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Agents For Life
HOW WE MADE MARRIAGE WORK Let’s Stay Together
They say time flies when you’re having fun, which must be true because we can barely believe that we’ll be celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary this June. We’ve known each other since we were 16, started dating seriously at age 19, and married at age 20. A year later, we had our first child; our fifth was born when we were 28. It was a whirlwind, but we’re still here all these years later. We can’t help but ask ourselves: How did we make it work? We faced challenges along the way, but we each identified three factors that have kept us together. David Unity: During marriage counseling, we got some excellent advice. We were told that our goal should be unity, not happiness. Happiness will come and go for everyone as circumstances change, so striving for a permanent state of joy will disappoint you. Everything won’t feel good all the time as the years go by. But if you’re united, you can make it through anything together. Words: What you say matters. The words you speak to your spouse can either build them up or tear them down. I have consciously
chosen to make my comments more encouraging than critical. I say thank you, even for the small things, tell Irma she looks beautiful, and say, “I love you” whenever it pops into my head. If I could give one piece of advice to other couples, it would be to not hold back on the good words — you can’t have too many. Purpose: Many things matter in life, but none of them should ever mean more than your family. Family is my purpose — not my career, finances, surfing hobby, or personal pleasure. Waking up daily focused on my family’s emotional and physical needs has shaped my attitude and actions over the years, allowing me to be the husband and father they need and deserve. Irma God-Centered: I didn’t learn how to be a good wife and mother on my own; I needed a higher power to guide me. I learned to pray for my family just like my mom always did. I also had to learn to be a lot more selfless. With a husband and five children to look after, it couldn’t be all about me anymore. It was a process, but keeping God at the center of my life
David Bennett (808) 392-7515 david@seniorhealth.pro
Irma Bennett (808) 799-0399 irma@seniorhealth.pro
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March/April 2023
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Respect: I defaulted to the stink eye and silent treatment early in our relationship. I had to learn to recognize Dave’s struggles and appreciate his efforts — even when they didn’t work. Trying your best deserves praise, and it’s worth looking for the good things in your spouse and pointing them out. Criticizing is easy, but showing love is so much more productive and fulfilling. Have you also been married for a long time? If so, we’d love to hear how you two stayed together. We hope to have decades more of marriage ahead of us, so you never know when we might need the advice. –David and Irma Bennett
and family changed our relationships for the better, providing an anchor that kept us from drifting apart. Talk It Out: As a young woman, I had a picture in my mind that guys should be mind readers. I eventually learned that wasn’t a realistic expectation; I had to tell Dave what I was thinking and why. Keeping things bottled up until you explode is a recipe for unhappiness, and you’ve got to say what’s on your mind. Just as importantly, you have to listen, even when you disagree.
STAYING SHARP What Neuroplasticity Means for Your Brain
Not long ago, scientists thought we experienced a dramatic drop in our ability to rewire our brains and learn new things after childhood. Fortunately, more recent research has shown that assumption is false. Neuroplasticity, or the power of our brains to adapt and make more neural connections, lasts throughout adulthood. And we all can use our brains’ natural neuroplasticity to benefit our health. You’re probably familiar with neuroplasticity, even if you’ve never heard the term before. Neuroplasticity is why someone with a traumatic brain injury can regain some lost functions — people who lose one sense often experience an improvement in the other four, and we generally become better at things the more we practice them. But while the brain often makes these changes out of necessity, we can also consciously harness this superpower. There are many things experts still don’t understand about human brains or why some people develop neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s. But an increasing body of evidence suggests that keeping our minds well-fed and active reduces our risk of cognitive decline. People who work to develop their neuroplasticity may also be more flexible and open to new experiences.
Regular exercise has demonstrated positive effects on our neuroplasticity because it
increases the oxygen flow to our brains. Further, the nutrients we provide our
brains matter, so keeping a healthy diet will also benefit your mind. Adequate sleep also improves our cognitive abilities, so if you struggle to get enough hours each night, it’s time to talk to your doctor. Next, neuroplasticity experts recommend getting out of your comfort zone. We all conduct a large portion of our lives on autopilot, doing the same things we’ve always done while barely thinking about them. It’s convenient but not good for our minds or emotional health. Finding ways to tune back in and notice what’s around you through meditation or other mindfulness practices will likely improve your neuroplasticity and overall life satisfaction. Finally, give yourself new challenges and go out of your way to learn. Picking up a new skill, hobby, or language later in life may seem daunting, but it helps keep us sharp. Even brain teasers and puzzles can allow us to give our brains a daily workout. After practicing for a while, you may be surprised at how much better you feel — and think.
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Van Gogh Reincarnated? One-Eared Rescue Dog Becomes Master Painter
When a one-eared shelter dog in Connecticut struggled to find a new family last year, one of his caretakers had a wild idea: Why not teach him to paint? With help from TikTok and peanut butter, the aptly named Van Gogh became a social media star. “I’d seen TikTok videos of other dogs creating paintings, so why not Van Gogh?” Jaclyn Gartner, the founder of Happily Furever After Rescue, told The Washington Post. “He certainly had the name and the ear for it.” To leverage what she calls Van Gogh’s “fast and creative tongue,” Gartner covered small canvases in dollops of paint, wrapped them in plastic wrap, and slathered them in peanut butter. Then, she presented the treats to the boxer-pit bull mix.
