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Give us a call! 303-922-4304 federalbenefitsmadesimple.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M–F
JANUARY 2023
HEALTHY, WEALTHY,
& Wise
1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR? HOW (AND WHY) TO REVIEW YOUR CORE VALUES
This month, I have a challenge for you. Instead of looking outside of yourself at what you hope to accomplish in 2023, look inside to your core values. I’m not knocking resolutions — as you probably remember, I’m a big proponent of setting goals — but it’s more important than ever for you to know what you stand for. Everywhere I see something or someone trying to shape my opinions and outlook on the world; social media, the news, and even my friends and family have tried to skew my point of view! I’ve only managed to resist that pressure because I know exactly who I am. If you’re facing the same frustrating storm of opinions, it’s time to remind yourself who you are — or maybe figure it out for the first time! When you identify your core values, it will become easier to stick to them and build a strategic plan for your future. You might set better goals if you know what you’re willing to do to achieve them and who you hope to become. My core values are the root of everything I’ve accomplished throughout my personal life, in my business, and professional life. And because I started Federal Benefits Made Simple, my values are the company’s values! You might even have seen them on our wall in the office.
access to benefits planning as employees in major metropolitan areas. Another provider might have skipped those small parks, assuming they wouldn’t provide a great return. But I visited them all without expectations because I thought it was the right thing to do! Once you nail down your core values, you can start living by them. If you already have a set of core values, January is a great month to review them, see if you can articulate them more accurately, and remind yourself how you’d like to live in the coming year. You can also create a set of core values with your spouse or your family. Trying this exercise with your kids or grandkids is a fantastic way to bond and build a legacy. If you don’t have a set of core values yet and don’t mind paying a bit to discover them, you might consider signing up for the course “Discovering and Developing Core Values” by entrepreneur Robert Glazer. It costs $89, but it includes nine lessons that will help you find yourself — just in time for 2023. You can find the course now at RobertGlazer.thinkific.com . Good luck! –Ann Vanderslice
• • • •
Do the right thing.
Give first.
Make the complex simple.
Provide great value.
I try to live and breathe these four values every day; like I said, they are truly at the root of my success. For example, if I didn’t believe in “give first” and “do the right thing,” I think Federal Benefits Made Simple would have far fewer clients working in national parks. This year, I traveled to a whole host of spots many people have never heard of — Pea Ridge National Military Park, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Golden Spike National Historical Park, and Buffalo National River to name a few — simply to give small-town federal employees the same
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BEFORE ALARM CLOCKS, KNOCKER-UPS HELPED PEOPLE
How These Early Morning Heroes Roused the Sleeping
Until the 1940s, alarm clocks were a luxury few people of the English working class could afford. Unfortunately, some of these devices could be unreliable and caused people to miss appointments or oversleep. This ultimately gave birth to “knocker-ups,” the human alarm clocks people hired to wake them up. Being a knocker-up became popular during the Industrial Revolution, especially in cities where technical innovation boomed, and many citizens were due at factory jobs before the sun came up. In some towns, residents set slate boards against their outside walls to write their weekly work schedule; this way, any knocker-up would know when to wake them. These boards became so common that people referred to them as “knocky-up boards” or “wake-up slates.” Knocker-ups were paid a few pence each week to wake their clients before work, and each knocker-up generally had a route full of clients to wake at different times. The thing is, they didn’t just stand at the door and knock. Knocker-ups became famous, even using poles to tap on clients’ second-story bedroom windows. Some even attached soft hammers or rattles to the ends of the rods to create a more startling sound when they tapped. Typically, this job was taken on by older men who were past their working age or women who needed income to support their families.
Police officers also considered this a good side job to earn extra money. Many of them simply completed their morning patrol, then stopped by to wake clients living along their regular routes.
However, the most famous knocker-up, and allegedly the last to exist, was Mrs. Molly Moore. Her mother was a knocker-up, and
Molly continued her mother’s legacy. This mother-daughter duo became known for their unique knocking methods; instead of long poles, the two used a rubber tube as a make-shift pea shooter and pelted clients’ windows with dried peas.
Whatever the method, a knocker- up wouldn’t leave until their client came out the door and headed on their way to work. While history may have long forgotten about these early-morning heroes, their reliability and commitment are what ultimately allowed thousands of employees to make it to work on time.
