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APRIL 2023
HEALTHY, WEALTHY,
& Wise
1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225
HOW CAN YOU LENGTHEN YOUR LIFESPAN? REACH ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH EASE
I’ve always wanted to live to be 100 years old. Don’t we all? Living over a century is a tremendous feat that is difficult to accomplish. Six months ago, we discussed the factors that may lead to a longer life. As the gloom of COVID-19 still hangs in the air, I want to revisit this subject with newfound optimism for a long, healthy life. I still have so much to accomplish and experience! After retiring, many people lose some of this optimism. I recently discovered a new podcast that helped me regain some motivation to be more proactive. Darren Hardy explores this topic in his podcast, “Darren Daily,” and shares the common characteristics of those who make it to 100. What he discovered were six practices that lead to long-lasting lifespans. Hardy recommends challenging ourselves and practicing these six tips over six days. Afterward, we can see how we’ve changed and learn to incorporate these habits into our daily life. The first tip focuses on movement. Most people who have lived for over 100 years are on the move every day. A sedentary lifestyle is the quickest way to feel our bodies age. Try creating small daily goals, be it taking a certain number of steps or trying new activities. A fitness tracker or Apple Watch can help you stay accountable to yourself! Hardy’s second tip is to start living with a purpose. We often hear about retirees losing their meaning after leaving their careers. It’s also at this time that many folks pass away, and I’ve witnessed it firsthand. If you lack reasons to get out of bed, it’s time to start finding one. Volunteering for a nonprofit or restarting a hobby you were once passionate about are just some ways to add purpose to your life.
especially when doing something you love: perhaps it’s playing golf or getting a massage or even walking with a friend.
The fourth and perhaps most difficult tip is the 80% rule. This is when you stop eating once you feel 80% full. The longest-living people in Okinawa practice the 80% rule, which certainly shows. Confucius introduced this “hara hachi bu” practice, which helps support a healthy weight. Instead of eating until you’re full, eat until you are no longer hungry. While this may take some practice, you’ll likely notice a difference in your overall health. While the fourth habit may be the hardest, the fifth tends to be the simplest. Drink 1–2 glasses of wine every day — any alcoholic beverage will do the trick. Hardy firmly details that this practice works best with close friends and delicious food. Consider it more as a ritual for happiness than a dietary habit. The final and most crucial tip on this list is to ensure you never isolate yourself. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shared considerable research that shows how isolation in older adults can lead to premature death. Loneliness can weigh heavily on us, and it becomes more common as we grow older and leave our careers. Connectedness and a sense of belonging can improve not only our mood but also our health. Joining a community and keeping in touch with friends can help us feel satisfied and less secluded. While we have no control over our genetics, there are ways we can actively work toward a longer, more fulfilling life. Your future is in your hands. After six days of practicing these healthy habits, you’ll likely see a change in your mind and body. Now, it’s time to hear from you! What are you doing to extend your lifespan? Is 100 years your ultimate goal? What do you want to experience in these intervening years? I’ve been sharing my adventures and journeys for years. Now, I want to hear more about you! What do you want to achieve most in this long life of yours? –Ann Vanderslice
Third is what Hardy calls downshifting. This practice involves simplifying to reduce anxiety and improve your quality of life. For many, this means leaving a stressful yet high-paying job for one that will bring more joy — even at a lower pay. Yet how can retirees downshift? Be mindful of what causes you stress and how you might reduce it. Begin by spending four hours away from it. While four hours may seem excessive, it’ll feel shorter than you think,
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Saying goodbye to your child as they go off to college is not easy for some. However, as time passes, you will find new ways to fill your time and enjoy the extra space you have in your home. But as the spring semester ends and summer break begins, your nest may not be as empty for a few months as students return home! Are you ready for it? Here are three strategies to keep in mind. Remember that your child has changed. While it may have only been about nine months since you dropped your teen off at college, they will come home as a different person, maturing since the last time you saw them with different interests and characteristics. Be mindful that you’re both undergoing changes while they were away. Remind them that they’re not a guest. College is sometimes a teen’s first step into adulthood. They lived on their own (with roommates), could come and go as they pleased, and ate whatever and whenever they wanted. Because of this newfound freedom, it may take them time to adjust to coming back home. They may need time to themselves. However, set boundaries with your teen reminding them to respect other family members and the home. Share how things have changed since they left. Have you remodeled or renovated your home? Did you make any changes to the daily schedule? Was anything of theirs thrown out or stored? Are there any changes you’ve made to yourself over the past few months? It’s best to share these changes with your college student to ensure there are no surprises. Additionally, talking about how you’ve adapted to the “new normal” can encourage your child to open up about their Is Your Child Coming Home for Summer Break? THE NEST ISN’T SO EMPTY ANYMORE!
