Flashpoint

We all do it - wait until the last minute, or, as in my case, just a bit beyond before we charge into action.  We are culturally conditioned to respond only to crises. They are the instigators - the motivators.  Yes, absolutely, my life would be so much easier if I followed that antiquated but constructive adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."  

Nonetheless, the most common refrains (excuses) that run through my head constantly are: I don't have time. If I don't give it my attention, it will go away. I need to rest, now - before I fall over in my tracks.  It isn't that bad.  Or the classic, I don't want to know, exactly, how bad it is.  

My latest crisis involves allergy HELL.  Yes, I am allergic to my cats (two in the house and now one at the Canton Center), floral fragrances, dust, mold, mildew, and spores from edible fungi (my husband grows mushrooms), leaf mold (I live in a forest), and pollen (see previous note).  However, I can usually manage with minor-ish symptoms by taking a 24hr allergy med. But - it definitely wasn't cutting it this time around!

Then yesterday, I realized that I had not dusted or deep cleaned the bedroom - in a while (translated to a very, very long time). The main problem occurs in the summer. The heat and humidity cause the natural (not sealed or oiled) pine ship-lap to grow mildew.  Last evening I sprang into action with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and rosemary oil in a spray bottle and sprayed the heck out of the wooden bedroom walls, the yoga mat, and dusted the furniture with a cloth infused with the concoction.  It has an overwhelming scent that works and which DRC Peeps are now exceptionally familiar with.  I have used it this past year as a homemade antimicrobial spray, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, etc., at the Center.  Today, I will vacuum the floor and spray the bed and pillow with a peppermint oil concoction to kill the dust mites and then hang the things I can - outside.

A "clean" sleeping space, along with the addition of homeopathic allergy meds., will hopefully bring me back down to manageable-ish symptoms by Monday.  

In hindsight, I am (of course) kicking myself for ignoring the flashpoint until it was far too late.  At this point, I need more than a "pound of cure," and I will have lost an entire weekend to a snotty nose, post-nasal drip, scratchy throat, and itchy, watery eyes induced misery now compounded by allergic sinusitis and asthma cough.  Not to mention - very little sleep.  

Will I take this particular lesson into the future?  That long list of excuses, above, combined with my history, don't bode well...   

What are you ignoring?  What has a good chance of becoming your next "flash point?"  Will you do better than me at conquering the insidious cultural compulsion to wait for the crisis point before acting? 
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DRC News

​Thank you to the three people who offered to sponsor the registration plate for the DRC Little Free Library. Our library will be placed on the world map of Little Free Libraries. The additional funds will be used to pay subscription fees for online resources that the kids use often. 

​This semester we are deeply grateful to have twelve SLU Community Based Learning student volunteers join us virtually to facilitate classes and activities through our Discord Server. Those sessions have been added to the DRC schedule.  

As mentioned above, Digby, a lovable, big orange cat, has joined the DRC Canton Crew. He will live at the Center full time. Sending a huge shout of thanks out to Little River Community Cats for connecting us to his former owners. They loved him dearly but needed to find him a new home. So far, he has bonded with a couple of DRC Peeps, hangs out in the bathroom sink, and hides in a bottom kitchen cupboard when he feels overwhelmed. (We have emptied it out just for him).  
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