June/July 2011 FREE
What’s the best way to dispose of old medicines? FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COVER ARTIST ELISE ARMSTRONG INSIDE: PAGE 2.
Regular walks help boost attitude of local men, women - including a 92-year-old!
6 self-care strategies for women Platinum Prom offers chance for new memories
Maximum
LIVING June/July 2011
A WELLNESS & SPIRITUALITY MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN
ON THE COVER
Puzzles
ABOUT THE ARTIST: ELISE ARMSTRONG
2 | Maximum Living
Creativity and resilience are two skills Elise Armstrong is reminded of when she works on art. Those who look at Armstrong’s painting of a sun on the magazine cover wouldn’t know at first glance the sun wasn’t her initial plan for a subject. “I was initially going to paint something else, but I messed up and had to make something else,” admitted Armstrong when asked what inspired her choice. “It was a happy accident.” The “happy accident” was part of her study of art during her junior year at Seton Catholic High School. The painting was on display in April and May as part of the All Wayne County High School Art Exhibition at Richmond Art Museum. Armstrong hadn’t had the opportunity to take art classes until this year and hopes to study more this fall at school. Art offers many challenges, Armstrong says. “You can definitely say I’m a bit of a perfectionist. There are a lot of roadblocks and not all mistakes are happy ones,” she says. But she sees art like many things in life as an exploration. To get started in art at any age,
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Elise Armstrong
Armstrong says you just need one paintbrush, one canvas and primary colors. “You have to let your imagination go. You can’t do anything wrong with art,” she says. She sees parallels between visual art and music. “It’s an easy way without talking ... you can express yourself and a lot of times produce something other people enjoy too,” she said. Armstrong, who plays trumpet and piano, won Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition in 2009 on trumpet and would like to major in music performance. No matter where she attends college, she plans to continue painting as a hobby.
in this issue • Familiar faces behind the veils 4 •6 self-care strategies for women 6 •Survey results and prize winner 7 •Platinum Prom offers new memories 8 •Reflection on life and death 11 •6 quick tips for health 14 •Grilling flavor into salad 15 •Dispose of medicine responsibly 16 •Walking helps boost attitude 19 •Events calendar 22 •Writer hosed by mixed message 23
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If you’d like to contribute quick tips or thoughts on health, spirituality, saving money, caregiving or other topics of interest to local women, please send them in care of Millicent Martin, Maximum Living, 1175 N. A St., Richmond, IN 47374 or to mmartin@pal-item.com. Information will be considered for publication in future issues.
PALLADIUM-ITEM MEDIA GROUP MILLICENT MARTIN, Editor
(765) 973-4468
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mmartin@pal-item.com
JUSTIN ASHBAUGH, Creative Director
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EDITORIAL: For comments about editorial content or suggestions for the next issue, contact Millicent Martin at (765) 973-4468.
ADVERTISING: To advertise, contact Paige O’Neal at (765) 973-4421. SUBSCRIPTION: To request additional copies of the magazine, contact Heidi Lipscomb at (765) 962-1575.
© 2011 Maximum Living The wellness and spirituality magazine for women is a product of the Palladium-Item Media Group. These materials are the sole and exclusive property of the Palladium-Item Media Group and are not to be used without written permission. June/July 2011
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File photos by Associated Press
Familiar faces behind veils Instructor of international students learns how to bridge communication gap Dark, expressionless eyes peer out from a heap of fabric draped over a still, human form. I know the human figure is female, not by any familiar distinguishing features, but by the knowledge that it is women, not men, who are thusly covered in the Muslim world. The image stirs fear, confusion, pity, even anger in Western minds, especially in Christian women who find comfort and validation in Jesus’ liberating and honorable treatment of women. We can’t understand a religious doctrine that commands women to go into hiding; it seems terribly wrong. Yet we also know it is politically incorrect, perhaps even morally incorrect, to cast judgment,
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so we keep a distance and look the other way. Three such figures sit in my classroom and suddenly, I am no longer able to look the other way. In fact, there is nowhere else to look but directly at these motionless forms. I am frustrated by the knot of emotions inside me and by the questions that veil my own vision: What should I do? What can I say? How will I ever get to know them? Getting to know my students is a top priority for me; it sits right up there at number one along with academic objectives. When I started teaching international students at Ball State University in Muncie, it was my first exposure to so many Muslims and on such an intimate basis. I had no problem with female students from Saudi Arabia who were completely covered from head to toe, so long as I could see their faces. They were bright-eyed, curious, eager to participate, and they exuded an attractive energy that contributed significantly to the classroom environment making it a comfortable place to learn. Those whose faces were also covered, however, revealing only their eyes, posed an uneasy challenge for me. Because I was afraid to gawk and stare, I hesitated to look directly at them when they talked to me or I to them. Yet I couldn’t avoid them. Female voices are notoriously soft, even softer among international students struggling to produce strange English sounds. Added to this is a shyness due to being in an unfamiliar environment studying with strangers. For the female students from Saudi Arabia, this is often the first time for them to study alongside men. All these factors contribute to the teacher’s challenge to hear and understand. Now it was compounded for me even further by the veil, which made me uncomfortable on several levels. As a teacher of English to speakers of other languages, I rely on facial expressions to establish a sense of emotional safety in my
