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DECEMBER 2023
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THE PRICELESS REWARD OF LOYALTY How Trust Paves the Way to True Dedication
It’s not easy to earn someone’s loyalty, especially the kind that endures through tough times. Have you ever heard the quote, “Real loyalty happens behind your back”? Often, the events you don’t see or hear about tend to prove someone’s genuine loyalty. Lately, I’ve been wondering what a person needs to do to earn loyalty. What exactly is true loyalty? I believe the answer is much simpler than you might think. Loyalty is when you’re there for someone, through the good and the bad, and it’s rarely easy. Challenges arise and doubts occur, but true loyalty is when you stand by someone no matter what. It’s when a person displays their dedication without you ever witnessing it. There’s no need for reward or gratitude, they simply stand by you. Of course, this type of dedication is built over time and does not happen overnight! People are loyal because they know they can count on you. They can trust you will always do the right thing and the only way we can earn someone’s trust is by being honest. Ever notice how politicians don’t say, “Be loyal to us,” but instead, many say, “Trust us”? Trust is the foundation of loyalty, and to have truly genuine loyalty, that foundation needs to be solid as a rock!
My current team is perhaps the best group of employees I’ve had throughout my entire career. I know I’ve had the honor of earning their trust and, in turn, their loyalty. To do so, I’ve had to be a trustworthy leader, not just their boss, but someone they can rely on. Loyalty isn’t something you can demand; you will never earn trust if you order it. For the most part, it’s not words that earn you loyalty, it’s actions and the results you bring. I’ve found it takes time and positive experiences, but having a loyal team will lead to endless advantages for you and your company.
EVER NOTICE HOW POLITICIANS DON’T SAY, ‘BE LOYAL TO US,’ BUT INSTEAD, MANY SAY, ‘TRUST US’? TRUST IS THE FOUNDATION OF LOYALTY, AND TO HAVE TRULY GENUINE LOYALTY, THAT FOUNDATION NEEDS TO BE SOLID AS A ROCK!
I talk a lot about Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, but what can I say? I’m a loyal fan! Over the last two years, our team won only five games combined. This never stopped me from going to games, though. Was it easy? Absolutely not! Watching a beloved team lose repeatedly is like a bullet to the heart. But since Coach Sanders arrived, he’s earned the trust of many in the state and well beyond. It’s not just the incredible results he’s brought but the goodwill and honor he’s displayed. I’ll defend him no matter what!
Earning loyalty is never easy, but once you have it, it’s priceless.
As the holidays near, I feel gratitude for those closest to me and the loyalty they show me. Whether it’s family, friends, partners, or coworkers, loyalty should always be celebrated. I hope you take note of those loyal to you this season and spend the holidays with those who love you most. I know I will! –Ann Vanderslice
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THE JAW-DROPPING JOURNEY OF BUDDHA’S TOOTH
Many parents keep their children’s baby teeth as keepsakes, but ancient Buddhist followers went several steps further. When Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, died more than 2,000 years ago, his followers divided his ashes. A left canine tooth was among Gautama Buddha’s remains and preserved as a holy object by believers. Local legend says the tooth was eventually gifted to the Sri Lankan monarchy, which was tasked with protecting it.
its fourth home after the first three temples were destroyed. The Temple of Sacred Tooth in Sri Lanka was built in the 1700s and remains a popular tourist attraction and place of worship. The intricate, historical architecture attempts to do justice to the holiness of the artifact inside. Believe it or not, the tooth in Sri Lanka is not the only tooth Buddhists worship. Singapore houses another tooth in the Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple. The apparent molar was rediscovered in 1980 after being hidden in solid gold for
For centuries, various rulers passed the tooth among themselves and trusted subjects for safekeeping. Some believed the power of the tooth was so strong that whoever held it was the true king. When one rival attempted to steal the artifact, believers credited his failure to Buddha’s will. However, it does not appear that possession of the tooth was ever a genuine method of determining succession in the Sri Lankan monarchy.
safekeeping. Legend says many people have attempted to destroy the tooth over the years, but every attempt shattered the tools instead of Buddha’s remains. While the stories and temples are elaborate, the provenance of Buddha’s teeth is in question. Experts argue that they are too large to be human. However, devotees believe the teeth kept growing over the
years due to Buddha’s immense power. If you are ever in Singapore or Sri Lanka, it’s worth visiting one of the elaborate temples to decide for yourself.
