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CONTENTS
16
June 2021
in every issue 6
YOUR TAKE
7
NOTE FROM THE CEO
9
GROWING BOLDER WITH
10
ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES
How poetry transformed loss to purpose
12
TRANSLATING TECH
Get in the game
feature 24
SHUT UP AND RIDE
Shantell takes home two world record-setting motorcycle rides across the country
florida travel 16
HOMEWARD BOUND
A post-vaccine road trip to reconnect with family, friends and food
18
NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT
Little Havana in Miami, Florida
21
SUMMER TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS
Navigate the new world of travel with these helpful tips
34
HOW TO PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Be fully equipped this hurricane season with our helpful tips and checklist
heal 14
FEED YOUR SOUL
Spice up your summer supper with this recipe
20
MEDITATION FOR SKEPTICS
Man overcomes depression with the help of meditation
40
BOOST YOUR BRAIN POWER
Give your brain a tune up with some easy tips
finance
24
30
CHAMPION JET CAR RACER LIVES BOLDLY BUT
WON’T TAKE RISKS WITH RETIREMENT
Elaine Larsen shares her journey to retirement
39
FOUR PRACTICAL FINANCIAL TIPS FOR
THE ‘SANDWICH GENERATION’
Get on the same page as your family to retire comfortably
connect 16
ESPORTS GAMING COMES OF AGE
The evolution of online gaming has made it easier to connect with others regardless of age
YOURTAKE What's something that you wish you'd learned a bit earlier?
6
At the end of the day, you have to look at yourself in the mirror; you are responsible for your own actions and happiness.
I was always told that other cultures & traveling outside the US was a scary thing. I have met the most wonderful people in the world!
—Kathleen Coombs Laborico
—Cindy L. Helton
Don’t take yourself so seriously and don’t take others the same. Smile, it will always get better.
When people show you who they are, believe them.
—Gerri Dooley Drahnak
—Susanne Robin
To ride a motorcycle. I learned eight years ago with my new husband. I’m 61 now and riding my own bike is phenomenal!
Be yourself, and do not try to impress anyone. Brings way more contentment and happiness
—Pamela Jones Reda
—Nancy Bruey Greenwood
A big yes to adventures instead of house work
That I am worth WAY more than how some people treat me.
—Megan Dreverman
—Cathy McFall
🥴
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😊
NOTE FROM THE CEO
Over the years, those of us who live in Florida have learned that we all take hot water and electricity for granted until hurricane season reminds us to be grateful for a warm shower, air conditioning, refrigerators and bright lights at the flick of switch. The pandemic has reminded that we’ve also taken family visits, dinner at our favorite restaurants and the kindness of those in our community for granted. This issue of Growing Bolder Digital Digest connects all of those dots. Our cover story is on Shantell Williams, who shares how her local community kept her business from folding and her biker community kept her passion for adventure alive. Amy Sweezey, named “Broadcaster of the Year” by the National Weather Association, lays out her “Guide to Hurricanes,” and George Diaz shares the simple yet profound pleasures of reconnecting with family and friends after being apart for more than a year. Now that we’re beginning to travel again, we’re also launching a new feature called Neighborhood Spotlights, in which we celebrate the countless diverse neighborhoods that make Florida unique. Our first stop is an insider’s look at Little Havana, the heart of Miami’s Cuban diaspora. The pandemic put us on our heels. Let’s get back to leaning into life and let’s never forget that finding happiness is a matter of perspective. If we allow it to be, good can be great and a little can be a lot.
Let’s get back to leaning into life and let’s never forget that finding happiness is a matter of perspective.
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You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. -Henry David Thoreau
FOR MORE DAILY MEM E S :
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8
GROWING BOLDER WITH
Kenny Loggins 73 Few artists enjoyed more success in the 1970s and ’80s than Kenny Loggins. From his mega-hits for movies, such as “Caddyshack” and “Top Gun,” to “Celebrate Me Home,” his songs and sound defined a generation. In the process, he picked up an Oscar nomination for his iconic “Footloose,” two Grammy Awards and nine nominations. In the 1990s, while in the middle of raising his children, he found himself tired of the same old, not-so-great kids’ songs. He had an idea to record an album of music that children and their parents could enjoy together, so he turned to an old friend – Winnie the Pooh. “Return to Pooh Corner,” featuring original songs, as well as covers of songs by artists, such as John Lennon and Paul Simon, sold more than 500,000 copies and earned Loggins a Grammy nomination. That success, though, wasn’t enough to guard him against the brutality of his business. “When I was 50, Sony Records, my home since I was 21, dropped me. That was devastating. It was like being fired without knowing why or where I was supposed to go,” he told Growing Bolder. Theo Wargo / Staff via Getty Images
Loggins quickly realized that sailing off into the sunset wasn’t for him. “I realized I am one of those people who must write every day and stay creative, or I’ll be depressed,” he said. “So, I dug into my savings and recorded an album that no one ever heard because I couldn’t afford to market it the way record companies do. It taught me that I need to stay active, and part of that is learning to use new technologies and to adapt.” These days, he’s still recording music, touring (when shows aren’t canceled by the pandemic) and taking his own advice on adapting. In recent years, he released a children’s book titled, “Footloose,” which reimagines his classic song as a wild day at the zoo. “I’m having much more fun now than I did in my 30s or 40s,” he said. “There’s no one way to do this life; but I try to teach my children to believe that if they follow their hearts, they can make a living at it and find happiness. My advice? Follow the fun.”
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Photos: Jacob Langston
10
“I knew it was my time to grow into someone I never expected to become.”