classroom. Sometimes I read lips in order to decipher what a student is trying to say. With these Saudi women who appeared to be nothing more than shrouded bumps with mysterious eyes blinking through narrow slits, I had no choice but to lean in close and meet them eye to eye. The first time I met the fear in their eyes with the fear in mine, I giggled away my discomfort. They giggled back. The ice was broken. I quickly learned that if I penetrated their gaze with mine and smiled genuinely, the curtain between us would wave in the ripples of our laughter and open gently at the side. There, in awkward glances and female camaraderie, I could slip in behind the veil. I could hear and understand what they spoke. We talked of families and love, cultural traditions, and faith in God as the background for learning and practicing English grammar, increasing vocabulary and correcting pronunciation. Religion, culture, and language cannot be pried apart and separated as independent components. Therefore, as I got to know my Saudi female students, I also got to know about Mohammed and his teachings, Islamic law, and ancient desert traditions rapidly being thrust into the 21st century with globalized values of consumerism, materialism and ideals regarding women’s rights. I learned that my God — God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is their God — God the father of Abraham. I learned that we are not so different after all. When I unveiled my own fear and confusion and met these women — my sisters — face to face, eye to eye, woman to woman, I found familiar faces behind the veil. River Lin, a native of Muncie, Ind., writes promotional content for websites, feature articles, and online marketing materials as well as provides writing and editing services. She also teaches English as a Second Language at Ball State University. Learn more at her Web sites http://theriverside.synthasite.com/ and http:// nittygrittyofwriting.blogspot.com/
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6 self-care strategies for women Believe that saying ‘No’ is OK
Self care is the process of nurturing yourself. But in a fast-paced and often chaotic society, many women tend to put their own needs on the back burner. So many women constantly put everyone else first, allowing their own needs to suffer. Some women may even become resentful because their personal needs have been neglected. Self-care for women is imperative. Follow these self-care strategies to help you take care of yourself and achieve balance your life.
How many times have you said “yes,” “sure” or “no problem” to a request, only to immediately regret your response? Have you ever committed your energy, time or money to a project, even though you have little or no desire to participate? Learning to say no is a skill, and it is a key self care habit that can ignite your confidence and free your inner strength.
Rewrite your routine
Realize that self-care isn’t selfish
The concept of self care refers to taking personal responsibility for one’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health. Practicing self care is preventative, not selfish. Yet the concept of making self care a priority remains controversial. For most of us, if we do not take care of ourselves, COLUMN no one else will. So, self care is anything BY SUSAN but selfish. When women don’t make self GILLPATRICK care a priority, they often feel like victims of something outside of themselves, in a position of restrictions and limitations. This prevents women from having rich and fulfilling lives.
Be your own best friend
What would happen if you treated yourself the same way you treat your best friend? You would likely be more attuned to your needs, your problems and your goals. You would be generous to yourself, as you are to others. You would love and honor your health and wellbeing. You would put aside all else to be your own best friend. One of the most important things you can do for your family and friends is to care for your own health. You can start by being a great friend to yourself today!
If you can relate to the previous five suggestions, and you acknowledge the need to make changes in your life, then you might need to radically alter your daily or weekly routine. Begin by scheduling your own priorities into your routine first. When your own priorities are fulfilled, allow others’ priorities on your schedule. Other people in your life may notice these changes. Share your plan with them, and explain your need for self care. They will see the benefits of self care reflected in your attitude and approach to life as well as the direct benefit they will receive from being in relationship with a more balanced you! Susan Gillpatrick, M.Ed., LPC, CTS, is a crisis management specialist for Centerstone, which has programs in Richmond. She may be reached at susan.gillpatrick@centerstone.org. Centerstone is a not-for-profit provider of community-based behavioral health care for all ages.
Spend time alone
Spending quality time alone is anything but lonely. Spending time alone allows the rest of the world to continue spinning while you rest, refuel and regroup. Time alone can be as simple as sitting quietly outdoors, reading a book at the park or sitting in your favorite comfortable chair with a cup of tea (having a favorite comfortable chair is essential!).
