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More Than an Old Truck THE STOPS AND STARTS OF LETTING GO
Agents For Life
On the surface, selling an old truck shouldn’t be difficult. That is unless that old truck has been a huge part of your life. Then, it becomes much harder. It’s a very real situation we found ourselves in recently when Kevin sold his 2001 Ford F-150 during the fall. Looking at that glorious old truck, the decision to sell it made sense on the surface. It had sat in the driveway since COVID-19. It wasn’t that we didn’t care for it. It was a matter of being realistic with our transportation needs. We have five children, so we moved on out of necessity to embrace minivan life. With the insurance, registration costs, and the fact that the battery would die from just sitting there, Kevin felt it was time. But, he was surprised when he found himself struggling with going through the process and making excuses for holding onto it. Maybe one of the kids would drive it when they got their license? Or maybe it might be good to hold onto it in case someone we know needs a truck in the future. It was like having pre-seller’s remorse.
when he was studying media in college. It was there to shoulder the weight of construction materials for odd jobs with Kevin’s brother. It was the source of transportation when Kevin took his friends for rides. And it was with him during long commutes through Los Angeles. This truck sat patiently while Kevin spent hours thinking and planning his life. It roared along to the beat of Kevin’s blasting music. It lifted him up and took him to the next point in life on the days he was down. And it bore witness to those moments of joy and celebration. It was there when we started dating. It carried us into our married life. It took us to
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Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Then it hit us. That truck connected every season and stage of our journey.
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
The F-150 was Kevin’s college-era vehicle, which he would throw his surfboard in when he headed to the beach. It was the one that carried Kevin’s cameras and lighting gear
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January/February 2024
(502) 966-7810
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You see, the person who bought the truck is our next-door neighbor. So we still get to look out the window and see it. In some ways, it feels like we haven’t had to fully say goodbye. Sure, the first week or two after selling the truck to our neighbor, it was a little jarring looking outside and not seeing the old F-150 in our driveway. But we have taken a lot of comfort in looking just a little to the side, seeing it sitting in the next driveway, knowing that the vehicle is being used, and watching it carry a new family forward through life and toward their next memories.
the hospital when Sierra was in labor and when we took our babies home. It was there when we put all our belongings in the back and made our way to Kentucky. As we rolled into town to our new home, we were close to a Ford factory, and we joked about how we were bringing the old Ford back to its birthplace. Eventually, the reality of the situation won out. We outgrew the vehicle that had served us so well. It was bittersweet when Kevin finally sold it and handed over the title and set of keys. But there is a wonderful silver lining to this story of saying goodbye.
–Sierra and Kevin Bennett
A Powerful Way to Start 2024 CHOOSE YOUR WORD OF THE YEAR
Chances are you’ve made a New Year’s resolution in the past. But, if you’re like most people, the likelihood that you followed through on those resolutions is low. In fact, only 12% of people ever actually succeed in achieving their resolutions! That’s why, as we enter 2024, we’re suggesting a different approach. Rather than setting a resolution, try choosing a “guiding word” for the year. What Is a Guiding Word? Your guiding word is a positive tool that represents your outlook and goals for the year. Unlike many resolutions that focus on specific actions, such as exercising more or eating less, a guiding word is tied to how you want to feel over time.
So, if you’d like to give this strategy a try, here are four tips to help you choose your word for 2024. No. 1: Consider the Past Much of what we want to achieve in the future begins with the lessons we’ve learned in the past. What were your sources of anxiety? Are there habits you want to avoid going forward? Did you reach any of your goals during the past year? Answering these questions can assist you in creating a list of words that describe the qualities you desire. No. 2: Map Out Your Future What would you like to achieve in the new year? As you think about the answer to that question, consider your health, lifestyle, mental health, relationships, and
work. Again, jot down the words that come to you.
No. 3: Let It Play Out in Pictures One helpful technique for generating possible words is to create visual representations of your aspirations for the future, like in a vision board. These images can inspire you as you refine your goals for the year. No. 4: Put It All Together Finally, choose a word from any of the above activities that inspires you and represents your goals for the year. Write this word down and put it in places where you’ll see it often, like on your phone, in your car, or on your computer. By doing so, you’ll keep this word in mind and it’ll serve as a reminder to help you stay on track throughout the year!
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How Consistent Exercise Keeps You Young AGE IS JUST A NUMBER
Correlated to this increase in life expectancy is an overall improvement in a person’s quality of life. People who are 50-plus are enjoying a quality of life that, in many cases, is seamless for them compared to earlier decades. There are several contributing factors, including diet, advances in health care, and other technological improvements, but one of the most important is consistent exercise. If you’re over 50, there are steps you can take to age gracefully — literally! First, remember to warm up. While you may want to start your exercise immediately, take a few moments to stretch your muscles properly.
Another thing you can do is to ensure that your exercise methods are low-impact whenever you can. While you may want to go out and run several miles, approach high- impact exercising with caution. You may feel younger, but your bones and joints continue to age, and the parts of your body that serve as “shock absorbers” for the rest of the skeletal system wear out faster than the rest of your body. The main thing to do to give yourself the best chance of feeling as good as you can in your 50s and 60s is to find a consistent source of activity that you enjoy and keep doing it!
