Just Sayin' Camrose and District Chamber of

So thankful

Coming up to Thanksgiving weekend, I’m filled with gratitude, personally and as a Canadian. Personally, I’m grateful for the abundance of love and affection in my life, from people who are unfailingly kind to me. As a Canadian, I’ve been irritated and sometimes appalled by actions and words of some of our political leaders. But I’m grateful that I have the right to express those feelings out loud. I can also take action, including but not limited to how I vote.

Besides that, whatever might be going on politically, we Canadians have more beauty, more freedom, more safety and–whatever the economy–more prosperity than most people in the world. We can be grateful for that. ***

When I was younger, when I was cranky and somebody advised me to, “Count your blessings,” I found it eye-rollingly irritating. Clearly that person didn’t understand reality.

Since then, I’ve come to appreciate appreciation. I’ve learned that appreciation is actually a gift to the appreciator. The more I look for things to appreciate, the more things I find to appreciate and the more joy I experience. Huge benefit.

Conversely, on cranky days when I’m critical and grumpy, it’s easy to see bad things everywhere I look. “And not only that…yadda yadda yadda…” Cranky begets cranky.

I’ve concluded that thankfulness, appreciation and gratitude (and possibly everything else) are in the eye of the beholder.” On my more mature days, I choose to behold many things that bring me gratitude.

***

Turns out research verifies my conclusion.

According to an article by Craig and Mark Kielburger, “Research in the field of neuroscience and psychology suggests that negative emotions restrict our focus and limit our ability to think of new ideas. Positive emotions increase creative output and activate neural pathways associated with creative thought.”

Who knew that feeling thankful could “activate neural pathways of creative thought”? That’s not something I would have figured out on my own.

In Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, psychologist Michael Mantell said studies show that feeling grateful lowers stress, blood pressure and cholesterol and boosts our immune system. Maybe we could lower public health costs for drugs and medical care by feeling grateful!

Studies also show that gratitude is associated with positive youth development, improved academic performance and selfesteem.

Ask young people to start noticing their favourite moments of the day. They do get past eye-rolling. The benefits to them include greater happiness, optimism, bonding and kindness. ***

A book called The Magic by Rhonda Byrne describes the benefits of gratitude. She also maps out a 28-day gratitude program. Among the activities, each morning you write ten things you’re grateful for, and each evening you ask yourself, “What’s the best thing that happened today?” In other words, you “book-end” the beginning and end of every day with gratitude.

I’ve worked my way through the 28-day activities several times, and each time I’ve been amazed by what a difference it makes to my contentment. I’ve also noticed that each time has included at least one happening that seemed miraculous.

When I notice that my contentment level is below par, I know it’s time to re-activate the 28 day gratitude process. ***

When my mom lived in a seniors’ lodge, she said that when someone asked residents, “How are you?” they would often answer, “Grateful!” They were just glad to be breathing for another day.

Thanksgiving weekend is coming up. I’m looking forward to some events I’ll enjoy and be thankful for. But actually, no matter what, every day has something in it that is worthy of gratitude. Every day is a good day for giving thanks. ***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send an email to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com. I’ll happily reply within one business day.

The Camrose Booster 4925-48 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1L7 or email it to:

news@camrosebooster.com

THE FINE PRINT: We welcome letters that are of public interest, are fact based and represent logical attempts to make a constructive contribution to public discourse. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, legality, good taste and to fit available space. Letters that contain personal attacks or abuse and insults will be edited or rejected entirely. Letters to third parties are not accepted. Please limit your letters to 400 words and sign with your first name, initial, surname, address and phone number; only the name of the writer and city or town will be published. We thank you for your interest in this feature and encourage your comments.

Land use

How many Camrose residents care about the appearance of properties near them? How many Camrosians are aware that the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) contains the rules and regulations regarding (a) zoning/districting (what can be built [including location on a lot, size of footprint, height] and where, and to what uses the land and building can be put (e.g., urban hens]) and (b) parking, and (c) signs, and (d) sight triangles−in fact, everything about land use? How many Camrosians are aware that the City’s LUB has recently undergone a review and revision?

The LUB review occurred largely during the summer when people had other things (like a vacation, especially after two years of COVID restrictions) on their minds and calendars. There was opportunity for public input (20 people attended an open house at which were featured only five issues of the 15 that were under consideration; 26 people completed a survey; opinions could also be submitted via ourcamrose.ca), but few provided input. To say, for example, that 73 per cent of survey respondents were in favour of detached secondary suites on any corner lot and any lot with a back alley, while literally true, is quite meaningless since 19 self-selected people cannot represent Camrose’s 19,000 residents (a random sample of 1,000 or so individuals would be required).

One of the four “focus areas” of the City’s 2022-26 Strategic Plan is to increase citizen engagement. It seems to me that something as important as the revision of the LUB, which deals with “almost every type of development that could occur in Camrose” (consultant’s words)− should have been timed and planned in such as way as to get the opinions of more Camrosians. John Olson, Camrose

JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

École Charlie Killam School boys volleyball team won a tough three-game set against the Bawlf Wildcats in regular season play on September 21. Camrose won the match 25-22, 21-25 and 15-13. Noah Galenza, along with Connor Christensen and Mattias Briggs, send the ball over the net. The Wildcats girls volleyball club swept the École Charlie Killam School team 25-10 and 25-16. Carleigh Walrod dives for the ball to set up a return.