Create supportive surroundings
Look around. Do you feel inspired by your surroundings, or do you feel tension and chaos? Create supportive surroundings by clearing the clutter of the stuff that drains you. Clear the clutter in your home, car or office. Clear clutter in relationships too, like one-sided relationships. Find a partner who also wants to redesign their life for the better. The support will be empowering for both of you and a model for others around you. It will also help you balance the multiple roles you play. 6 | Maximum Living
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You LIKE us — you REALLY like us! ‘Hard to improve a great magazine and it’s free J Keep up the good work.” That’s what Debbie Gray of Richmond said about Maximum Living magazine in a recent reader survey. Gray’s entry was drawn at random as the winner of the survey. She won a microwave from Koons Home Center and gift certificates for Curves and El Rodeo in Richmond. Some other responses: “I enjoy reading every article. Can’t wait for the next issue. Good job!!!” “I thought it was an excellent mag. being my first experience with it. Most free mags. you pick up when out shopping, eating, etc. do not offer enough of interest to take home. I took this home!! ... ‘Thank you for free information of health events in our local area and good short stories. ...” “Enjoy reading every article. Always look forward to it. I’ll continue to read it.”
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Debbie Gray’s reader survey was randomly selected as the winner. Photo by Joshua Smith
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Louise Ronald, center, laughs with a bingo player during the Platinum Prom at Richmond High School in April. Below, promgoers try their luck at bingo. Photos by Joshua Smith
Platinum Prom offers chance for new memories
Never again will I go to the prom by myself. It’ll be a lot more fun with someone else along. On April 16, I went to the Richmond High School Alumni Association’s Platinum Prom. I’d wanted to go ever since first hearing of the event three years ago. A recent birthday got me past the minimum age requirement. All right, I thought. Let’s go. Why such enthusiasm? I was looking for a way to make up for my high school fiascos — a junior prom with a date I COLUMN barely knew, both of us so shy we hardly BY LOUISE could speak, and a senior prom unatRONALD tended at all. My plan was to treat myself right, with a special outfit selected without parental interference, a hairstyle that didn’t embarrass, comfortable shoes and all the self-confidence the teenage me never could muster. Trouble was, until the last minute it appeared I wouldn’t be able to get off work that night. When the OK finally came, I had only a couple of days to get 8 | Maximum Living
ready. No time to shop for an outfit or shoes, no time for a haircut even. I was stuck with my everyday hair and the clothes in my closet. The adult me knew I looked fine, but the teenager inside felt unprepared. Poor kid. It wasn’t really what she’d been hoping for. In my not-at-all-scientific survey of the crowd, I’d divide the prom-goers into three categories. 1) Couples. Prom always has been and always will June/July 2011
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Clockwise from top left: Couples dance to the Rush County Big Band. Guests talk at tables in the Richmond High School cafeteria decorated for the theme of “An Evening at the Ritz� and watch the dancers. Peggy Booker and Dwight McCauley, right, pose together for a photograph. RHS student Hannah Clark, left, and Mack Crockett dance. Big band music helps set the mood of yesteryear. June/July 2011
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be primarily for couples — no matter how platinum they become. Many of the couples were there to dance, some of them to dance quite well. It was fun to watch them. The two couples with whom I shared a table danced only a little. Neither pair had been together in high Ellen Guthrie plays bingo school. They seemed to during the Platinum Prom. be having the big date they Photo by Joshua Smith wished they’d had back then, had they known one another in those days. 2) Pairs. When I began to feel that I was cramping the style of the couples at my table (one of the wives, in particular, seemed to feel responsible for making sure I didn’t just sit there watching), I went into the bingo room, where I encountered people who had come to the prom in pairs. Women friends, mostly, but there also was a man who appeared to have come with his mother. He was well qualified for the minimum age and she was stooped, wheelchair bound and absolutely beaming. 3) Gaggles. Tables full of friends or fellow retirement home residents who came together. Several of the couples and pairs were also members of these gaggles. The music was loud enough and the tables big enough to prevent a lot of visiting, but the gaggles seemed to be having a great time nevertheless. I think the teenage me had been picturing something like the junior high church dances of many decades ago, those functions where the girls sat along one wall and the boys along another. When the music started, a boy stood up and asked a girl to dance — unless Ladies’ Choice had been announced beforehand. Where this idea had come from I don’t know. As soon as I walked in the door, I realized how unrealistic it had been. It didn’t take long to adjust. I even had a good time playing bingo for the first time in years. I won a bar of handmade soap. But next time, I won’t go alone. I’ll take some dancing lessons and go with a partner or gaggle from the group. Or I’ll scout around for a gaggle to join or to form. Or I’ll ask a platinum friend to go as a pair. Someone who doesn’t get out much, who wouldn’t ever consider going alone, who would enjoy a round or two of bingo, who would sit and watch the dancers and listen to the music and just have a lovely evening. Yes, I expect that’s what I’ll do. It’ll be my best prom ever. Louise Ronald is a copy editor for the Palladium-Item.
