How to Connect and Consider Special Circumstances Over the Holidays

Traditions are the handing down of beliefs or cultures through the generations. Sometimes we strictly adhere to traditions, while other times our traditions may evolve throughout time. Perhaps your family has a tradition of making pie or some other secret recipe for a holiday gathering. If it is a recipe your whole family loves, you may choose to leave it the exact same year after year. However, maybe in trying to be a little healthier one year your mother changed the recipe to stop using lard and instead substitute unsalted butter. The pie crust still tasted wonderful, and the tradition held but with a slightly tweaked recipe.

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Social Engagement Can Link to Better Brain Health

How social are you? Do you live with or regularly see other people? Do you socialize with friends or loved ones outside of your work environment? Do you regularly talk to people on the telephone or via videoconference? Do you enjoy meeting new people or learning new things about others? Does how social a person chooses to be really matter?

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With Gratitude

Gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia, meaning grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. In English, gratitude means the quality of being thankful or showing appreciation for what one has. Having gratitude generally recognizes that goodness lies at least in part outside of oneself, so thankfulness can help connect people to someone or something outside of themselves.

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National Family Caregivers Month

November is National Caregivers Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and honor family caregivers. Caregivers are everyday heroes who live amongst us. They serve selflessly and often make sacrifices. Family caregivers devote countless hours to care for loved ones, and they humbly help keep families and communities strong.

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Do you remember?

Memories matter. They help us remember and keep alive those who may no longer be active parts of our lives. They may allow us to honor the memory of loved ones who have passed away. They help us share our own legacy, so that others will remember us and our spirit. They help pass down our culture and traditions. They more deeply connect us with other people. They are part of us and can show how we think and what we value. Memories are worth remembering.

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All Things in Moderation

It’s likely that at some point we have all been warned to be mindful of too much of a good thing. A piece of pie tastes delicious, while eating half a pie in one sitting is bad for the waistline and could likely bring a stomachache. Exercise is good, but overdoing it could cause pain or even things like muscle strain or injury. Time with a loved one can be precious, although sometimes too much time with just one person starts too feel like just that—too much.

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Who is Your Family?

When you think about your family, who do you think of? Take just a moment to clear your mind and think about your own family. Do you think about your extended family or only your more immediate family? Perhaps you are married and have children that first come to your mind. Maybe you are in the empty-next stage and you now think about grandchildren or even great-grandchildren. Do you think back to your immediate family growing up, possibly including parents and siblings? Do you recall grandparents, aunts, and uncles? What about cousins, nieces, and nephews? Does your family include any half-siblings or adoptive family members? Do you have stepparents, stepchildren, or in-laws that are family? Do you limit family to those you are related to biologically, or do you also include friends and chosen family members? Do you include pets when you talk about your family?

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LifeBio Granted Certification

We are pleased to announce that National Women’s Enterprise Business Certification has been granted to LifeBio. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the United States. WBENC is also a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs. They believe diversity promotes innovation, opens doors, and creates partnerships that fuel the economy. WBENC provides certification standards for women-owned businesses and the tools to help them succeed. Congratulations to Beth Sanders, LifeBio Founder and CEO!

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Current Events

“Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream!” sings the well-known children’s song. It makes life sound so cheerful and easy. In real life though, do you ever feel like you are rowing up stream? Does your boat ride ever seem a little choppier, so also a little less gleeful?

Perhaps this year has felt that way for you. There have been so many things happening in 2020 that can make it seem like the current is flowing against us. The COVID-19 pandemic, a struggling economy, and racial tensions would be enough of a deluge on their own. Then things like wildfires, killer hornets, delaying of events like the Olympics, U.S. presidential campaigning, and hurricanes have also rained down. Now for large sections of the population, heading back to school looks different this year—whether that means meeting online, a hybrid of online and in person, or in person but having to wear a mask and socially distance. In 2020, the water seems to be raging, and many people are wondering when is the tide going to change?

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Happy National Dog Day!

Since its inception in 2004, National Dog Day has been celebrated annually on August 26th. It was founded by Colleen Paige, an animal welfare advocate and a dog trainer. The intent of such a day was to bring more awareness to the number of dogs that need rescued from public shelters, pure breed rescues, and other pet rescues each year. Now, thanks to social media posts and being adopted into New York legislation in 2013, National Dog Day has grown in recognition and popularity. It is a day to celebrate all kinds of dogs—whether family pets, working dogs, foster dogs, purebred, mixed breads, or mutts. Many people use the day to recognize the dogs that put their lives on the line each day to do things like protect their homes and families, serve with law enforcement, and work as guide and companion dogs helping people living with disabilities.

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