Bill Shafer
Belenda Cypress FINDING THE RIGHT WORDS
Belenda Cypress couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing too fast. She thought of how far she had come—from the little girl picking oranges for money, who moved all over Florida, as the family went where the jobs were. It’s why, just a year after high school graduation, she married Jerry Cypress. Her parents wondered if it would last. After all, the first time they met, he announced, "That's going to be my wife one day." And sure enough, it was a happy union. Belenda and Jerry had three daughters. He started a trucking company, and they built a fine life together. How pleased her parents would be to know that the happy couple were about to celebrate their 45th anniversary. What should have been one of the best days of their lives turned out to be the darkest. On their anniversary, without any warning, the love of her life collapsed from a heart attack and died. She felt half her soul was torn away. “In Jerry, I had everything I ever wanted,” she said. “The pain, the unrelenting sadness was nearly unbearable; but I knew that I had to get up and move on.” Belenda Cypress needed to set an example for her children. She also had to support them, and that meant taking over her husband’s company. “I sure wasn’t ready for it,” she remembers. “But who is? I just knew I had to go on.” Cypress turned to her faith for support, which led her to look deep within herself. “I couldn’t help but cry,” she said. “But they began to change to happy tears, because I knew it was my time to grow into someone I never expected to become.” Cypress discovered comfort in a most surprising way, by expressing herself through writing poetry.
"I was too shy to articulate my feelings verbally,” she said. “But through poetry, I was able to explore all kinds of emotions. The surprise for me was from how deeply they (the poems) touched others.” Cypress wrote enough poems to fill two books. The more she shared them, the more positive feedback she received. She read to her family, to church groups; she even read in prisons where the reactions of the inmates touched her heart. “They all started clapping on my very first visit. Do you know how that made me feel?” she said. “That confirmed to me that people out there are hurting, and they need to know that someone cares about them.” Cypress had discovered a new calling. “My purpose in life is to be a blessing to somebody, it’s that simple,” she said. Cypress realized that everyone suffers from grief at some point and that life seldom goes the way we expect. “Don’t give up,” she said. “When you tumble into those valleys of darkness, look up and find the light. Go ahead and cry, if you have to; but always put someone else ahead of yourself, because that is the secret. Nothing in life is perfect; but by loving one another and reaching to help someone else up, that is about as close as any of us are ever going to get."
I N E V E R Y I S S U E : O R D I N A R Y P EO P L E L I V I N G E X T R AO R D I N A R Y L I V E S
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TRANSLATING TECH Get in the Game!
Livestreaming. Esports. Twitch. Gaming. These are phrases we keep hearing in different facets of our lives, but what does it all mean? Here’s a simple primer to get you in the game.
Matthew Heafy
For more info on Growing Bolder’s upcoming BolderX iGen gaming tournament, see page 81 12
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Esports
Gaming
Esports, (electronic sports), refers to competitive gaming. It began with people playing console video games against each other in houses and stores and then eventually moving to halls, and most recently, arenas. There are several games recognized as professional league games; there are all kinds of sizes of competitive esports. There are organizations that have multiple players across many games. Think of esports as team sports—such as basketball or football—on a professional level. It’s similar to any competitive sport.
Playing any game for fun or hobby—solo or with friends —is gaming. Gaming runs the gamut, from online word games to “Call of Duty” and everything in between. Games are only considered e-sports when it’s played in an established league or competitive environment. Some of the most popular professional esports leagues will have teams in games like Counter Strike, League Of Legends, Overwatch, Call Of Duty, and Starcraft 2.
Livestreaming
Twitch
Livestreaming involves people streaming themselves live. It’s unlike YouTube, because a normal YouTube video is pre-filmed and edited, meant to be consumed at any time. A livestream is meant to view live, in the moment, allowing the person filming and viewers to experience the activity at the same time. Livestreamers do not have to be esports pros, nor do esports pros need to livestream. You can livestream practically anything—from gaming, cooking and exercise to a podcast chat between host and guest. The most important aspect of livestreaming is the host and viewer relationship. That is what truly makes a livestream a reciprocal experience.
Twitch is the social media platform that brought livestreaming gamers to the spotlight. Twitch was initially known as the platform where professional esport players, casual gamers and serious gamers alike could go to livestream. Twitch has recently exploded into a powerhouse of a social media platform after it was acquired by Amazon and grew into a destination where millions of viewers tune in daily. Twitch is a platform where people can choose to simply watch for free or pay monthly to their favorite channel(s) as a subscriber. Subscriptions, donations, merchandising and endorsements are some of the ways streamers make money off of Twitch.
D O YO U H AV E A PA S S I O N YO U ’ D LOV E TO S H A R E W I T H T H E WO R L D ? CONSIDER LIVESTRE AMING!
Anyone who thinks they have a skill to perform or knowledge to teach can become a livestreamer. People coming from successful paths, or looking to build something entirely new, are turning to livestreaming for the experience and extra income. Craftspeople, musicians, yoga teachers, hobby gamers, talk show hosts, DJs, woodworkers—there is an audience for nearly every craft imaginable. So, why not build an amazing community of your own viewers, have fun doing what you enjoy, and earn a living at the same time?
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Feed Your Lynne Mixson
Soul
Ready to spice up your summer supper routine? How about some comfort food with a bit of Caribbean soul? At Shantell’s Just Until café in Sanford, FL, this recipe for Jerk Chicken is a customer favorite and is a quick stovetop go-to for the mother of 10. Usually served with yellow rice, a side of collard greens and a cornbread muffin, you need just five ingredients to create this simple dish, but its peppery flavor is sure to deliver smiles. Want to learn more? Visit shantellsinsanford.com to attend one of Shantell Williams’ virtual cooking classes. The next live demonstration will be held on June 24 at 7 p.m. ET. For $20, you get the class plus a shaker of the special Caribbean Kitchen Mild Jerk Seasoning for your own kitchen, shipped right to your door.
Read the feature on page 30 about Shantell's two world recordsetting motorcycle rides across the country.
14
Photo Courtesy of Shantell Williams
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Skillet Jerk Chicken INGREDIENTS
DIREC TIONS
1-1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Heat your skillet to 350 degrees. Season your chicken on both sides with the jerk seasoning and lay the seasoned chicken in the skillet. Flip the chicken after 5 minutes. Then, put the onions and peppers in the skillet beside the chicken. After 5 minutes, turn the chicken again. Then slice each piece of chicken into 4 pieces.
2 tablespoons Caribbean Kitchen Mild Jerk Seasoning (9 spices included) 2 tablespoons canola oil ½ cup sliced sweet onion ½ cup sliced mixed bell peppers ½ cup of water
XXX
Add 4 tablespoons of water creating a light steam for 2-3 minutes. Serve atop rice, with greens or whatever you choose.
