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THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health
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TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH
Betting on Myself Paid Off
Have you ever made a big decision in your life where you weren’t sure how things would work out? It might have been something as simple as eating something unfamiliar at a restaurant or asking for a first date. We’re called to take a chance and hope for the best in these situations. We often take risks daily, but some have long-lasting impacts on the rest of our lives. In April, we recognize National Take a Chance Day, which invites us to break free from our comfort zone and try something new. I’ve always considered myself a risk taker. I think it’s a necessary part of being a business owner and succeeding in our economy. You have to take a chance occasionally, and hopefully, you’ll succeed in your endeavors. My biggest risk was when I took a chance on myself by entering the insurance industry. It took a while, but it sure has paid off. Before joining the insurance industry, I worked in real estate. I had an MBA in finance and spent time working with different real estate development companies in California and the Atlanta area. In 2008, I worked alongside my dad doing mortgages when the financial crisis occurred. It was an awful time to be in the mortgage business as a loan officer. To be
honest, I didn’t see the writing on the wall. I thought the good times would last forever, and I wasn’t focused on saving money beforehand. I had to figure out something else to do quickly and settled on a career in the insurance industry. Those first few years were difficult. I remember dropping my kids off at the bus stop and speeding two hours away to Augusta, where I would meet with clients, write policies, and do whatever else I needed before hiking back to pick up my kids after school. I did this day after day consistently. My wife told me I had an MBA and could get a great job, but that wasn’t for me. I wanted to be in control as much as possible. I tried to partner with a few companies with a proven system, but I felt I could do more independently, so I went independent in January 2011. I had no safety net, no salary, and no benefits. My success rested solely on my shoulders. I started by helping clients with life insurance, and by August of the following year, I received my first Medicare contract. The rest is history. During those early years, I would ask my kids if they wanted a snack after picking them up from the bus stop. They almost always said they wanted french fries, which allowed me to stop sweating because I had $4 in my pocket, and I could afford what they wanted. I persevered through the challenges, and my business grew.
I could fully support my family and even bring other employees on board with time. I’m so thankful for my clients and everyone who supported me over the years because you all have helped me get to where I am today. I honestly can’t thank you enough! I never expected to be in the insurance business for longer than a couple of years, but here I am, still working in the industry over a decade later. I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, believe in yourself. If you take a chance on something, it might as well
be yourself. We don’t get a second chance at life, so make the most of every opportunity.
–Duane Hamilton
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It’s Never Too Late for a Good Life!
3 Ways to Deepen Your Relationships
Robert Waldinger, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, may have cracked the code on what constitutes a “good life.” Yes, he says eating healthy and avoiding cigarettes matter, but what is more important is actually nurturing your relationships with others, especially when aging. And if you think it’s too late for a good life, Waldinger disagrees. According to him, you are never too old to have a good life, and there are many things everyone can do to deepen their relationships and bring joy into their lives. So, if the relationships we have in our life hold the key to happiness, how do we even go about boosting them? Keep in contact. You can’t become closer to someone you never see, so the easiest way to deepen your relationships is to see people more often. If you have a friend you don’t talk to as much as you’d like, ask them to set a standing coffee date every Saturday or even just once a month. By seeing someone more, you’re more likely to form a deeper connection and become closer over time. But what Waldinger emphasizes
is this won’t always happen on its own, so don’t be afraid to ask your friends to meet up more often! Open up. Another way to nourish your relationships is to open yourself up to the other person. You don’t have to share your deepest secrets right off the bat, but try to be vulnerable a little more with the ones you care about. Next time someone asks, “How are you?” when you meet up, don’t lie and say “good” when you’re not. It’s okay to lean on a friend if you’re going through a tough time! This will result in you and your friend wanting to spend more time together because of the support and relief you feel from the relationship. Be present when with your friends. We’ve all been there: A friend is talking to us about something, but we’re miles away, lost in thought. While this happens to everyone and is normal, try not to make it a habit. Waldinger says that by really making an effort to be present with your loved ones, you can make a deeper connection and have a more fulfilling relationship.
