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THE NOURISH LETTER
DECEMBER 2023
OctoberKitchen.com | 860-533-0588 | 309 Green Rd., Manchester, CT 06042
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THIS DECEMBER, RECONNECT WITH THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS A Heartfelt Reflection Inspired by ‘Elf’
While his over-the-top Christmas spirit may seem embarrassing or confusing to some (like other characters in the movie), I find it awe-inspiring, especially when the holiday season can sometimes be stressful and exhausting. This is especially true for people who work in the restaurant business, as it often means working through most holidays. In years past, I’ve come home exhausted after my shift, too tired to enjoy the day with my family. Thankfully, I’ve been truly blessed to take off Christmas and New Year’s for the past 13 years, and we decided to close on these days. Of course, I wanted to spend time with my family, and it made sense because the weeks before and after Christmas are relatively slow in the service industry. But what’s more, I wanted my team to have that time with their families. As I mentioned before, I know how it feels to miss those special moments, and if the week is slow anyway, why not let everyone enjoy it? Now, I can’t even express how much I look forward to this time off. I hope to spend it with my kids this year, and we’re trying to plan a trip to Indiana to visit my daughter and son-in-law. It’s been over a year since Ali and I have seen them, and there’s nothing I’d like more than for us to load up the dogs and head west. I remember the last time we visited them, two Christmases ago now, and how special it
The holiday season always provides a great opportunity for reflection; whether it’s about looking back on where we’ve been, what we’re thankful for or what we look forward to, there always seems to be at least a few mindful moments this time of year. At least for me, anyway! This year, part of that reflection involved the movie “Elf.” You know, the one with Will Ferrell who plays the adult version of a child raised by elves in the North Pole and returns to New York in search of his birth father. The thing I love the most about “Elf” is its absolute over-the-top enthusiasm and heartfelt sincerity. From the moment the movie starts, you’re caught up in an emotional flood that lasts throughout the entire movie. You laugh, you cry and you’re simply filled with the feeling of Christmas. As you watch Buddy’s (Ferrell) absolute love of the holiday, you can’t help but get carried away in the magic.
IT’S ABOUT RETURNING TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL LOVED BY GOD AND TAKING THE TIME TO FEEL THE ETERNAL PRESENCE OF HIS LOVE.”
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SCRIPTING A NEW CHAPTER: The Inspiring Story of Sam Kaplan’s College Graduation at 72!
You’ve probably heard — or been told — many times that “anything is possible if you put your mind to it!” And while this can certainly feel hard to believe, Sam Kaplan of Lawrenceville, Georgia, reminds us this month that the statement is still absolutely true. Kaplan recently accomplished something very exciting — he graduated from college! This feat is impressive on its own, but what we haven’t mentioned yet is that Sam is 72 years old. Sam originally graduated from high school in 1969 and never really considered going to college. Instead, he immediately entered the workforce. Over the years, Sam took on many jobs, from customer service for a wholesale distributor of electronics to driving a taxi part-time and even starting his own cleaning service and telemarketing company. So, what made Sam consider getting a college degree after all those years, you ask? A radio ad. “I was riding down 316 and heard on the radio that Georgia Gwinnett College was offering a degree that involved scriptwriting,” he said. “My car seemed to have developed automatic steering, and I pulled off on Collins Hill Road. Five minutes later, I was registering for the fall semester.” Starting school again wasn’t easy, as you could imagine. Sam had to re-learn how to study and even how to make friends in an academic setting.
To remedy that, he gave himself the goal of talking with one classmate every day, getting to know their story, and asking about their methods or approaches to the classes he met them in. It worked! On May 11, 2023, Sam graduated from college, alongside classmates 50 years his junior, with a degree in cinema and media arts. As he strutted across the stage in his cap and gown, his 99-year-old mother watched from her wheelchair in the crowd. She watched with pride as Sam became the only one of his seven siblings to receive a college education.