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Homeward Bound A post-vaccine road trip to reconnect with family, friends and food
George Diaz
With age comes the wisdom to appreciate what you have and how much you appreciate things lost along the way. Homeward bound. Those comforting words hung in the air, much like a thought bubble, as I made a 243-mile reconnective journey that took me through the monotonous stretch along Florida’s Turnpike. Heading southbound, I took a few bathroom breaks along the way, pausing long enough to wonder why anyone would want to buy cologne at a turnpike service plaza. I had other scents in mind. Café Cubano. Pastelitos. Empanadas. Miami. I hadn’t been back since November, 2018. Much of that time had been spent in the COVID-19 bubble that had kept so many of us away from our friends and loved ones. That vice grip has been dissipating every day, as millions are getting vaccinated. Once I was doubled-dosed on Pfizer in late March, it unlocked the keys to travel home. My sister’s birthday in April was the perfect time to reconnect. My home is in Orlando, but my heart yearns for the warmth of South Florida and the memories that bind us forevermore. I saw my best friend, Maurice, the first night there. We ate sushi, but it wouldn’t have mattered if we had saltines and a cup of water. Maurice, whom I have known since grade school, had been involved in a horrific hit-and-run accident in early February. Hit by a driver, who left my friend for dead as he was bicycling just a hundred yards from home, Maurice had a broken clavicle, several broken ribs, a femur broken in three places, and bleeding in the brain. Now on a vigorous rehabilitation schedule, he walks with the aid of a cane. He is lucky to be alive, which only furthered my resolve to chase experience and memories as I enter the proverbial “fourth quarter” of life. So, why not start the next day surrounded by my family? I met with my two sisters, niece and brother-in-law at the Latin American Café off LeJune Road. The potent café con leche went down smoothly, even more so as I dipped hot Cuban bread into the cup (Cuban pro tip). My sisters and I had talked often during the time I was away, but seeing their faces warmed my soul. With our parents gone, we cling to each other more tightly these days. We spoke of those chaotic times in Cuba after Castro’s revolution and the struggles and sacrifices our parents made along the way.
I would have dinner at one of my parents’ favorite spots, the venerable Versailles, where the Cuban gentlemen gather daily to discuss politics and sports in the outdoor café. My focus was on the good food, however. I was about to select my “go-to” favorite—picadillo with white rice—when a friend pointed out a lobster plate. Four lobster tails on top of white rice with a tomato-based sauce, complete with a side of plantains. It was every bit as delicious as it sounds. Tummies full, we went to scope out a bit of the night scene along Little Havana. Much has changed since I grew up close to that neighborhood. It’s gone a bit ritzier, with cruise ships and other enterprises taking advantage of the “Cuban experience.” Pre-COVID, cruises would drop off busloads of tourists to take in the sights and sounds—at jacked up prices. Those are still in play. A host beckoned us inside a little dive bar along Southwest Eighth Street, with a salsa band doing its thing. “It’s $250 for a table and $20 per person if you want to stand,” he said. We took a pass. Later on, we regretted the missed opportunity at the perfect comeback: “No thanks. I already have a table at home and don’t need another one.” We settled on a cheaper option—Azucar Ice Cream Co., home of many eclectic flavors including a chocolate and cayenne pepper concoction called “Burn in Hell, Fidel!” I opted for the dulce de leche (caramel) gelato. The morning pit stop involved picking up Cuban pastries and coffee at a bakery in a strip mall off LeJune and 37th Avenue, a place I have been frequenting since I was a child. I am much older now. With age comes the wisdom to appreciate what you have and how much you appreciate things lost along the way. Family. Friends. Home. Goodbye Miami. Te quiero. I’ll be back soon.
George Diaz was born in Cuba and raised in South Florida. A graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism, Diaz worked at the “Miami Herald” and “The Cincinnati Post” before joining the “Orlando Sentinel” sports department in 1989. He served in a number of roles, including columnist and member of the editorial board. He joined Growing Bolder in 2020 as a contributor writer and reporter.
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The venerable Versailles is an excellent starting point. Although named after France’s Palace of Versailles, this is the sweet spot for Cuban culture. It features the perfect intersection of food, coffee and sweets, mixed with political roundtables on the topic of the day. You will never go wrong with a Cuban classic: picadillo, white rice and plantains.
M IA M I
Looking to bring back some authentic Cuban souvenirs? Sentir Cubano is just four blocks east of Versailles. It has a little bit of everything, from apparel, artwork and home décor to domino sets. It’s a bit much to take in at first; but draw a breath, browse, and no doubt you will find a little (or big) piece of Little Havana.
Little Havana
Fact: Cuban people love to dance. You can join the fun at the High Note Jazz Club at Cuba Ocho. It’s a vibrant buzz featuring live salsa and bachata music, Cuban art décor and yummy cocktails. A must is the mojito: rum, lime, mint and sugar, with roots that date back to 1932.
Sweet tooth? Come on down to the Azucar Ice Cream Co. It’s hard to miss with a gigantic ice cream cone on its front facade. It is home to many eclectic flavors including a chocolate and cayenne pepper concoction |called “Burn in Hell, Fidel!”
George Diaz
Little Havana is the heartbeat of Miami’s vibrant Cuban culture. You will be immersed in the sights and sounds and scents of a different place and time as you walk along Southwest Eighth Street, the main corridor. Speaking Spanish is optional. All you need to do is point and smile, and the logistics will sort themselves out. Next thing you know, you will have a warm pastelito in one hand and an espresso in the other. Here are a few places that resonate with that Cuban vibe.
If you want to take a historical detour, check out the Bay of Pigs Monument, honoring about 100 fallen heroes of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April, 1961. Their names are engraved on the monument, which includes an eternal flame at the top. The monument was dedicated on April 17, 1971.