Scams and Shams
Protect Yourself From Fraudulent Schemes
Since the dawn of civilization, people have been trying to scam others out of their hard-earned money. As technology has evolved, these scams have become more elaborate, requiring a keen eye to discern them. You must have your guard up when answering a call from an unknown number. If you don’t, you might just find yourself as the newest victim of a determined scammer. Here are a few scams people commonly fall for and how to avoid becoming a victim. Government Impersonator Nobody wants to feel like they’re in trouble with the government, and scammers love to prey on that fear. You may receive a call from someone saying they represent a particular government body, like the IRS, who
says you’ll be in trouble if you don’t follow their directions. They might say you owe money and threaten jail time if you don’t make a wire transfer, or they may ask for personal information that will allow them to commit identity theft. If you get one of these calls and are unsure what to do, just hang up. The IRS does not call and threaten citizens, and you can always call the IRS directly to get reassurance that the previous call was a scam. Sweepstakes Winner Sometimes, a scammer calls an individual and claims they’ve won a prize or a lottery. To claim those winnings, the scammer will ask you to send over some cash or gift cards to cover the taxes associated with the “winnings.” They may also ask for personal information. If you actually
won a prize, you don’t have to send cash to claim it. And if you don’t remember signing up for said drawing or lottery, hang up. The Grandparent Scam Sometimes, scammers will call older adults, claiming to be their grandchild or a friend of their grandchild. They’ll say they’re in trouble and need your help. That help always involves sending money through gift cards or wire transfers. If you receive one of these calls, don’t immediately believe it. Call your grandchild directly or their parents to see if the story has any truth. A scammer is the culprit behind these calls 99.9% of the time.
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Gardening season is upon us, and many have already started tending to their plants to produce a successful harvest. If you haven’t started working on your garden yet, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of time to get started. The best time to plant fruits and vegetables in Georgia is between April and July. During that time, you can grow many crops that will help you save money and eat healthier. While gardening is undoubtedly an enjoyable hobby, it also provides us with a host of health benefits. Here are some benefits you’ll experience if you plan to garden this spring or summer. Builds Strength for Better Sleep Those who garden regularly know that gardening is challenging work. It’s often physically demanding. You’ll likely have to carry heavy bags of soil or mulch, dig with a shovel, and get up and down from the ground countless times. By doing this work, you’ll burn calories and build muscle. And when you get adequate exercise, you sleep better, which helps your body and mind feel rejuvenated. G et Y our H ands D irty Experience the Health Benefits of Gardening
Improves Mental Health Americans are more concerned with their mental health than ever before, and many are trying to find ways to strengthen their mental fortitude. Thankfully, gardening can help. A study from PubMed Central observed people with depression who participated in a gardening intervention for 12 weeks. Researchers then looked at how their mental health was affected. They found all participants saw improvement for months after the study. Gardening has also been shown to calm people down and generate positive emotions. Encourages a Healthier Diet One of the best benefits of gardening is eating what you grow. A successful harvest will give you plenty of fruits and vegetables, so you won’t have to worry about going to the store as often. You’ll also have easier access to healthier items and will be more inclined to add your crops to various meals. You’ll feel much healthier after eating the fruits and vegetables you worked hard to grow!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS!
A great resource for everyone... humana.findhelp.com this site has resources from A-Z. I personally found scholarships that my children are applying for. Food resources for clients. Help finding housing and paying for housing. Do you qualify for help paying for Medicare? Please call our office if your income is under $1,800. Let’s see if you qualify!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Chance on Yourself! How to Nourish Your Relationships for a Good Life Costly Financial Scams to Avoid Falling For How Gardening Improves Your Health Special Announcements The Movement to Let Your Natural Gray Locks Fly
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Tips to Transition Dyed Hair to Its Natural Color EMBRACE THE GRAY!
Once upon a time, the worst thing a woman could do was to let someone see her gray hair. It even became somewhat of a running bit in pop culture, with women running into bathrooms and parting their hair in a frenzy to find that single gray, screaming in fear when they finally did.
hiding them. The Wall Street Journal even called this trend “a power move.” However, there is one problem with this take-back: Many women have been dying their hair for years, and the transition from colored locks to full gray isn’t instantaneous. So, if you’re interested in joining the movement and letting your natural hair fly, here are some tips for transitioning. Let your hair grow out for at least 2 months. Your hair won’t grow into a full gray mane overnight, so while many women want to take their natural color back, dying at least the bottom half gray to get the ball rolling can’t be avoided. To give your colorist an idea of what your unique shades of gray look like, let your hair grow out for at least two
months to get about an inch of solid gray on either side of your part. This will certainly look awkward, especially if you’ve been dying your hair a darker color. To help the drastic color difference of this regrowth phase, you can use root touch-up products from your local beauty or drug store. Cut your hair more often. Once you’ve let your natural gray grow for a few months, a pixie cut is the quickest way to go fully gray. However, we know this is a drastic change for some women on top of choosing to go gray, so consider getting frequent trims every 5–6 weeks to help your hair grow and snip off those colored ends. Most importantly, enjoy your new ’do! Turning gray is all about embracing who you are — and how far you’ve come.
But now, aging women everywhere are taking the bit back from society’s unrealistic beauty standards and embracing their gray hairs instead of
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