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www.CapRe sGrp. com Phone : 479-595-0305 DECEMBER 2017
THE DASH
FROM THE DESK OF Houston
Why “The Dash?”
We call our client engagement process the “Dash,” so we thought it made an appropriate name for our newsletter. Some of you have heard this described in one of our public events or workshops, and some of you may have heard of the concept elsewhere, but regardless of where (or if) you first encountered this idea, the Dash is that line between the two dates on your tombstone. This may seem morbid at first, but once it’s understood that this little line represents all the special moments experienced, relationships nurtured, places visited, values expressed, and faith lived out during all those years between the two dates, it becomes something to really reflect upon — and to plan around. As financial professionals, we view our role as taking financial uncertainty and stress off the table so that each client can fill the time represented by their dash with those things that are most important to them. We hope you enjoy this issue of The Dash and wish you many blessings during this holiday season.
The holidays are full of traditions, and many of these traditions involve making conversation. Depending on who you’re with, conversations can flow like water, or they slosh along like drying cement. If you need a conversation starter for the next office Christmas party, why not consider one of these fun facts? SCARY STORIES USED TO BE A HOLIDAY TRADITION Andy Williams’ popular Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” lists a number of common holiday activities, like sledding, hosting parties, and spending time with loved ones. It also includes one activity that seems like it belongs in October, not December: scary ghost stories. If you’ve been confused by this lyric in the past, don’t worry; you didn’t mishear the song. While telling ghost stories might not be the exact holiday spirit you’re going for, in Victorian England, gathering the family together for a spooky ghost story was a Christmas tradition. Today, the practice has all but died out, unless you include Charles Dickens’“A Christmas Carol” or Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” COCA-COLA DIDN’T INVENT SANTA, BUT THEY DID POPULARIZE THE IMAGE Every year, this idea circulates as “evidence” of how commercialized the holidays have become. As story goes, Coca-Cola “invented” the image of the round Saint Nick and his red and white suit just to sell more soda in the 1930s. Before this, Santa Claus had no “standard” uniform and often wore suits of blue, white, or green. But after Coke got their hands on him, the suit was red from then on. W ho I nvented S anta C laus ? Surprising Facts About Your Favorite Holiday Traditions
In reality, the image of the jolly toymaker with a stomach like a “bowl full of jelly” dates back to the popular poem, “The Night Before Christmas”written in 1822.
–Houston
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As for the suit, illustrations of Santa Claus in a red suit with white fur appeared in advertisements dating back to 1906. This image was already common when Coca-Cola adopted it for their advertising. However, in a time before color TV, Coca-Cola’s full-color advertisement in magazines and billboards may have helped cement this version of Santa for generations to come. SNOWMEN WERE ONCE CONSIDERED A HIGH ART FORM Today, we can take artistic expression for granted. It’s easy to get creative when you can take a class on pottery at the rec center or stop by the hobby store to grab some paints after work. However, back in the Dark Ages of Europe, art was reserved for the elite. According to “The History of the Snowman” author Bob Eckstein, “At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky.”
