I can hardly believe it’s 2025! I’m always amazed how quickly time passes the older I get. I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday season and were able to share time with those who mean the most to you!
My holidays were filled with so much joy, as my youngest (Keegan) graduated college, and my oldest (Logan) proposed to the love of his life. I’m in for many life transitions in 2025.
Due to the impending transitions in my own life, this month’s The Grand Season is filled with ideas on how to identify your purpose and create new hobbies as you transition from one phase of life to the next.
My hope for you in 2025, is you find opportunities to serve others, and make amazing memories with your friends and family. Thank you for your support of The Grand Season and our advertising partners. We truly appreciate you!
Happy 2025!
Melissa Whitton Editor/Associate Publisher
FLASHBACK
Answers on pg. 16
1. The Temptations were first known by what name?
2. Who wrote and released “Same Old Song and Dance”?
3. Which artist was the first to release “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”?
4. Name the Gibb brother who released “I Just Want to Be Your Everything.”
5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “We used to have good times together, But now I feel them slip away, It makes me cry to see love die.”
YOU FINDING PURPOSE
Finding purpose in retirement often involves aligning your time with passions you’ve neglected, engaging with your community through volunteering, pursuing new hobbies, spending time with loved ones, and generally finding activities that bring you joy and a sense of contribution, allowing you to feel connected and valued beyond your professional career. If you’re looking for your purpose, start with these ideas:
Explore your passions. Reflect on what you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for, like learning a new language, playing an instrument, writing, gardening, traveling, or artistic pursuits.
Volunteer your time. Donate your skills and experience to a cause you care about, whether it’s at a local charity, school, or community center.
Build social connections. Join clubs, groups, or activities that allow you to interact with others who share your interests.
Mentorship and coaching. Share your professional knowledge by mentoring younger people in your field or volunteering as a coach.
Family engagement. Spend quality time with your grandchildren, help with childcare, or create new family traditions.
Learn new skills. Take classes, attend workshops, or pursue online learning to acquire new knowledge and interests.
Start a small business. If you have entrepreneurial spirit, consider launching a small business based on your expertise or hobbies.
Travel and explore. Visit new places, experience different cultures, and engage in adventure activities.
Explore creative pursuits. Express yourself through writing, painting, photography, or other artistic endeavors.
Prioritize your wellbeing. Spend time on self-care practices like meditation, yoga, or regular exercise to maintain physical and mental health.
As you look for your passions during retirement, make sure you take time to understand what truly brings you meaning and fulfillment. Find a mix of activities that provide stimulation, relaxation, and social interaction. Be open to new experiences—don’t be afraid to try new things and step outside your comfort zone. And, if you’re struggling to find purpose, consider talking to a therapist or counselor.
Are you a java junkie? Scientists found specific genes that are more caffeine-loving than others, so addiction to it might be genetic. In other words, you can go ahead and blame your parents for your coffee obsession.
If you pour cold water into a person’s ear, their eyes will move in the direction of the opposite ear. If you pour warm water into their ear, their eyes will move toward that ear. Used to test for brain damage, this process is called “caloric stimulation.”
You’re more likely to have weirder, scarier and sexier dreams when sleeping on your stomach.
“Family Feud” host Richard Dawson met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, when she was a contestant on the show in 1981. And yes, he did kiss her.
After four years of planning and two months of working nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a team of hackers at MIT turned their Earth and Planetary Sciences Department building into a giant, multicolored, playable Tetris game. It is considered unlucky to clean your house on the Chinese New Year. You risk sweeping away the good luck of the coming year.
Some areas in Scotland and Japan switched to blue street lights at night and saw a decrease in crime and suicide rates.
1. Is the book of Immanuel (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?
2. Which Old Testament prophet said the most about the birth of Christ? Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah
3. From Matthew 1:18, when Mary became pregnant, she and Joseph were ...? Married, Engaged, Just friends, Strangers
4. In Luke 2:8-11, how did the shepherds learn of Christ’s birth? Magi informed, Joseph announcement, Mighty wind, Angel appearance
5. Where did the wise men go first when they arrived in the Holy Land? Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron
DINING GUIDE
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FLASHBACK
Answers from pg. 8
1. The Elgins. They were renamed the Temptations when they signed on with Motown in 1961.
2. Aerosmith, in 1974. It was penned by Steven Tyler. The version on the group’s Greatest Hits album had 52 seconds cut out and the lyrics changed.
3. Kelly Gordon in 1969. The Hollies followed with what became the more widely known version, although it only topped the charts in South Africa. Years later, Bill Medley added his version to “Rambo III,” in 1988.