It’s been said that you’re only as old as you feel. If that’s true, then there are plenty of Americans in their 50s and 60s who feel like they’re in their 30s or 40s. As a result, they are enjoying the “prime” of their lives for much longer than generations past. The general life expectancy for Americans has historically trended upward, though COVID-19 introduced the first downward trend in decades. Today, the average life expectancy for men is 73 and for women, 79.
ALBONDIGAS (MEXICAN MEATBALL) SOUP
As a result, it makes sense for each of us to do things we enjoy and be in situations that provide joy in our lives. Evidence suggests we can create that result in our bodies by taking steps to create joy. For example, just smiling can positively impact our physiology. A smile can lower your heart rate, reduce stress, and enhance your mood. So, when you find your joy, you can create and sustain greater overall health. Here’s hoping you find your smile many times today. ... continued from Page 4
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 large onion, chopped • 1 clove garlic, minced • 2 quarts chicken stock or beef stock • 1 quart water • 1/2 cup tomato sauce • 1/2 lb green beans, strings and ends removed, cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced • 1/3 cup white rice • 1 lb ground beef • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley • 1 1/2 tsp salt, plus more • 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more • 1 large egg • 1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh peas • 1 tsp dried oregano • 1 dash cayenne, optional • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot (5-quart) over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a minute more. 2. Add the stock, water, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the green beans and carrots. 3. In a large bowl, mix the uncooked rice, meat, parsley, salt, pepper, and egg. 4. Form mixture into 1-inch meatballs. 5. Gently add the meatballs to the simmering soup, one at a time. Cover and let simmer for 25 minutes. 6. Add peas and simmer for 5 minutes more. 7. Season with oregano, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper to taste. 8. Serve, garnished with fresh cilantro.
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Inspired by SimplyRecipes.com
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7801 Pine Ridge Rd. Louisville, KY 40241 (502) 966-7810 kentucky.seniorhealth.pro
Inside This Issue 1 Memories on Wheels 2 A Word to Fuel Your Year 3 The Key to Thriving in Your 50s and Beyond 3 Albondigas (Mexican Meatball) Soup 4 Health Through Joy
Does Being Happy Make You Healthy? The Power of Positivity
There’s another component that can make a healthy impact on your life as well. It is your emotions. There’s an increasing belief (and evidence) that joy has a tangible impact on physical well-being. It’s thought that we feel emotions such as joy with neurotransmitters that serve as messengers to relay signals between nerves and other cells in the body. For example, researchers point to the fact that when something happens that you equate with joy (like a hug, kiss, or kind word), the brain receives that signal and then produces chemicals that affect the central nervous system. Scientists also point to the impact that joy positively affects a person’s circulatory system, including your heart, blood vessels, and more. In addition, a person’s autonomic nervous system is aided by feelings of elation and joy. They point out that when a person does something fun or exhilarating, breathing picks up, and other body systems that are not controlled voluntarily are affected favorably. Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com Continued on Page 3 ...
Like a set of dominos, one good thing can lead toward another, creating a chain of movement and results. That goes for your overall health as well. Let’s take a step back for a moment and think about the components of health. When we think about the things that make us healthy, we think about maintaining a diet or exercise regimen. What makes these steps even more powerful is when we don’t just take those elements on for a short time but view them as the start of a new chapter of our lifestyle.
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kentucky.seniorhealth.pro
Your Agents for Life Licensed Brokers for All Medicare Plans As Licensed Insurance Brokers, we represent all the major Medicare Plans in Kentucky. We look at all the plans available in Kentucky and help you select the Medicare plan that best fits your needs, regardless of which insurance company it’s from. We explain both the good and bad about every Medicare plan so you can evaluate the tradeoffs. Once you understand the differences, you’ll know which plan is best for you. With our help, you can have confidence and peace of mind. Thank You for Being Our Client! We appreciate the trust you have in us and look forward to serving your Medicare needs year after year. We master the details so you don’t have to.
Family and Friends If you know someone who needs a trusted advisor for their Medicare plan, we would love to help them. Call us today. We’ll take very good care of them for you. Thanks!
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
Will You Help Us Grow Our Business? Medicare advertising can be misleading. They promise you everything for free, from groceries and flex cards to thousands of dollars of government money. Telemarketers call you relentlessly at all hours of the day, making promises and pressuring you to change plans.
Will You Tell Your Friends?
You have a circle of friends who are also on Medicare. Will you tell them about us? If they aren’t sure they have the best Medicare plan for 2024, we would love to help them the same way we help you. How to Connect Us With Your Friends Have them call us directly on our mobile phones, or you can text us their name and address, and we’ll mail
We Do It Differently You know from personal experience that we do it differently. No exaggerated claims and no pressure to change plans. Call us old-fashioned, but we want to do what is best for you. We take the time to make sure you understand your options, both the good and bad, of each Medicare plan. We give you the whole story so you know what’s real and what’s not. No pressure, just trusted advice for a complicated decision.
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confidence in us, and we appreciate your helping us feed our family.
Call us with your questions. We are your Agents for Life.
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