After a snowfall, talented artisans and regular farmers alike eagerly headed outside to create their own works of art. Couples would often stroll through the village and check out their neighbors’ creations. Snow sculptures were so popular that, in 1494, the ruler of Florence, Italy, commissioned 19-year-old Michelangelo to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. Little is known about this lost masterpiece, but historian Giorgio Vasari confirmed it was “very beautiful.” ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’WASN’T AN INSTANT CLASSIC As far as holiday movies go, nothing captures the sincere hope and joy of the season like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Every year, this classic is adored by families everywhere, but the movie didn’t open to such praise. In fact, “It’s a Wonderful Life” bombed at the box office and left director and producer Frank Capra $525,000 in debt. The only people who took any interest in the movie when it first premiered were FBI agents. They felt the film’s portrayal of
bankers as evil was un-American and called it “communist infiltration of the motion picture industry.” The FBI exonerated “It’s a Wonderful Life” in 1956, but the movie would become all but forgotten until 1974, when the copyright expired. Networks could air “It’s a Wonderful Life” on TV without paying any royalties, and boy did they. All through the 1980s, local television stations across America showed the movie constantly, introducing a whole new generation to this magical tale. Paramount reclaimed the distribution rights in 1995, and by then, “It’s a Wonderful Life”was a holiday favorite. There are plenty of stories surrounding beloved traditions, but what’s more important are the stories you make with your loved ones. Whatever holidays or traditions you take part in, may they bring you plenty of wonderful stories for the future.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
THE BENEFITS OF RIDE-SHARING
for Older Adults
According to the Community Transportation Association, 26 million older adults rely on others for transportation. Between the lack of autonomy and the fear of being a burden, this dependency often leads to a decreased quality of life. Most seniors don’t want to call a loved one every time they need a ride, and public transportation is often a hassle at best. Recently, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft have offered older adults an alternative way to get where they want to go. If you’ve never tried ride-sharing before, here’s how it works. Using an app on your phone, you set a pick-up and drop-off location. In just a matter of minutes, a driver is at your door, ready to travel to your destination. Payment is automatically linked to your phone, so you don’t need to worry about having cash on hand. If you need help setting up the app, reach out to a tech-savvy friend or family member. Odds are they’ve used these services themselves. If you need help getting in and out of the vehicle, Uber even offers a special service called uberASSIST. Drivers in this program have special
training and offer door-to-door assistance. Newer companies designed specifically for seniors, like SilverRide and Lift Hero, are expanding into new regions all the time. Ride-sharing offers a number of benefits to older adults who don’t want to rely on a friend or loved one for transportation. Have a medical appointment? Getting there has never been easier. Looking to take a walk somewhere that requires a short drive? You can ride-share there and back. Going out for a bite to eat? With the touch of a button, you’ll soon be on your way. Ride-sharing offers increased independence, security, and efficiency, which far outweighs most other transportation alternatives. You might think of mobile technology as an industry aimed largely at younger generations who live their lives on their phones. Ride-sharing services, however, can offer just as much benefit to you as to those rowdy 20-somethings. If you need a quick, affordable ride, give these apps a shot.
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Give Up the Search for Happiness
How many books have you seen with the word “happiness” in the title? A lot, right? It’s such a popular topic because the pursuit, journey, and, ultimately, achievement of happiness is supposed to be the key to a fulfilling life. Happiness is the ultimate human condition; reaching it is our purpose and will bring us contentment. But before you pick up that guide to happiness, there’s some new data you need to pay attention to. Turns out, we’ve been focusing on the wrong goal. More and more research is supporting the benefit of pursuing a meaningful life over a happy one. Viktor Frankl could be called a leading expert on the topic. Frankl lived through the Holocaust in a concentration camp and saw firsthand how humans deal with unhappy circumstances. As a respected psychiatrist, his observations became the basis for his book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Frankl found that the people who stood the best chance of surviving the horrific experience were those who saw some sort of meaning in their lives, even under the bleakest circumstances. For Frankl, this meant providing therapy to others in the camp. As Frankl puts it, once a person finds meaning, they know the “why” of their existence, and they will be able to bear almost any “how.”
Disease Control found that 4 out of every 10 Americans do not have a satisfying life purpose, and yet, 60 percent of Americans say they are happy. What gives? It comes down to the pursuit of happiness versus pursuing meaning in life. It’s the difference between “I’m going to buy this dress because it will make me happy” and “I’m going to volunteer at a shelter because it will be meaningful.” Happiness involves satisfying an immediate need, whereas finding meaning focuses on making choices that give us a sense of purpose. Even more telling, the Journal of Positive Psychology found that meaningful acts usually involve giving, but reaching happiness often means taking. Because of this, leading a meaningful life, while often more challenging, is also more satisfying. Is it possible that the pursuit of a meaningful life will lead us to happiness? Absolutely. Just don’t expect it to be an everlasting condition. Think of happiness the way psychologist Frank T. McAndrew does: “Recognizing that happiness exists — and that it’s a delightful visitor that never overstays its welcome —may help us appreciate it more when it arrives.”