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Why NOT polka dot? Jesus’ gift cancels sting of death
“What do they call those bed baskets that dead people are put in?” My 5-year-old granddaughter looked at her mother with a serious little face and huge brown eyes. “Bed baskets? Livvie, those aren’t baskets, they are caskets or coffins.” “Well, why are they so boring? They are always brown. I think I’d want a polka-dot casket. Or maybe we could use a cheetah print. Don’t you think COLUMN that would be nice?” BY JUDY MARTINUh-oh. URBAN When I heard this conversation, I did some thinking. After, I did some laughter. Only a child cajoles adults to rethink tradition. Children see our world with fresh and creative eyes. They guide in amazing ways. They reinvent. Have you ever thought of a polka-dot or cheetah-print casket? I haven’t come remotely close. If you’ve lost a young loved one, my deep condolences, but I know you’re probably puzzling over this surprising brainstorm of a 5-year-old. I, frankly, squinted my eyes, furrowed my brow and then dropped my mouth. Where did she get this idea? Then a question formed. Why not a new trend for children’s “bed baskets?” Bright colors, bubbles, flowers, animals, polka dots and puzzle prints always say children. The idea of creatively styled caskets is
probably out there somewhere, but how many years will pass before we see change in tradition? I don’t know, but Granddaughter Livvie is right. Caskets have always been, well, maybe not boring, but certainly subdued. Our society and much of the world views death in somber tones and there is no denial death brings sadness and shadows. Color might just add that needed cheer. I know making the event a celebration of a life eases the sorrow. Livvie doesn’t know, but her 6-year-old cousin, my first grandson, had an eye-catching, cream-colored casket. No, it wasn’t a polka-dot casket, but it was bright and along with classical music, his favorite song, “Dust in the Wind,” was played. Other cousins tucked good-bye notes in his pocket. It was bittersweet, but still a celebration of life given for a short space. I personally like the idea of cheetah-print or polka-dot caskets for anyone who wants one. I also like the idea that the gift of the Master Jesus has canceled the sting of death and the victory of the grave. Eugene Peterson in his Message Bible in I Corinthians 15:55 says “Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?” Now doesn’t that sound like something a child might say? Someone like Livvie. Judy Martin-Urban of Muncie writes Christian fiction and inspirational non-fiction. She can be reached at www.judeurbanski.com and judeurbanski.blogspot.com.
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quick tips Making small changes like these can have a big impact on your well-being.
Fuel Up to Start the Day During the busy holiday season, or any busy time in your life, always remember to eat breakfast. Breakfast provides fuel to your body to start the day. It also gives you energy throughout the day and keeps you alert and performing better. Your car won’t work properly if you don’t put fuel into it; neither will your body. Fuel up with breakfast! Pain Relief 1 in every 4 Americans suffers from some type of pain every month. These tips can help manage common pain: • Use a cold pack or grab a bag of frozen peas. Apply around the sore muscle. • Let your body rest. • If your pain comes from migraine headaches, avoiding certain foods that trigger headaches can help-turkey, cheddar cheese, diet sodas and dark chocolate. • Avoid wearing flip flops for extended periods of time-this can cause aching feet and pinched nerves. • Regular exercise can help tone your body and avoid muscle pain. Beware of Fair Food Just about anything can be deep fried and served at summer fairs and festivals-and it usually is. A little taste is not bad; just don’t consume many of these treats. Look at the content of some of the popular fair foods: • Deep fried Snickers Bar-444 calories, 29 grams fat • Deep fried Twinkie-420 calories, 34 grams fat • Deep fried cheesecake-655 calories,47 grams fat • Deep fried giant turkey leg-1,136 calories, 54 grams fat If you want to try these summer treats, purchase one item and share it among 4 or 5 people. You can have the taste of summer with less calories and fat. 14 | Maximum Living
Gifts of Time If your gift budget is tight this year, give gifts of service. Many times these are appreciated more than a material gift. Make a certificate and wrap it in a nice packageyou now have terrific gift someone would love to receive. Some suggestions for gifts of time: • Babysitting • Housecleaning • Dog walking or pet sitting • Doing laundry • Meal preparation Interval Training There are many benefits to varying your walking routine. The main reason most people fail to maintain a walking program is boredom. This can be easily remedied by adding different types of walking to your workouts. One of the best ways to step up your workouts is through interval training. This means you will speed up your pace for a minute or two and then return to your original pace. It is really not as complicated as it sounds. If you are feeling adventurous try incorporating short bursts of jogging into your brisk walks. If jogging is not for you, simply increase your normal pace for a few minutes. Use landmarks to determine how long you will maintain your faster gait. Alternating between higher and lower intensities helps improve your endurance, your cardiovascular strength, and can greatly improve your metabolic rate. Interval training is a great way to burn more calories while at the same time fighting off boredom. Leave the Cell Phone at Home You might think that a long vacation is the way to beat job burnout. But the kind of vacation you have is just as important - if not more important -than its length, said Profession Don Eden, a psychologist from Tel Aviv University. The key to a quality vacation, he said, is to put work at a distance. And keep it there. “Using work cell phones and checking company email at the poolside is not a vacation,” Dr. Eden said. If you stay connected to the office electronically, you pay the price. And Dr. Eden said such connectivity is a cause of job stress. He recommends you take a shorter vacation more often.
