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SEPTEMBER 2022
HEALTHY, WEALTHY,
& Wise
1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225
THREE TIPS FOR AVOIDING ARGUMENTS AND KEEPING YOUR FRIENDS WITH OPPOSING VIEWS
The other day, a friend of mine told me that the older she gets, the less flexible she feels about her views. It’s her way or the highway — whether the topic is tax reform or the best method of loading the dishwasher!
you’re in an argument with your spouse about whether the forks should point up or down in the dishwasher’s utensil section, try these three tips to avoid a fight. 1. Ask questions. Why does your partner feel so strongly about their position? Were they raised to believe this is the right way to load the dishwasher? Can they explain why their strategy is more effective or time-saving than yours? You’ll never know unless you ask in a kind, non-judgmental way. 2. Stay calm. If you feel like you’re about to snap at your spouse, take a deep breath and count to five. Is it really worth yelling at someone you love over dirty dishes, or even politics? Probably not. If you stay calm, you can keep talking. If you blow up, you’ll escalate the discussion into a fight.
“I’m more set in my ways than ever,” she confided. “I think we all get this way as we age.”
I’ve been mulling over her words, and I don’t think I agree. The older I get, the broader my viewpoints have become. When I was young, I looked at the world in black and white, but the more I’ve seen and experienced, the more I’ve come to notice and accept the shades of gray. That goes for the big things as well as the little ones. When my mom comes for dinner and volunteers to make a salad, I don’t tell her how to cut the lettuce. I say, “You’re making the salad — so you choose how to do it!” Similarly, when my friends and I talk politics, the conversation ends in respectful disagreement, not a fight. I think respectful disagreement is a lost art these days. We’re all stuck in bubbles at work and in our personal lives, and we only let in people who think the same way we do. So,
3. Don’t take the other person’s viewpoint personally. Remember: Everyone brings their own experiences,
educational background, and upbringing to the table in every discussion. They don’t believe what they believe in order to hurt you; their beliefs are usually a product of their circumstances. Ultimately, I think to master respectful disagreement, we all have to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable. These conversations are going to be awkward, difficult, and maybe even embarrassing — but they’ll bring us great rewards. We’ll find common ground, compromise, and maybe even work out a better way of doing things. As the management genius Warren Bennis once put it, “Exemplary leaders reward dissent. They encourage it. They understand that, whatever momentary discomfort they experience as a result of being told they might be wrong, it is more than offset by the fact that the information will help them make better decisions.”
when someone shares a new idea or their thoughts about a better way of doing something, we tend to get defensive and end up in an argument. It doesn’t have to be that way! I recently read a book called “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” that claimed Lincoln filled his cabinet with his political adversaries. After winning the presidency, he looked at the people who ran against him
and said, “You are the ones I want, not because you’re ‘Yes’ men who always agree with me, but because you’re the most capable politicians in the country.” Can you imagine something like that happening today? I certainly can’t. However, I think we can all move in that direction by cultivating more respectful disagreement. Next time
I strive to remember that every day.
–Ann Vanderslice
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BILL PARKER HUNTS TREASURE — BOTH FOSSILS AND ANTIQUES! Inside an NPS Worker’s Retirement Plan
“Being a paleontologist in the Petrified Forest is a great job because there are just so many fossils!” Bill says.
Bill considers himself a treasure hunter both at work and after hours. He’s still in the thick of his career with the National Park Service, but he’s already thinking about how he’ll keep
Way back in 2004, Bill Parker and his team of paleontologists at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona discovered something exciting: 14 skeletons of a mysterious animal unearthed in the Painted Desert. At first glance, the creatures appeared to be part dinosaur and part ancient crocodile. They had distinctive leaf-shaped teeth (Google “iguana teeth” to see for yourself) that matched records of early plant-eating dinosaurs. But they also had bony skin plates and crocodile-like ankles. The skeletons dated back to the Triassic Period — 220 million years ago — but the mixed signals were confusing. The team originally assumed they’d found the bones of two different animals jumbled together. “But then, we found a jaw of the crocodile-like animal with the plant- eating dinosaur teeth IN IT! So, we realized that it was all one animal and these things weren’t dinosaurs at all, they were early crocodilians [called Revueltosaurus],” Bill says. This realization might not seem like a big deal to you, but it dropped the jaws of paleontologists around the world! Suddenly, they realized there weren’t plant-eating dinosaurs in North America and Europe 220 million years ago after all — just Revueltosauruses.
