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September/October 2025
When Life Changes, You Don’t Have to Go It Alone CAN COUNSELING PROVIDE RELIEF IN OUR LATER YEARS?
Most Americans want to live long, fulfilling, and happy lives. One of the best ways to maximize our lifespan is by incorporating healthy aging habits into our regular routines. For some, this means running for miles through the neighborhood, lifting weights at the gym, and eating nutritious meals. However, healthy aging is not just a physical endeavor. We must take actions to fortify and maintain our mental health, focus, and concentration if we want to get the most enjoyment out of our senior years. Improving and maintaining mental health is not easy, especially if you are only now establishing healthy habits. Research points to countless sources telling you to eat a nutritious diet, stay active, engage in hobbies, and socialize to make a difference. Still, your results may vary depending on countless variables. However, you can do one thing in particular that provides an eye-opening experience while giving you the tools you need to be the best version of yourself: counseling and therapy. Despite its stigma with older Americans, counseling has proven to be a valuable resource for healthy aging. Counseling can help with various life aspects and situations. Here are three different experiences that counseling and therapy can help you work through while maintaining your mental fortitude. Isolation It’s no secret that feelings of isolation and loneliness become more common as we age. We may have lost touch with friends, can no
longer participate in our favorite hobbies due to health-related issues, or have even lost loved ones. We don’t have the opportunities we had during our youth to meet new people, especially after retirement. This leads many to wonder how to break free from their isolation. While counseling won’t replace your social circle, it will allow you to explore your thoughts and the reasoning behind your isolation. You can discover what’s keeping you from meeting new people or learn new strategies to make friends in your later years. Sometimes, just opening up about your feelings can help ease intense isolation. Life Transitions Our lives are full of transitory stages. We experienced them when we changed grades, started working, had kids, and during countless other scenarios. These transitions may become less frequent with age, but they don’t disappear altogether. Retirement and loss are two specific transition periods we’ll experience, and it can be challenging to navigate such monumental changes on our own, especially if it’s the loss of a spouse. Counseling can help people process each change and determine what path they need to take to ensure the transition doesn’t weigh them down. Setbacks Challenges can continue to pop up during our senior years. You could fall and experience an injury that makes it difficult to move around your house, or you have to act as a caregiver for the person you love more than anything else in the world. These situations can shake us to our core, making us question our strength and options. Counseling can provide emotional resilience, allowing us to power through and grow from these experiences. Please call us at 304-594-1800 to find out how we can help you!
We shouldn’t view speaking with a counselor or therapist as a weakness. It could be the best thing for your mental health and fortitude, especially as you grow older.
-Jeff Robinette
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FROM PLAYROOM TO PEACE ROOM IT’S YOUR TIME TO NEST
When the kids move out, they don’t just leave behind memories and laundry baskets. They also leave behind empty bedrooms full of potential. Instead of letting those spaces gather dust, you can transform them into a dream hobby room, an exercise studio, or anything else you can imagine. This is an opportunity to personalize your home in a new way, reflecting this exciting new stage of your life as an empty nester! Home Office Whether you work from home, have the time for a side hustle, or just want a quiet space to write or read online, an unused bedroom can become the perfect on-site office. Add a nice desk, a comfortable chair, and ample storage! Turning a room into an office creates a natural separation between work and relaxation. You can personalize this career corner with your favorite art, cute pencil holders, and a device charging station. Guest Room Now that the kids are away, you may be inviting more friends and family to visit, and they deserve a space that rivals a hotel. Turn your spare room into an inviting guest suite your loved ones won’t want to leave. Set up a comfortable bed with quality sheets, blankets, and other bedroom essentials, like a nightstand and
reading light. You can create a serene experience by incorporating relaxing aromas like lavender candles and pretty houseplants. A guest room allows you to host the people you care about, no matter how far away they may live. Your Happy Place It can be a tough transition when your children leave the nest, so this is a great opportunity to create a room that’s all about joy, fun, and relaxation. Think about what brings you happiness and fill the space with it. You can make a hobby room with all the supplies you need to paint, sculpt, write, or enjoy your favorite pastime. If a big bowl of popcorn and a movie night is your favorite way to spend a weekend, create a home theater with a big screen, comfy chairs, and a snack area. If you’re a grandparent, an extra room can be a great play area filled with games, toys, and soft rugs.
SAVE MORE WITHOUT EARNING MORE Outwit Expenses on One Income
If you’re rocking a one-income lifestyle, you know every penny has a part to play. The good news? With a few smart strategies and some creative hustle, you can stretch your dollars and live abundantly with what you’ve got. Get cozy with your budget. Think of your budget like a team; every cent is a player. If one’s just standing around doing nothing (we’re looking at you, random subscription services), it’s time to cut them from the roster. Start tracking where your money goes, even the tiny stuff. Those impulse coffee runs and late-night Amazon scrolls add up more than you think!
it! A little tidying can go a long way toward a cleaner home and a fatter wallet. Be a savvy shopper. Loyalty is great … except when it costs you. Revisit your utility bills, internet plan, insurance, and other regular expenses. A few phone calls can lead to serious savings, and hey, who doesn’t love a good deal? Try a no-spend weekend. Want to hit the reset button on your spending habits? Challenge yourself to a no-spend weekend. No takeout, no spur- of-the-moment Target trips, no extras. It’s eye-opening to discover how resourceful you can be when you give your wallet a break. If you feel extra motivated, try a no- spend week and watch your wallet rejoice. Home hacks that save. A few clever tweaks can quietly cut costs and make your home more efficient.