experiences at school and how they’ve changed. The better you understand your teen and vice versa, the better your relationship will be. Welcoming your child back home is exciting and challenging. But by encouraging open communication and patience and embracing the time you have with one another, you and your college student will likely enjoy more time together.
NEVER DOUBT A CANINE’S SENSES
One Sniff Can Save a Life
Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell. On TV, you will often see dogs that can find missing people, search for drugs or even bombs. Dogs are often trained to use their extraordinary senses for a particular job, but even without training, they sense something is wrong.
After a couple of hours, Frances Wall, Roger’s owner, began calling for Roger. When he didn’t immediately come home, she started looking for him, and that’s when she found Roger and Cohen.
Wall immediately called emergency services. Three firefighters freed Cohen and rushed him to the hospital to be treated for hypothermia.
Roger, the Jack Russell terrier-poodle mix, is a great example.
Our story takes place in Ringwood, England, December 2022. Winter was in full swing with temperatures below freezing. No one wanted to find themselves outside in the cold for too long because it could be quite dangerous. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to 94-year-old Morris Cohen. Cohen had just returned home. He parked his car in the garage when he found himself in a spot of trouble. As he tried to exit his vehicle, his walking stick suddenly snapped in half. Unable to keep his balance, Cohen fell and became wedged under his car’s brake and clutch pedals. The man called for help several times, but unfortunately, no one could hear his pleas. He remained there, stuck overnight. The next day, Roger’s owners let him roam around outside. Roger began sniffing around Cohen’s home (some believe Roger had heard the man’s calls for help), and once Roger found the elderly man, he didn’t leave his side for the rest of the day.
More than a week later, medical staff released Cohen from the hospital, and now he gives Roger treats whenever he sees
him. “I owe my life to that dog. They [health care professionals] said that if I would’ve been there for a few more hours, I would have been a goner,” Cohen told Bournemouth Daily Echo. Fortunately for Cohen, Roger’s amazing canine senses saved the day. It’s always great to have a furry friend around — you never know when their incredible skills will come in handy!
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BRING ON THE BIRDS!
The DIY Birdhouse That Blends Into Your Garden Step 3: Give the house a door. Use your 1 1/4-inch hole-boring drill bit to create a door in the round wooden plaque, about 1 1/2 inch from the bottom. Use the sandpaper to smooth out the edges of this hole for the birds’ safety, and use your outdoor acrylic paint to coat only the outside of the plaque and let it dry. Once dry, push the wooden plaque into the pot until it is firmly wedged inside, and you’re done! This birdhouse is an excellent way to attract birds without the obviousness of a stand-alone house. Also, its lack of a perch helps stop predators
Springtime is filled with flowers, baby animals, and colorful birds. And while many people love to watch our fine feathered friends, not everyone wants to put a colorful birdhouse in their yard that clashes with their decor or attracts unwanted visitors like squirrels. Luckily, there is a style of birdhouse that will blend into your yard, keep pests away, and is incredibly easy to make — it’s a flowerpot birdhouse! To make a flowerpot birdhouse, you’ll need the following items: • Drill with a regular drill bit and a 1 1/4- inch hole-boring drill bit • Two 1 1/4-inch fender washers (stainless steel to inhibit rusting) • 1/4 x 2 1/2-inch carriage bolt washers (stainless steel to inhibit rusting) • 7-inch-diameter flowerpot (preferably terracotta) • 1/4-inch nut washers (stainless steel to inhibit rusting)
• • • •
6-inch-diameter round wooden plaque
Sandpaper
Outdoor acrylic paint
Sponge brush
Step 1: Choose your location, and drill! Pick a vertical surface like a fence or wall to mount your birdhouse onto. Try to pick an area where people rarely walk. Then, determine how high you want the birdhouse to be, and use the regular drill bit to make a hole. Step 2: Mount your pot. Take your flower pot and align its drainage hole to the hole you drilled in step 1. Then, slide one of the washers over the carriage bolt before pushing the bolt through the drainage hole and into the drilled hole. Slide a washer over the end of the bolt sticking through the other side of the fence or wall, and twist the nut onto the bolt to hold the pot in place.