busy in retirement. He plans to double down on his hobby of finding hidden gems among the worthless junk at garage sales, estates sales, and storage unit auctions. “I started doing it three or four years ago to make a little bit of extra money,” he explains. “I go around and find things I think are interesting — usually vintage and historic items — then I research them, fix them up, and resell them for a profit. The main draw for me is the treasure hunt of what I can find and learning about the history of the item itself.” Bill has salvaged vintage cameras, autographed photos, and dozens of collectibles. Once, he discovered a beautifully carved and painted wooden bird in a storage shed. “I looked it up, and it’s something called a Takahashi Bird. Further research revealed when a Japanese couple was in an internment camp during World War II, to pass the time and make extra money, the husband would carve these birds out of wood and the wife would paint them,” Bill said. Bill says anyone can learn to spot similar treasures and save them from the landfill. Just shop the resale market and look for interesting, old, and unique items.
This created a mystery: Where are the ancestors of the plant-eating dinosaurs we know and love, like the Triceratops and Stegosaurus? The folks at the Petrified Forest National Park are still trying to find out. Bill, who is now the resource program manager for the park’s Natural Resources and
“You can even use Google Lens if you have the Google App,” he says. “Take a picture of the item and Google will tell you what it is.”
Want to try it yourself? Visit Lens.Google.com, then head to your local thrift store to get started.
Cultural Resources Program, says the park is a hotbed of fascinating fossils.
Here’s to wishing you and Bill a successful treasure hunt.
“We have some of the earliest dinosaurs, which means we have some of the earliest birds, some of the earliest mammals, and some of the earliest reptiles,” Bill explains. “The potential to find species new to science is really high here, and we also get a lot of weird animals that went extinct at various times.” Visitors can check out an exhibit on the Revueltosaurus, watch paleontologists chisel out fossils, and even hike through an entire grove of petrified trees — the largest deposit of petrified wood in the world.
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WANT TO PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS?
Read This Crash Course First
Have you stepped into your kitchen in the last few weeks and thought it could use more color? If so, you’re not alone. Painted kitchen cabinets are a hot trend right now in home decor, so HGTV released a step-by-step guide to the painting process earlier this year.
of manual labor. You can avoid some of this hassle by hiring a professional, but the price of the job will increase.
• Your mistakes might haunt you. Maybe you’ll regret your color choice, maybe your paint job will be uneven, or maybe that primer spill just won’t come out of your grout. These are risks you’ll need to take if you choose to paint.
However, just because you want to paint your kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean you should — at least not before reading the pros and cons and getting painting tips from the professionals. Two Reasons to Paint Your Cabinets — And Two Reasons Not To
Painting Tips and Tricks
1.
Deep-clean before you paint. According to HGTV, it’s NOT a waste of effort to clean your cabinets before you sand them. In fact, it’s a vital step to remove grease that could ruin your paint job.
The Pros:
•
You could increase your home’s value. Painted cabinets are hot, so buyers may be willing to pay a premium for them (unless they hate your color choice). Plus, light-colored cabinets may make your kitchen seem bigger.
2. Label every panel and draw a cabinet map. Trust us — numbering all of your drawers and doors makes reassembly easier. If you don’t do this, you could end up crying on the kitchen floor in the middle of a cabinet puzzle.
•
If you hate your cabinets, you’ll save money. Painting cabinets yourself is time-consuming, but it’s much less expensive than purchasing and installing brand-new wood.
3. Get scientific about your finishes. According to Remodelista, you should “forget matte and eggshell finishes and opt for semi-gloss, gloss, or satin instead — hardy finishes that are easy to clean.”
