farmers, and provide nutrition for families in need.
We work alongside the leading, national hunger non-profit Feeding America, to help provide meals to families across the U.S. This includes donations to over 200 food banks nationwide (such as Food Bank of the Rockies, Utah Food Bank, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and many more), helping to reduce the number of families affected by malnutrition and starvation.”
“ONE HOPE was founded by eight friends with a lofty vision: to create exceptional products that inspire people to indulge while doing good. Our commitment to quality wine is as important as our commitment to the causes we support. To date we have made nearly $5 million in donations, planted 105,172 trees, helped 65,267 pets to find a forever home, helped provide 2,758,428 meals for children, and delivered 190,802 vaccines to end Neglected Tropical Diseases.” ~ One Hope Wine
“ABLE is an ethical fashion brand that employs and empowers women as a solution to end poverty. We’re deeply devoted to quality – both in the products we make and the quality of life we aim to provide. We invest in, train, and educate women so they can earn a living, break the cycle of poverty, and thrive.” ~ Able
“Farm-fresh ingredients are used to create great tasting salsa and sauces. Profits from the sale of our products are used to alleviate the extreme poverty in our hometown of Immokalee, Florida.”
“Working with business mentors in both classroom and field settings, our youth entrepreneurship program gives students from Immokalee and Naples real-world business experience.“
“Students learn to solve problems and make a positive impact in their world. 100% of the profits are returned to Immokalee, changing the lives of our students, their families, and the community.”
“Taste of Immokalee products meet the highest quality standards and align with the growing demand for products that are low calorie, low or no fat, and cholesterol free. When you purchase our specialty items, you’re getting far more than great-tasting, healthy products. You’re also helping to break the cycle of poverty in Immokalee and create a bright future for our students.” ~ Taste of Immokalee
“Our gifts support the work of over 40 nonprofits and social enterprises in 19 states and 65 countries around the globe—in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, North America, & Europe.” ~ Gifts for Good
“FEED is an impact driven lifestyle brand with an enduring principle at the heart of what we do—that people’s choices of what to buy and wear have the power to change the world. We offer meaningful ways for you to make a difference, from the bags you carry, to the places you gather, to the meals you share.
Hunger is a daily reality for approximately 795 million people, and one of the most effective solution to combat this crisis is school feeding. With every product we sell, we provide school meals to the most vulnerable communities across the globe, through on-the-ground partners.” ~ Feed Projects
“Our products, our non-profit partners, and our community work in unison to help people break the cycle of poverty.
We provide life-changing job opportunities to women in need. With each purchase you make we introduce you to the woman who made your product and invite you to visit her online profile to learn more about her.” ~ Krochet Kids
“ME to WE Artisans was created in 2010, to connect women in Kenya’s Maasai Mara to a wider market and a fair wage for their beautiful, traditional beadwork. Nearly a decade later, we now work with over 1,800 extraordinary makers in Kenya and Ecuador, from artisans to leatherworkers and cacao farmers, who we’re honored to call not just partners, but friends—skilled entrepreneurs who are leading their families and communities to a bright future.
Each ME to WE product gives back to these same families and communities in one of five ways—helping provide education, clean water, health care, food security and financial opportunity. When you give a ME to WE gift, you’re part of something so much bigger than a simple gesture. You’re part of a sustainable cycle of good. And through our Track Your Impact promise, you get to see where and how you changed lives, with stories about the people and places behind every purchase.” ~ Me to We
“Once upon a time the Hope District bustled with work that created wealth, dignity, and optimism. Residents and workers were warned that these economic boom times were threatened by global competition and complacency but they did not take heed. Because of that, things began to decline. Consequently, residents and workers lost wealth, dignity, and optimism. Until one day our community came together and created Detroit Friends Potato Chips food product as a way to add new purpose to vacant lots inside of the Hope District which in turn created opportunities for new employment that has created wealth, work, and helped to regain our dignity.
Some of the potatoes for these were born on a vacant lot in Detroit’s Hope District. They were nursed is our soup kitchen for mentally and physically challenged. They are made by community activists in an effort to bring work, hope and dignity to our vulnerable community. Some proceeds go to maintain the soup Kitchen and to create other financially sustainable grassroots projects.” ~ Detroit Friends Potato Chips
“In 2011, we stumbled upon an article stating 5 million children die each year from water related illnesses. After some research, we learned that 45% of these deaths could be prevented with simple hand washing alone. We decided to create a household product that could also save lives and Hand in Hand Soap was born!
To us, finding the right non-profit to partner was about working with an established organization, with people we liked and trusted. We found the perfect match with world-wide child advocacy group, My Neighbor’s Children. Through them we focus our donations in Haiti because they have been working there for the past 25 years & understand where the need is greatest. ” Hand in Hand Soap
For every bar purchased, Hand in Hand donates one bar of soap and one month of clean water to children in Haiti.
“We determined the most fundamental tools to support learning and creativity, and we identified which items teachers are most likely to buy for their classrooms out of their own pocket. We then made special Yoobi school supplies and boxed them up to create a Yoobi classroom pack.”
A few years ago, I discovered a way to embed the act of doing good into the gifts we give. Packed with Purpose was born out of my desire to create social impact while recognizing the importance of gifting in fostering meaningful relationships.
My experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer and social impact consultant inspired me to create these gifts that give back.
Our gifts create deep societal impact through the everyday act of gift-giving, delighting gift givers and recipients alike. From empowering women in need of a second chance to supporting sustainability efforts, our gifts help transform lives, enrich communities, and preserve the environment.
