Withstanding negative degree temperatures is, in a sense, mind over matter. With February 1 on the horizon, Winter will be nearly half over. Some day soon likely we may wish the hot and humid days would be a little cooler, such as more similar to Winter. Such is life. How we view the vagaries of life and the daily patterns determines how we pull through difficult situations.
So, facing the reported temperature dipping to minus 14 degrees Tuesday overnight into Wednesday can create a positive outlook. Thank goodness for various communities’ warming shelters to assist those who have run out of options to live in heated homes. Holla Pala, as an assumed name, is what Mirella Acevedo uses. She is called by another name by some observers, “Angel”, because she shares her time and cooking acumen in the Aurora warming center on frigid nights at the Aurora Transportation Center. Visit https://thevoice.us/aurora-city-council-passes-annexation-for-warehouse for the rest of the story in the award she received at the Aurora City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Her mind-set is to help, to assist. She chooses to be a force for good.
A positive attitude discards negative images and can lead to happier lives. A view of a glass half-full works better than a glass half-empty. That message must resonate with the nay-sayers, those who seek to gain an advantage through offering negativity and seek to scare, confuse, and berate those who can be easily rattled. Negative politicians comes to mind quickly. There are other purveyors of negativity who should be ignored or refused.
Positive thinkers, acts of both goodness and kindness are closer at hand than we think. For example:
• State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, chooses to be a force for good and to be host to two free vaccine and flu clinics, Thursday, Jan. 27 and again, Wednesday, Feb. 9. The first will be at New Community Baptist Church, 900 East York Street in Aurora, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the second at Main Baptist Church, 814 East Galena Boulevard, Aurora, from noon to 2 p.m.. In the latter she is co-host with Aurora alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns. Kifowit will be co-host with Aurora alderwoman Patty Smith, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. February 9 at the Eola Road Branch of the Aurora Public Library.
• The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association will make awards of more than $58,000 in college scholarship throughout Illinois to students who need financial assistance to pursue higher education in the 2022-2023 academic year. The student must be enrolled full-time to be eligible. The Illinois Sheriffs’ Association will provide more than college scholarships for tuition, books, and fees. Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain will present two scholarships in the amount of $500. each. There is no restriction on an applicant because of race, age, creed, color, gender, or, national origin. Applicants must be residents of Illinois. For information applicants should contact a sheriff’s office, high school counselor, or, college financial office.
• Aurora Downtown Love Local Days will be 14 days, February 1 through Valentine’s Day, February 14. Patrons may visit Aurora downtown shops, enjoy the services, and have an opportunity to win free gifts. For a list of participating specials, see auroradowntown.org. Love is in the air!
• Clear and Concise, Week 4 Year 3: Dilemma: We must respect those who do not want to wear face masks, however, those who do not want to wear face masks, must understand that they can be carriers of the COVID-19 and related viruses and harm other individuals, perhaps loved ones. It truly is an age-old conflict in mentality that offers no easy solutions. Thinking of others must prevail, in essence.