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FORGET HAPPY, AIM FOR HOPEFUL Why Hope Beats Happiness Every Time THE LEGAL NAVIGATOR OCTOBER 2025
If you were raised like me, you probably often heard this phrase: “Don’t get your hopes up.” It was meant to protect us, of course, to help us avoid disappointment. But somewhere along the way, that little warning turned into a quiet belief that hope is risky or sets you up for failure. Well, I’m here to say it’s time to throw that idea out the window. Recently, I came across a study from the University of Missouri that didn’t just shift my perspective — it completely reframed it. According to researchers Megan Edwards and Laura King, hope (not happiness, gratitude, or even contentment) is the strongest predictor of a meaningful life. Hope, they argue, is more than wishful thinking. It’s a powerful emotional experience, and we need it more than we think. At first, I was surprised. We’re always chasing happiness, right? Self- help books, yoga classes, gratitude journals — it’s a whole industry built on pursuing joy. However, research revealed that while those emotions feel good, they don’t necessarily anchor us. Hope does. Hope says, “This might be tough, but there’s something worth working toward.” It provides direction when everything else feels foggy. It made me realize how often I’ve relied on hope without even knowing it: when I took risks, when I started over, when I dared to believe something better was possible, even if I couldn’t see it yet. Here’s the beautiful part: Hope is something we can build. If anyone gets that, it’s Chan Hellman, founding director of the Hope Research Center. He put it this way: “Hope is a way of thinking. We know it can be taught; we know it can be nurtured. It’s not something you either have or don’t have.” You can train hope, like a muscle. And it starts with setting meaningful goals. Not the “clean out the garage” type, but the kind of goals that light you up. The ones that feel true to who you are. Once you have a goal, the next step is making a plan. This is where I’ve tripped up in the past. I’d dream big, then freeze when I couldn’t see the whole path. But hope doesn’t require a perfect plan; it just asks that you believe a path exists. If the first one
doesn’t work, you’ll try another. Hopeful people don’t just have a dream, they’ve got a map (and a few backup routes, just in case). But we don’t have to walk those roads alone. Hope grows in communities. A big part of my hope, especially during hard seasons, has come from the people around me who remind me of what I’m capable of when I forget. When I feel stuck, I reach out. I call my “hope team,” aka the people who speak life into my tired brain and say, “You’ve got this.” It makes a world of difference. And then there’s imagination. Hellman calls it “the instrument of hope,” and I couldn’t agree more. Hope thrives when we let ourselves visualize something better. When I sit down and picture how my life could look in a month, a year, or even five years if I keep showing up and moving forward, something shifts. I stop spinning. I get grounded, and suddenly, I believe I can.
So, here’s my advice: Let yourself hope. Not blindly. Not in a “maybe everything will magically work out” way. But in a
grounded, gritty, deeply human way. The more we cultivate hope, the more we realize it was never about protecting ourselves from disappointment. It was about giving ourselves a reason to keep going.
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There’s a quiet magic in the early morning. It’s a time made for gentleness, nourishing both body and spirit. That’s the beauty of hygge , a Danish philosophy rooted in comfort, mindfulness, and savoring life’s small pleasures. Pronounced “hoo-gah,” this gentle lifestyle encourages you to slow down and enjoy the present moment. And what better time to begin than first thing in the morning? Begin right where you wake, still nestled beneath the covers. Before your feet ever touch the floor, take a moment to stretch — not the kind that feels like a chore but one that softly awakens your muscles and soothes your joints. This small act stirs your blood and eases your body into the day with kindness. Let your shower become a sanctuary. Choose a soap that smells like the season — apple, cinnamon, or something crisp and woodsy. Let the warm water remind you that you’re not in a rush, that this moment is yours. Start Your Day the Danish Way CREATE HYGGE IN EVERY COMFORTING MORNING STEP
As the coffee brews or tea steeps, light a candle . Watch it flicker and think of someone who has touched your life. Offer a quiet thank-you and wish them well. This small blessing is a gift to them and you. Slip on your walking shoes and greet the world outside. Even a short stroll can awaken a sense of calm. Listen to the autumn leaves rustle, feel the sun on your cheeks. Let nature’s rhythm soften your own. These hygge-inspired rituals help you reclaim mornings with grace, presence, and joy. You’ve earned mornings like these. Let them carry you forward.
THE CHILD-FREE RETIREMENT PLAYBOOK SECURE, SMART, AND SATISFYING
When you look into why people decide to create an estate plan, you’ll find a common thread connecting the top reasons. Many people want to leave money or assets to their heirs, ensure their kids have a prosperous future, and provide a plan regarding guardianship for any minor children. Many common reasons for estate planning involve children, but what if you never had any? Is it still necessary to create an estate plan? Do you need to take other actions to plan for your senior years properly? For starters, everyone should establish an estate plan, regardless of age, family situation, finances, or health. Creating an estate plan allows you to lay out your wishes for various aspects of your life. You can determine what will happen to your money and personal possessions, who can make health care and financial decisions
on your behalf, and more. Establishing an estate plan lets you gain peace of mind about the future while ensuring your loved ones follow your wishes. When looking toward your senior years, estate planning will only get you so far. You should take other actions to ensure you can enjoy retirement comfortably. Consider looking into long-term
involved with your community, church, or other local organizations. Another thing you should do is list out all your important information. Keep records of your bank accounts, insurance policies, important contact information, monthly bills, and upcoming medical appointments. Having this information on hand will make everything easier if someone else has to step in to help out.
care insurance to help offset assisted living costs and other facilities. Get out of your comfort zone to meet new people and find a network that provides assistance, encouragement, and support. You can do this by getting more
Your senior years do not have to be confusing, challenging, or lonely if you have never had children. By taking action and making plans, you can make the most of your retirement and enjoy it to the fullest!
