It may be a day or two late, but there is ne'er a problem with gratefulness. I had a particularly relaxing Thanksgiving day, with more food than I would ever need. I was surrounded by family as we preparred, ate, cleaned, and watched a movie. Unfortunately I don't really have extended family in the nearby vicinity, so holidays are normally a low-key experience. Sometimes I wish I spent my holidays with rooms full of people, but sometimes it's nice to spend the day in sweatpants and be a loud enough voice to choose the movie. However you spend your Christmas kick-off party (AKA Thanksgiving), it is important to actually stop and be grateful for all the amazing things we have been blessed with. Here are just a snippet of the many things I am thankful for:
1. My relationships. I feel like I have really great people who surround me, that genuinely care about me, support me, and challenge me. Thanks guys.
2. Work. Although I love one job and dislike the other, I am very grateful to be employed in this economy. On a near-daily basis I see hurting people who are out of work, need food, and are in desperate situations. I am glad that, although I would be more comfortable with more money, I am stable and doing fine for now. Grateful.
3. Fun things and laughter. I feel like I have fun with my life. I laugh a lot. Whether that is because I see humor in the most random things, or because my life is circumstantially more humorous, I am not sure. I am not one who does a lot of crazy, unique, or different things but I have fun and I laugh plenty. Life is pretty fun.
4. Literacy and entertainment. Man, do I love books! I can't imagine a world without the wonder of stories and entertainment. Therefore, I am happy to be literate because I think this is something many people take for granted. I know I do.
5. The most important, and this year's "I am thankful for"...God and his blessings. I know this encompasses a lot, but when I stop to think about it I am more than just slightly overwhelmed. God put me in today's world (as opposed to say, Europe in the 14th century), in one of the most thriving nations in the world. I am free to worship him, I have the a world of resources at my fingertips with the click of a mouse, and I have freedoms that I take for granted. Not only do I have multiple copies of the bible, but I have one on my phone. As a woman I enjoy equality and I can choose whoever I want to marry. I can wear a tank top in the summer. I complain because I ate too much on Thanksgiving (talk about first world pains). It just seems to be that since "for those who are given much, much will be required in return" (Luke 12:48) I have a lot expected of me. I better get on it.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Somebody call an EMT
Actually, unless you need CPR or a ride to the hospital, you would be better off calling a paramedic. We throw those terms around interchangeably, albiet flippantly, don't we? Well stop right now and learn the difference, because you may be offending a well-educated person and not even know it!
Here is the difference: EMT stands for emergency medical technician. This means in case of emergency they can do CPR, drive you to the hospital, and assess the situation to the best of their knowledge. What is their knowledge? You might wonder. Well, to become an EMT you have to take an EMT training program, and pass the test. A paramedic, on the other hand has to be an EMT for X amount of years, go to paramedic school, and pass the state and national tests. Both of these require extensive amounts of training and work, but obviously becoming a paramedic takes more work. Paramedics administer drugs and can pronounce people dead. Paramedics essentially take the first few years of medical school in a matter of months.
An easy way to remember which is which is think of a technician- you wouldn't want your ultrasound technician to deliver your baby now, would you?* Paramedics are hard-working folk, who do not take kindly to being clumped in with the technicians. It's a touchy subject. Now that you know the difference, you won't offend a paramedic by calling him an EMT. I know that you didn't mean to, none of us do. For the interest of saved feelings, let's get it right folks.
*This may be a totally inaccurate analogy, but I'm not sure...just go with it.
Here is the difference: EMT stands for emergency medical technician. This means in case of emergency they can do CPR, drive you to the hospital, and assess the situation to the best of their knowledge. What is their knowledge? You might wonder. Well, to become an EMT you have to take an EMT training program, and pass the test. A paramedic, on the other hand has to be an EMT for X amount of years, go to paramedic school, and pass the state and national tests. Both of these require extensive amounts of training and work, but obviously becoming a paramedic takes more work. Paramedics administer drugs and can pronounce people dead. Paramedics essentially take the first few years of medical school in a matter of months.
An easy way to remember which is which is think of a technician- you wouldn't want your ultrasound technician to deliver your baby now, would you?* Paramedics are hard-working folk, who do not take kindly to being clumped in with the technicians. It's a touchy subject. Now that you know the difference, you won't offend a paramedic by calling him an EMT. I know that you didn't mean to, none of us do. For the interest of saved feelings, let's get it right folks.
*This may be a totally inaccurate analogy, but I'm not sure...just go with it.
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