In the years since “Man’s Search for Meaning”was written, it seems we’ve forgotten a lot of its advice. The Centers for
Take a Break
THAI SPAGETTI SQUASH Ingredients
With Peanut Sauce
1 medium spaghetti squash Olive oil Salt
1 garlic clove, minced ¼ cup chopped parsley 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts
Peanut Sauce 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk ¾ cup unsweetened peanut butter ¼ cup coconut sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons white vinegar 2 teaspoons sesame oil 2 teaspoons red curry paste
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Halve squash and scoop out seeds. 2. Drizzle inside of squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Place squash on baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes. 3. Let cool. Using a fork, scrape out spaghetti squash strands. 4. Place sauce ingredients in saucepan and bring to boil over medium- high heat. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 5. Heat skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, parsley, and ¼ of the peanut sauce and combine. 6. Add spaghetti squash and crushed peanuts. Stir to combine until heated through, about 2 minutes. Once served, drizzle with more peanut sauce.
Recipe courtesy of PaeloLeap.com.
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Phone: 479-595-0305 Hours: M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 pm www.CapResGrp.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Houston PAGE 1 Do You Tell Ghost Stories for Christmas? PAGE 1 The Benefits of Ride-Sharing for Older Adults PAGE 2 A Fulfilling Life, or a Happy One? PAGE 3 Take a Break! PAGE 3 Thai Spagetti SquashWith Peanut Sauce PAGE 3 A Look at the Keto Craze PAGE 4 It seems like new diet trends start to show up in the news every year, with a horde of diet evangelists following close behind. But almost always, these dieting trends are a flash in the pan, and the masses jump onto the next weight-loss train as soon as it arrives. However, there’s one diet you’ve probably heard of with a little more staying power. It’s called the ketogenic diet, or “keto,” for short, and it may be the answer to many fair-weather dieters’ woes. The keto diet involves eating mostly foods with high fat content, such as red meat, bacon, butter, nuts, and healthy oils, while keeping carbohydrate intake to an absolute minimum. Fruit, root vegetables, wheat, and sugar must be almost entirely eliminated. Normally, the body uses glucose derived from carbohydrates as its primary fuel source. Unused glucose is converted to glycogen and stored in the liver, where
Why the Country’s Gone Crazy for the
KETO DIET However, it’s far from foolproof. As the start of ketosis, you’re essentially starving the body of its previous main fuel source, resulting in sleepiness and weakness until it acclimates to running on ketones. Afterward, proponents say you’ll start to feel satiated and energetic. But, keto can cause problems for high-intensity exercise and strength training, which depend on stored carbs for fuel. Some experts even argue that the diet is dangerous, causing the body to enter “starvation mode.” It can even cause a host of other problems, including making it even harder to lose weight. Whether you’re a proponent or a detractor, it’s clear the keto diet is here to stay, at least for a while. But before embarking on your fat-burning journey, consult with your physician to learn whether ketosis is a safe option for you.
it turns into fatty adipose tissue as the glycogen stores overfill. Basically, the keto diet keeps carbohydrate intake so low that the body is forced to search for another source of energy to keep everything moving. So, the body shifts from metabolizing mostly glucose to metabolizing fats instead. During a process called ketosis, the liver takes fatty acids from the body’s stores and convert them to ketones, which it then “learns” to utilize as its main fuel source. In this way, fat stored in the body is burned away to fuel physical activity. It’s a decidedly extreme diet — to maintain ketosis, strict avoidance of any and all carbs is vital — but there’s plenty of science to back it up. One 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that severely obese participants who kept a strict low-carb diet lost nearly three times as much weight as their low-fat counterparts.
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