Happy New Year!
The Auxiliary ended 2025 with a flurry of activities! Decorating the Legion, hosting the Children’s Christmas Party (thank you Lynn Just), had a fabulous Past President’s Christmas Party (thank you Mary Saf), rang the Salvation Army bells, assisted Shop with a Hero, baked over 900 Christmas cookies (thank you Linda Swanson), donned our ugly sweaters, and managed to sneak in our December meeting. Of course, our activities included some wonderful food which has landed on my waistline!
New Year’s resolution #1: lose 20 pounds. May as well add New Year’s resolution #2: exercise more. Which leads to New year’s resolution #3: Hold it! This is a repeat of all my resolutions for the last 20 years……
During the last couple of weeks, amid all the Christmas mayhem, my mom ended up in the hospital. (Ok, stress eating may have contributed to the waistline). The ER doctor asked mom if it came to it would she like lifesaving measures or Do Not Resuscitate (DNR). Apparently, this is a standard question asked of everyone that is admitted to the ER. Yes, she has an advanced care directive on file. No, I have no idea what it says.
I learned a few things from that doctor. #1: CPR is intended for young and strong individuals. CPR, if preformed correctly, is a very traumatic process. It breaks ribs. #2: There is such a thing as modified DNR. Intubation without CPR. #3: I am not prepared to make these decisions for my loved ones. #4: My loved ones do not know what my wishes are.
My challenge to you is this; have the hard conversations with your loved ones. What are their wishes? What are your wishes? Prepare yourself for some resistance from your loved ones. End of life decision planning is a very emotionally draining conversation to have. Trust me when I say, “You need to do it”. Let someone know your wishes. Where are your important papers? Which funeral home do you prefer? Burial wishes? Pertinent information for your obituary? A little prep work on some basic questions can alleviate a lot of stress for your loved ones. Trying to answer a million questions from a funeral director when you are grieving and in shock is extremely difficult.
Thankfully, my mom will get to continue making New Year’s resolutions. She will get to add “Low sodium diet” to her list. I’m revamping my list. My life’s satisfaction should not be determined by a number on a scale. Instead, it should be focused on those that I love and the ones who love me.
Whatever you choose as your New Year’s resolutions, make them positive. Make them attainable. Make them productive. Make them count.
I wish you all a very Happy 2026!
Erin Hensel
Unit 212 Auxiliary President