Can you believe that we have already made it to the 11th month of the year? You can almost hear 2027 revving up to take over. Time seems to fly now – jet-propelled.

We humans have such trouble with time, worrying and wondering about tomorrow and not just embracing the wonder of today. We only ever have “now,” so suck every good moment out of it. It pains me to think of all the “nows” I lost fretting about or wishing for the next day to appear.

November is the month of thankfulness. We should be keenly aware of all the wonderful things in our lives on more than one day of the year. There is always something to be thankful for even on our hardest days. We should enjoy the cooling temperatures and the magnificent paintings in the sky.

November is a month full of dates, and it causes us to remember. Our elections are now behind us. Because I write my column a week in advance, I am not aware of its outcome, much like the way we live our lives. We never know what the next day will bring. I hope that we will learn to make peace with whatever the outcome.

This month honors people with Native American Heritage and its rich history, culture, contributions, language, art, stories and traditions. They have contributed to every vocation, profession and art to our country as a whole. Back in 1986, President Ronald Reagan declared Nov. 23-30 as “American Indian Week.” Then in the year 1990, President George H.W. Bush made a congressional resolution proclaiming the month of November as “Native American Heritage Month.”

When I was a child, I knew nothing of the heritage of the Native American people other than what I saw on television or at the movies. They were seldom portrayed in a good light. I remember thinking, “How could they be bad if they helped our first colonizers learn which crops to plant, and every picture I saw about Thanksgiving had them bringing food to the Pilgrims?”

As I grew older, I learned how we came and colonized a country with a population of people, pushing them farther and farther from their homeland, which they had cared for and cherished for endless generations. I would not have been very happy about that myself; it helped me realize that there were always two sides to a story.

When I was a teenager, I dated an American Indian named Doug. When I met Doug, it was a revelation as he told me of his family’s heritage, of their beautiful customs and what he felt had been great injustices done to his people.

Born on a reservation, his past life experience was so much different than my own. It was a true learning experience for me that I am very grateful for. On a girlish note, I have never met anyone else who had such wonderful cheekbones. Because of Doug, I became informed, aware and interested in his culture.

The book “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown remains one of my favorite books. My children’s father and I once traveled north and walked among the caves and battle sites.

We stood in awe, soaking up the energy of the past. Perhaps sometime this month, try to read and understand more about this rich culture which once held dominion over the country we call home.

If you go online, there is a treasure trove of information available, so go and explore. Through these sites you can view the National Museum of the American Indian. If you look for First Nations Experience, a channel that covers only the world of Native American and Indigenous people, you will widen your knowledge.

Another important issue highlighted in November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This is an issue close to my heart as three of my grandparents died from the disease, and I was diagnosed with it 29 years ago. Believe me. It takes its toll. As my daughter Lara would tell you, I am a terrible diabetic patient.

There are lifestyle changes that can help you prevent the disease even if you are prediabetic. Lifestyle changes can also help you control your disease should you be diagnosed. I admit, I am not good about making changes.

Lifestyle changes include staying active, which means that at least three times a week you do some physical exercise, limit your sugar intake and eat healthy foods.

Your risk of getting diabetes increases if you are overweight, over forty years old or have a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed. Another risk factor is if you are Native American, Hispanic, Alaskan Native or Asian.

I was shocked to learn that one out of four people with diabetes are walking around totally unaware that they have diabetes. That is around 11 million people! This is why Diabetes Awareness Month is so important.

People with diabetes are at risk of nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, foot and leg injury, vision problems and other complications deriving from uncontrolled sugar.

Prediabetics have higher sugar levels but have not yet crossed the line. That is why it is so important to have your levels checked.

For those of you who do love the collection of facts, especially about November, try these out. Michelangelo unveiled the Sistine Chapel ceiling to the public in November of 1512. On Nov. 18 the largest group suicide in history took place in Jonestown, Guyana, under the instruction of the Rev. Jim Jones; over 900 people died.

Not to mention that the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was on Nov. 22, 1963. My last tidbit is that November is the only month not mentioned by William Shakespeare in any of his plays or sonnets.

While enjoying these bright, crisp days, start writing your list of things to be thankful for. Let me share a few things already on mine: my daughter Lara Olson, who has cared for me at her home, my Fresno friends who have stepped up and cared for my pets while I am away (it takes a great friend to clean someone else’s cat’s litter box), my great-grandchildren who make my life so much richer and more fun, the birds outside my daughter’s window who keep me endlessly amused, and “The Celebrity Traitors UK,” which is just guilty fun.

Revel in the pleasures of being alive. Live large. We all want to die tired, not bored. Until next week!