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MyGeneration• Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 Page 7
Some things never change,
regardless of our age
Life is messy. It won’t stand
still. Natalie Goldberg had it right
when she said, “Life is not orderly.
No matter how we try to make it
so, right in the middle of it we die,
lose a leg, fall in love or drop a jar
of applesauce.”
The problem is change. It’s ev-
erywhere. It’s our lifestyle. We
thrive on it. We make it happen.
And if things aren’t changing fast
enough, we change them.
It’s no wonder many of us feel
confused, anxious, fragmented,
alienated and stressed out. It’s
hard to remain sane these days
because everything is in a state of
perpetual fl ux and chaos. Or is it?
Despite appearances to the con-
trary, some things never change.
Mercifully, there are still con-
stants. We need them to keep us
grounded. Dr. Dale Turner, of
Seattle, called these absolutes “an
inner gyroscope that makes steadi-
ness possible in a world of rapid
transition.”
If in the blur of swirling trans-
formations you’ve forgotten what
they are, here are a few fi xed truths
you can still count on today – and
tomorrow – and every other day
from now on, regardless of age:
1. It’s not about you. One of life’s
worst-kept secrets is that the world
still revolves around the sun – not
around you. Everyone else has
known this all along. Most people
don’t even know who you are. Oth-
ers don’t care. They have their own
BOB
RAMSEY
SENIOR COLUMNIST
problems. You don’t need to get
paranoid about what other people
are thinking or saying about you.
They’re not you. The only opinion
of your behavior that counts is
your own (and God’s).
2. Life is neutral. Despite how it
seems, life isn’t conspiring against
you. Life doesn’t take sides. Every-
one has to take their share of hits.
So, take your hits and move on.
Sooner or later, you’ll get some of
the good stuff, too – just like ev-
eryone else.
3. Things are seldom as bad as
we think they are. Trials and trou-
bles always look bleaker to those
experiencing them. It’s only natu-
ral to exaggerate our own ills while
maintaining objectivity and per-
spective on everyone else’s. Look
around. Count your blessings.
Most of us are better off than we
think we are. Bad things do hap-
pen. Time passes. Things get bet-
ter. Wounds heal. It’s called life.
So, lighten up and live it without
whining.
4. You are stronger than you
think you are. Don’t under-
CBD oil and arthritis
sell yourself. You are absolutely
smarter, braver, tougher and more
resilient than you imagine. We all
are. When bad things happen, we
either beat ‘em or bear ‘em. That’s
what human beings do. Whoever
said, “God won’t give us anything
we can’t handle” was right. Why
should she?
5. You can make a difference.
Can one small person make a
dent in a great big world? You
bet! Small stones make big ripples.
Tiny germs kill hordes. So why
shouldn’t you be capable of mak-
ing a difference? Have you noticed
how many people attend funerals?
Any funeral. Obviously, everyone
makes a difference to someone.
You can, too. You already are. You
make a difference every day wheth-
er you know it or not. It’s true that
“every life changes everything!”
But it’s up to you to fi gure out how
you will affect eternity.
Some things never change.
Above are fi ve of them. You can
probably add more. The point
is that, in times of tumult, some
things remain stable. Ships need
anchors most when seas are rough-
est. People do, too.
So embrace change. Be fl exible
and adaptable. But be thankful
for the constants. We need them to
hang on to.
Bob Ramsey is a lifelong educa-
tor, freelance writer and advocate
for vital aging.
Health-conscious consumers have no doubt en-
countered advertisements for CBD oil at some point
in recent memory. Supplement stores, pharmacies
and even gyms may promote CBD oil, prompting
consumers to wonder just what CBD is and how it
may or may not play a role in the treatment of certain
conditions, including arthritis.
According to the Arthritis Foundation®, two kinds
of the cannabis sativa plant, hemp and marijuana,
produce cannabinoids, which Harvard Medical
School notes is the second most prevalent of the ac-
tive ingredients of cannabis. People unfamiliar with
cannabidiol, or CBD, a type of cannabinoid, may
assume it gets users high like marijuana. However,
CBD doesn’t get users high, as another cannabinoid,
a psychoactive part of the marijuana plant known as
THC, is responsible for that effect.
Advocates for CBD often note its potential to al-
leviate pain associated with arthritis. While animal
studies have supported those claims, the Arthritis
Foundation notes that such studies do not always
translate to humans. In addition, the Arthritis Foun-
dation notes that, thus far, human studies examining
the potential effi cacy of CBD in treating arthritis
pain have produced mixed results, and the Harvard
Medical School notes that more studies are necessary
to determine the potential of CBD in treating pain,
including that caused by arthritis.
Laws also vary regarding the legality of CBD,
though many places allow some form of CBD. Con-
sumers should fi rst consult with their physicians re-
garding their conditions and whether or not CBD
might help them.
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