Sam, we think you’re incredible and hope to see your name in the credits on the big screen one day!
season. It’s about returning to the fact that we are all loved by God and taking the time to feel the eternal presence of His love. I encourage you to take the time, as I did after watching “Elf” again, to reflect on what matters most in your life and let go of the stress that can often accompany the holidays. By doing this, you’ll allow yourself to experience the magic of Christmas in its purest form: a time of love, joy, togetherness and great holiday movies!
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was to attend their church with them, but experiencing that with them was both touching and emotional. As I stood there, teary-eyed, I was reminded that while the holidays can become too hectic, there’s something profound about taking a moment to remember what truly matters. For me, what truly matters is my family, the time I have with them and
2 OctoberKitchen.com God. Christmas is about being with the ones we love and remembering the reason for this
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THE MYSTERY OF FOOD CRAVINGS HOW YOUR BRAIN DRIVES YOUR SNACKING DESIRES
Have you ever craved a certain food so badly that it was all you could think about? If you answered yes, you can take solace in the fact that pretty much everyone experiences these feelings. But the question is, “Why?”
Believe it or not, the answer lies within our brains.
Of course, bad-for-you foods like chips and cookies taste delicious, which is exactly why our brains make us crave them. Foods that are high in sugar, fat or salt trigger our brains to release dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. Over time, our brain will make a connection between these food items and the reward it gets from eating them and push us to seek them out, not for the flavor but for the feeling they give us instead. This is why many people become “emotional eaters” when stressed, anxious, bored or sad. If you look back on some of your most recent cravings, there’s a chance you also may have been feeling bad. If our brains are looking for the quickest ways to make us feel better when we’re down, a snack is certainly an easy path to dopamine. Of course, specific cravings may directly relate to our health. For example, someone with diabetes may crave something sweet for the insulin they’d receive in response. Someone who has just worked out may desire something salty due to their depleted electrolytes. However, when these cravings are frequent or uncontrolled, they can become a problem. And let us be clear: There’s no reason to worry if you’re craving chicken pot pie for dinner. But if you just can’t resist those salty chips in the middle of the afternoon or that ice cream late at night, it’s generally not a beneficial habit. Also, it’s completely okay to treat yourself now and again, and a healthy diet is one that’s balanced. The key is to inventory why you’re craving a certain food before you indulge. If it’s because you worked hard or completed a task, that deserves a reward! But it’s when the reason is “I don’t know,” “I’m feeling sad” or “I’m bored” that you should instead try to address the root issue before grabbing those sweet and salty snacks!
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INSIDE ‘Elf,’ Family and Faith: A Recipe for the Perfect Christmas
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Meet Sam Kaplan, the 72-Year-Old College Graduate!
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Word Search
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The Science Behind Cravings
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The Unbelievable Story of WWI’s Christmas Truce
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A BRIEF PAUSE IN THE TRENCHES THE HEARTWARMING TALE OF THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE IN WWI
Christmas is a time for kindness, yet for those in the trenches during World War I, no one expected mercy. It was Christmas Eve 1914 when British soldiers huddled in the mud-filled trenches, trying their best to ignore the harsh winter winds. Well, that was when peace broke out all along the Western Front. It became known to the world as the Christmas Truce after countless men wrote about their experiences amid the ceasefire. Records reveal the Germans called over to the British at around 10 p.m. to share some wine. At first, the British soldiers were skeptical, yet as they met halfway along the battlefield, amiable chatter and merriment began. All along the trenches on various battlefields, French, German, Belgian
and British soldiers followed the Christmas Truce. Men who were
shooting at one another the day before began to share cigarettes, sip wine and joke around. One account even recalled a soccer match between the British and German soldiers. A German lieutenant named Kurt Zehmisch wrote of the match in his diary. He wrote, “Eventually, the English brought a soccer ball from their trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued.” Zehmisch added, “How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the
same way about it. Thus, Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”
A depiction of the 1914 Christmas truce published on the front page of the Illustrated London News on Jan. 9, 1915
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