Check out our May newsletter!
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Freedom is not free. Every Memorial Day serves as a reminder to honor all of the men and women who lost
their lives serving our country. Here in the office, it’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve many veterans and their families, and we are always sure to express our gratitude for their bravery and service. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” To all who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice to hold our flag high, we salute you. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a month dedicated to bringing awareness to those living with a mental health condition and erasing the stigma that oftentimes comes along with it. Many times, individuals going through a rough patch will steer away from seeking help due to fear of judgment and the backlash that oftentimes accompanies it. As human beings, we can often find ourselves under a mountain of stress or spinning out of control with busy schedules and so much stimuli to process on a daily basis. I believe that we all need an outlet to keep ourselves sane. For me, I try to keep things simple. I don’t watch much television, and I try to avoid the media as much as possible. Exercise, getting outside, or just hanging with my family are great stress-relievers for me. From a mental health standpoint, we all must be fully responsible for our own actions, decisions, and consequences. I’m a firm believer that if I have a positive attitude, good things will happen. With this positivity, negativity surrounding me won’t be able to permeate my outer layer and dictate how I feel about myself or my life. Maintaining positivity is critical, and it’s just as important to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives. We just had our first grandchild and are so thankful that both our daughter and grandson are healthy. Every year for the past eight years (with the exception of COVID-19), we take a trip with my brother to see the NCAA Final Four games. This year was in New Orleans! We typically go from a Friday through a Tuesday and see all three games, as we did this year. It’s a great getaway and a nice way to unplug and relax with those that matter most. I’m a huge college basketball fan and really soak up the atmosphere. Little trips like that are blessings in our lives that keep our heads above water and our spirits high.
“I’m a firm believer that if I have a positive attitude, good things will happen.”
No matter how you keep your mind healthy and happy, it’s important to remember that we have the key to our own mental health and happiness, even though it’s sometimes very easy to forget that.
As the classic song, “Already Gone” by the Eagles, goes:
Well, I know it wasn’t you who held me down Heaven knows it wasn’t you who set me free So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains And we never even know we have the key
Here’s to hoping you find your key ...
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Stretching Preserves Your Flexibility for Life A NOT-SO-SECRET FOR YOUR LONGEVITY
Engineers and doctors can agree on one thing: Lubrication is often necessary for joints to function and move properly, including human joints. Every day, your joints create fluid that allows your arms, legs, neck, and back to move properly.
circulation, and better blood flow can lead to improved heart health and cardiovascular function. Considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death among adults in the U.S., that’s a huge bonus! The benefits of stretching are best enjoyed without injury, however, and that’s why it’s important to warm yourself up before stretching. Although it used to be thought that stretching is the first step before exercise, it’s now becoming more commonly understood that light activity is better for preventing injuries from overstretching. Physical therapist David Nolan of Massachusetts General Hospital told Harvard Health, “All it takes to warm up the muscles before stretching is 5–10 minutes of light activity, such as a quick walk. You can also stretch after an aerobic or weight-training workout.” If you’re worried about joint pain, it’s smart to stretch as well as build stronger muscles to carry your body weight more effectively — especially around your spine, hips, and knees, which do most of the heavy lifting. Proper stretching and joint care can take years of effort, but as research shows, it pays off over many decades.
But did you know that by stretching and using your full range of motion once a day, you can help those joint fluids preserve your flexibility and balance?
Many people are worried about their independence later in life, and an improper sense of balance can be a big part of that. Stretching keeps muscles flexible, strong, and healthy, but the “flexible” part is more important than most people think. Without flexibility, our muscles shorten and become tight — and even with the fluids that our joints create, without regularly stretching, we’ll still be unable to use our full range of motion.
By the time you need your muscles for activity, they’re weak and unable to extend fully. This puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage.
Can stretching extend my life? Not only does stretching improve your independence, but it might also help you live longer. Studies show that stretching is linked to improved
Allowing Your Mind to Wander Yields Great Things
mind to focus on the task at hand, reducing
May 30 is National Creativity Day. As Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
feelings of fear, anxiety, or stress. So, the next time you are feeling stressed out, pick up your journal, the paintbrush, a musical instrument, or a new project and take some time just for you!
When you think of creativity, a detailed painting, an abstract sketch, a well-thought out and intricate poem, or the winning science fair project from many moons ago likely comes to mind. However, being creative is anything that encourages you to change your perspective and look at things in a different light. Creativity pushes you out of your comfort zone to develop new ideas, a fresh plan, or a work of art, or even just switch up your routine a bit. Your imagination, experiences, and mind can be a wild place if you allow it! Being creative is not only fun, but it also allows you to experience new feelings, activities, and emotions while learning new things. Unleashing your creative side can also come along with a few great benefits too! Stress Relief Kicking back and allowing your mind to wander and take you to new places can be a great outlet for stress. Maybe you had a rough day at work, spent the day worrying about a problem or situation, or just feel uptight on a regular basis. Creative activity helps your
Self-Expression Sometimes, it’s difficult to convey our feelings with words. It may be tough to tell someone how we feel about them or that we are unsure of a certain situation. It may even be difficult to let our actions speak for us. Whether your approach to creativity is through music, art, drawing, building, or sculpting, it’s a way of communicating and expressing yourself. Afterwards, you’ll feel like a weight has been lifted off of you. Confidence Booster Sitting down and letting the creative juices flow is one way to practice your skill. The more time you invest in your favorite activity, the better you get. The confidence that you build as you become better at your craft helps to build your self-esteem. It’s always fun to challenge yourself to become better and better at an activity!
