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NO MORE EXCUSES THE WAKE-UP CALL THAT CHANGED OUR FITNESS HABITS FOREVER
After this summer, we returned home from our camping trip to find out our habits had gotten the best of us. While practicing a vegetarian lifestyle, we neglected to supplement our health with exercise. While we had little hints with our tighter clothes, the true reckoning came when Christopher’s Apple watch showed he had a higher resting heart rate. He had gone from the 50s to the 70s. The graphs and historical view on the watch really put things in perspective.
Then came the kids, and anyone with young children can understand there is no time for anything else. But, with Christopher’s increasing heart rate, our tighter-fitting suits, being in our 40s, and really no more excuses, we decided to take action. Several months later, after going about five times per week, we have transformed our cardiovascular health to a different level. Our clothes fit better, we don’t get as winded when exercising, and Christopher’s heart rate is back where it needs to be. Our overall physical health has improved, and almost every other aspect of our lives has seen a positive change. We both have much more energy and focus. Our dietary habits have naturally improved, too. We make better choices when we eat because we don’t want all the hard work at our fitness classes to be for nothing. Our new habits encourage our kids to respect and care for their bodies. As our kids see us modeling good behaviors, it encourages them to exercise. You, too, can transform your fitness. January is Family Fit Lifestyle Month, a time to focus on the importance of fitness for the whole family. You can boost your health with regular exercise in many ways, and we have found the methods that work for us. For us, working out alongside a group of like-minded people with the same goals was an excellent motivator. You can find many group classes in your area — everything from a program like Orange Theory to specific classes like Zumba or cycling. Most gyms offer introductory rates, and you might be able to convince a friend to be your workout buddy. If you can’t afford a gym membership or class, or they just aren’t for you, there are many apps and free programs online that you can do from the comfort of your home. Though we can often convince ourselves we don’t have the time for fitness in our busy lives, we can easily carve out small segments of time in our schedules to do an exercise that feels like fun instead of work. All you need is 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity to stay healthy, and it doesn’t have to all be at once. This coming year, we sincerely hope we continue our fitness routine, and you can continue or start with yours. –Ashley and Christopher Bruce
While this was a small change, it can lead to negative consequences over time. A high resting heart rate can signal increased stress on the body and result in serious health concerns. We decided to take action and have more control over our cardiovascular health. In August, we signed up for Orange Theory Fitness. Ashley wasn’t too sure at first. She had never done a group fitness class and preferred outdoor exercise with the dogs and horses. But Christopher insisted, and we signed up for the “unlimited” program, with Ashley knowing she could reduce it to two times per week if necessary. Orange Theory Fitness builds motivators and encouragement into the program with incentives like splat points, group encouragement, and easy-to-follow HIIT routines. We had not exercised like this since before our wedding — 12-hour work days at Ashley’s previous law firm and Christopher’s incessant courtroom appearances with a two-hour drive each day led to little time for exercise.
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THE GREAT FRENCH MUSTACHE STRIKE OF 1907
REDISCOVER YOUR LIMITS
Workers usually go on strike to improve wages and working conditions. Leave it to the French to mount a historic strike for the right to grow a mustache.
A full mustache was a prestigious mark of men’s social class in Europe in the early 20th century. Policemen were required to grow them to project authority and masculinity. Waiters rebelled when restaurant owners forced servers to shave their faces clean as a sign of their lower-class social status. During the dinner hour on April 17, 1907, an estimated 500 servers stopped dishing food, took off their aprons, and walked out, clustering on the street as diners looked on. The waiters also demanded a share of diners’ tips and the right to take one day off a week. They had support in Parliament, where one socialist deputy proposed a bill to outlaw mustache bans (which also applied to domestic servants and priests). The deputy called the restaurants’ mustache rule “grotesque and humiliating.”
How to Set Boundaries and Stay True to Yourself “I need to spend time with my friends this weekend.” “Please give me some space.” “I will not tolerate name-calling.” Relationship boundaries are different for everyone. They are personal lines we draw to protect our emotional well-being and ensure respect with our partner. Though they can be challenging to express, they are one of the keys to a happy, healthy relationship and may indicate if a person is the right match for you. After a divorce, it may feel like your boundaries didn’t matter, or you may have trouble determining where you will draw the line moving forward. By staying in tune with your emotions, you can rediscover your boundaries and stick to them in your next romance. LISTEN TO YOUR FEELINGS Your emotional reactions to things are a key indicator of your boundaries. Feelings help us understand when people, interactions, or behaviors make us feel safe or uncomfortable. If you are feeling emotional discomfort or pain, it may mean you need to set a boundary. On the flip side, happy emotions are a sign we want more of a behavior or a person. One effective way to get more in touch with your emotions is to pause and check in with yourself during the day. IDENTIFY YOUR VALUES If you are having trouble identifying your boundaries, take some time to reevaluate what matters most to you and your most important values. When you know what you want, you can rearrange things to make it possible. Perhaps spending more time with your family is a goal, so you tell your partner you need to see family members once a month. Knowing your priorities can help you determine the boundaries you must set to achieve them. ASK FOR HELP You can ask for help on your boundaries by talking with a trusted friend or family member about their own. This insight could spark ideas for yourself or give you an outside perspective. A mental health professional like a therapist can work with you to help you discover what your boundaries are and give you deeper insight into what you want in a relationship.
