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RELIVING OUR ‘OLYMPIC’ PAST GLORY DAYS
Agents For Life
The 2024 Paris Olympics were a big deal in our house. The kids were in awe, watching athletes achieve the impossible. So, we couldn’t resist a little fun. “Did you know your mom and I were Olympians, too?” we casually mentioned. Their jaws dropped. For a few golden minutes, we were legends. Questions poured in faster than an Olympic sprinter. But eventually, we had to confess: “Well, technically, we were in the Junior Olympics … in high school … about 20 years ago.” Cue the eye-rolls. Sure, our “Olympic” claim was a stretch, but the story of how Sierra and I made it to the Junior Olympics is one we treasure. And while it doesn’t include international fame or endorsement deals, it’s packed with memories, life lessons, and a whole lot of chlorine. So, what’s water polo anyway? Imagine this: Take the physicality of rugby, mix in the strategic fast play of basketball, and throw it all into a 10-foot-deep pool. Voila! You’ve got water polo. Two teams of seven compete to score the most goals. Players can only handle the ball with one hand and have 30 seconds to shoot before the other team takes over. That’s the visible game. Beneath the water’s surface (where the refs conveniently
can’t see) is a wrestling match of kicks, punches, grabs, twists, and pulls. It’s intense, exhausting, and usually leaves you with a bruise or two as souvenirs.
Our Journey to the Junior Olympics
In high school, water polo was more than just a sport to us; it was a way of life. Sierra and I were both dedicated players on competitive teams. We poured hours into morning and evening practices, honing skills and bonding with teammates. The Junior Olympics is the pinnacle for young water polo enthusiasts in the U.S. It’s the largest youth water polo tournament, bringing together teams from all corners of the country. The competition is fierce with four days of intense matches. It was a big deal for our teams to qualify — packing up, traveling out of state, and playing against the best teams in the nation. (I’m surprised we didn’t get more press coverage …) The Highs, the Lows, and the Lessons Learned If this were a movie, we’d be the scrappy underdogs who defy the odds to win it all. But reality has a way of being a bit less cinematic. My team quickly learned just how tough the competition was. We ended up dead last in the tournament.
Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
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September/October 2024
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Looking back, those days weren’t just about sports; they were about shaping who we are today. They were about unforgettable memories, friendships forged in the heat (and cold) of competition, and lessons in resilience. Pushing ourselves beyond our limits built character and grit we carry with us to this day. It’s given us an opportunity to share with the kids how we can do hard things, even if it doesn’t work out how we want. We can teach them that success isn’t always about winning; sometimes, it’s about showing up, giving it your all, and growing from defeat. And they have to listen to us. We’re “former Olympians.” –Kevin and Sierra Bennett P.S. If you’re curious about the thrill of water polo, we highly recommend checking out some highlight reels from the recent Olympic matches on YouTube. Maybe you’ll be inspired to jump in the pool yourself!
The experience was humbling. They tend not to write stories about the team that came in 50th place.
Sierra’s team fared a bit better (which she still holds over my head), but they too met their match against the powerhouse teams. But the experience was worth more than any trophy.
FROM PAIN TO PEACE Overcoming Past Feelings
We do not grow as people by ignoring our feelings. We grow by coming to terms with those feelings. While we spend a great deal of effort trying to avoid past pains, we need to understand that they are present with us. To mitigate the hold they have on us, we have to be proactive. Overcoming the pains of our past, whatever they may be, takes time and is seldom easy. But these are some steps we can take as we endeavor to let go and move on from them. Hesitance and Fear If you have been hurt or betrayed, it is natural to never want to feel that way again. You may make an effort not to put yourself in a position where you can be exposed to similar pain again, but that is counterproductive. Coming to terms with what has happened to us, rather than shying away from life, is a better solution. Also, rethinking the
situation and trying to see different perspectives can help to better understand the motives of others involved, and to forgive them for their role in the pain you are feeling. Building Ourselves Up We need to recognize the source of our feelings, whether they recur frequently and what point in our past they come from. Once we have found it, we can more easily heal the pain. Reaching out to trusted friends or professional therapists can help us address the source of our hurt feelings and make tangible efforts in order to counter them. We can build up our mental resilience over time, so long as we are proactive about counteracting our past pains and finding a way to address them effectively. It is a matter of attaining a mental attitude and fortitude that can get us through our lives without dwelling too much on the past; it can prepare us for a brighter and more positive future.