He quickly licked the canvases clean, creating his “art” along the way.
According to the Post, Van Gogh’s first few paintings flopped — just like the work of the human artist Vincent Van Gogh, who didn’t become famous until after he died in 1890. This star rose thanks to Jo Van Gogh, the wife of his brother Theo, who advocated for his work after both Theo and Vincent passed away. You could say that Gartner was dog Van Gogh’s Jo because, like the original painter’s, the pup’s art staged a comeback! After his first “art show” drew just two guests, Gartner started auctioning off his paintings online. His abstract work like “Peacock Swirl” and a rendition of human Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”
quickly raised more than $3,000 for Happily Furever After Rescue.
As his reputation soared on social media, Van Gogh also found his forever home with shelter volunteer Jessica Starowitz. He now spends
his days painting and lounging on the couch. You can follow his exploits on Instagram under the handle @officialvgdog. Take a Break
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Naturopathic and herbal medicines are controversial. Some people swear by them, but medical experts generally agree that those methods are unproven. Anyone who decides to go this route should do careful research on their practitioner and discuss their plans with their physician. Some remedies can interact with medications or otherwise make your condition worse. Finally, never stop taking your prescription medications without the guidance of your physician. Dangerous side effects can result from stopping some medicines abruptly, and many prescriptions are necessary to keep a person in good health. A good doctor will work with you to address your concerns and help you find alternative treatments whenever they’re available.
A LITTLE HELP
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Inside This Issue
1 Celebrating Decades of Marriage 2 Harnessing Your Brain’s Power 3 Meet Van Gogh, the Painting Dog 3 Take a Break 4 Alternatives to Prescription Medication
Americans use prescription drugs at astronomical rates. The Health Policy Institute estimates that 66% of adults take at least one prescription, as do 83% of adults aged 60 or older. Prescriptions are usually necessary, and they save lives. But medications can be so convenient that we sometimes forget other options are available for many ailments. For example, many people control high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes in part or entirely with diet and exercise. Therapy, meditation, and relaxation exercises help countless people with mental health problems like depression and anxiety. And the hormone melatonin works just as well for some people as prescription sleeping aids. WHEN PRESCRIPTIONS MAY BE UNNECESSARY ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
and strengthening bodies through movement, physical therapy helps improve many people’s stamina and quality of life. Physical therapists treat various ailments, including joint pain, osteoarthritis, headaches, respiratory problems, and much more. Meanwhile, practitioners have performed other types of medicine for many years. Much alternative medicine has little scientific evidence to back it up, but some methods have performed well in clinical trials. One of the most popular and widely accepted forms is chiropractic care for people suffering from back problems. Many people find relief from their pain with the adjustments a professional makes. There is some evidence that acupuncture can successfully treat back pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other ailments. The risks are very low, so there’s little danger in trying it. Magnetic field therapy also shows some efficacy in research on lower back pain and has minimal side effects. Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com Continued on Page 3 ...
Physical therapy also helps countless people every year reduce pain and recover from injuries. By retraining
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Your Agents for Life Thank You for Being Our Client! We appreciate the confidence you have in us and look forward to serving your Medicare needs. We master the details so you don’t have to. We Represent All Medicare Plans We are Licensed Insurance Brokers, which means we represent all the Medicare plans in Hawaii. We look at all the plans available in Hawaii and help you select the Medicare plan that best fits your needs, regardless of which insurance company it’s from. Our promise is that we’ll tell you both the good and bad about each Medicare plan so you can evaluate the trade-offs. Once you understand the differences, you’ll know which plan is best for you. And that confidence will give you peace of mind. 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!
David Bennett (808) 392-7515 david@seniorhealth.pro
Irma Bennett (808) 799-0399 irma@seniorhealth.pro
THEY JUST KEEP CALLING! When you’re on Medicare, you feel like you have a target on your back. Every scammer and telemarketer is trying to get to you. 5 Tips to Protect Yourself 1. Medicare Rule: They need your permission to call. Ask if they have “permission to call.” They’ll hang up quickly so they don’t lose their license. If you didn’t give them permission, it’s illegal for them to call you. 2. Medicare won’t ever call you. Medicare never calls you. You have to call them. If they say they’re from Medicare, you know it’s a scam. 3. ‘We need to verify your Medicare information.’ They ask for your Medicare digits so they can switch you to another plan, even if you tell them no. Never give your personal information to someone you don’t know. 4. ‘You’re missing out on benefits.’ The generous benefits they promise are often based on financial status and zip code so you may not qualify. Call us to find out what’s really available to you. 5. Trust your instincts. If it smells fishy, it’s probably a fish. Call us instead. We’re looking out for your best interests.
Call us with your questions. We are your Agents for Life.
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