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Source: Pat Murrah, community benefit coordinator for Reid Hospital & Health Care Services
wellness
Grilling the flavor into salad Grilled Steak and Spring Vegetable Salad
Start to finish: 25 minutes Servings: 5 For the dressing: 5 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt Ground black pepper, to taste For the salad: 1 pound sirloin steak, 1- to 1 1/4-inches thick, trimmed of fat 1/2 teaspoon salt Ground black pepper, to taste 1 pound asparagus, bottoms trimmed 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 4 cups arugula Shaved Parmesan cheese, to garnish (optional) Heat a gas grill to high or light a charcoal fire. To make the dressing, in a blender combine the lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Blend until emulsified. Set aside. Season the steak on both sides with the salt and pepper. Grill the steak, about 5 minutes per side for medium rare, 6 minutes per side for medium. Remove and let rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, grill the asparagus and artichoke hearts, turning occasionally, until slightly charred and the asparagus spears are tender-crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces and the artichoke hearts in half. Place the vegetables in a large bowl with the cherry tomatoes. Thinly slice the steak across the grain and add to the bowl with the asparagus and artichoke hearts. Toss with half of the dressing. In a large salad bowl, toss the arugula with the remaining dressing. To compose the salad, place some of the arugula on each serving plate and arrange the grilled steak and vegetables on top. Garnish with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.
The Associated Press If you want to add great flavor to foods without using the usual tricks — fat and salt — just head to the grill. The high and dry heat created by the grill does an excellent job at searing food surfaces and locking in natural flavors, while also adding that unmistakable charred, smoky flavor. And this all comes at no cost in terms of fat and calories. Typically, we think of the grill as the way to cook the main course — the burgers, some chicken, or a steak. But you also can take advantage of this healthy cooking technique to make other parts of the meal, including the sides, breads, even fruits for dessert. This composed salad of steak and spring vegetables uses the grill to cook and flavor the meat, as well as many of the other components of the dish. The natural sweetness of asparagus is enhanced when caramelized over high heat and the woody flavor of the smoke is a perfect match for the slightly grassy taste of the stalks. Similarly, canned artichoke hearts (you can use fresh if you have them) have an earthy, almost nutty flavor that is teased out even more when they are charred. The salad includes cherry tomatoes, which aren’t cooked, but if you like, you also can throw them on the grill until they soften and get a bit wrinkly. We’ve chosen to use sirloin steak, which is not only a budget-conscious option, but also falls in the extra-lean category of beef. But it still has enough fat that it won’t dry out on the grill (as long as you don’t cook it past medium).
Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 309 calories; 153 calories from fat (50 percent of total calories); 17 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 52 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrate; 26 g protein; 5 g fiber; 928 mg sodium.
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Above: Bags of pills brought in during a collection of unused prescription medicines in Wayne County. File photo by Joshua Smith; Expired drugs are sorted in preparation for disposal. File photo by Steve Koger Picture of Stephanie Hays-Mussoni by Greg Pyle
Don’t be a pill — dispose of old medicine responsibly
You take your own bags to the grocery, you use your reusable water bottle and coffee cup, you garden and compost, you ride your bike or walk, and you recycle. You do your part in a variety of ways to conserve our resources. You wouldn’t dare toss or dump anything into the street drain or local river, stream, or lake. But have you ever thought about what the best way to dispose of your over-the-counter and prescription medicines? COLUMN BY Throw them away or flush them? STEPHANIE That is the proper disposal, right? HAYSMUSSONI In recent years, it has been brought to the forefront that excess drugs being disposed on in these manners might be creating issues in our waterways. While our wastewater is all treated and sent down stream and then treated again to become potable water again, our treatment methods do not focus in on these types of chemicals that come from our medicine cabinet. 16 | Maximum Living
Various concentrations of different drugs are being found in our waterways. Some of this is because of the natural processing and disposal method that our bodies utilize these medicines. Some of it might be because of the direct disposal of unused medication through flushing down toilets or sinks and into our municipal waterways. Evidence of adverse affects of these chemicals is being observed in fish, mollusks and other aquatic life in our freshwaters within our borders and in the oceans surrounding the countries. This has led to in depth studies of the affects of medicines on wildlife. While the amounts of medicines being found in waterways is considered to be a small amount, it has been enough to already warrant concern in the observed affects in aquatic life. If there is exposure to the frogs, fish and other animals living in the water, it will eventually make its way into our drinking water and food chain.
