This document printed from the University
of Illinois Extension Tent Poles at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/macon/
Winterize Yourself
February 7, 2006
Rexlyn Nicole
Community and Economic Development Program Coordinator
Macon County Unit 2535 Millikin Parkway
Decatur, IL 62526
Phone: 217-877-6042
FAX: 217-877-4564 rxnicole@uiuc.edu
With winter upon us, the fall work of the squirrels burying their nuts for winter storage, the birds heading south for better weather and the trees turning their leaves to their beautiful fall color and dropping to the ground are now a memory. One might ask...what did you do during the fall to get ready for the winter? Winterize your home? Prepare for winter holidays? Start storing up food and supplies for the bad weather days? People are much like animals in that they too like to stay in when the weather is bad. So what are your plans for this winter?
Do you have reading material ready to keep your mind active as opposed to just watching TV?
Do you have physical activities planned so that you do not get too stiff or lose mobility while you are indoors?
Have you prepared yourself for the coming months health-wise as well as house-wise?
If not...why not?
The winter is here and albeit a mild one to date, you need to tend to your mental and physical health as much now as you do for the summer 'swimsuit' months.
(Rex Nicole is with Community Economic Development, University of Illinois Extension Macon County)
If you look at life as a tent, do you know the importance of tent poles? When putting up the tent, the tent poles are hard to deal with, they are cumbersome and yet without them, there is no tent. The tent poles are there for support. They are the backbone of the tent. They are the foundation of the cover against the storm while camping. Tent poles are in your every day life as well. They are there propping you up when times are tough. Do you know who and what your tent poles are?