NEW YEAR, NEW PERSPECTIVES New Year’s Traditions Around the World 2023 has arrived, and it’s time to plan for the year ahead and set some resolutions. On Dec. 31, as the clock struck midnight, you likely celebrated the New Year with fireworks, parties, noise makers, the ball drop, music, celebration hats, and confetti. But around the world, not everyone celebrates the same way. Check out some of these traditions others use to ring in the New Year! COLOMBIA In Colombia, many carry an empty suitcase or two around the neighborhood, hoping to bless the coming year with many chances to travel. SPAIN In Spain, you may catch some locals eating exactly 12 grapes, one for each clock strike once midnight arrives. Each grape represents good luck for each month in the New Year. In larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, they gather to eat grapes together in the main squares. BRAZIL, ECUADOR, VENEZUELA, AND BOLIVIA In these South American countries, the New Year is celebrated with lucky underwear! The most common colors are red (intended to welcome love in the upcoming year), and yellow (which is said to bring about prosperity). GREECE If you were to visit Greece on New Year’s Eve, you might see onions — thought to symbolize rebirth — hanging on the front doors of every home. On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by gently tapping them on the head with onions.
PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, people use round shapes to represent coins that symbolize prosperity for the upcoming year. Some even display round fruit, such as grapes, on their dining room table and, like people in Spain, will eat 12 at midnight. DENMARK To get rid of evil spirits, Danes will throw old plates and glasses against their friends’ and families’ front doors. Then to “leap” into the New Year with good luck, they stand on chairs and jump off!
What other New Year’s traditions are you aware of?
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WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS WINTER?
Check Out These 3 Unique Activities
Throughout winter, we have the opportunity to participate in many activities that are only possible during this season; skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, just to name a few. While some people fly south for winter vacations to escape the cold weather, others travel to extraordinary winter destinations right here in the U.S. Plenty of options are available if you’re looking for a truly unique winter experience. Here are three that will leave you with long-lasting memories. SNOWMOBILE TOURS IN ALASKA Alaska is one of America’s hidden gems, filled with unique winter experiences. One of the coolest adventures you can experience is a snowmobile tour. You can hop aboard a snowmobile and ride the same path as the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race or visit some beautiful mountains and glaciers. Many of these tours will lead you right past moose, bears, and caribou as you take in the beauty of Alaska’s environment. SKATING ON MIRROR LAKE AT LAKE PLACID Lake Placid, New York, had the privilege of hosting the Winter Olympics twice, so it’s no surprise they have some amazing cold weather activities to showcase. A truly exceptional experience is skating on Mirror Lake. They have a 2 mile long ice track where you can test your speed. There’s even areas for people to skate freestyle,
play a game of ice hockey, or participate in dog sledding. It’s a beautiful area filled with many winter activities.
ICE FISHING EXCURSIONS IN BRAINERD, MINNESOTA While fishing might be more commonly known as a warm weather activity, you can do plenty of fishing in the winter if you know where to go. Brainerd is considered one of the best places for ice fishing enthusiasts. There are over 300 fishing lakes near the city, and you can expect to catch bluegill, walleye, largemouth bass, yellow perch, northern pike, to name a few. If you like to fish throughout the year, check out Brainerd.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Brussels Sprouts
xxx
Inspired by TheKitchn.com
INGREDIENTS
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter • 2 1/2 lbs Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 2 tbsp heavy cream • 1/8 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced • 4 oz cream cheese, cubed
DIRECTIONS
1. Coat the inside of a 3–5-quart slow cooker with butter. Add Brussels sprouts, garlic, cream cheese, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. 2. Cover and cook on LOW until the Brussels sprouts are tender, 2–3 hours. 3. Turn the slow cooker off or to the “warm” setting. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, cream, and nutmeg until the cheeses melt and the Brussels sprouts are coated in a creamy sauce. Season with more pepper to taste.
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PO Box 260787 Lakewood, CO 80226-0787 issue INSIDE THIS Skip the Resolutions — Try This Instead PAGE 1 All About Knocker-Ups: England’s Human Alarm Clocks
Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E.A. Buck Company, is an independent financial services firm helping individuals create retirement strategies using a variety of insurance and investment products to custom suit their needs and objectives. This firm is not affiliated with or endorsed by the US government or any governmental agency. E.A. Buck is an independent financial services firm, offering investment and insurance products to consumers. Securities offered only by duly registered individuals through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered only by duly registered individuals through AE Wealth Management, LLC (AEWM), a Registered Investment Adviser. Insurance services offered through Federal Benefits Made Simple an E.A. Buck Company. MAS, AEWM, and Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E.A. Buck company are all separate entities 01610080 12/22.
Not Everyone Welcomes the New Year the Same PAGE 2
3 Unique Winter Activities to Experience
Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Brussels Sprouts PAGE 3
Volunteer to Stay Active PAGE 4
VOLUNTEER TO KEEP YOUR BODY AND MIND ACTIVE! Sharing Your Time Can Become Your Favorite Exercise
Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. Luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, and/or social “muscle.” IT MOVES YOU. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center can keep you active.
beginning an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey.
YOUR BRAIN EXPANDS. When you volunteer with others you usually have a common goal: like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings. On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. YOU FORM CONNECTIONS. Socializing with a group can help you feel less isolated and more connected to others and to the project. The more involved you are, the more likely you’ll interact with the same people, and some may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active – get involved. If you don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!
Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities (like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if you’re just
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