Everybody loves a holiday!

And with Memorial Day approaching fast, plans are being made by the minute, no doubt. A quick, getaway vacation for the weekend; barbecues; the opening of beach houses down at the shore; day trips to the shore, etc., etc., etc.
And you know what? All the best to everyone, because most people deserve to have a good time with family, friends and the like.

But with that said, Physicians First Messages is here to remind you that although it’s certainly encouraged to 
enjoy the long weekend and holiday, everyone should also remember the true meaning of Memorial Day as well. 

Because the truth of the matter is, due to apathy, that true meaning sometimes gets lost.

For those of you who don’t know, Memorial Day, which became an official federal holiday in 1971, is always observed on the last Monday of May. The purpose of the holiday is to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Unofficially, of course, it marks the beginning of summer as well. But as it pertains to the official holiday, we should all remember that there’s a number of other things we can do to honor those who lost their lives before we hit the beach or spark up the outdoor grill.

I’d personally like to offer some suggestions on what you and others can do:

For starters, any voluntary service you can provide at a cemetery can without question provide solace to those who might have lost a loved one. For instance, help clean up or place flowers and/or flags on graves or even take it a 
step further and adopt a gravesite where you can occasionally keep maintenance for a fallen soldier’s grave.

Do you play the bugle? How about playing Taps for the family who might be visiting the grave of a loved one who 
died in combat? Outside the cemetery, you might be able to make a donation to a worthy cause in the name of a fallen military member. Or you can send a ‘thank you’ bouquet through the National Memorial Day Foundation. Those flowers will be placed at the local war memorials. 

Other things that could make for a great tribute include inviting a service member over to your barbecue; make your barbecue a red, white and blue fest; observing a moment of silence before you eat; fly your flag, albeit with 
proper flag etiquette; attend a parade or Memorial Day Service.

I think you get the picture. The possibilities are endless.

Look, in my view, Memorial Day is a celebration to those lives that were lost while serving in the U.S. military.  And a celebration should be spent with family and friends. But I also believe we should make an extra effort to say thank you to our fallen military personnel and the aforementioned suggestions more than fit the bill.

Physicians First Messages believes those are proper ways to say ‘thank you.’

Sincerely,
John Calhoun
Owner and operator

OK, ladies … the days of procrastinating are over.
 
Over as in O-V-E-R.
 
Listen, we’ve all done it. We make promises to ourselves to improve our health, only to find the littlest excuse to 
put it off for another week, or month, or even a year.  Need some motivation? And need it immediately? Well Physicians First Messages is here to remind you that we’re in the midst of the 18th annual National Women's Health Week, which kicked off on Mother’s Day.
 
What is it, you ask? Well, according to womenshealth.gov, National Women’s Health Week is an observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. The goal is to empower women to make their health a priority. 
 
And, let’s face it ladies: You rarely make your health a priority.
Well, there’s no better time than the present to start making your health No. 1 on the priority list.
 
So what should you do to make yourself healthier? Well, for starters you should visit a doctor or a nurse for a well-woman, or a check-up, and preventive screenings. In addition, get active, eat healthy, get enough sleep and work on managing stress.

She’s the one that used to wait on line for hours, just to get the closest seat possible for your school play. She’s also the one who used to get up at 6 a.m. to make your favorite baloney and cheese sandwich for lunch at school.  
And also the one who used to sit bedside when that high fever hit you.
 
Who is it? Auntie Em?
 
No, of course not, we’re talking about dear mom, Your Mom, and it’s that time of year when we all show our mothers how much we deeply appreciate the unconditional love she gave us as a child and the friendship we share as an adult.

Physicians First Messages is here to remind you that Mother’s Day, of course, is Sunday, May 14, and that there’s a number of things, small and large, you can do to make mom feel like the special person she is.
 
Remember, in most cases, mom is not looking to be taken on a 10-day cruise to the Caribbean or for a three-hour marathon at the local spa.
 
It’s mom, and there’s nobody that believes the expression ‘it’s the thought that counts’ more than her.
 
So, for starters, how about keeping it sweet and simple, and picking up a beautiful card to go along with freshly cut flowers or a colorful plant?
 
Want it a bit more elaborate? How about using the same flower/card gift with a gift certificate to either her favorite restaurant or department store?
 
Remember, more often than not, you’ll probably save your mom time by getting her a gift certificate because she’ll be able to purchase something she truly likes.
 
OK, so you want to make it somewhat of a bigger deal where she can share her gift with just you or you and your family? Hey, how about dinner and a movie?
 
Simple and you get to enjoy the day as well. 
 
Want to get the grandchildren involved? Nothing warms mom’s heart more than homemade gifts, like a card.
 
Listen, the possibilities are endless, we’re just trying to make it simple, but meaningful for you at the same time. But keep in mind, regardless of whatever you do, Physicians First Messages wants to remind you the most important thing is making sure you reach out to your biggest fan one way or another.
 
Even if you can’t see her come Sunday, a phone call and an "I love you" will most certainly hold mom over until the next time you get to see her.
 
Enjoy Mother’s Day!
 
Sincerely,
John Calhoun
Owner and Operator