Espresso
We’re not going to suggest a best bakery in Little Havana. There are just too many of them. You will never go wrong with the bakery at Versailles; but take a walk along Southwest Eighth Street and pick any of the openair coffee shops. Savor a café con leche or cortadito. A guava or guava and cheese pastelito is a must; doubledown with an éclair oozing with cream. And get a loaf of Cuban bread to go. You won’t be disappointed.
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Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.
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Summer Travel Safety Tips Navigate the new world of travel with these helpful tips
COVID-19 travel can be complicated. Here’s how to make things less complex if you have cabin fever and need to get away:
IMMUNIT Y
Passport
George Diaz
COVID-19 passport? Check. Hand sanitizer? Check. Sunscreen? Check. The tourist travel checklist goes far beyond that, obviously. But a COVID passport or vaccination card may soon become an essential carry-on as travel amps up in the months ahead. As more people get vaccinated, and travel restrictions are lifted, new opportunities for adventure have opened. But there are more logistical challenges than ever before, especially if you plan on traveling overseas. “One thing you’ll have to navigate will be a fluctuating environment, in terms of tests or vaccination requirements, even borders that may open and then shut again very quickly,” Henry Harteveldt, founder of Atmosphere Research Group, a travel analysis firm in San Francisco, told the New York Times. “We’re going to have to be prepared for a very dynamic, very fluid international travel environment for the remainder of this year.” Even in the United States, navigation is tricky. The governor of Hawaii recently reissued an emergency proclamation that will make traveling to the state more challenging. There is a 10-day quarantine in place, even for vaccinated travelers. But visitors can bypass the quarantine by testing negative for COVID-19 before departure. However, it must be an acceptable test (not antigen) from a “trusted testing partner.” Visit hawaiicovid19.com/travel for more details and updates on Hawaii’s quarantine policies. That mandate reflects the cautionary tone of an order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January, which requires a negative COVID-19 test—taken no more than three days prior to travel—to board international flights to the United States. Travelers are advised to get a COVID test three to five days after arriving back in America. New recommendations state that fully vaccinated people no longer need to self-quarantine after international travel, but they should still self-monitor for any symptoms.
→ Carry a digital photograph of both sides
of your vaccination card. Other options include scanning the card and saving the file on a laptop or desktop. Vaccine passports—digital bar codes proving that you have been vaccinated against COVID-19—are complicated because they don’t have unilateral support, and some states are bucking those requirements.
→ Keep it simple. Look for destinations
within driving distance. That makes it easier on several fronts, including avoiding sticker shock on car-rental rates, because there is a shortage of cars. If you need to fly, try to book direct or non-stop routes, limiting your exposure.
→ Be aware of COVID protocols when
choosing a hotel. The chains have policies and stipulations easily found before check-in, but mom-and-pop lodging might require additional research. You may want to look for a place that allows you to open windows and let fresh air circulate into your room.
→ Consider camping. If you love being
outdoors, camping offers greater protection and less risk. Thanks to recent CDC updates, masks are no longer required outdoors in most cases. Hikes, walks along the beach and bike rides are wonderful options for your vacation getaway.
→ Be smart. It leads to being safe.
“The most we can self-isolate, be it in an RV or a car, or keeping a small footprint, will certainly reduce exposure,” Letitia Anderson, MD, Northern Nevada Medical Group Vice Chief of Staff at Northern Nevada Medical Center, recently told mynews4.com.
Happy trails. G R O W I N G B O L D E R / J U N E D I G I TA L D I G E S T 2 1
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Growing Bolder is now airing on public broadcasting stations nationwide. Check local listings.
STARTING MAY 8: WUCF/Orlando, Saturdays @ 9:30 am WGCU/Fort Myers/Naples, Saturdays @ 2:30 pm WUFT/Gainesville, Saturdays @ 3 pm WEDU/Tampa, Saturdays @ 6:30 pm JAX PBS/Jacksonville, Saturdays @ 10 am WXEL /South Florida PBS, Saturdays @ 12:30 pm WPBT/South Florida PBS, Sundays @ 12 pm
STARTING JUNE 26: WSRE/Pensacola, Saturdays @ 5 pm WFSU/Tallahassee, Sundays @ 11:30 am WFSG/Panama City, Sundays @ 11:30 am
STARTING JULY 1 : WFSU/Tallahassee, Thursdays @ 7:30 pm
STARTING AUGUST 14: WDSC/Orlando, Saturdays @ 6:30 pm
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SHUT UP AND RIDE Story by Amy Sweezey | Photography by Mike Dunn
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As a little girl growing up in New York, Shantell Williams didn’t have a lot of heroes who looked like her. Fast forward to her early 40s, when she discovered a woman named Bessie Stringfield, who in the 1930s was the first Black woman to ride a motorcycle across the country. Stringfield looked like Williams. She rode like Williams. Finally, Williams had found a hero and needed to tell everyone her story. “I kept thinking, ‘What can I do to draw attention to Bessie and what she had done?” Williams told Growing Bolder. “If another little girl wants a hero that looks like them, I want them to know about Bessie Stringfield.” From 1936 to 1946, Stringfield traveled the 48 contiguous states eight times as an Army dispatch rider during World War II. She delivered orders to Army bases on her motorcycle at a time when women weren’t allowed to enlist and before interstates even existed. Sometimes Stringfield slept in trees because most hotels wouldn’t allow women of color. She faced racism, sexism and danger. Williams thought Stringfield had done a great service for our country, but it seemed no one knew. Since Stringfield owned 27 Harley-Davidson motorcycles in her lifetime, Williams’ goal was to get Stringfield inducted into the HarleyDavidson Hall of Fame. In 2016, Williams set off on her own road trip to retrace Stringfield’s journey. Little did she know that she would break a record by becoming the first solo rider to take this trip since Stringfield. Williams rode through 48 states in 27 days breaking a Guiness World Record. Later that year, HarleyDavidson inducted Bessie Stringfield into their Hall of Fame and created the Shantell Williams Mileage Award, which is given annually. 25
Photo via Ann Ferrar, biographer of Bessie Stringfield
Bessie Stringfield, the first Black woman to ride a motorcycle across the country.
