How Familiar Scents Bring Back Memories Nostalgia in the Air
Have you ever caught a whiff of freshly baked cookies and suddenly found yourself back in grandma’s kitchen? Our sense of smell has a knack for transporting us back in time, thanks to a bank of 50,000 different scents tied to our memories. This little olfactory time machine plays a significant role in our daily lives, taking smells and turning them into emotional snapshots. Get ready to stop and smell the roses because we’re diving nose- first into the power of our nostrils. Scent-sational Memories The olfactory bulb processes scents at the front of our brain, the area that sends information out to the body. Odors go directly to the limbic system, the part of our brain that processes emotions and memories. When we smell something, our brains label it and remember our emotional response to it. So, when you smell those fresh cookies,
your mind tells you it’s a cookie and reminds you of the warmth and love you felt as your grandma baked when you were a child. Our nose also protects us by helping us remember smells associated with danger, like fire. Whiff a Mood Lift Scents also impact our moods and feelings. Certain fragrances, like lavender, can make us feel relaxed; others, like fresh citrus, may trigger a boost of energy. The nose and limbic system work closely together. Certain scents activate the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin and activate emotions such as happiness. So, the next time you feel nostalgic, light a candle with a scent that reminds you of home, and your nose will transport you down memory lane.
VERA EXPLAINED
What Every Federal Employee Needs to Know About Early Retirement
Impacts of VERA Federal employees who take a VERA can receive their full pension with no reductions at an earlier age and with fewer years of service. Along with receiving your full annuity, they get several other benefits, like continuing health insurance coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. To qualify, employees must have been in the program for the last five years of service. VERA recipients who want to return to the workforce face no restrictions on taking a new civilian job. However, if they take another federal appointment in the future, their annuity will continue but be offset by the new federal salary. VERAS don’t happen often; but when they do, they are typically agency-specific and often role-specific. If you receive a VERA offer, weigh your options carefully to ensure they align with your long-term career and financial goals.
As we continue into the new year, with a new administration and some uncertainties about potential changes in the workforce, federal employees are facing a swirl of questions. One of the most common questions we’re seeing is about the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or VERA. This program can help government agencies cut costs by offering eligible employees an early retirement option, thus reducing the age and service
requirements. Though VERA isn’t common, understanding how it works can help you make an informed decision if the option comes your way. What Is VERA? VERA helps agencies undergoing restructuring, reshaping, or downsizing by temporarily lowering the age and service requirements for federal employees to retire. The idea is that by making more people eligible for retirement, fewer disruptions to the workforce and agency operations will occur. Typically, regular Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees must have 30 years of service and meet their minimum retirement age, 55–57 based on their birth year, to qualify for their federal pension. If an employee is offered a VERA, the requirement is reduced to 20 years of service at age 50 or 25 years of service at any age. This is a voluntary retirement option; you don’t necessarily have to take it.
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