4. Andy, on his debut album. The 1977 song was penned by his brother Barry.
5. “So Sad,” by the Everly Brothers, in 1960. The song charted around the globe, and numerous artists released their own covers, including Steve Wariner and Emmylou Harris.
Dinner and a Movie!
1. Karen Ames, Buckeye
Andrea Barrios, Goodyear
Nancy Arsenault, Litchfield Park 4. Monica Armstrong, Peoria 5. Priscilla Maurer, Sun City 6. Valerie Cialkowski, Sun City West
7. Juanita Kram, Sun City West
8. Chris Harmonson, Surprise
ABOVE AND BEYOND
I truly believe everything that we do, and everyone we meet is put in our path for a purpose. There are no accidents; we’re all teachers - if we’re willing to pay attention to the lessons we learn, trust our positive instincts and not be afraid to take risks or wait for some miracle to come knocking at our door.
Marla Gibbs
Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit.
Kallam Anji Reddy
The climb might be tough and challenging, but the view is worth it. There is a purpose for that pain; you just can’t always see it right away.
Victoria Arlen
Those who improve with age embrace the power of personal growth and personal achievement and begin to replace youth with wisdom, innocence with understanding, and lack of purpose with self-actualization.
Bo Bennett
I believe that God has put gifts and talents and ability on the inside of every one of us. When you develop that and you believe in yourself and you believe that you’re a person of influence and a person of purpose, I believe you can rise up out of any situation.
Joel Osteen
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Goals give us purpose, which, in turn, motivates us to make ourselves the best version in all aspects of your life.
Hannah Bronfman
Regardless of whatever I do, I know what my purpose is: to make a difference in people’s lives.
Tim Tebow
AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ
A Message from Sue Royer
“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”
Sue RoyerDirector
About Us
Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living.
When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.
We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:
• Group Homes
• Assisted Living Communities
• In-Home Primary Care Physicians
• Home Health Care Therapy
• Transportation
• Private Duty In-Home Care
• Respite Care
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Memory Care
• Hospice
• Support Groups
Assisted living resources accepting:
• Private pay
• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS
• Medicaid
• VA Benefits
6 Reasons You Should Call
AAA Senior Placement AZ
• We are well known and respected in the medical community.
• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.
• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.
• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.
• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.
• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.
Locally-owned businesses create more jobs locally and often provide better wages and benefits.
DELETE DEBT
Strategies to eliminate credit card debt
If one of your goals for the next 12 months is to eliminate credit card debt, experts suggest the following tips will help you achieve your goal.
1. Target just one card first
If you’re carrying balances on multiple cards, it can be a long haul to wipe out those debts. So give yourself a boost of instant gratification right from the start. Ask yourself: What short-term financial goal will make me feel as though I’m making meaningful progress on debt reduction?
2. Ask your creditors for lower interest rates
Often a simple phone call to the issuer is all it takes to get a reduced rate—provided that you have good credit and you are a long-term customer who makes payments on time. You could get a percentage point or two shaved off, which can add up to hundreds of dollars saved annually.
3. Make two minimum payments each month. Card issuers typically charge interest on a daily basis, so the sooner you make a payment, the faster your average daily balance is reduced, which translates into fewer dollars in interest that you ultimately pay.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Being in a healthy, loving relationship is something everyone dreams of having at a certain point in life, but what does it mean to be in a relationship? Here are some signs you’re in a “healthy” relationship:
1. You don’t depend on your partner for your happiness.
Whether you are with your partner or away from him, you continue to be happy and enjoy life to the fullest. Your happiness is self-generated and not dependent on the other person.
2. You are more concerned with giving than with getting.
You are both great givers, offering so much but without keeping score. And you give, not because you want to receive something in return, but because you’re both overflowing with love.
3. You don’t ‘play games’ with each other.
In a healthy relationship, there is no lying, cheating, manipulating, punishing, hiding or pretending. You don’t play games with each other, and you treat one another with love, honesty, appreciation and respect.
4. You give each other the freedom to be yourself.
In a world where so many people try to ‘fix’, change and control the person they are in a relationship with, you and your partner give one another the gift of freedom, allowing each other to be yourself freely, openly and unapologetically.
5. You give each other space.
Because you understand a happy and fulfilling relationship is built by two happy individuals, you give each other the necessary space, time and distance to express yourself and be yourself. You give each other the space and time to replenish, revive and renew yourself.
6. You take the time to appreciate each other.
When couples blame and criticize each other for the things that go wrong in their relationships, you two praise and acknowledge one another constantly, honestly and openly. You focus on the good traits of the other person and not on the negative ones, praising and reinforcing the positive behavior instead of the negative one.