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MISSION IM-PAW-SIBLE FLORIDA CAT’S EPIC GETAWAY FROM THE VET
No one likes going to the doctor, but for one Florida feline, a routine visit to the vet turned into a daring escape. Just after being neutered at SPCA Florida, George the cat put his kitty GPS to the test when he broke out of his cage, trying to make his way home. As if his daring getaway wasn’t impressive enough, the tabby scampered across 3 miles full of obstacles to return to his owners’ doorstep. On the day of the incident, George managed to pop his cage open and scurry out in a matter of seconds. Still loopy on anesthesia, the housecat evaded clinic staff, scaling up fencing before disappearing. Employees did everything they could to stop the escape artist, lifting each other over fences, but George was too quick and determined to catch. Owner Bob Beasock was heartbroken by the news and searched for his little buddy alongside clinic staff for nearly a week. Just when it looked like they might never find his furry companion, Bob found him at home, curled up in his favorite armchair in the carport.
“There was George, stretched out in his chair in our carport, looking like he had just returned from a grand adventure,” Bob told reporters. “He was a bit thinner, clearly hungry, but otherwise no worse for the wear.” Though George was unscathed, his journey home was no walk in the park. He had to trek through multiple subdivisions, maneuver around a couple of lakes, and cross five or six roads to reach his destination. Cats are skilled navigators who use a combination of scent, visual markers, and even geomagnetism to find their way around. But George’s journey wasn’t all prompted by a deep instinct or fear of the vet; he just wanted to get back to his owner. Though they express it more subtly than dogs, research has found that cats love their humans and form a deep attachment with their owners. Bob was relieved to find George safe and sound, but said he would have done it just a little differently if he ever found himself fleeing his doctor’s appointment. “If I had been stuck there, I would’ve called an Uber. But George didn’t have that option.” APPLE UPSIDE- DOWN CAKE
TAKE A BREAK
Ingredients
Inspired by IHeartEating.com
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp salt • 3/4 cup milk • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 large egg
Topping • 1/4 cup unsalted butter • 1/2 cup light brown sugar • 3 Honeycrisp apples Cake • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a 9-inch round cake pan, add butter for topping. Place in oven for a few minutes until melted. 3. Sprinkle brown sugar over melted butter. 4. Cut apples into half circles about 1/4-inch thick (no need to peel) and arrange them in circles, overlapping slightly until they fill the entire pan. Set aside. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. 6. Add milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Whisk until combined. 7. Pour batter over apple slices, smoothing as needed. 8. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 9. Let cool to room temperature, invert on a plate, and serve.
Candy Gourd Haunting Leaves
Libra Marigold Moon Opal
Pumpkin Soup Teachers Touchdown
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Get Your Hopes Up — Science Says It’s the Best Thing You Can Do
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Hygge Morning Rituals to Nourish Your Spirit Planning a Meaningful Future Without Dependents
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A Daring Kitty GPS Test Apple Upside-Down Cake
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Operation Ice Cream: Keeping Troops Cool in Combat Ice Cream on Deck! HOW AMERICA SHIPPED SWEETNESS TO THE FRONT LINES 4
When it comes to sweet victories, nothing quite compares to ice cream, especially if you’re thousands of miles from home and dodging enemy fire. During the final stretch of World War II, the U.S. Army took dessert diplomacy to a new level with the launch of three massive, concrete-hulled floating freezers designed to deliver joy on a cone. These weren’t your average supply ships. Measuring nearly the length of a football field, these refrigerated barges churned out 500 gallons of ice cream a day, bringing spoonfuls of comfort to troops stationed across the Pacific. Nicknamed BRLs (short for “barge, refrigerated, large”), these floating fortresses of frozen delight also carried loads of meat, fresh produce, eggs, and cheese. But let’s be honest: Everyone came for the ice cream. Whether they were battling the tropics or homesickness, a scoop of chocolate or vanilla was the perfect morale booster for the troops. Too far from a BRL? No worries. American ingenuity didn’t stop at the shoreline. Aviators on high-altitude flights transformed their B-17 bombers into makeshift ice cream makers by stashing cans of the mixture on board. The vibrations and freezing temperatures worked like a charm, turning turbulent missions into frozen dessert production. These sweet efforts weren’t about indulgence but about reminding the troops of life back home, of simpler pleasures, and that even in war, a little scoop of normalcy could make all the difference. Ice cream may not have won the war, but it certainly made the battlefield a little more bearable.
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