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Vitamins Made Easy
The Essential Trio for Any Lifestyle
It’s daunting to determine which vitamins and supplements to take when every doctor, dietitian, and online health guru has a different list of must-haves — and they’re usually pretty long. Looking for somewhere to get started? Here are three supplements almost everyone can benefit from! A Multivitamin Stress, health changes, and even prescription medications in our everyday lives can sap our energy and deplete crucial vitamins. Generally, the best way to replenish what we’ve lost is through various fruits and vegetables. Still, with busy schedules, diminished appetites, or other obstacles, that’s not always possible. A multivitamin is a great starter supplement, as it can help fill various nutritional gaps. Omega 3 Fatty Acids These specific types of fat are found most abundantly in fish, nuts, seeds, and eggs. They facilitate cellular function and are essential for the heart, brain, and eyes. Unfortunately, our bodies can’t produce enough fatty acids independently, so we must add more through our diets or supplements. Benefits include a lowered risk
of developing heart disease, blood clots, certain types of cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s, age-related macular degeneration, and more. Vitamin D Everyone knows you need calcium for strong and healthy bones — but without vitamin D, you’re missing out on critical benefits. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the body, so many milk brands fortify their products with vitamin D. It’s essential to prevent osteoporosis. Additionally, vitamin D is critical for cell growth and reducing inflammation, and it’s easy to obtain from sunlight. Unfortunately, many people are deficient in this one. Why? Our modern lives keep many of us indoors. If you’re looking to start a vitamin regimen but all the different health advice on the web overwhelms you, take a step back and start simply. Remember, you can always add more later. Keeping it simple initially will increase your likelihood of sticking to your plan! Try starting with these three supplements, see how they make you feel, and then take it from there.
DELICIOUS CHICKPEA CURRY
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the smallest difference in life expectancy between men and women is in Bhutan, at just 0.7 years. Surprisingly, the gap is largest in Syria, at over 11 years; however, this is likely due to the protracted Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011. Women in less economically developed parts of the world have higher chances of dying during childbirth, which accounts for their lower life expectancy. Earlier studies in the United States seemed to contribute some of the discrepancy in average life expectancy to men’s increased propensity to smoke, but that can hardly account for the continuing gap. However, as access to health care improves, that gap inevitably grows larger.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, diced
1. In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil. 2. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 3. Add the curry powder, cumin, and turmeric and stir to combine. 4. Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, and vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. 5. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. 6. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 tbsp curry powder • 1 tsp ground cumin • 1 tsp ground turmeric • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 1 14-oz can diced tomatoes • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth • Salt and pepper, to taste
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Inside This Issue 1 Revisiting Our Junior Olympic Memories 2 Overcoming the Pain of Our Pasts 3 Simplify Your Supplement Routine 3 Delicious Chickpea Curry 4 Why Women Live Longer Than Men
If you have ever been to a nursing home or a large family reunion, there seem to be more elderly women than elderly men. This is not an illusion. According to Harvard Health Publishing, 57% of people aged 65 and older are women, and by the time you reach 85, that number is 67%. This elderly gender gap is a result of a universal factor: Women, on average, live longer than men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), men in the United States have an average life expectancy The Gender Life Expectancy Gap, Explained
of just under 75 years, whereas women’s average life expectancy is just over 80 years. What’s even more startling is that in every nation on Earth, rich and poor, the average life expectancy of women is greater than that of men. Here are some of the contributing factors. Heart Disease The leading cause of death for both men and women is cardiovascular disease. Despite this, according to research published in the Netherlands Heart Journal, cardiovascular disease develops 7–10 years later in women
according to research published in the Journal of Public Health, men are more likely to die of injury and illness than women. This is related to the fact that men are much more likely to work in dangerous professions, such as construction and frontline combat roles, than women. According to Statista, in 2021, over 4,700 men died as a result of occupational injury, compared to 450 women over the same time period. Rich and Poor As mentioned earlier, the discrepancy in average life expectancy between men and women exists in every country on Earth. However, the more prosperous a country becomes, the greater the gap. According to the
than in men. This seems to be a contributing factor to the gap. Occupational Hazards The life expectancy gap may be exacerbated by the fact that,
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