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Agents For Life
DECLUTTERING FOR GOOD How We Found Freedom in Minimalism
We raised our children in a sprawling ranch-style house on 2 acres of land, and our small town in Southern California gave us ample room to spread out and accumulate possessions. A family of seven uses a lot; there was always something new to buy and fewer things to throw away.
two suitcases worth of clothing — she owned over 60 pairs of shoes! When Dave showed Irma her new closet after arriving, she cried. It took Irma some time to adjust to her new surroundings; she likened the small apartment to living on a boat. But she soon began to embrace the challenges of a simpler lifestyle. She even developed a sense of humor about it. Her home office was in our bedroom, and Irma could slide directly from the bed into her desk chair. Talk about a great commute! Not only did she not have to drive, but she also didn’t even have to walk! By necessity, our lives began to change. Cleaning out the old house and donating or selling years of accumulated possessions was a wake-up call and helped us realize we had more than we needed. Plus, we didn’t have room in the new apartment for new things. Every purchase forced us to ask whether something was essential or merely nice to have.
David Bennett (808) 392-7515 david@seniorhealth.pro
So, moving to Waikiki in 2012 was a huge transition. Dave moved first and rented a standard-sized apartment for the area — about 600 square feet. That was one-quarter of the size of our 2,400-square-foot home. Irma thought Dave was joking when he told her she could only bring
Irma Bennett (808) 799-0399 irma@seniorhealth.pro
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November/December 2023
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much less substantially. We found a simpler life suits us. As we acquired fewer things, we had more savings, and with fewer things to clean and maintain, we had more time. With additional money and time, we had less stress. Our journey toward fewer possessions helped us find perspective and clarity. We’re still imperfect, but now we understand almost everything is replaceable. Our possessions are just things — they don’t make us who we are. Everything now has its place, and if we had to pick up and move tomorrow, Irma wouldn’t shed tears like before. It feels good to breathe and live, unfettered by the weight of objects we’ve accumulated over the years. –David and Irma Bennett
We didn’t change overnight, but we gradually decluttered our lives. Once we eliminated one thing, we’d adjust to not having it, then discover something else we didn’t need. We also learned that salt air corrodes a lot of things, so there was no point hanging onto them. Plus, you need far fewer clothes when the weather is gorgeous year-round. The “two nos and it goes” mantra is now gospel in our house. We ask if we use something and if the answer is no, we ask if we’ll use it in the next 12 months. If the answer to that question is “no,” we don’t need it. It’s only contributing background noise to our lives.
Our home now is significantly larger than the Waikiki apartment, but the amount of things we own has grown
Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow
Words left unsaid are often the most common regrets people experience at the end of their lives, and many grieving people wish they’d expressed their feelings to a lost loved one. We have every reason to avoid these pitfalls while we still can. Tell people how much you love them today to live a life with fewer regrets. There are many reasons we keep our feelings to ourselves. We might worry about being awkward or overly sentimental. In some cases, we’re afraid of rejection. And everyday life can trick us into taking people for granted. While we’re concerned about what others might think or stuck on autopilot, years can pass without us realizing it. In truth, there are extremely few good excuses not to tell people you care about them. Even in the case of rejection, it’s best not to wonder “what if.” But most people you love will accept your sentiments warmly. Few of us don’t enjoy hearing those we love care for us. Has anyone ever spoken kind words to you on a terrible day? It probably lifted your spirits considerably. You never know what other people are going through, and your affirming statements could come at the exact right
moment. Meanwhile, if your loved one is having a great day, your heartfelt feelings will only brighten it further.
It’s science! Oxytocin, the love hormone, reduces stress and helps build bonds. Positive words and touch
increase the chemical and make us feel good. Love also releases dopamine, which provides a euphoric feeling. Further, a study found that talking with a loved one is a slightly more effective energy boost than coffee. Saying “I love you” isn’t the only way to express yourself. Try being more specific. Tell someone why you’re so happy to have them in your life or what qualities you appreciate about them. These conversations are often more meaningful than those three magical words alone. The Lahaina fire was a tragic and traumatic reminder that we never know what the future will bring. Life is short; we may be here one day and gone tomorrow. And through everything, all we have is each other. What would you want your loved ones to know if this was your last day? Pick up the phone now and tell them.
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Suction or Stick-on Grips These tiny knobs (like the ones you can put on your phone) make holding your device with one hand a lot easier. They attach to the back of the device using suction, a light adhesive, or even magnetism. You can slip the knob between your fingers, so you don’t need to worry about losing your grip! An E-Reader Stand This accessory will keep your e-reader upright, so you can look straight ahead and read hands-free without craning your neck downward. To learn more about these accessories, search online using your e-reader’s name and the accessory type you’re looking for!
Believe it or not, Americans still love to read. But how we read is changing, with 52% of people reporting they enjoy their literature on an e-reader. Unlike traditional paper books, digital readers offer users a variety of accessories to enhance their reading experience, which makes them more appealing than paper. So, we wanted to share a few accessories for your device that take your reading to the next level! Anti-Dust Plugs These are little rubber stoppers you can pop into the micro- USB or USB-C port to prevent dust or debris from entering and damaging your device. Some even have charms on the end so they look cute while protecting your reader!