Start with your water heater; most are set far higher than necessary. Dropping the temperature can reduce energy use, lower your bill, and help prevent scalding accidents, especially if you have kids. Laundry is another area where tiny changes add up. Tossing a clean, dry towel into a wet load can help soak up moisture and reduce drying time, while wool dryer balls cut energy use and replace costly dryer sheets. Divide and conquer big bills. Big monthly expenses got you stressed? Try the half-payment method: Divide larger bills into smaller chunks and save up with every paycheck. It’s way less painful than facing one massive payment all at once. Living on one income doesn’t mean living without comfort. It means getting clever, and everyone can be up for the challenge.
Declutter and cash in. Do you have duplicate pantry items, forgotten batteries, and a mystery
Tupperware you keep buying duplicates of? It’s time to take control. Clean out, organize, and sell what you don’t need while you’re at
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If you’ve spent any time studying history, you know it is full of strange moments. But did you know a war was once fought over a wooden bucket? It might sound like something straight out of a cartoon, but it’s an actual story from history. In the 14th century, two Italian city-states — Modena and Bologna — found themselves in a heated feud. Tensions had been brewing between the two for years, but one act sent them over the edge. That tipping point? A bucket. According to legend, Modenese soldiers snuck into Bologna and swiped an oaken bucket from the town well. Bologna wanted it back, but Modena wouldn’t budge. The outraged Bolognese responded with all-out war. If you think this sounds too absurd to be true, you’re not alone. Of course, the bucket wasn’t really the issue. The groundwork for the War of the Bucket was laid more than 200 years before the actual battle. Still, the bucket story is true. And yes, they fought a war. The outnumbered Modenese were the victors, and the conflict claimed the lives of around 2,000 men from both sides. What historians still don’t know for sure, though, is whether the bucket was taken before the battle or afterward as a trophy, but Modena still has it to this day. If you ever visit the city, you can see it on display in Modena’s town hall, where it sits as a reminder that even small things can spark big events. WHEN A BUCKET SPARKED A WAR
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
For the LORD is good and his love endures
Ingredients
Inspired by TheShortOrderCook.com
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp ginger powder • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Marinade • 2/3 cup red wine • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
• 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup sesame oil • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • 1 tsp minced garlic
Meat • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. Place the flank steak in a large, rimmed dish. Pour the marinade over the meat. 3. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 15 minutes. Flip and let marinate for another 15 minutes. 4. Preheat grill to 400 F. 5. Add the meat to the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side. Leave the grill lid open to avoid overcooking. 6. For a medium-rare steak, remove from grill at 130 F internally, and for medium, remove at 140 F. 7. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes. Then, slice against the grain into thin pieces and enjoy!
PSALM 100 : 5 NIV
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Call Now To Speak to An Attorney 304-594-1800 211 Everhart Drive Morgantown, WV 26508
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Role of Counseling in Healthy Aging
1
2
Redesigning Rooms After Kids Live Well on One Income Without Losing Your Sanity
3
The War Over a Wooden Bucket Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
4
The French City That Has It All (and Then Some)
MOVE OVER, PARIS Bordeaux Is France’s Best-Kept Secret
When you hear about people taking trips to France, your mind likely conjures images of the Eiffel Tower, delicious high-end French cuisine, and a view of the “Mona Lisa” at the Louvre Museum. However, there’s much more to France than the scenic beauty and decadent flavors found along the streets of Paris. If you want to experience the best of France, you must spend time in Bordeaux. While we often refer to Napa Valley and Sonoma County in California as wine country, Bordeaux is the original wine region. Its history with wine dates back over 2,000 years, and you can still experience the area’s love of wine today. Le Bar à Vin and Le Bistro du Fromager are beautifully decorated wine bars that will leave you stunned, unlike anything you can experience stateside. And if you want to take it up a notch, you can visit La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s interactive wine museum,
and enjoy a glass under a chandelier made from a thousand bottles.
Even if you’re not a wine drinker, there’s plenty to enjoy in Bordeaux. Those interested in fashion or shopping will love walking down Rue Sainte Catherine, Europe’s longest pedestrianized shopping street. If that’s too crowded for your liking, you can enjoy shopping in the historic Chartrons district. As you walk through the city, you’ll surely see towers that look straight out of a fairytale or Disney movie. If you’re visiting during the first Sunday of any month, you’ll get to hear the Grosse Cloche belfry ring its 250-year-old bell! For adventurers, just 37 miles southwest of Bordeaux is Dune du Pilat, Europe’s tallest sand dune, also famous for paragliding. Now, it wouldn’t be a visit to France without taking in some art, and Bordeaux won’t leave you disappointed. The Musée
des Beaux-Arts and the contemporary arty museum CAPC are both worth a visit, and your trip won’t be complete until you stop by the awe-inspiring Monument aux Girondins, a free-flowing fountain over a beautiful bronze sculpture. If a European vacation is on your bucket list, consider visiting Bordeaux when you go. It might just be the highlight of your entire trip!
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