What’s amazing about Williams’ record-setting ride is that she had only been riding a motorcycle for eight months when she embarked on her journey. She bought her first bike without even knowing how to ride. “I didn’t know anybody who knew how to ride, but I only had the money for the bike instead of the car I wanted,” Williams explained. “I remembered riding a three-wheeler when I was 12; so, I got on the motorcycle, and my kids followed behind me in the minivan.” Williams laughed as she recalled the memory. “I was in second gear the entire ride!” she said. “Two days later, I decided I should take some lessons. On day seven I was not the same person I was on day one. I remember crying that day. I was just trying to find a reason to quit. There was nobody more shocked than me that the trip actually happened.” Netflix approached Williams in 2020 and asked her to ride again for a docuseries featuring her tribute to Stringfield. Williams decided to document the series herself and titled it, “Shut Up and Ride.” “It means get out of your head,” she explained. “Shut up your brain and do it. You’ll be fine.” It was her own message to herself whenever she considered quitting. Her second trip through 48 states lasted 23 days, beating her previous record. She took her film crew with her and rode 500-1,000 miles each day, stopping at gas stations and Harley-Davidson dealerships. 26
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She raised money for charity along the way, mainly for The Hen House, which gives financial relief to people and small businesses hurting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams understands all too well how businesses have suffered. As the owner of Shantell's Just Until Café, in Sanford, Florida, she struggled to stay afloat without any government help. (Learn one of her restaurant's signature recipes on page 64). “We were blessed to have what I called My PPP— People Protecting People,” she said. Williams managed to keep her 17 workers employed through generous donations, some from complete strangers. Instead of throwing food away, when no one was eating in her restaurant, Williams delivered meals to hospitals and first responders. Once word got out, the donations came pouring in. “I’d go to the mailbox and find a check for $50 or $100 with a note to use the money to keep feeding people,” Williams said. “That was people protecting people.” Everywhere she goes, Williams finds family. Her husband and 10 children are her family. Her restaurant employees and customers are her family. And her motorcycle community is her family. “I just love the biker world community,” Williams said. “That’s what attracted me. That’s what’s kept me. We often say on the bikes that two wheels brought us together.”
Department
Summer 2021
Issue No. 46
[ SHUT UP AND RIDE ]
“It means get out of your head... Shut up your brain and do it. You’ll be fine.” SHANTELL ON PERSEVER ANCE
S TO R I E S FROM THE R OA D
S TO R I E S F R O M T H E R OA D
“I met a gentleman at a gas station in Winnemucca, Nevada. Frank was about 65 years old, white guy, drives a Chevy S-10 pickup. We exchanged ‘Good mornings’ and pleasantries about where each was headed. Then he asked, ‘Have you ever been stopped by the police for being Black?’ I thought about it for a second and said, ‘Yes, but I’ve also been stopped for speeding.’ We both laughed. Then he said, ‘Well, how did that make you feel?’ and I answered, ‘What it makes me feel right at this moment is that something is changing from this moment forward. The fact that we can have this conversation, that says everything.’ I was glad we had that conversation. I told Frank, ‘I’ll never forget you. I’ll share this story because it’s a moment for me.’ It was a good conversation. That was something different from my ride in 2016 to my ride in 2020.”
“I was down to my last $10 in Utah, talking to my husband through my helmet microphone. A 90-year-old woman started walking toward me, and I told my husband I needed to go because she might think I was crazy talking to myself. So, I’m pumping gas, and she goes to the garbage can, and then she walked right up to me. I put my hand out and she turned it over like I was her granddaughter and put $20 in my hand. She said simply, ‘I had a bike in the 50s,’ and walked away. I started crying.” G R O W I N G B O L D E R / J U N E D I G I TA L D I G E S T 2 1
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Esports Gaming
Comes of Age Dr. Vonda Wright, M.D.
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//////// I have a confession to make, and it may be an opinion you share as well. About 10 years ago, when I started thinking about esports, I spoke publicly about the fact that it was going to be the demise of our children, with increased sitting in the basement, eating pizza and getting yelled at by their parents. Then, I decided to do what I suggest to my patients and my own children—let my curious brain do a deeper dive. Esports gaming is not new. The first tournaments of digital play took place more than 30 years ago. However, they were hidden in the ivory towers of academia and ultimately crowded arcades and basements. As digital technology expanded, games became more sophisticated and accessible. Esports, once solely considered a hobby and frequent source of parental angst, has come of age and driven esports into the mainstream of sports and entertainment. It is a robust $1.4 billion industry fueled by the passion of the players, worldwide participation, corporate sponsorships and big prize money. Esports has rapidly evolved from the basement to the classroom, as states recognize esports as a high school varsity sport, more than 30 colleges offer scholarships for competitive play and corporate and athletic giants take their place in the gaming arena by fielding teams. I also realized that for youth, (I’ll get to adults in a minute), who do not participate in traditional sports, life can be isolating and lonely. We glorify sports in this nation. I’m a sports doctor, so I know how huge a role they play in our culture. When I looked deeper at esports, I started seeing the benefits, and acknowledgement of benefits turned into fascination and respect. Esports engage players’ imaginations, creativity, strategic thinking and, yes, their bodies. Plus, it provides strong social connections and an opportunity to feel pride in achieving victory and advancement. These are powerful components of a person’s overall health and well-being. Much like traditional sports, in gaming, the perceived indestructability of youth, the pleasure and profit of winning, as well as the pressure to become legends, drives players and teams alike toward short-term goals—often with a blind eye to the athlete’s long-term sustainability, health or well-being.
