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FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
616-514-3831
www.MattsonFinancial.com
JANUARY 2023
WHO IS IN YOUR FAMILY CIRCLE OF TRUST? The Importance of Connections in Difficult Times
Recently, one of our clients has been experiencing changes in his health. After multiple diagnostic tests, the doctors could not find anything abnormal. Still, his health kept deteriorating. It soon became apparent that he would need someone local to look after his medical well-being and transport him to and from appointments. It’s important to remember that just because someone is transporting you doesn’t mean they have access to your medical records. Without your permission, neither do your children or even your spouse. That’s good news for your privacy, but it’s still crucial to have a healthcare advocate who can make decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself. While many of us imagine that scenario to involve a coma or severe dementia, mental health problems can also come into play. Even short-term health conditions can leave people depressed, apathetic, and less willing to seek treatment. As people become older, they are also at increased risk of loneliness, which can negatively affect their decision-making. My client has a relationship with his children, but it’s not as close as most people prefer. Every family has a person I call “the keeper.” They’re the parent who does most of the legwork in keeping up with the kids, grandparents, and other family members. But what happens when the keeper is gone? The less socially active parent has lost an essential resource for connecting with others and often doesn’t know how to begin renewing the relationships their spouse left behind.
When your family’s keeper passes away, it’s time for everyone to come together and recognize that things have changed. When the parent who did check-ins, passed along news, and planned activities are gone, the family needs to learn how to reconnect. Many people say the other parent should take over those responsibilities. But they’re unlikely to develop that skill now if they didn’t have it before. Further, the remaining parent often feels depressed and alone; they don’t want to be a burden to anyone or the third wheel. During a vacation, Nancy and I recently met a woman from England who was traveling alone. We adopted her as one of our traveling companions on the trip. We had a wonderful time with her. But as we got to know her better, we realized she was alone because she didn’t have anyone to travel with. We helped her develop strategies to reconnect with her children when she returned home. She hoped to plan what we call “grandma adventures”, where she spends a weekend or cruise with her grandchildren and other family members. We were privileged to enjoy this woman’s company and life story, and she enhanced our trip. But she also reminded us of the importance of maintaining our connections. Everyone also needs someone who understands their health care wishes. This process requires frank conversations about what we want at the end of our lives. We should also have those preferences written down in our estate planning documents. If we don’t, our family’s decisions for us may not be what we’d wish. The controversial case of Terry Schiavo out of Florida some years
back remains a cautionary tale where parents and spouse were at legal odds.
In less dramatic circumstances, your family may also need to come together to develop workable strategies. I had back surgery many years ago and could not drive or lift heavy items for six weeks. But I’m an active person, so it only lasted about four days. My oldest daughter realized I’d been driving and called a family meeting. She told me I would ruin my back if I didn’t follow the doctor’s instructions, but I couldn’t sit around and do nothing. I ultimately hired a driver so I could lie down in the car and go to appointments. I found a way to have my emotional and physical needs met simultaneously by standing or kneeling at meetings. Back to my client, his story is ongoing. He still doesn’t have a diagnosis and has many questions about his quality of life. While his children are hopeful that the doctors will find a diagnosis and cure, that’s not where he is today, and we don’t know what the future holds. So, even though the holidays are over, I hope you and your family take the time to ensure you’re connected with the people you hold dearest. And if someone else is the keeper in your family, start tuning in to their activities now. Someday, it may help you pick up the slack and enjoy your family’s comfort during the worst possible time.
–Gary Mattson
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SHOWING APPRECIATION IN THE WOR
Through Encourag
Quality Time This language is all about receiving complete and focused attention. This means taking the time for mentorships, checking in meaningfully, and creating moments for teams to connect. For employees who
Have you ever heard of “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman? It’s an incredibly popular book that identifies different ways individuals prefer to give and receive love. You can communicate more effectively with your partners, friends, and family by considering their personal needs and using the language that speaks to them best. But did you know you can apply these same principles to show appreciation and encouragement at work? When you understand and use your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, your workplace culture will significantly improve. Words of Affirmation A “thank you” note or shout-out from a colleague is quite powerful, but it’s even more effective when it’s specific to an act or moment because it shows that you are paying attention to what matters. For your message to be clear, consider describing the situation you’re referring to, discussing the behavior you are looking to celebrate, and highlighting the impact of the behavior on you, the team, and the organization.
value quality time, having dedicated time to connect and learn from their employers and coworkers can be significantly impactful as they feel seen and heard. Acts of Service Simply picking up an extra coffee for a team member, or alleviating a work task off someone’s plate, shows that you care about their overall well-being and brings them joy.
The Solution Could Be in Your Kitchen A Surprising Fix for Aches and Pains Do you suffer from chronic pain? Does every paper cut, stubbed toe, and pulled muscle seem to hit you harder than your friends and family? Do you wake up with random body aches that you’ve chalked up to aging? If you answered “yes” to one or more of those questions, the solution to your problem might be in an unexpected place: your blood.
