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NOVEMBER 2020
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SMALL WINS Can Lead to Big Gratitude
Right now, it can feel challenging to head into the Thanksgiving season with a sense of gratitude that usually arises at this time of year. It’s been a tough year, and that can make it hard to feel thankful. But our attitudes are the product of our own mindset — and as with many things in life, if we start small, we can accomplish some pretty big things, even if it’s only in our minds. In a world that’s gotten very politicized and feels divided in a lot of ways, a common question is: How can we possibly start viewing our lives with the uplifting gratitude we so desperately need? I’ve found that if we start by looking at the small day-to-day wins we all have in our lives, we open ourselves up to positivity. One of the advantages of the world right now is that a lot of things have really slowed down. We have more personal time, which means we now have an opportunity to realize and appreciate those things we never would have thought of as a “win” before. My small wins come from many different places. These days, if I can make it through an entire Zoom meeting without any internet interruptions, that’s a small win! Changes in traffic are also small wins
— with fewer cars on the road now, I can shave 15 minutes off my usual 40-plus minute commute, and that makes a world of difference. I’ve also come to appreciate the small wins I find at home. The rural area I live in certainly contributes to that 40-plus minute commute, but it’s also what makes it a place of peacefulness. A daily small win is the realization that I’m fortunate to have such a wonderful personal space during a time when personal space has become everything to us. We also have decks on three sides of our house, so I can always find some sunshine. That’s certainly a small win. And I find small wins in those I interact with every day. When you work from home and start to feel isolated, having a community of people to trust and share in what you’re going through is essential, whether it’s for business or not. Something many of us may not have realized until now is that every interaction is a small win. By taking advantage of slowing down and looking for those small wins every day, I’ve seen a noticeable difference in my day-to-day attitude. In search of peace
during this crazy time, putting emphasis on these small wins actually seems to diminish problems, even if it’s just bit by bit. They won’t have as much hold over you, and the miraculous thing is that nothing has changed except your attitude. The news, social media, and the world are still what they are. What’s changed about it is between your own ears. So this Thanksgiving season, try starting and ending every day by thinking about a small win for which you’re grateful. You can even try something called “the Maui habit.” Every morning when your feet hit the floor, all you do is say, “Today is going to be a great day.” Even if your brain is shouting at you that it’s not going to be true, ignoring those thoughts and actually saying it out loud really can make your day better. Attitude is everything, and recognizing small wins is one of the best ways to turn it around. Everyone can find a small win to be grateful for, and with the power of mindfulness, we can make those small wins a big reason to smile.
–Ann Vanderslice
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Beth Stover Gives Back in Retirement
THROUGH THE NATIONAL OLDER WORKER CAREER CENTER
Some people feel ready to stop working much earlier than noted in their retirement plans. Others would rather keep working well past the time they know they should retire. And others head into retirement ready to leave their job, but not quite ready to quit working altogether. Beth Stover falls into that third camp of retirees, and because of it, she has made the most of retirement for herself and others.
retirees, who aren’t quite ready to stop working, bring meaning back into their lives.
NOWCC is a nonprofit organization that connects federal agencies with retirees who are looking for work. Through grant funding, NOWCC connects people 55 and older with part-time work offered by federal agencies and programs across the nation looking for their particular skill set and experience. “This organization is a win for everyone,” Beth says. “The older generation feels they don’t get a good shot at securing jobs after they retire. So we create opportunities for retired federal employees because the federal hiring process can be especially long, cumbersome, and difficult. With the help of NOWCC, these people can jump into jobs and projects they already know how to get done, and the agencies benefit from having seasoned team members.” Giving people a way to contribute after retirement has brought endless joy to Beth’s life. “I get excited to help people every single day,” she says. “People who have struggled to find meaningful work after retirement are always thrilled when we connect them with a job. I feel great about it, but I know they always feel better. That’s why we do what we do.” If you’d like to learn more about the National Older Worker Career Center and find out how they might help you connect with federal work, visit their website at NOWCC.org. Beth can also answer questions directly — just send her an email at BStover@NOWCC. org. Her goal is to help you enjoy your retirement, especially if that means you’re ready to get back to work.
Retirement Planning Strategies has worked with Beth and her husband, John, on their retirement plans for 17 years now, even though Beth has only been retired since 2013. “I worked in the federal sector for 36 years before retiring,” Beth says, “ending my long tenure as a human resources manager at the Department of Energy. I always strove not to be your ‘typical’ HR manager. I put as much energy as I could into solving problems creatively, which was great, but after a while, I was burned out.” Luckily, Beth’s planning allowed her to retire at the age of 56. “I was ready to move on, but I knew that wasn’t going to be the end of my work life,” she says. “I was ready to start doing something that felt like I was making a true difference in people’s lives.” That’s when she discovered the National Older Worker Career Center (NOWCC). For five years, Beth has dedicated her days to helping other
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The 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month WHY VETERANS DAY AND THE NUMBER 11 GO HAND IN HAND
Veterans Day comes every November 11. It’s a national holiday that recognizes veterans who served in the United States Armed
The change was made to recognize all veterans who had honorably served their country. By 1954, the U.S. had fought in more wars — specifically World War II and the Korean War — and hundreds of thousands more Americans had served.
Forces and honors those both living and deceased. Historically, the day marks Armistice Day and the end of the Great War: World War I. But what is the significance of the number 11?
Unsurprisingly, there was some political drama surrounding the day. In 1968, Congress made Veterans Day a federal holiday under the Uniform Holiday Bill. The idea was to increase the number of three-day weekends in the year. Veterans Day became a holiday that would fall on the fourth Monday of October, a far cry from November 11.
The armistice was signed at 5:45 a.m. in France, but it took effect at 11 a.m. that same morning — which happened to be November 11, 1918. The armistice originally lasted 36 days but was extended month after month. This led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, when peace was officially declared.
However, in 1978, Veterans Day was restored to its original November 11 date. But why?
Later that year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that November 11 would be known as Armistice Day to honor those who fought in the
The answer is simple. It’s a number that sticks with you. When the clock strikes 11:11, you always take notice. By that same notion, we all remember the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Because of this, we’ll never forget the end of the Great War, nor will we forget those who served.
Great War. This lasted until 1954 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed a proclamation turning Armistice Day into Veterans Day.
BRAIN! Train Your
Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
INGREDIENTS
• 4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed • 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.
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issue INSIDE THIS
Make Life About Small Wins to Start PAGE 1 Get Back to Work With the NOWCC PAGE 2
A Number of Importance PAGE 3
Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway? PAGE 4
IS ‘GLAMPING’ THE PERFECT WINTER GETAWAY? Cabin Fever Has Never Been So Stylish
When COVID-19 descended on the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips.
your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been.
STEP 1: DECIDE WHICH KIND OF LODGING YOU WANT. Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes referred to as a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs. STEP 2: DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME. The point of winter glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace.
Why May Is the Best Month to Start If you’ve decided to make glamping your go-to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible? Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping encounter to ensure that If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors in comfort never before imagined. .
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