The first Sri Lankan king constructed a temple to house the tooth in the 1500s. Hundreds of years later, the tooth sits in
Reference: https://www.originalbuddhas.com/blog/temple-of-sacred-tooth
SIMPLIFY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON
How to Keep Your Cool During the Festive Frenzy
arise during holiday gatherings. Whether it’s complex relationships or nonstop heated debates, holiday get-togethers can quickly become emotionally straining. While some stressors are unavoidable, there are some measures you can take to reduce your stress. It’s Okay to Say ‘No’ If saying no to a holiday party invitation during a jam-packed week or buying store- bought cookies instead of baking your own can bring you relief, then go ahead with that as a plan. If you try to go to every gathering, cook every dish, and meet up with every friend, you’ll be so burned out that you won’t appreciate all the season has to offer. Do what genuinely brings joy to you, and try leaving behind all the rest. Prepare as Best You Can Even a little advanced planning can bring you more peace of mind during hectic
times! The more prepared you feel, the better you’ll be able to handle all that’s ahead of you. Plan out what events you’ll attend, what groceries you need, and to whom you’ll give gifts. Mapping out your holiday budget can help rid you of overspending guilt. As you plan for the holidays, try to ensure you are making things as smooth as possible for yourself, whether that’s a streamlined visit to the grocery store or buying gifts ahead of time. Remember What Really Matters No holiday celebration is perfect. You can only do so much, so don’t expect to accomplish everything you set out to do. Things will go wrong, and that’s okay. Cherish the season’s true meaning and enjoy the company of those around you. Your health, safety and loved ones are what matter. Don’t let all the little things get in the way of remembering that.
The most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful. For those planning family celebrations, gift shopping, dinner parties, and more, your to-do list can pile up, and suddenly, those Christmas tunes on repeat feel more excruciating than cheerful. Well, you’re not alone! According to a 2022 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, 1 in 3 Americans expected to be more stressed during the holiday season than normal.
Aside from a never-ending list of errands, every family experiences tensions that
Reference: https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/seven-ways-to-cope-with-holiday-stress
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THE GUARD SQUIRREL WHO WENT NUTS ON A BURGLAR
Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel. One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands.
During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have, you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression. After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure. Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through
the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever. Though Joey returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find.
References: https://www.kivitv.com/news/meridian-mans-pet-squirrel-goes-nuts-on-burglar, https://abc11.com/pet-squirrel-goes-nuts-runs-off-burglar- bizarre/1759169, https://www.rd.com/article/pet-squirrel-attacks-robber, https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pet-squirrel-that-foiled-idaho-home- burglary-returns-to-wild
Train Your
Homemade Eggnog
BRAIN!
Inspired by AheadOfThyme.com
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 3 cups whole milk • 1 tbsp vanilla extract • 3 eggs, room temperature • 4 egg yolks, room temperature • 1/3 cup sugar • 1/4 tsp salt • 2 cups heavy cream • 1 1/2 tsp nutmeg For topping
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk and vanilla, swirling occasionally until it starts to steam. 2. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt for approximately 5 minutes until the mixture is thickened. Slowly add milk and whisk to combine. 3. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring for about 6 minutes. 4. In another large mixing bowl, place heavy cream and nutmeg. Strain egg mixture into the cream and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. When chilled, fill a glass with eggnog and top with whipped cream, cinnamon, and extra nutmeg!
• Whipped cream • Ground cinnamon • Extra nutmeg
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INSIDE THIS
How Do You Earn True Loyalty? PAGE 1 Buddha’s Tooth: A Mystical Relic? Proactive Planning for a Stress-Free Holiday PAGE 2 Guard Squirrel on Duty: The Rodent Who Sent a Burglar Running Homemade Eggnog PAGE 3 How Ketchup Transformed From Cure to Condiment PAGE 4
FROM MIRACLE CURE TO TASTY DELIGHT The Unbelievable History of Ketchup
Ketchup, the popular tasty and tangy condiment found on tables and in refrigerators worldwide, has a surprising and somewhat peculiar history. In the 1830s, it was not just a topping for hamburgers and hot dogs; it was actually sold as medicine — yes, medicine! A Unique Origin Ketchup’s roots can be traced back to Asia, where it was called ke- tsiap (Xiamen), a sauce made from fermented fish sauce. It made its way to Europe in the 17th century, but it looked and tasted different from the ketchup we know today, as it included ingredients like mushrooms, walnuts, and oysters — no tomatoes. The Medicinal Claim and Tomato Connection In the 1830s, an Ohio physician named Dr. John Cook Bennett began marketing a tomato-based concoction as a medicinal elixir. Dr. Bennett claimed his tomato extract had incredible healing properties and promoted it as a cure for a wide range of ailments, including diarrhea, indigestion, jaundice, and rheumatism. During this time, tomatoes were still relatively new in American cuisine, and many people were skeptical about their edibility and safety. In
fact, some believed tomatoes were poisonous, but Dr. Bennett aimed to market them as a safe and healthy miracle ingredient. His tomato preparation was a precursor to modern ketchup. The Transition to the Table Over time, the medicinal claims surrounding tomato-based ketchup faded, and people began enjoying its taste. A tomato-
based ketchup started to appear in cookbooks as an ingredient in recipes and was commonly paired with eggs, meat, and fish. By the late 19th century, ketchup had become a staple in American households, and companies like Heinz began mass-producing it. Today, it’s tough to imagine ketchup as anything other than a delicious topping for our favorite foods, and while tomatoes do contain antioxidants and vitamin C, we know ketchup won’t cure a sickness. However, its transformation from fish sauce to tomato medicine to a beloved topping is a remarkable twist in culinary history!
Reference: https://www.history.com/news/ketchup-surprising-ancient-history
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