Dawn's blog

In our fast-paced, hurried society it is difficult to avoid having stress in our lives. Some stress helps us aim high and reach our potential. Too much stress can cause us to become depressed and even sick.

Play is often thought as frivolous and only for children, but The National Institute for Play founded by Stuart Brown, M.D. recognizes that it is important for the productivity and health of all humans. There are thousands of ways to play both individually and with others.

Below find a few resources on play and stress reduction.

Our time is very valuable to us. February has been designated as National Time Management Month. Books here at DPL can assist you in organizing and making the most of your time.

 Did you know the following facts:

• The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime.
• The aorta, the largest artery in the body, is almost the diameter of a garden hose.
• Your heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.*

The following books can help you maintain a healthy heart:

Expressing our love and care to others can take many forms. Baking and creating a special atmosphere for Valentine's Day is a fun way to celebrate this day. DPL has many resources to inspire you.

Individuals often have gatherings this
time of year. DPL has books to assist you planning and making your gatherings /parties special.

The new books listed below were written by individuals who have faced uncommon challenges and have found a path to meaningful life. These individuals aren’t superhuman. They simply refused to stay mired in despair. With much support from family, friends, and medical professionals they have crafted lives that help all to see that a perfect body is not required to live well.

People may be undergoing treatment for cancer or they may be healthy. Appearance is very important in our society so there is always the question of how to live with hair loss and still look attractive. Some individuals wear wigs, hats or go bald. Fortunately for us who live with hair loss the web can provide important information, support, and resources.

I have read three books lately. In The Anti-Romantic Child, Priscilla Gilman who is an expert on the poet, Wadsworth, intertwines his poetry as she describes her journey as a mother of a son with special needs. Elizabeth Bonker is an adolescent who has autism and writes poetry, though she is unable to speak. I Am in Here describes her life and how her parents have helped her.

You already know about using the library to borrow DVDs, books and music. Have you used the Value Line database to better understand your investments? Check out the many materials that DPL has to assist in saving and investing money.

With the use of a computer-based dictation system, he is able to write. In the NPR interview, Pratchett discussed his efforts to make assisted suicide an option for himself and others. For now he is content to keep writing.