Illustration: Anastasiaromb Via Getty Images
I am thrilled that Growing Bolder has embraced gaming, and I’m so excited about the upcoming BolderX Among Us Tournament on June 10. (More on page 80). I’m now so passionate about esports that my team of sports clinicians harnessed the resources and methods we devote to traditional athletes to design some of the first-in-thecountry comprehensive sports medicine prevention programs for gamers. We help them maximize performance while minimizing the career-ending overuse injuries gamers encounter. The multiple joint and body system injuries they experience, such as tendon and back injuries, can be addressed through physical training, ergonomic design, smart nutrition and sleep restoration. Traditionally, gamers were primarily teens or people in their 20s, but that’s rapidly changing. That’s a good thing. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the critical health need for older adults to socialize. Gaming and esports not only provide that opportunity to anyone wherever they live but also support neurodevelopment and slow cognitive decline. Here’s what I love best about esports: It's the perfect opportunity to bring together people from different generations. When an older person engages in a game with a younger person, it puts them on an equal playing field. Many times, teenagers think they have nothing in common with someone over 50 years old, but gaming allows them to speak the same language. Plus, esports provides strong mental stimulation through complex activities that help stave off the fogginess that can occur with aging. Gaming involves complex eyehand coordination; and if you're walking around with your game, it requires total body movement. Gaming levels the playing field in ways previously unimagined and provides us an opportunity to connect with our children and grandchildren. Frankly, we should be thankful for gaming for giving us that opportunity.
Dr. Vonda Wright, MD is an orthopedic surgeon, an internationally recognized expert on active aging and a regular contributor to Growing Bolder. Learn more at DrVondaWright.com and follow her on social media at @DrVondaWright. 29
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Champion Jet Car Racer Lives Boldly but Won’t Take Risks with Retirement When Elaine Larsen started out in jet car racing, it was all about the adrenaline rush. At speeds of over 280 mph, Larsen has made a career out of going as fast as possible for five seconds down a straight and narrow quarter-mile track. So, to say she lives life at full-throttle is an understatement if there ever was one. “Going fast is where I find my freedom. 5Gs? That’s just a Saturday,” she says. “Three hundred miles per hour? That’s where I feel normal.” Larsen, a two-time International Hot Rod Association World Champion, refused to take the same risks with her retirement plan, though. She locked down and added protected income from an annuity to her retirement plan, ensuring that she and her husband Chris, the co-owner of Larsen Motorsports, won’t face any surprises when she leaves the sport. Over her career, Larsen has had a handful of close calls, from parachutes not deploying to her car spinning sideways at 280 mph. But one incident in particular slowed down everything long enough for her to gain an entirely different perspective. When a severe crash in 2011 left her with a shattered kneecap, broken ankle, cracked ribs and subdural hematoma, Larsen started to think about life after racing. Her husband was actually the person who extinguished the flames that engulfed her car. “My focus changed from being the badass race car driver to thinking: What can I do to help inspire young girls to be as confident as me?” Larsen says. The Larsens became major supporters of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculums in schools, recognizing that the future of the sport
I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid. Having an annuity tells me my retirement is protected. – EL AINE L ARSEN
depends on the next generation of young racers. However, she has a special place in her heart for young women looking to get into the rough-and-tumble world of drag racing. “I’m always out there scouting for the next Elaine Larsen,” she says. “I try not to scare them, but I try to educate them. I try to arm them with every single thing they could possibly need to succeed in what they’re doing, including their money and finances.” But the crash also made her think seriously about retirement. According to Larsen, she approaches her retirement the same way she approaches a drag race. “We have to think about every little thing that can go wrong. I take that same planning just as serious in my retirement,” she explains. “And I used that same planning when I chose to purchase this annuity.” Her annuity provides protected lifetime income so she’s not only able to help maintain her current lifestyle when she retires, but she’s also able to experience new things. “I don’t think it’s going to be a sad day when I get out of the driver’s seat because I’m going to put a different hat on. I’m going to take my helmet off, and I’m going to replace it with a business suit.” Larsen is the first to admit that when she’s behind the wheel of a jet car she’s never in complete control. However, she does have some reassurance knowing that her annuity can protect her income so she doesn’t have to worry about running out of money in retirement. “I want to take control of my destiny,” Larsen says. “I want to be the one who said, ‘I put money in there. I invested in this…I made the right decision, and now look how I’m living.’” G R O W I N G B O L D E R / J U N E D I G I TA L D I G E S T 2 1
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Meditation for Skeptics Jackie Carlin
You know the old nightmare about showing up in class wearing nothing but your underwear? Now imagine that humiliation is real. And it’s not just in front of a class, but the entire nation. Dan Harris was wearing clothes when he experienced his nightmare-come-true moment. Yet, he never felt more naked. On the morning of June 7, 2004, Harris was in position at the news desk during a live broadcast of Good Morning America when his ABC News colleagues Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson tossed it over to him for the morning’s headlines.
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Illustration by ONYXprj via Getty Images
“The science is real. Just as we take care of our bodies because we want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, we need to start taking care of our minds and our brains.”