from gaining a foothold that can lead them inside. Just remember to place it out of the way of rodents or other
predators to help keep nests and chicks intact.
Train Your
BRAIN!
Cod and Asparagus Bake
xxx
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
INGREDIENTS
• Oil for baking pan • 4 4-oz cod fillets
• 2 tbsp lemon juice • 1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest • 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 15x10x1-inch baking pan brushed with oil, place cod, asparagus, and tomatoes. 2. Brush cod with lemon juice, then sprinkle with lemon zest. Sprinkle cod and vegetables with Romano cheese. Bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes. 3. Remove pan from oven; preheat broiler. Broil cod mixture 3-4 inches from the heat source until vegetables are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes.
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PO Box 260787 Lakewood, CO 80226-0787 issue INSIDE THIS Live Longer With These Six Habits PAGE 1
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. Neither MAS nor AEWM are affiliated with E.A. Buck Financial Services or Federal Benefits Made Simple, an E. A. Buck Company. E. A. Buck Financial Services and Federal Benefits Made Simple, An E.A. Buck Company are affiliated by common ownership. In California, we are known only as E.A. Buck Insurance Services in all solicitations of insurance. 01741602 3/23.
Your Teen Is Becoming an Adult
Roger to the Rescue! PAGE 2
The DIY Birdhouse That Blends In
Cod and Asparagus Bake PAGE 3
Top Three Extended Stay Destinations PAGE 4
ALL ABOARD THE EXTENDED VACATION TREND Top Three Vacation Destinations for a Longer Stay
Cruise. A cruise is one of the best ways to see many destinations in one trip. You could visit several countries in just two weeks, stopping in different ports to explore! Or take a U.S. based trip on one of many river or coastal destinations. Every day can be a new port and a new adventure.
The pandemic slowed us down. Over the past few years, we collectively took fewer vacations, boarded fewer cruise ships, and avoided airports. However, many studies and reports show that now, more than ever, Americans are taking longer vacations. Why , and what are some of the greatest destinations for an extended stay? According to Amex Travel’s 2022 Global Travel Trend Report, 55% of vacationers are interested in taking longer trips primarily because they can work remotely. The trend of swapping homes is also on the rise. HomeExchange’s website reports that home exchanges of two weeks or more increased by 13% in January through May last year. According to Travel Pulse, 26% of people opt to take a trip that exceeds ten days. If you are interested in taking a more extended vacation, whether it’s because your job went remote, you lost out on
travel time in 2020-2022, or you saved on gas money while working from home, here are some great destinations that support a longer stay. Visit national parks. There is no better way to connect with nature than to tour the national parks. Several epic national park road trips could allow you to pack in a dozen or more of these natural gems in just a couple of weeks! Many national parks also accommodate RVs for comfort and convenience. Drive the California coast. A trip up and down the California coast never disappoints. With so many great places to stop and breathtaking views to absorb, you’ll need at least two weeks to experience them properly. You’ll want to explore the Redwood National Forest, the Lost Coast, Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, Venice Beach, and many more!
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