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Safe medicine disposal
In Richmond, Phillips Drugs takes back unused medication at all of its locations and sends them away to be properly disposed. Phillips Drug locations are 1626 E. Main St., 631 E. Main St. and 1390 National Road W., all in Richmond. For more information, call (765) 966-5544. This leads to humans ending up with medicines in our systems that were not prescribed. The other issue to consider is the “cocktail” of medicines along with other chemicals that are finding their way to our soil and water ways. There are thousands of possible combinations of chemicals and drugs being disposed of daily. Scientists do not know the affect of these “chemical cocktails” on wildlife or humans. Proper disposal of unused medications also keeps them out of the hands of curious teenagers. Pharmaceutical drug use is growing among teens in the United States. In a survey by the Partnership for a Drug Free America conducted in 2005, 19 percent of teens had taken a prescription medi-
cation to get high. Unused drugs in medicine cabinets are easy to get and some even fetch a pretty penny on the street. The great news is that there are ways for you to easily and properly dispose of your unwanted medicines and prevent them from being part of the problem! In Richmond, Phillips Drugs takes back unused medication at all of its locations and sends them away to be properly disposed. Phillips Drug locations are 1626 E. Main St., 631 E. Main St. and 1390 National Road W., all in Richmond. For more information, call (765) 966-5544. Stephanie Hays-Mussoni is executive director of Cope Environmental Center, 4910 Shoemaker Road, Centerville, Ind. For more information, call (765) 855-3188 or see the website www.copeenvironmental.org
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Elaine Potter, left, and Pat Rea take a walk in Cambridge City. Walking together helps keep the friends motivated. Photo by Steve Koger
Walking helps boost attitude By Denise Canady
For Elaine Potter and Pat Rea of Cambridge City, walking time is time to stay in shape and keep their friendship going strong, too. The friends realized at least three years ago that each wanted to exercise, and agreed they’d be more likely to stick to a routine if they walked together. “You know the benefits, and being with a friend helps,” said Potter, 61. “It eventually becomes routine. You just enjoy it! … Walking is a good way to spend time together.” “When I walk by myself, I usually think, ‘I have to do this and get it over with,’” Potter said. “But time goes faster when you’re sharing good conversation in the fresh air. It kind of makes you closer, actually.” Besides being a fun way to spend time, walking is good for health. “You know it’s good for your heart to walk,” Potter said. “It’s a stress reliever — and walking keeps your weight at least steady.” And for Rea, 66, walking builds muscles and boosts her stamina. After being diagnosed a “borderline diabetic” about seven years ago, she decided to make healthier food choices and exercise regularly. Walking helps Rea
breathe better, too. “You know, you can practice deep breathing as you walk,” she said. The women prefer walking outdoors because it makes them feel more energized. When the weather is steamy, the two walk their three miles at about 6:30 a.m. They walk a bit later in the morning when it’s not unbearably hot. Potter laughed and said, “We’ve walked in the rain or in colder weather too, but don’t like it as much.” While they don’t have a set walk schedule, they try to walk three times a week. One will call the other to see when the next walk will be. But there are days when one thinks, “Ugh,” and isn’t very motivated. “But we encourage each other,” Potter said. “We say, ‘You’ll feel better if you go.’ ” Or Rea: “We say, ‘Let’s DO this.’ ” The women wear walking weights on their wrists to increase the amount of calories burned, and to help build muscle. Potter and Rea walk most along Main Street/U.S. 40 in the Cambridge City and Dublin areas. “We were thrilled when the newer sidewalks were finished along 40,” Potter said.
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wellness
92-year-old feels ‘great’ when he walks a mile a day For a 92-year-old Cambridge City man, walking comes so naturally he doesn’t think much about it. But others notice, and several have asked him about his dedication to staying in shape. When Vernon Clark walks his mile a day along U.S. 40 in Cambridge City, Ind., he says he feels rejuvenated. “I feel great.” A few women walkers he sees on his route join him now and then. He welcomes any who want to accompany him, but is used to walking alone - no matter what weather the day brings. Clark has done it for 20 or 30 years. “Folks always try and find out what makes me tick,” Clark said. “A lot of it is your attitude. It amounts to whether you’re going to take care of you or not.” “Your body’s meant to move,” he said. “If you don’t move it - a lot of things just don’t But the two have a few other routes that are more demanding, too. To supplement their walking days, the friends do home exercises on an elliptical trainer machine or follow along with weight, walking or resistance-training home videos. Potter also enjoys biking and sometimes walking with her husband, Jim, 60. And both spend a lot of time keeping up with grandchildren. “People just need to exercise more,” Rea said. “They need to get out and move. And keep going!” Both Kim Pattison of Pershing, and Jane Lunsford of Dublin, say walking is a great way to stay healthy — both physically and emotionally. “I have more energy to do other things, it helps control my weight, and is heart healthy,” Pattison said. “The extra benefit of walking is, it helps boost my attitude!” Pattison almost always walks with her husband, John. “It is a special time to catch up with each other and share what has happened in our day,” Pattison said. “We can encourage each other, and the time passes much faster together.” The Pattisons usually walk a 3 1/2 mile path on the new sidewalks in Cambridge City and in Dublin. The stretch along U.S. 40 has a steady incline on the first half of their walk heading west, and on the return trip the decline is a “reward for a good workout,” Kim Pattison said. 20 | Maximum Living