Within moments, things started to unravel. In the middle of reading a story, Harris started to stammer, his eyes welled up and it was clear to viewers that something was terribly wrong. Harris quickly dumped out of the story to save himself from further humiliation when he realized what was happening—he was having a full-blown panic attack in front of 5 million viewers. That moment was years in the making. Harris joined ABC News when he was just 28 years old. He admits that he felt insecure working closely with news legends such as Sawyer and the late Peter Jennings. To cope, he became a workaholic, signing up for any and every assignment. After the horrific events of September 11, 2001, he volunteered to head overseas to cover the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. “I volunteered to go to the war zone without ever really thinking about the psychological consequences,” Harris says. “When I got home after a particularly long stretch, I got depressed. I wasn’t even self-aware enough to know that I was depressed—I just wasn’t feeling good.” Before he was diagnosed with depression, Harris selfmedicated with cocaine and ecstasy. “Even though I was only doing it for a brief period and never when I was on the air or when I was working, it blew up in my face with that panic attack,” he says. Harris later learned the drugs he was ingesting can raise the level of adrenaline in the brain, leading to the potential for panic attacks. “When I realized what a moron I’d been, I knew I needed to make some changes,” he adds. He sought professional treatment to kick his drug habits, and a higher power intervened to set him on a new course of self-discovery—his boss, Peter Jennings, who assigned him to cover faith and spirituality for ABC News. Harris’s new beat began at the same time he was coming to terms with his personal behavior. “The confluence of those events pushed me in a different direction,” he says. Meditation was something that had never even crossed Harris’s mind, except as something to scoff at. “I’d had always assumed that meditation was only for weirdos,” Harris says. “That it was that for people who lived in yurt, collected crystals and were really into Cat Stevens. It wasn’t something that I had any interest in doing.” Then he learned about the science underpinning
meditation, which demonstrates that the practice can lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system and literally rewire keys parts of your brain related to well-being and stress. “That really got me intrigued,” Harris says. So, he began to mediate. And he admits that it was— and sometimes still is—a struggle to quiet his mind. “Meditation is an exercise for your brain,” he says. “You’re trying to focus on one thing at a time, which is a radical act in the age of information overload. And in this case, you’re usually focusing on your breath—on the feeling of breath coming and going out.” Harris describes meditation as “a bicep curl for your brain, because you’re breaking a lifetime of habit of walking around in this daydream about the future and the past instead of focusing on what’s happening right now.” Ever the consummate journalist, Harris found himself diving deep into the world of meditation. He released his first book on the subject in 2014, 10 Percent Happier: How I Tamed My Inner Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge and Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story. The book with the long title and powerful message quickly launched a mini-movement. Harris followed that up with a podcast series and meditation app dedicated to helping other skeptics tame their minds. He also wrote a follow-up book, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. Harris says once he got over his preconceived notions about meditation, he realized how useful it can be. He points out that a generation ago, people would have thought it was crazy to run for exercise or even for fun—but now, running is ubiquitous. He believes the same health revolution is underway with meditation and mindfulness. “It’ll help to have more ‘normal’ people or those who aren’t wearing robes, long dangling earrings and shawls out there talking about it,” he quips. “The science is real. Just as we take care of our bodies because we want to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, we need to start taking care of our minds and our brains.” Harris admits that as humans, it’s only natural for us to create stress around whatever we’re focused on—whether it’s our jobs, our families or even our volunteer work. But by learning to tame our critical, chaotic inner voices, we just may find ourselves a smidge happier. And isn’t that an idea worth meditating on?
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How to Prepare for Hurricane Season Amy Sweezey
Let’s face it—Florida gets a lot of bad press. From news of the coronavirus pandemic to annual hurricane scares, I often get calls from friends up North asking if we are OK down here. Despite the stories they may hear, there are record numbers of people flocking to the Sunshine State. Now that travel is starting to return, and COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, people are on the move. I don’t just mean taking the family to Disney World or escaping the snow for a sandy beach vacation. I mean they are selling their houses, packing up their stuff and moving south! According to the state’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research, about 329,717 new residents settled in Florida between April, 2020, and April, 2021. Move.org reported Florida was the No. 1 destination for Americans who relocated in 2020, based on a variety of metrics. Other sources reported Florida was in the top three relocation destinations. Of course, this means there are many people who have never experienced a tropical storm or a hurricane. It means, if you’re a native, you may have a lot of people asking you what to do and how to prepare. For all of you Florida newbies, welcome! And here’s my best advice: DON’T BE SCARED, JUST PREPARE. This applies to longtime locals, too. We tend to downplay storms because, “We’ve lived through them.” But preparing is key for everyone who lives in Florida, whether you’re at the beach or inland. So how do you prepare? Start by finding the information you need specifically for you and your family. If you live in a flood zone, you will prepare differently than someone who does not. If you are a caregiver, think about what everyone in your care might need if a storm hits. Being fearful prevents you from taking action. If you prepare before the storm arrives, your mind will be at ease, and you can wait it out without worry.
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H OW D O YO U P R E PA R E FO R A H U R R I C A N E ? A N S W E R T H E S E Q U E S T I O N S TO G E T S TA R T E D :
Ɂ In which county do you reside? (Watches and warnings are issued by county name.) Ɂ Are you in a flood zone or an evacuation zone? (Zones are labeled A, B, C or red, yellow, green. Each county is different. Know your zone!) Ɂ If you must evacuate, where is the closest shelter? What are their rules? Do they allow pets? Ɂ If you go to a shelter, what are their COVID-19 requirements? Do you need or have extra masks and hand sanitizer? Ɂ How much water do you drink? How much non-perishable food will you need for three days? Ɂ What will happen if your house loses power for three days? A week? Ɂ Do you need a generator? Do you have gas for the generator and your car? Ɂ Do you have a prescription to fill in advance? Write down what other things you would need to know if a storm hit:
Now, go find the answers to your questions BEFORE the first storm arrives. Check ready.gov/kit for more details about building a hurricane kit.
Hurricane FAQ Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin runs from June 1 to November 30, which correlates to when tropical systems are most likely to form. However, tropical storms and hurricanes have formed in every month of the year. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) creates the list of storm names. The lists are recycled every six years with new names added only when a name is retired due to severity or impact. There are 21 rotating male and female names on each list. In past years, if more than 21 storms formed in a season, the Greek alphabet was used for names. New in 2021, there is a secondary, alternate list of names that will be used if more names are needed.
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CONE
S PAG H E T T I MODEL
What is the “cone?” Once a tropical storm forms, or is about to form, the National Hurricane Center issues its official forecast cone track. We call it a “cone” because it usually looks like one; but essentially, it’s a forecast path for the storm. This forecast gets updated every six hours based on satellite and radar data and, when available, information from the Hurricane Hunters flying into the storm. That means every six hours a new cone is drawn on a map based on the latest data. The forecast cone track shows where meteorologists believe the storm’s center will move over the next five days. Data from the last five years determine the size of the cone each season. That’s based directly on forecast accuracy. A more accurate previous five-year period leads to a smaller-shaped cone. Less accuracy over the last five years leads to a wider cone.
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The forecast is based off computer-generated models of the atmosphere. These models often pop up on TV or online, even though interpreting them isn’t a simple task. Sometimes they are nicknamed “spaghetti models” because the lines can look like a pile of spaghetti. Forecast models vary tremendously in structure and complexity. It’s not as simple as following a single line on the map and knowing what the storm will do. Keep in mind, the cone contains the probable path of the center of the storm. It does not take into consideration the size of a storm. Hurricane conditions can occur well outside the edge of the forecast cone.
Know the Terms: Watch vs. Warning WATCH Tropical Storm (39-73 mph winds) or Hurricane (74+ mph winds) WATCH OUT for severe weather. Watches are issued when the forecast winds are possible within 48 hours.