The Cons:
• It’s a pain. Painting your cabinets yourself means disassembling them, making your kitchen unusable for days, and doing hours
Train Your
BRAIN!
No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup
Inspired by RecipeTinEats.com
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 3 carrots, sliced • 3 celery ribs, sliced • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 cups water • 1 1/4 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs • 1 cup uncooked white rice • Salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, then sauté for 1 more minute. 2. Add the bouillon, parsley, pepper, chicken broth, and water. Stir, then add the chicken thighs. 3. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 30 minutes, then add the rice. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Shred the meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the bones. 5. Stir, salt, and serve!
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issue INSIDE THIS How to Avoid Losing Friends to Different Views PAGE 1 Meet an Arizona Treasure Hunter PAGE 2 The Pros and Cons of Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets No-Fuss Chicken and Rice Soup PAGE 3 Places to Visit in the Northern Rockies PAGE 4 PO Box 260787 Lakewood, CO 80226-0787
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.
The popularity of the Kevin Costner miniseries “Yellowstone,” is bringing the state of Montana an economic boon, both in tourism and real estate, as people flock to explore its natural beauty But with Montana’s increasing popularity, traveling there may not be ideal, especially if you want to avoid crowds. Here are some other destinations that offer similar sights and activities! Stanley, Idaho If the mountains are calling your name, then Stanley, Idaho is the place to go! About three hours northeast of Boise, this gem has three different mountain ranges: the Sawtooth, Lost River, and White Cloud. This trifecta is home to whitewater rafting, hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and exploring. While there’s tons to see and experience during the day, the beauty doesn’t stop at night. As Stanley is situated in the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, you’re able to see so much more in the night sky, such as the Milky Way, meteors, and even planets! Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming In Grand Teton National Park, you’ll find similar landscapes and wildlife as those seen on screen in “Yellowstone.” The towering craggy peaks and luscious landscape do not disappoint, and sometimes there is no sign of human development for miles. It’s a truly remote and beautiful place to visit and explore. GET OUT AND EXPLORE Three Western Vacation Destinations
You are sure to encounter some amazing wildlife while hiking or camping — the park is home to more than 60 species of mammals and 300 species of birds. Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming Specifically known for being remote, the Bighorn National Forest is located in north-central Wyoming and offers over 192,000 acres of open wilderness and 1,200 miles of hiking trails. The forest contains many meadows and grasslands surrounded by large, beautiful mountains and rolling hills. The best part is that there are many different ways to explore the Bighorn National Forest. Fishing, camping, mountain biking, rock climbing, hunting, and horseback riding are just a few of the many ways to experience Wyoming’s beauty. Are you ready to get out and explore these beautiful and less populated areas of our nation?? If so, you can check some of these great destinations off your bucket list!
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Give us a call! 303-922-4304 federalbenefitsmadesimple.com Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M–F
1 Denver Federal Center Building 45, Entrance E-9, Room 1050 Lakewood, CO 80225
Meet Carol Tresco, our part-time class coordinator and federal benefits guru. Carol joined our team in 2014 after retiring as a retirement specialist from the Forest Service. She’d spent her career answering benefits questions for federal employees without ever being able to provide them with advice on how to use those benefits. In our retirement classes, I often mention that many federal employees have a dream of getting a “fun” job in retirement. You know, something that’s part time, meaningful, and not too stressful.
When she joined Federal Benefits Made Simple, she thought it might be “fun” to actually help federal
employees utilize their benefits more efficiently. She told us she thought it would help her ease into retirement, but she’d probably only need a year to do that. Eight years later, Carol has decided it’s time to really retire, and we’re looking for our next Carol. If you are a retired federal employee (HR experience given preference), we’d love to talk with you about joining our team. DUTIES OF THE JOB INCLUDE: • Maintaining adequate inventory of office supplies (ordering as required) • Coordinating federal retirement class scheduling • Preparing necessary class materials/handouts • Invoicing hosting agency • Backup for answering phones • Acting as a resource for detailed benefits questions through knowledge or research
If this sounds interesting and you’d like to learn more, please reach out to Holly Locascio via email at Holly@federalbenefitsmadesimple.com.
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