work right.” Clark asked, “Have you ever noticed the first thing a dog or a cat does when it gets up? It stretches.” There aren’t any tricks to making walking a routine practice. “You just have to go ahead and do it. The first step is always the hardest.” Clark attributes his good health in part to walking. “Walking happens to be one of the best exercises you can do. It’s number two after swimming” (he’s not much of a swimmer). Along with walking, he said, “I do pushups and sit ups, and other things …It must not hurt too much!” Clark doesn’t regularly take medication but he does take vitamins. “I have no aches or pains. I’m lucky I guess,” he said. “My mother lived to be 102, so I have a long way to go.” He shared that when many people finally retire from the workforce, they get out of routines and become unhealthy. “If you just want to be a lump and sit on the davenport — you’re done.” She occasionally does other exercises, but said she usually tires of them or has a difficult time fitting them into her schedule. “Walking is my tried-and-true favorite choice of exercise.” Pattison also loves to walk with other friends. For Lunsford, 62, walking helps relieve stress, improves sleep habits and of course burns calories. “I like walking alone, and use that time to clear my mind from daily stresses, to talk with God, and to listen to my iPod,” she said. It was hard at first to make walking a priority, Lunsford admits, but then “it became as addictive as that first cup of morning coffee.” While some people plan to sneak in a little walk by parking farther away in a store’s parking lot, Lunsford sometimes leaves the office at her workplace for a 10- to 15-minute walk. “My brain seems so much sharper when I return,” she says. Her walk time and route varies, and she sometimes shares an evening walk with her husband Rodney. In addition to walking, Lunsford swims two to three times a week at the Golay Community Center in Cambridge City with her cousins. Denise Canady of Milton writes for Maximum Living.
June/July 2011
Puzzle Solutions
wellness
June/July 2011
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calendar
EVENTS JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER
HEALTH
• ALS Association Indiana Monthly Support Group, 6:30
p.m.-8 p.m.,, First English Lutheran Church, 2727 E. Main St., Richmond. On the second Monday each month, a meeting is offered for those diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), their family, friends and caregivers. Information: www.alsaindiana.org • Meet and Eat, 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays, MCL Restaurant & Bakery, 3801 National Road E., Richmond. Organized by Widowed Persons Service. Info: (765)983-7307.
• Senior Health Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., July 15, The Gathering Place, 501 Nation Ave., Eaton, Ohio. Local businesses and organizations will have information on products and services available to seniors. Organized by Preble County Council on Aging. Additional screenings will be offered by exhibitors. Screenings are by appointment, with reservations available by calling the council on aging. Screenings include total cholesterol, good cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, Hemoglobin A1C (for diabetics), colorectal home screenings, height and weigh measurement. Fasting not required. Information: (937) 456-4947 • ‘We Care’ Caregivers Support Group, Preble County Council On Aging, 800 E. Saint Clair St., Eaton, Ohio. Call for schedule. Volunteer caregiver available on-site with advance reserva-
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tion. Free handicapped accessible transportation is available — call one week in advance. Info: Juanita at (937) 456-4947 or Marlene (937) 456-4376.
ENVIRONMENT
• Sustainable Living Demo Home Tours, 4 p.m., July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21, Cope Environmental Center,, 1792 Airport Road, Centerville. Visit an Indiana farmhouse being transformed into a sustainable home! Tours highlight a large variety and scope of ideas and changes for those interested in decreasing their consumption of natural resources. • Richmond’s Farmers Market, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., Tuesdays through Oct. 25, North E Street, Richmond. Area farmers providing fresh locally grown produce and handmade crafts. • Farmer’s Market, 3-7 p.m., Tuesdays through Sept. 22. J&J Winery, 3415 National Road W., Richmond. Local vendors with organic products.
ARTS
• Live gospel music concerts, First Baptist Church of
Richmond, 1601 S. A St., Richmond. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. Performers are: July 28, Ball Brothers; Oct. 13, Dove Brothers; Nov. 17, Ivan Parker. Tickets and info: (765) 962-3074, ext. 10.