After 16 days, restaurant owners caved to servers’ mustache demands and implemented a fairer pay structure. The waiters, however, lost their bid for one day off each week.
The French have long been famously quick to stage work stoppages. At 112 days on average, the country leads the industrialized West in days lost to strikes each year. The nation’s strike culture is linked to its history of revolt, including the 1789 French Revolution. Withholding one’s labor is a constitutional right in France, whether you are a union member or not. And the mustache had long been a mark of status in Europe. Centuries earlier, Germany only permitted soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle to grow mustaches. In France, the military requirement to wear mustaches became so strict that soldiers who couldn’t grow one had to wear a fake mustache. No wonder the French waiters took their facial hair so seriously. Being required to shave relegated them to the domestic servant class. As one French newspaper of the time declared, the waiters’ victory secured the right “to finally show that they are men, free men … who can wear at their ease this symbol of the all-powerful male, the mustache. Oh! The beautiful independence!”
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By rediscovering your boundaries, you protect your emotional well-being and pave the path for healthier relationships in the future.
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IS YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP HEALTHY OR HARMFUL?
DON’T IGNORE THESE EARLY RED FLAGS
PUSHING BOUNDARIES The “right” person for you will respect and care about your personal boundaries. It can be difficult in the early stages to know a person’s limits on things like physical affection, sex, digital space, and mental boundaries, so it’s important to explore them in a healthy way. If someone
Starting a new relationship can be exciting, but it’s important to be aware of warning signs that could mean stepping into a toxic or manipulative situation. Dating red flags aren’t always obvious in the beginning, especially if your partner is a narcissist or skilled manipulator. Trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right or you
pushes, pressures, or coerces you to change your boundaries for them, it may be an early warning sign. It’s important to have conversations about those boundaries as you get to know each other. But, if someone won’t hear your boundaries or honor them, they don’t respect you. GASLIGHTING If you feel as though your partner is downplaying your experience, making you feel “crazy,” or blaming you, it may be that they are gaslighting you. This is a form of emotional manipulation where one person tries to make another question themselves or feel as though their feelings aren’t valid. It can be lying to you, breaking you down, or trying to keep you away from your loved ones. Communication and respect are the foundations of a healthy relationship. Even though you may be in the honeymoon phase, it’s important to ensure both partners feel heard, valued, and supported.
believe your boundaries aren’t respected. Though there may be charm, compliments, and promises of forever at the start, don’t ignore these early red flags. LOVE BOMBING Love bombing occurs when your new partner lavishes you with attention in an attempt to influence you. They may give you excessive compliments,
frequently give you gifts, mirror your interests, or try to communicate with you many times every day. This can be hard to spot as a warning sign by design. When someone love bombs you, they seek to make you feel loved so you will be more open to their needs and wants. They may also search for details of your life, which they can use later against you.
Have a Laugh!
ONE-POT CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients •
2 1/2 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
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4 celery ribs, chopped
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1 tsp salt
4 medium carrots, chopped
1 tsp pepper 2 tbsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried thyme
1 large onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 10 cups chicken broth
3 cups uncooked egg noodles (about 8 oz)
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice
Directions 1.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. In an 8-quart stockpot over medium-high heat, add oil and chicken and cook until golden brown, 3–4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. 2. Add onion to drippings; cook over medium-high heat for 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pot. Add celery, carrots, bay leaves, and thyme. Reduce heat and cover; simmer until chicken is tender, 25–30 minutes. 3. Turn off heat. Remove chicken to a plate. Add noodles and let stand, covered, until noodles are tender, 20–22 minutes. 4. Shred chicken meat into bite-size pieces, and return to pot. Stir in parsley and lemon juice, and discard bay leaves.
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From Tighter Clothes to Healthier Hearts page 1
Remembering the Great French Mustache Strike
Respect Starts Here page 2
How to Spot a Manipulator Before It’s Too Late
One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup page 3
Big Tax Changes May Be Coming in 2025 page 4
WILL THE TCJA BE EXTENDED? IF NOT, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
While some people have benefited from lower tax payments due to recent legislation, much of that help may start decreasing soon. This upcoming year, many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, which included significant changes to our tax code, are due to expire. However, since the Republican party gained control of the House and Senate in November, it’s likely the Act will be extended. Since we don’t know yet, here is what you need to know about how potential changes may impact your income tax season. DEDUCTIONS If the TCJA expires, it will lead to large differences in deductions for many. Married couples will be particularly impacted. For instance, the standard deduction for a married couple is set to be $16,525 in 2026, but if the TCJA stays in effect, that deduction will be $30,725. However, the personal exemption was eliminated through the TCJA and will be brought back if it expires. That means the personal exemption
will go from $0 in 2025 to $5,275 in 2026. The child tax credit was doubled under the TCJA from $1,000 to $2,000 and would decrease to pre-2017 levels. The TCJA also set a $10,000 cap on the maximum state and local taxes that could be deducted each year. If this expires, it will benefit high-income taxpayers in certain states. MARGINAL TAX BRACKETS For many taxpayers, their marginal tax bracket rate was heavily affected by the TCJA. Before 2017, the marginal tax bracket rates were 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%. These were changed to 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%, respectively, when the TCJA went into effect. If the TCJA expires, depending on your tax bracket, you may be paying anywhere from 3%–6% more every year. It is important to understand the full breadth of changes possibly coming your way and budget accordingly. Depending on what happens, you may end up paying more (or, fingers crossed, less) in taxes.
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