WARNING Tropical Storm (39-73 mph winds) or Hurricane (74+ mph winds) Take action immediately.
Warnings are issued when the forecast winds are expected within 36 hours.
Amy’s Top 5 Hurricane Websites National Hurricane Center nhc.noaa.gov USA Today Hurricane Tracker usatoday.com/pages/interactives/storm-tracker Mike’s Weather Page spaghettimodels.com Federal Alliance for Safe Homes flash.org Weather Underground wunderground.com/hurricane
Amy Sweezey joined Growing Bolder in 2020 as a Special Projects reporter, producer and writer after retiring from a 25-year broadcast meteorology career. She has authored two children’s books about weather and created two weather workbooks for elementary-school students. Amy and her husband live in Central Florida with their three children.
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You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop them from controlling you.
FOR MORE DAILY MEM E S :
@GrowingBolder Flashpop via Getty Images
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If you’re among this group of Americans feeling overwhelmed, there are several things you can you do to help ease that stress, including: → A S S E S S YO U R FI N A N C E S
Illustration: Anastasia Usenko Via Getty Images
Four practical financial tips for the ‘Sandwich Generation’ The coronavirus economy has shaken millions of Americans’ confidence in their ability to retire comfortably. In fact, 70% of Americans say the pandemic has made them more pessimistic about their retirement plans, according to a recent Retirement Reset survey. Another survey shows almost half of all parents have given their adult children money during the pandemic, with most saying they’re doing so at the expense of their own personal finances. Older Gen Xers and younger Boomers in particular have been forced to reconsider or restructure their retirement plans in the pandemic’s wake to account for unexpected obstacles. Namely, adult children who have moved back home by choice or due to lost income, and aging parents who require financial assistance to afford long-term care or their own retirement. Left to juggle the costly and often time-consuming needs of both dependents, demographers often refer to this select group as the “sandwich generation.” Stretched thin, these multigenerational caregivers—typically parents in their prime working years—are subject to a unique set of challenges that have been further exacerbated, thanks to the pandemic. Twelve percent of Americans currently fall in this group, according to data from the Pew Research Center. However, this number is expected to rise, as more individuals prepare for retirement and more millennial families delay having children.
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Before you sit down to figure out what kind of assistance you can provide to your loved ones, make sure you have a complete picture of your own finances. Establishing boundaries between, what you want to do and what you’re financially able to do is important and will help you avoid any surprises or disappointment in the future.
→ PL A N A H E A D
To help minimize stress and anxiety, establish a healthy financial plan, with clear goals to help ensure you don’t outlive your resources. And when it comes to having the income you need in retirement, protected income from an annuity is a great way to guarantee income for life and combat the risk of running out of money. It can help supplement the other source of protected income, like Social Security, and can be especially valuable if you don’t have a pension.
→
TA L K W I T H YO U R PA R E N T S A B O U T M O N E Y E A R LY AND OF TEN
Have a candid conversation with your parents about their financial situation and what their needs are before a crisis hits. Make sure you fully understand what funds they have, where they are located, and any penalties associated with early withdrawals.
→ I N VO LV E YO U R C H I L D R E N I N FI N A N C I A L CO N V E R S AT I O N S
While you’re talking over expectations with your parents, take time to do the same with your kids. Maintaining open communication with your children, especially when times are difficult, is an opportunity for you to impart important financial education and values, priorities and behaviors that will help them make good financial decisions when they are older.
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Boost Your Brainpower
June is Brain Health Month, the perfect time to look inward and give your brain a tune-up. Here are some tips and takeaways from Florida Blue Medicare to help you get started:
MENTAL E XERC I S E “ MENTAL GY MNA S TIC S ” Solve math problems or play memory games. You can find free games and downloadable apps on sites, like Lumosity, CogniFit, and Elevate. Lumosity, for example, is used by over 85 million people worldwide and offers 30-plus brain “workout” games. Whether solo or with friends, you can play board games, card games or other types of games. Good options include Sudoku, crossword puzzles, solitaire or charades. All of them will engage your mind and keep you actively thinking.
LE T ’ S GE T PH YS IC AL Using your muscles also helps your mind. Exercise spurs the development of new nerve cells and increases the connections between brain cells. Physical exercise makes brains more efficient, and adaptive. And make sure to set goals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that you should get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day.
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A DV E R T O R I A L C O N T E N T
THE MIND - BO DY CO NNEC TION Forgo the temptations of fast food and turn to fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish and poultry, whole grains, nuts, and beans. Monitor and limit your intake of unhealthy fat, sugar and salt. Vitamins and supplements may help, but consult with your doctor to see what best suits your needs.
G E T RE ADIN G! Grab a book, magazine or newspaper (online is fine) and read. Buy an e-reader, visit a library or join a book club. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, people who spend more time reading preserve their memories better and longer as they age.
Think of your brain as a four-legged stool — each “leg” contributes to your overall well-being and balance. Focus on your needs and interests, and then design your own healthy brain lifestyle. Make sure to include mental challenges, meaningful activities, exercise and a healthy diet. Put it all together, and you’ll have a solid foundation for a nourished brain that greatly improves your prospects for health and happiness.
Check out this article from Florida Blue on how brain boosts can help you age well.
QU E PA S A? Learn a new language (or brush up on a second language you learned in school). Consider this a new you. The benefits, once again, are backed by research. Learning a foreign language contributes to the elasticity of the brain and its ability to understand information.
Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. For more information visit floridablue.com/ndnotice. ©️ 2021 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved. Y0011_105696_C0621 C: 06/2021 Y0011_105696_C0621 EGWP C: 06/2021
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64& MEDICARE
Make Medicare an opportunity to live BOLDER.
SO MUCH MORE!
Go to growingbolder.com/Medicare to download your free, easy to understand guide to Medicare To to speak to a representative call 1-844-396-2579.
Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or gender. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800- 352-2583 (TTY: 1-877-955-8773). ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 1-800-352-2583 (TTY: 1-800-955-8770). ©2021 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved. Y0011_102318_C 0720 C: 07/2020