Whether you’re looking for gifts for business clients, employees or friends, I hope our gifts leave you feeling more inspired than ever.
” When you buy a jar of Good Spread, you send a treatment of MANA Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food to a malnourished child. We believe that the collective action of socially conscious consumers can put a dent in global malnutrition. “
“Plants from pencils? That’s right – once you’ve finished with your Sprout pencil, plant it and watch it grow into fragrant herbs, luscious flowers or even fresh vegetables.”
“…make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. The Orange Rose is a powerful reminder that safer motherhood is possible. It represents a beautiful, vibrant and strong life, like that of a mother who has been supported through pregnancy and childbirth.
“… is built from the ground up around the idea of sock donations. The more socks we sell, the more we donate. And as we grow, our giving and community efforts will continue to grow right alongside us.
” Besides selling glasses and sunglasses, the company collaborates with community partners to provide local vision screenings, eye exams and new eyewear to anyone in need
“….partners with the world’s most iconic brands that contribute up to 50% of profits from (RED)-branded goods and services to the Global Fund [to help fight AIDS.]”
“… is an ethical fashion brand based in Panajachel, Guatemala showcasing Maya artisans and their handmade creations. Every Hiptipico item is thoughtfully handcrafted by indigenous communities, using high-quality sustainable materials….When you shop with Hiptipico, you know the authentic story of the artisan who made your product and the traditional technique and materials used to craft it. Through this dignified job opportunity, Maya artisans partner with Hiptipico to lift themselves out of poverty while doing something they love.”
As the original One for One® company, our community has given almost 100 million shoes to people in need. And while shoes can have a big impact, 13 years of using business to improve lives has taught us that giving shoes and grants can have an even bigger impact. So, moving forward, TOMS will dedicate at least one-third of our net annual profits to a giving fund managed by our very own Giving Team. We’ll then distribute shoes and grants according to an annual investment plan that reflects the needs of the organizations we partner with, as well as the causes you care about most.”
100% of proceeds go to fund Africa New Life Ministries, to help those affected by Rwandan Genocide, as well as the following organizations:
Africa New Life Dream Day Care (free daycare for those attending training for sewing or beauty school in Rwanda)
Africa New Life Women’s Center Vocational School (sewing and beauty school for widows, single parents and women in severe poverty to gain a skill to make money to support for their families)
Child sponsorship for orphans and street kids in Rwanda
Leonsito’s Day Care in Mexico (free day care for single parents and low income families)
After school program in Leon,Mexico to help school children with their homework and teach English
Scholarships for Bible education for orphans, abandoned children and children in great need
“…is a Certified Benefit Corporation that exists to advocate on behalf of and empower women who have escaped from, or at the highest risk of, human trafficking by providing dignified employment opportunities. “
Try to spend a little bit of your morning in the quiet when you can. This can help reduce the stress hormone cortisol in the body, which peaks first thing in the morning. It also gives you some time to think to yourself before the busyness of the day begins. You might like to write out your thoughts, to-do’s, prayers, concerns, or whatever else comes to your mind first thing in the day — do whatever suits you. Taking just 10 minutes each morning, perhaps over coffee, is a great way to take care of yourself in a small way each day.
This video shows a man as he reminisces about his life and the things for which he’s thankful. It is a wonderful reminder that giving thanks should happen more than just once a year. It should happen everyday. It’s the little things that are important.
Happy Thanksgiving
from
Purple Almond Wellness!
This will be my final post until December 7, 2020. I will be spending quality time with my family during this week of Thanksgiving. Next week, December 2, 2020, I am scheduled to have cataract surgery and will be taking that week off as well. See you all in 2 weeks.
Until next time, God bless and Namaste my friends.
Doing something nice for others doesn’t just benefit them but also you too. We’re meant to be giving creatures, yet many of us see giving as a form of sacrifice. This is simply not true. When we give, we get so much more in return in more ways than one. It doesn’t have to be related to money at all either, but could be a simple as sending a card, an email, making a dish for someone, running errand for a friend, sending flowers, taking someone to lunch, or even just letting someone ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Or, give to an animal organization, volunteer at one, or just do something to promote cultural awareness and animal welfare. Doing small things for the good of others on a regular basis is an important part of long-term wellness.
Sleep is a gift, something that’s just as important as the food on our plate and our exercise habits. It’s the time of the day that our body resets itself, detoxifies, and allows us to be able to conquer the next day ahead. Depression, weight gain, stress, and even food cravings can all occur when we don’t get enough rest. For some of us, our sleep needs may be 8 hours, and others it could be 9 or 10… get enough until you wake up at the same time each day without the need for an alarm clock.
Healthy fats are like fuel for a good mood. They’re one of the most important things to include in your diet to promote a healthy mood (and a balanced metabolism). Healthy fats also promote good heart health, reduce cholesterol, and contain none of the harmful side effects associated with animal-based saturated fats. Go for raw coconut, avocados, almonds, walnuts, acai fruit, flax seeds, cashews, hemp seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds or tahini, pecans, and olives.
Our hormones completely control how we feel, act, think, and even how we treat others. And guess what controls our hormones for the most part? Aside from sleep and our lifestyle, our diets do. Though rest, stress management, and staying active play a part, nothing acts like directions for your cells like your food does. Certain foods can disrupt hormonal function and possibly even lead to mood disorders, anxiety, or depression. Some of the most common foods to avoid are: dairy, gluten, processed foods, and sugar.
