HEALTH & WELLNESS

NEW YEAR

NEW BEGINNINGS

By Anya Sebastian

It’s that time of year again—out with the old and in with the new— that inspires many people to come up with ambitious New Year’s Resolutions. Some will no doubt follow through and accomplish what they set out to achieve, but most, unfortunately, will not. Rather than focusing on one or two major life transformations, like quitting smoking or losing weight, experts suggest taking small steps towards creating a healthier, happier you.

That means thinking in terms of working from the inside out, investing time, patience and practice in acquiring habits that will bring long-lasting results. Going to the gym every day will not compensate for a bad diet and a body that is not functioning at its best will not be as capable of protecting you from sickness and disease. The following suggestions can easily become part of your daily routine and could really make a difference to the overall quality of your life.

We live in a culture that emphasizes quick fixes and easy solutions, but there is a definite movement away from pharmaceuticals and towards more natural alternatives, like CBD and mushroom extracts. These are able to address, not only the symptoms, but also the underlying cause of an issue, without any side effects. There are many things out there to choose from and the team at Hemp Apotheke will be glad to assist you in choosing the ones most suitable for your needs. Spending hours in front of screens—cell phones, tablets, computers, televisions—is now a part of everyday life, but turning off all such devices at least one hour before going to bed will help to calm your mind and make it easier to fall asleep.

It is a well-known fact that a good night’s sleep is essential for optimum health, since it promotes healing and helps to boost the immune system. The right mattress and pillows can make a big difference and Sleep and Dream luxury bed store has a variety of accessories to improve the quality of your sleep.

There are, of course, many other things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, such as a balanced diet, exercise and taking time to relax and relieve stress. Something else, that is frequently overlooked, is taking care of finances and having an experienced financial consultant to call on for help and advice can be very beneficial to one’s peace of mind. For more on this topic, check out the Expert Advice column by Dotti Graviet on page 30.

So you may want to abandon those New Year’s Resolutions and focus on making one or two of these behavioral changes a part of your life instead. Just one day at a time, they will bring about positive improvements in your life and in your health throughout the coming year.

WHERE WELLNESS IS A TOP PRIORITY

By Anya Sebastian

THE ARRIVAL OF A NEW YEAR IS TRADITIONALLY A TIME FOR REFLECTION, new resolutions, and a time to embrace new ways of doing things. This year, in particular, the issue uppermost in most people's minds is health, with much more attention being paid to investigating alternative sources of healthcare.

"Taking a break from our usual fast-paced lifestyle during the past many months has given people a chance to pause and reconsider things they had previously taken for granted," notes Gyana Basse, the owner of Hemp Apotheke. "I am seeing more and more people wanting to change patterns of behavior that they now realize are not working for them, and searching instead for what it is they really need to be doing for themselves."

That shift has resulted in a different mindset and a move away from seeking a quick fix, a silver bullet, that simply enables people to continue with the behaviors that undermined their health in the first place. "People are realizing and accepting that change takes time," says Gyana, "and are now willing to invest the time and energy necessary to achieve real, permanent results."

Difficulty sleeping, stress, pain, depression and digestive issues are among the most common reasons why people seek help - problems that have typically led to becoming addicted to some kind of pharmaceutical aid. Help is available in the form of natural, non-addictive alternatives and the knowledgeable team at Hemp Apotheke is ready, willing and able to assist customers in making the right choices for their needs.

There are several options to choose from: CBD tinctures, powders, capsules and gummies; medicinal mushroom products; lotions, potions and salves, as

Gyana Basse, owner

well as essential oils. Finding the correct dose of the most effective products may require a little experimentation, but the improvement in the quality of life is well worth the time and effort involved.

Often overlooked is the fact that our health, and our state of mind, can also impact our physical appearance, resulting in frowns, facial lines and premature signs of aging. Incorporating CBD into skincare is a relatively recent development, but one which is already generating very positive and exciting results.

One of the first organic CBD skincare lines was launched in 2016 by CBDevotion, whose products are also on sale in the store. Like Hemp Apotheke, the company is woman-owned and operated and everything is locally made with the purest ingredients. It turns out that the CBD molecule is both antioxidant and antimicrobial, which helps to prevent the free radical damage that leads to a breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers. It also helps to defend against inflammation and to balance and regulate the level of moisture in the skin.

A new line of CBD facial and body care products, created by Gyana and hand crafted in small batches by Aromaland, will also soon be available in the store. Consisting of a facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer, anti-aging serum and body oil, each product is formulated from natural, innovative ingredients that include Hemp Apotheke's broad-spectrum hemp, pure essential oils and plant-derived stem cells. Check the website for up-to-date information about the launch.

So if you are looking for new ways to not only take care of your body, mind and spirit, but also your skin, head over to Hemp Apotheke. There you will find support, advice, guidance and healing to help you on your way to a whole new level of wellbeing. Everyone at Hemp Apotheke is paid a living wage. We encourage everyone to support those businesses that help New Mexico families prosper.

Hemp Apotheke 1330 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe 505.985.5704 hempapotheke.com

WOMEN & MONEY

WHY ARE SO MANY WOMEN INTIMIDATED BY INVESTING? Could it be that no one has taken the time to answer their questions? Surprisingly, only 20% of financial advisors are women.1 As one of them, I’ve chosen to focus on just that…the education of women, especially those in life transitions.

Just over 10 years ago I was introduced to an amazing woman whose husband had died suddenly. Devastated emotionally, she was paralyzed with fear regarding her financial situation; he managed everything. She had no idea what bills they owed or even banks they used. She didn’t know if there was enough money to sustain her. A year later she was strong, confident and well informed. This experience convinced me that I wanted to focus my practice in the direction of empowering women with their finances.

People are the favorite part of my job. The relationships built over time are rich with heart and sincerity. This comes from honest conversations about the people we love, the issues that make us feel vulnerable and the goals and aspirations we have. It’s always personal and this builds trust.

“What matters most to you?” is a tough question, but this is where the learning process begins. Clients often have goals for their retirement, their families and philanthropy. But, the most frequent question is, “Will I outlive my money?” The only way to provide answers, is to engage in the financial planning process. That often sounds intimidating…and the idea of budgets and investing sounds awful to most, but surprisingly it can be fun. The planning process provides answers for virtually all those questions and helps determine the proper investment strategy so they can reach their goals. With facts and knowledge the future begins to have clarity, providing confidence surrounding money. Better to know than to wonder.

Did I mention that I am a partner with an amazing team of professionals: Forte/Graviet Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley? As a team, we have been together for many years, with a single focus; our clients’ best interests. Sounds like a cliché, but oh so true! We are all focused, experienced and thoughtful of each other and our clients. I am very proud of the work we do and the friendships we develop with our clients.

Having experienced many losses and difficult times in my life, I’ve tried to use the positive aspects of those experiences to help others better understand how devastating events in our lives shape us and help make us better people. I hope it helps me be a better financial advisor.

Dotti Graviet is a Financial Advisor with the Global Wealth Management Division of Morgan Stanley in Santa Fe, NM. The information contained in this article is not a solicitation to purchase or sell investments. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be appropriate for all investors as the appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee their accuracy or completeness. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC, or its affiliates. CRC 3894885 11/2021 1—Barron’s estimate sited in 4/21/21 article from Investment News.

DOTTI GRAVIET, CRPC

Financial Planning Specialist Senior Portfolio Manager Financial Advisor

MORGAN STANLEY Suite 301–150 Washington Ave Santa Fe, NM 87501 505.988.7709