Week Ten

To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure" - J.K. Rowling

I cannot believe that this is the last week of the quarter; time goes by too fast. The topic in chapter 16 was death. Something that really stuck out to me was the Terri Schiavo case. The Terri Schiavo case really made me realize how important it is to death intentions known. Terri's husband wanted her feeding tube removed because he insisted that is not what she would have wanted and Terri's parents insisted that the feeding tube be kept in. There was no definite answer to their argument because Terri Schiavo did not expect to die, she didn't keep a will or a durable power of attorney for healthcare. Terri Shiavo's husband and parents fought in and out of court for years until Terri eventually died. Sadly, having her husband and parents resent eachother was probably the sure way she wouldn't of wanted to die.

The bio-ethical issues of death are interesting. Should euthanasia, the practice of ending someones life for mercy, be legal? Personally, I think yes. I just don't know who is qualified to decide whether the pain is worse than living. I also learned from the reading that here in Washington state, we have a law that makes it legal for terminal disease patients to request lethal injection. I think it's a good law because depression and other things are checked beforehand in order to make sure the patient is mentally competent to make their decision.

It was great reading everybody's blogs. This is the last week; wish everyone a good summer :)

Week Nine

Every week I seem to find a topic that relates to me personally. This weeks topic was definitely the Sibling Relationships section in chapter 15; I have two younger brothers ages 11 and 7. I couldn't imagine not having a close relationship with either of them. I will most likely continue to have a close relationship with my brothers due to the fact that I am 8 and 12 years older than them. Because of such a large age gap there's no hostility, envy, or competition. Although it's sad, I can see how sibling relationships could be rocky, especially when they are close in age. Personally I see my brothers make a competition out of everything, one always has to win and there's no such thing as a "tie." That being said, I don't believe that their competitive relationship will create a hostile one in the future; I think it's just how little boys play.

I thought the section in chapter 15 on friendship was interesting too. I find it amazing that people have friends from school that last throughout life. For instance, my great grandmother and great grandfather both have friends that they have known since they were in high school. I guess it really is true: choose your friends wisely.

Week 8

Everybody knows that exercise is good for one's health and a regular exercise routine might even help one live longer. But is it really that important? You bet it is! In fact, exercise is so good for you that it can even slow the physiological aging process. But exercise isn't just for the young and the old, it's important for everybody. According to chapter 13: "people who exercise aerobically report lower levels of stress, better moods, and better cognitive functioning."
Exercising is one of those things that I always put off until the very end of spring but reading the section on exercise in chapter 13 made me really think about exercising more. Less stress and better moods are two things that will really help me throughout the year, even when the Pacific Northwest sun is hiding. It's one thing to say I'm going to exercise, another to do it for a week or two, and a whole different story when it comes to maintaining a consistent routine. My goal is to hit the gym three times this week.
The "Grandparenthood" section in chapter 13 was something I can relate to. I have very supportive grandparents and they have had a huge impact on my life. My grandfather is my hero and without him I don't know where I would be today. I think a lot of grandparents who are not involved with their grandchildren fail to realize the positive role they can play. Reading this section made me appreciate my grandparents more than I already do and realize that I'm really blessed to have them.