October is Awareness Month

While this may not be true, it seems like October has become THE month for awareness. I know most other months have several month-long observances as well, but this one is big. I have included the list I found on Wikepedia below.

Last Saturday, I went to the Amarillo Race for the Cure with THE SISTER #1 (I have a few now). I LOVED it! One, it was refreshing to think about others for a while instead of myself. Two, it was a nice fall morning. Three, I was there with The Sister. Four, it totally took me back to my peer ed days. I just love giving information to people to help them make better informed decisions for their life. Ideally, I love doing this with college students, but I'll take what I can get - oh, and we did actually get to talk to some college kids so that was a bonus!

So, for those who didn't know breast cancer is not just about genetic disposition. Things like healthy eating, not smoking, and limiting alcohol actually reduce your chance of getting breast cancer. This is something that not everyone automatically knows. Yeah, we know that we should live well, but most of us assume that breast cancer is genetic or totally accidental. A lot of it is, but taking care of yourself makes a difference as well. : ) Oh, and the other thing - if you feel a lump of any sort contact your doctor IMMEDIATELY!!!! As The Sister says "you may just be lumpy," but it is better to ask and find out that it's nothing instead of doing what a lot of us (women) do. You know, the "I don't have time for this right now" or the "If I don't go and find out, then I don't have to worry about cancer." Don't do that! Go get checked!
If you go to this site and click on the donate now, sponsors will donate free mamograms to women who are underpriviledged (www.thebreastcancersite.com).

Something different...October is also National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (usually the 3rd week in the month). This is a big one since we have a lot of irresponsible behavior regarding alcohol on college campuses. If you know a college student, talk to them about responsibility (relating to alcohol). 1 - if you are under 21 it is illegal to drink, 2 - don't drink & drive, 3 - have reasonable limits to your intake and stick to them, 4 - don't participate in things like keg stands as that gets you drunk quicker and it is more damaging to your brain, 5 - eat a good meal before you drink, 6 - alternate your drinks between alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Simple things. More information can be found at this link (http://www.bacchusgamma.org/documents/09NCAAW_AlcInfoEd.pdf).



MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCES - enjoy...many have links so you can educate yourself on the issue or culture

Filipino American History Month (in United States)
National Arts & Humanities Month (in United States)
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) History Month (in United States)
German American Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15 in the United States)
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15 in the United States)
Italian American Heritage Month: Italian Heritage and Culture Month
Polish American Heritage Month
Celiac Sprue Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (in United States and Canada)
National Dental Hygiene Month (in United States)
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month (in United States)
National Infertility Awareness Month (in United States)
National Lupus Erythematosus Awareness Month (in United States)
National Physical Therapy Month (in United States)
National Spina Bifida Awareness Month (in United States)
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month (in United States)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month (in United States)
World Blindness Awareness Month
American Pharmacist Month

So, that's about it...I'm out.