• Live bluegrass music concerts, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., July 5,6
p.m.-8 p.m., Aug. 2,6 p.m.-8 p.m., Sept. 6,6 p.m.-8 p.m., Oct. 4,6 p.m.-8 p.m., Nov. 1, William G. Scott House (formerly Knights of Columbus Hall), 204 N. 10th St., Richmond. Hosted by Mae Wagers, performers for these free shows will be: July 5, Gospel Mountain Bluegrass; Aug. 2, Faith Way Singers; Sept. 6, Kings Road Quartet; Oct. 4, Russell Vanwinkle & Friends; Nov. 1, Earl Wiseman and Kentucky Express; Dec. 6, Christmas party and pitchin supper. Info: (765) 935-3476. • Jazz & Roots Music Concerts, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Gennett Mansion, 1829 E. Main St., Richmond. Cost is $10. BYOB. Light menu available. Performers are: July 7, Farmland; July 14, Suni McGrath. Info: (765) 935-0055. • Friday Night Gospel Sing, 7 p.m. Fridays, Go Ministries International, 5125 U.S. 40, New Paris, Ohio. Performers are: July 1, King’s Road; July 8, Genesis Trio; July 15, Hoy Bussell; July 22, The Minister’s Quartet; July 29, The Sonship Quartet; Aug. 5, Roy Knipp & Southern Harmony. Info: (937) 437-0092. • InConcert July 3, Aug. 20, Oct. 14, Nov. 19, 4th Floor Blues Club, 923 N. E St., Richmond. Must be 21. Cash bar available. Schedule: July 3, Laurie Morvan Band from Los Angeles; Aug. 20, The Soulmen, a Blues Brothers tribute band; Oct. 14, Big James and the Chicago Playboys; Nov. 19, Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings. For tickets or more info, call (765) 966-5654.
June/July 2011
RECREATION
• First Fridays, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2, Historic Depot District, Fort Wayne Avenue, Richmond. Cruise-in, live music, beer garden, family fun. • Gaar House & Farm Museum Tours July 3, July 17, Aug. 7, Aug. 21, Gaar House Museum, 2593 Pleasant View Road, Richmond. Public tours at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Cost: Adults, $5; 17 and younger, $2. Info: (765) 962-1262. • Randolph County Antique Club Annual Show, July 15, Randolph County Antique Club Annual Show, U.S. Hwy 27, Winchester. Info: (765) 584-8009. • Embroidery Club, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., July 3, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 7,2 p.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 4,2 p.m.-4 p.m., Oct. 2,2 p.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 6,2 p.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 4, Nancy’s Fancy’s Sewing Corner, 1446 N.W. Fifth St., Richmond. Enjoy seeing new products, learn new embroidery techniques, bring show and tell, have refreshments, and maybe win a door prize. We also meet the third Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon with the same program repeated. Find more events in the daily Palladium-Item newspaper and in the www.pal-item.com calendar. If your group would like to submit an event to be considered for this calendar, please send information to Millicent Martin at mmartin@pal-item.com or 1175 N. A St., Richmond, IN 47374. Information should be submitted by July 10 for the August/September issue.
Writer hosed by mixed message
COLUMN BY LORI BORGMAN
I
have never completely understood those elaborate bathroom showers with six, seven and eight nozzles shooting out from the walls in shower stalls the size of a two-car garage. These aren’t just walk-in showers, they are drive-thrus. We stayed at a hotel recently that had a quasi-fancy shower. It wasn’t the kind of shower you could drive a diesel truck through or hose off a Clydesdale in, but it was a definite nod toward luxury. The dual shower head featured a nozzle mounted high for shampooing and another nozzle halfway down the wall where you could bang your head on it and knock yourself unconscious if you dropped the shampoo and forgot a nozzle was jutting out from the wall. Both nozzles had adjustable spray settings ranging from fire hose agony to gentle jungle mist. Mounted on the wall next to the shower was a pretty plaque from the hotel management inviting you to indulge in the luxury and comfort of the specialty dual head shower nozzle installed for your pleasure. Then there were pictures of water drops. Below the water drops, on the bottom half of the plaque, was another message from management asking you to consider not using the second showerhead to help conserve water and save the planet. I invited other family members also staying at the hotel into the room to see if they, too, had the same kind of shower that invited you to use it and then asked you not to. Before long, four of us were crowded into the bathroom analyzing the shower and the plaque. “Who installs a fancy showerhead and then asks people not to use it?” “It’s like giving you an SUV and telling you not to drive it.” “Who’s giving away SUVs?” And the discussion pretty well deteriorated from there. The shower offered a mixed message to which there was only one response: Use the deluxe dual showerhead if you must, but please have the decency to feel guilty about it later. We do it all the time. We buy the magazine with the picture of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on the cover along with a teaser about an exercise guaranteed to flatten your stomach in only 10 minutes a day. Obviously, we buy the magazine to flatten our abs, but then find ourselves sitting at the table picking carrot cake crumbs from a now empty plate. Like the exercise we read about somehow cancels out the cake. We want the luxury of chocolate without calories, cream without cholesterol and late nights without next-day fatigue. We want endless streams of water without a thought for tomorrow, the Pottery Barn house without the price tag and the wonderful relationship without exerting any effort. I have no idea how you can enjoy the luxury without paying the price. Nor have I figured out how to indulge today without paying for it tomorrow. We have an entire country that hasn’t figured that one out. Until someone does solve the riddle, shower responsibly. Lori Borgman is a columnist, author and speaker. Contact her at lori@loriborgman.com June/July 2011
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