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SEPTEMBER 2023
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ESCAPE THE COMPARISON CYCLE EMBRACE SELF-RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” While Theodore Roosevelt shared these words in 1898, they still hold true today! Comparing ourselves to others is natural. I’ve learned throughout the years that it takes mental effort to push this negativity out of our minds. When I look back, there’s one specific time I remember when I let comparison steal my joy. Ten years ago, I wrote my first book, which was not an easy feat. I worked incredibly hard writing it with the goal to become an authority in my field. It was never about becoming an internationally renowned author, trust me! At the same time my book hit the shelves, a colleague also released a book (on an entirely different topic), and it went on the Amazon Best Sellers list. Even though I had invested endless hours and effort into my product, I suddenly felt the achievement was lessened since I didn’t see the same success my colleague did. I thought I didn’t have a reason to celebrate what I had achieved. Instead of feeling happiness or relief at reaching my goal, I just felt less accomplished. Looking back, I wish I had given myself the recognition I deserved at the time. I had published a book, and that’s a big deal!
It pains me to think about the joy being robbed from people every day when they compare themselves to others. While comparing yourself to others is easy and has become almost automatic, you can’t let it stop you from celebrating your own successes. It’s okay to give yourself recognition for the work you do! Several recent surveys have confirmed that Americans’ sense of happiness has decreased significantly, and I can’t help but think that social media has something to do with it. We all scroll through Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok. These platforms are filled with others showing off in one way or another, and we usually end up comparing ourselves to what we see. Even though we know these images aren’t always 100% true or representative of their lives, they still affect us and how we feel. It’s natural to compare ourselves when we’re bombarded with others’ achievements and successes! So, what can we do about it? I firmly believe the key is introspection. When you find you’re comparing yourself to others, pause for a moment. Take a breath and ask yourself, “Is this an accurate comparison? Do I have all the facts? Am I taking away from my own accomplishments?” Once you answer these questions, you’ll often find that your negative thinking has no logic and you can replace those thoughts with gratitude and recognition for your hard-earned efforts. Comparison is a challenge for everyone throughout our lives. People of all ages and all places find themselves comparing aspects of their lives to others. Introspection to override the impulse to compare takes continuous practice to see a change in mindset. So, the next time you find yourself making comparisons, I hope you take a moment to reconsider and remember all that you’ve rightfully earned in life. I wish you the best of luck in this ongoing journey and know we’re all in this together! –Ann Vanderslice
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WILL YOU HEAD TO PUERTO RICO WHEN YOU RETIRE? Retiree Steve Enjoys Sunny Days in Puerto Rico
We couldn’t wait to share the retirement journey of a client who is living the dream! Steve had a long and storied 18- year government career
in disaster recovery, spending long days
responsible for safety, security, facilities, travel, payroll, and much more!
As he neared retirement, he decided he needed a breather from disasters and changed agencies. Then, nine years ago, he decided it was time to retire. As he did so, he decided to relocate to Puerto Rico! Here is some background to set the stage. Steve first met his wife, Janice, when he traveled to Puerto Rico to assist with Hurricane Hugo in 1989. It was love at first sight, and they stayed in Puerto Rico for five years before deciding to move back to the U.S. Janice is a Puerto Rican native, and Steve knew he wanted to return to her home when he retired, so that’s exactly what happened. Since then, Steve has been fishing and enjoying the near-constant sunshine in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Carolina doesn’t experience snow or hail, unlike Colorado, so he and Janice get to soak in the sun wearing summer clothes all year round!
These past few years, Steve has kept busy with a home renovation project that took up most of his days, so he never had a dull moment. Nowadays, Steve and Janice drive around town on the weekends, experiencing new restaurants right on the beach. Exploring the island is a never-ending adventure for these two!
As a federal investigator, Janice still works throughout the
When fishing in clear ocean water, he takes his kayak out and can surround himself with stunning seascapes. Steve is out on the water whenever he pleases, one of the perks of his retirement. When asked if he’s had difficulty getting used to this way of life, Steve merely replied, “I haven’t missed working for a single minute!” He does admit he misses working with his team, but relaxing by the sea apparently has not been an obstacle for him!
week while Steve cares for the home and goes fishing. He is thrilled that she plans to retire in two years, and then they can spend their free time together. When asked what he plans
on doing once they’re both retired, Steve says he hopes to make more trips back to Colorado to see his children and even go on a few cruises with his wife! His final piece of advice for those nearing retirement is to enjoy it! We only have one life to live, so we should cherish this new era and all its opportunities. He also encourages you to go out and do everything on your bucket list while you can and are still able.
Thanks, Steve!
