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Spring break wasn’t a big deal when I was growing up in Southern California, but it is for many families in Kentucky. My family and the people I knew enjoyed a week off school, but we didn’t go on any trips or do anything special — except the year I decided to go on an adventure with my friend Jeremy. It was 2002, and we were 17 and juniors in high school. We were avid surfers with our own cars and near the end of our impulsive teenage years. Feeling independent and grown-up, we had the idea to take a spontaneous surfing trip up the coast of California. It seemed exciting and romantic to toss our surfboards and the barest necessities in Jeremy’s ancient, boxy Volvo nicknamed “the tank.” We were probably inspired by coming- of-age road trip movies and pining for the carefree surfer lifestyle we imagined existed in the 1970s. We took off without any plans except to find beaches along the way and imagined ourselves spending the week riding perfect waves. It was the pre-smartphone era, so we didn’t have GPS or apps where we could book hotels with the tap of a screen. We navigated using big fold- On the Road REMEMBERING A TEENAGE (MIS)ADVENTURE
Agents For Life
out maps and listened to loud music on the tank’s radio. Our first stop was near Santa Barbara, in an area made famous by Beach Boys songs. While we expected “gnarly” waves, the area was unimpressive. Determined to make the most of it, we got in the water in our wetsuits and tried anyway. The ocean was cold and choppy, but we were excited to be out on our first big adventure. Once we finally gave up, we ran across locals, shocked to see us. They told us there had recently been shark sightings on the beach. We didn’t have the perspective back then to realize how dangerous the situation had been, but I’m glad we got out with all of our limbs intact. Undeterred, we continued to drive on Highway 1, which follows the coast all the way up California. It’s a two-lane road surrounded by cliffs and overlooking the ocean. The route is dangerous, especially when it rains, but it was beautiful. The trip was filled with misadventures. One night, we decided to camp in a little state park and head into town to search for something fun. We were sure we’d
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
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March/April 2023
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It’s an incredibly vivid memory because I felt so alive at that
headed into Chinatown and bought ninja swords. (Remember, we were 17-year-old boys.) Ultimately, we didn’t pick up great waves or meet cute girls. We just ate nasty food and hung out in the car. But we felt great. We didn’t overthink anything that week and just enjoyed good music, good conversation, and each other’s company. We set out for an adventure, and though it wasn’t what we’d had in mind, we found one I’ll never forget.
randomly run across a wild party. Of course, the nightlife was nonexistent, and we ate tacos instead. Next, we stopped in Santa Cruz, which has multiple big surf spots. But the weather was cold and rainy. We had no other plans, so we slept in the tank in a bowling alley parking lot. It certainly wasn’t glamorous, but I’ll never forget waking up the following day. I opened the car door and found myself on the beach, surrounded by cool, fresh, salty air and the seagulls calling.
moment. We weren’t accomplishing anything we’d set out to do, but I still felt like an adventure was happening. Time slowed down for a minute, and I wished it could have lasted forever. As the trip continued, we ate bean and cheese burritos and bad gas station trail mix. One day, we ran into an actor on the hit TV show “CSI,” which was as random as possible. Surfing remained a bust; no matter where we paddled out, the ocean sat as still as a lake. But during our stop in San Francisco, we
–Kevin Bennett
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 Kevin’s Favorite Spring Break Memories
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 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. 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!
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@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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