1. Cut out sugary drinks. Skip energy drinks, soda, juice, and sweet tea in favor of water or unsweetened beverages. Taking this step may also drop your body fat percentage — a win-win for pain reduction. 2. Choose complex carbs over processed carbs. If white rice, pasta, and white bread are a regular part of your diet, swap them out for whole grains, sweet potatoes, beans, and lentils to bring your blood sugar down. 3. Pair up your carbs. Megan Asterino-McGeean, a nurse and diabetes educator, told Cleveland Clinic that all carbs “need a chaperone.” She recommends pairing them with leafy greens and lean proteins like chicken, turkey, white fish, beans, peas, or lentils. You can try switching up your diet on your own, but if you have other health concerns like diabetes, talk to your doctor before making drastic changes. Hopefully, by working together, you can reduce your pain without adding another pill to your daily regimen!
According to a new study published in The Journal of Pain, high blood sugar can actually increase your pain sensitivity. To discover this, researchers asked 44 people to plunge their feet into basins of cold water for one minute. The participants who ingested glucose (sugar) before taking the chilly plunge reacted more severely to the cold water. People carrying more body fat also showed higher pain sensitivity. What does this mean for you? Well, if you struggle with pain daily and have high blood sugar and/or a high body fat percentage, you may be able to reduce your aches and pains simply by tweaking a few things in your diet. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can make changes right now to lower your blood sugar naturally.
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RKPLACE
Upcoming Events
gement and Consideration Tangible Gifts A nice, personalized gift can be a display that you acknowledge your employee’s or coworker’s passions and preferences.
January Market Update Jan. 6, 2023 | 12 p.m.
Although there will be no January event, you can sign up to receive an up-to-date recorded market update with our advisors and portfolio manager from Gradient Investments to be released at 12 p.m.! February First Friday Event Feb. 3, 2023 | 12–3 p.m. Lower Level, 3226 28th St SE Kentwood, MI 49512 Enhanced Planning! We’ll end the event with a market update at 2 p.m. followed by a Q&A portion of the event. More details coming soon. March First Friday Event March 3, 2023 | 12–3 p.m. Lower Level, 3226 28th St SE Kentwood, MI 49512 Sunset Planning & a Celebration of Life. What is Sunset Planning, you may ask? Join us to find out! We’ll end the event with a market update at 2 p.m. followed by a Q&A portion of the event.
The more you converse with them and learn about their personal lives, the easier it’ll be to choose a more meaningful gift and bring a smile to their face.
Appropriate Physical Touch This language can be tricky, but it’s about respecting
boundaries. A high-five, fist bump, pat on the shoulder, and a handshake are generally acceptable, but it is best not to assume. Everyone’s level of comfort differs, so always ask before initiating any type of appropriate physical touch. If you take the time to understand your employees’ preferred language of appreciation, you can communicate more meaningfully and positively.
Ben’s
AIR FRYER ROASTED SALMON WITH SAUTÉED BALSAMIC SPINACH
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
TAKE A BREAK!
• • • • • • • • •
3 tsp olive oil, divided
4 salmon fillets (6 oz each)
1 1/2 tsp reduced-sodium seafood seasoning
1/4 tsp pepper
1 garlic clove, sliced
Dash of crushed red pepper flakes
10 cups fresh baby spinach (about 10 oz) 6 small tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions
1. Preheat air fryer to 450 F. Rub 1 tsp oil over both sides of salmon, then sprinkle with seafood seasoning and pepper. In a greased air fryer basket, place salmon. 2. Cook about 10–12 minutes until fish flakes easily. 3. In a 6-qt stockpot, place remaining oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. Heat over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in tomatoes; heat through. 4. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Cook until vinegar is reduced by half, then remove from heat. 5. Arrange spinach on serving dish. Place salmon over spinach mixture and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Solution on Pg. 4
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www.MattsonFinancial.com | 3
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FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC
3226 28th Street SE Kentwood, MI 49512
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Maintaining Your Family Circle of Trust
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
Ease Your Pain Without Medication
3
Air Fryer Roasted Salmon With Sautéed Balsamic Spinach
Upcoming Events
4
Volunteer to Stay Active
**Reminder: If you have any changes to your financial situation, please notify us as soon as possible.
Investment advisory services offered through Mattson Financial Services, LLC, an SEC-Registered Investment Advisor. Insurance and annuities offered through Lakeview Financial Group, LLC. Mattson Financial Services, LLC and Lakeview Financial Group, LLC are affiliated companies.
VOLUNTEER TO KEEP YOUR BODY AND MIND ACTIVE!
Sharing Your Time Can Become Your Favorite Exercise
a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center keep you active.
On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. You form connections. As we mentioned earlier, when you show up to volunteer, others usually attend for the same reason. Socializing with the group can help you feel less isolated and more connected to others, and some of these people may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active but don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!
Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities
Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. But luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, or social “muscle.” It moves you. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through
(like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if you’re just beginning an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey. Your brain expands. When you volunteer with others, you usually have a common goal, like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings.
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