What creative outlets do you have to keep you busy, eliminate stress, and help you express yourself?
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Sometimes, we view sleep as a luxury. At one point or another, we’ve all compromised our sleep to fit in a few more episodes of our favorite show, wake up a little earlier to go out to breakfast, or try to pull an all-nighter while on a road trip. However, sleep is necessary for our health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 3 adults admits that they are not getting enough sleep. But why is sleep so important? How much sleep should you be aiming to get every night? The CDC reports that certain chronic conditions and diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, depression, and obesity can result from sleep deprivation. Not getting enough sleep also affects the way we process information and respond to stimuli and can potentially lead to car accidents and poor work performance too. Getting enough sleep is important for your body to be able to control your weight, concentrate, be productive, and stay active. Have you ever tried to power through a workout on little sleep? It can be very tough to get your body moving when you are exhausted and sleep- deprived, and you may be putting yourself at risk for injury by doing so. Sleep also has a direct impact on the way your immune system functions. For a strong and healthy immune system, you should aim to get ample sleep. The CDC recommends that adults ages 18–60 get seven or more hours of sleep each night and that children ages 6–12 get 9–12 hours. For children ages 13–18, 8–10 hours each night is essential. Sleep is not just a comfy way to unwind and rest — it’s necessary for a healthy body and mind. Rest up! Sleep Well, Be Well GETTING YOUR Z’S IS IMPORTANT
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Helpful Resources • Is your estate plan up to date? Ask us about our FREE Estate Planning Check-up. Call our office or email Julie@mtolaw.com.
• Don’t miss Glenn on “Senior Law
Radio,” WHMI FM 93.5 every Sunday at 8 a.m. You can also listen live (or to previous shows) on WHMI.com.
• Questions about your money? Do you need help with your financial goals, investment management, or retirement planning? Glenn has partnered with his personal financial advisor, Brad Jerome, to bring expert financial services to our clients. Brad meets with you right in our office — no cost, no obligation, and no pressure. Just an opportunity to discuss your goals with a top-notch financial advisor to see where your path might lead. You can reach Brad directly at 517.301.3070. • Let us be your trusted advisor for all your legal matters. We have grown with the referrals we receive from our clients. We want to return the favor by helping you find a great attorney outside the field of estate planning, elder law, and probate. Our clients often call us in need of an attorney who focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, elder and nursing home abuse, workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and many other areas. To get the best results, you need an experienced attorney to help. If you want a referral, call our office or email Julie@ mtolaw.com. We are glad to help!
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150 915 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 6 Howell, Michigan 48843
What’s Inside? 1
Memorial Day and National Mental Health Awareness Month
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Stretching Preserves Flexibility
National Creativity Day
The Importance of Ample Sleep
Helpful Resources
3 of the Best Anti-Aging Supplements
Growing old is an inevitable part of our lives. There isn’t a magic potion to drink or secret spell to cast that will turn back time, but we can do things to slow the effects of aging. Our life expectancy is longer than it used to be, so it makes sense that you would want to enjoy those extra years. While staying active and eating well play a huge role in healthy aging, there are also some anti-aging supplements and vitamins that will help your body stay strong. If you’re looking to try some anti-aging supplements but don’t know where to begin, give these a try. Resveratrol Resveratrol is a class of micronutrients that plants make to survive drought or attacks from disease. It has fantastic antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties, so it’s great at protecting you from diseases like cancer, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s. Additionally, it can be used as a strong remedy for arthritis and skin inflammation. 3 Vitamins and Supplements for Healthy Aging
You can increase your intake of resveratrol by drinking red wine or by eating more peanuts, berries, and grapes. Curcumin For years, the spice known as turmeric has been used as a nutritional supplement with great benefits for your mind and body. As science has progressed, they’ve found that turmeric does contain compounds with medicinal properties with the most important being curcumin. Curcumin has great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties but is also believed to improve memory issues and lower your risk for heart disease. Using more turmeric in your dishes will increase your intake of curcumin. Vitamin C Vitamin C is an incredibly beneficial vitamin for people of all ages but becomes
even more useful for those over the age of 50. A study by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that older adults with higher blood levels of vitamin C performed better on tasks involving focus, attention, recall, and recognition. Additionally, vitamin C can also help with skin health and can even improve immune function in older adults. There are various things you can try to slow down the aging process, but if you’re unsure where to turn, give these vitamins and supplements a shot.
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Offices: Howell | Clinton Township
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