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HOW A WWII CAT SURVIVED 3 SHIP SINKINGS: THE STORY OF UNSINKABLE SAM
You’ve heard the saying, “Cats have nine lives,” and while there are countless tales of cats falling from trees or windows, one cat put this theory to the test, earning himself the name “Unsinkable Sam.” Sam’s original name was “Oscar,” and his legacy began aboard the Bismarck , one of the two first-class Nazi battleships in World War II. The Bismarck (with Sam) was launched on Feb. 14, 1939, and soon after engaged in battle with The Prince of Wales , an Allied battleship. The Nazi ship was severely damaged in this battle and ultimately sunk. Only 118 of the 2,200 crew members survived, plus Sam. The British destroyer HMS Cossack found Sam floating on a board hours later, and they promptly scooped him up and welcomed him aboard. Sam had officially switched sides to the Allied forces.
Now on the right side of history, Sam lived with the British crew for the next few months as they performed convoy escort duties — until a torpedo struck the HMS Cossack in October 1941, killing all 139 members aboard. Except for Sam. Once again, Sam clung to a wooden plank and floated safely to the nearby shore of Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory. British service members who found him ashore put two and two together and realized the cat — the very one their fellow servicemen
to launch. But as Sam’s luck would have it, a torpedo struck the HMS Ark Royal just a month later, leaving him once again clinging to a floating plank near a boat launch back in Gibraltar. Luckily, Sam’s boating days were over, and he was honorably transferred to the position of “mouse hunter” in the building of the governor-general in Gibraltar. Eventually, the British restationed their favorite floating feline to a “home for sailors” in Belfast, where he lived for the rest of his days until his peaceful passing in 1955. Sam’s story may not officially prove cats have nine lives, but it makes at least three seem likely!
saved in 1939 — was the only survivor of HMS Cossack , earning
him the nickname “Unsinkable Sam.”
The group in Gibraltar was from the HMS Ark Royal crew, and of course, they loaded Sam aboard when it was time
*www.zmescience.com/feature- post/culture/bizarre-stories/ unsinkable-sam-cat-wwii
Train Your
BRAIN!
Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
With summer over and fall here, pecans and honey reign supreme in this sweet chicken recipe. The honey provides a perfect caramelization while pecans pack on the crunch factor!
INGREDIENTS
• 2 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tbsp butter • 3 tbsp honey • 2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder • 1/8 tsp black pepper
DIRECTIONS
1. Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness. Sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. 2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat; brown chicken on both sides. Cook covered until chicken is no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes, turning once. 3. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pecans. Cook covered until chicken is glazed, about 2–3 minutes.
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How Comparing Yourself to Others Can Steal Your Joy PAGE 1 Finding Retirement Bliss PAGE 2 Unsinkable Sam: The Feline Hero of WWII Honey-Pecan Chicken Breasts PAGE 3 The Real Sea Monster: A Giant Whale That Terrified the Byzantine Empire PAGE 4
THE REAL SEA MONSTER A Giant Whale That Terrified the Byzantine Empire
sizes throughout the area. Then he would disappear for years at a time, but the locals never knew when he would reappear to sink more ships. The whale caused so many problems for commerce and defense that Roman Emperor Justinian I reportedly prioritized capturing or killing him. But even the greatest war strategists could not devise a way to take Porphyrios down. He was like a natural disaster, and leaders could stop him no more than they could hold off a hurricane. As with today’s killer whales, experts are unsure what drove Porphyrios’ behavior. Since cameras would not be invented for more than 1,000 years, there are no photographs of Porphyrios, and it’s impossible to know what species he was. Due to his enormous size and apparent long life, many marine biologists believe he was a
sperm whale. However, others point out that sperm whales rarely live in the region where Porphyrios caused his mayhem and think he was an orca — perhaps an ancestor of the modern-day boat bashers around Europe. Unfortunately for Porphyrios and animal lovers, the whale’s antics eventually caught up with him. While chasing a school of dolphins, Porphyrios beached himself near the mouth of the Black Sea and struggled unsuccessfully to push his body back into the ocean. Meanwhile, Byzantines caught wind that their enemy was helpless and attacked with ropes and axes, giving Porphyrios a gory death and themselves a feast of whale meat. Despite his inauspicious end, Porphyrios is still the only whale to threaten the Roman Empire. We can only hope he will be the only marine life ever to pose such a threat.
Social media lit up in spring of 2023 with news that orcas were attacking boats off the coasts of Portugal and Spain. Experts can’t agree on the reason behind this aggressive behavior, but history tells us it’s not the first time whales have gone rogue against sea vessels in their midst. Citizens of the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire) dealt with a similar problem in the form of a fearsome giant whale they named Porphyrios. Porphyrios struck terror into the hearts of fishermen, merchants, and soldiers who frequented the waters around Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) during the 6th century; he spent roughly 50 years attacking boats of all
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