STUFFED PEPPER SOUP
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difficult to believe they’re not onto something. High-quality research on acupuncture’s effectiveness is lacking, and experts are unclear on how exactly the pain-relieving mechanism works. However, several studies have shown benefits for patients, and many people report experiencing positive results for as many as 100 conditions. Whether you have fibromyalgia, neck pain, back pain, or migraines, it’s worth discovering whether acupuncture works for you. Seek out a licensed acupuncture practitioner and give it a try!
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 2 lbs ground beef • 6 cups water
1. In a Dutch oven over medium
• 1 28-oz can tomato sauce • 1 28-oz can diced tomatoes, undrained • 2 cups chopped green peppers • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar • 2 tsp salt • 2 tsp beef bouillon granules • 1 tsp black pepper • 2 cups cooked long-grain rice • Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
heat, cook beef until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add beef back
to the pot and stir in all ingredients except the cooked rice. Bring to a boil. 2. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. 3. Add cooked rice and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
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(808) 392-7515
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1326-C Alewa Dr. Honolulu, HI 96817 (808) 392-7515 hawaii.seniorhealth.pro
Inside This Issue 1 The Waikiki Wake-Up Call That Inspired Minimalist Living 2 Why Today Is the Right Day to Say ‘I Love You’ 3 Maximize Your E-Reading Pleasure 3 Stuffed Pepper Soup 4 Soothe Aches and Pains With These Natural Solutions
Spice Up Your Life With Natural Pain Remedies
Almost everyone develops more aches and pains with age, making it challenging to be active and enjoy life. But the medications we usually turn to for chronic pain can have unpleasant side effects and long-term health impacts. Fortunately, there are more options than pharmaceutical pain relief or sedentary living. Many people have effectively reduced their reliance on pain medications with these solutions. Fiber There are many good reasons to have sufficient fiber in your diet, but few people know pain relief is among them. Many experts believe fiber has anti-inflammatory properties. Since inflammation worsens chronic pain,
several studies show that a high- fiber diet reduces pain associated with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Nutritionists recommend adults consume 20–35 grams of fiber daily; if you’re not meeting that goal, more fiber is probably beneficial. However, anyone with low fiber intake should slowly alter their diet; ramping up fiber consumption too quickly can result in an upset stomach.
turmeric only contains 3% curcumin, most people who want to use it for its medicinal properties take a supplement. A 2014 study found that curcumin was as effective at relieving knee arthritis pain as ibuprofen. A daily dose of 200–1,000 milligrams of curcumin is safe for most people, but check with your doctor before adding any over-the-counter supplements to your routine. Some can negatively interact with prescription medications.
Turmeric This spice, commonly
Acupuncture Ancient Chinese medicine has practiced acupuncture as a natural method of pain relief
found in Indian cuisine, contains an active ingredient called curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Since
for roughly 3,000 years, so it’s
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IMPORTANT MESSAGE Read This — And Tell Your Friends!
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is here! From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 , you can choose which Medicare plan you want for the 2024 calendar year. Don’t Be Misled There will be endless advertising on TV, on the internet, and in direct mail as well as constant calls from telemarketers. All of them want to switch you to another Medicare plan. We Can Help As your Agent for Life, we help you understand your options for the 2024 Medicare plans. Deciding which Medicare plan is best for you can be complicated, but we’ve mastered the details so you don’t have to. Licensed Insurance Brokers We are Licensed Insurance Brokers representing multiple insurance companies and plans. Our allegiance is always to you, our client.
There is never any pressure, just trusted advice. We want what is best for you. Happy With Your Current Plan? If you like your current Medicare plan, you don’t need to do anything for 2024. You will automatically be reenrolled in the same plan for next year. Want to Compare Plans? If you want to compare 2024 Medicare plans, let’s talk. The “best” Medicare plan for you depends on many factors, not just the eye-catching benefits promoted by advertisers and telemarketers. Your Situation Is Unique With 50-plus Medicare plans available, we need to narrow down the choices to those that best fit your needs. That’s going to depend on your doctors, prescription drugs, and the extra benefits important to you.
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NEXT STEPS TO COMPARE PLANS To start the process, we need you to … 1. Send us a list of your doctors and prescription drugs. 2. Tell us which extra benefits are important to you, such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness club, etc. We will filter available Medicare plans down to those that best fit your needs and set a time to go over them with you.
Peace of Mind We want you to be confident you’ve chosen the best Medicare plan for you. Our goal is to give you peace of mind so you can ignore the advertising and telemarketers and enjoy your life. Tell a Friend You have a circle of friends who are also on Medicare. Let them know they can have their own personal Agent for Life as well.
Call us with your questions. We are your Agents for Life.
David Bennett (808) 392-7515 david@seniorhealth.pro Irma Bennett (808) 799-0399 irma@seniorhealth.pro
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