Many years ago two salesmen were sent to Africa by a British shoe manufacturer. The goal of their trip was to investigate this new market, and to report their findings back to headquarters on the potential of the market.

• The first salesman came back with a rather dismal report, “There’s no potential at all here, because nobody wears shoes.”
• The second salesman came back with a rather different reply, “There’s massive potential in Africa, because nobody wears shoes.”

It’s our choice as to how we interpret any situation, whether we are looking at it positively with optimism, or as a challenge full of negativity.  Today is the last day of HOPE's fiscal year and we are thrilled to report that through this past year of changes and challenges, HOPE is stronger than ever.  Thanks to everyone that has supported HOPE this past year and kept the optimism and belief in HOPE's mission and vision.  I am so grateful. 

Amy Wallman Madden

Hello Summer!   Since we live in Iowa, we have the great opportunity to experience the extreme weather conditions of bitter cold winter days and hot, humid summer days.  This year has been no exception so far.  Here is some general information and signs for when visiting with others these summer days. 

​Call 911 if someone you know/work with have any of the following symptoms:

• Lack of sweating
• Flushed skin
• Racing heart
• Unconsciousness
• Dizziness or lightheaded
• Skin that feels cool and moist
• Body temperature over 104F
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion
• Rapid breathing
• Headache
• Muscle cramps

 
Remember certain medications make you more sensitive to summer heat!
 
Medications, Heat and You
Some medication may make you more sensitive to summer heat! When it gets really hot, it can be dangerous for our health! Extreme heat can cause heat-related illness, injury and even death, especially in young children and older adults. People with chronic health conditions are also at risk during hot weather. Some medications we take to help manage chronic health conditions can sometimes affect how well our bodies can tolerate extreme heat.
 
If you take medications for the following conditions, you may be at risk for injury due to heat:

• Bladder issues such as overactive bladder
• Medications for nausea, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome
• Cognitive and psychiatric disorders
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, or other cardiovascular disease
• Colds or allergies
• Pain, seizures, or trouble sleeping
• Diabetes
• Kidney, liver, or lung disease

 
What can I do to make sure my medications are safe for me when it is hot?
1. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist. They know exactly what medications you are taking and can talk to you about how summer heat might affect you. Ask about hot summer weather and your medicine.
2. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially if you are taking diuretics.
3. Use air conditioning while inside.

Take good care and be safe!

​I was reacquainted with this story recently in "The Art of Possibilities".  A three sentence summary shares this about possibilities:  Everything in life is an invention. If you choose to look at your life in a new way, then suddenly your problems fade away. One of the best ways to do this is to focus on the possibilities surrounding you in any situation rather than slipping into the default mode of measuring and comparing your life to others.

Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast beach littered with starfish as far as the eye could see, stretching in both directions. 

Off in the distance, the old man noticed a small boy approaching.  As the boy walked, he paused every so often and as he grew closer, the man could see that he was occasionally bending down to pick up an object and throw it into the sea.  The boy came closer still and the man called out, “Good morning!  May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young boy paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The tide has washed them up onto the beach and they can’t return to the sea by themselves,” the youth replied. “When the sun gets high, they will die, unless I throw them back into the water.”

The old man replied, “But there must be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. I’m afraid you won’t really be able to make much of a difference.”
​
The boy bent down, picked up yet another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean. Then he turned, smiled and said, “It made a difference to that one!”

adapted from The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley (1907 – 1977)

Thank you personally to the entire HOPE team (all 52 of you!) for embracing the values of this small boy. You all make a difference every day.