SUMMER FOOTWEAR SALE!*
I hope you and yours had a wonderful Labor Day! Across the nation, the start of football season indicates Fall is approaching, but here, we’ll be enjoying summer temperatures for a bit longer.
As I write this, my youngest is moving into the dorm for his last semester of college—I am definitely aware the seasons are changing! I realize September is a month of transitions for all of us—and can be very stressful to many. I hope this month’s issue of The Grand Season will provide you with some practical tips on how to reduce unnecessary stress in your life.
Thank you for your support of The Grand Season and for supporting the local businesses who make our publication possible.
Melissa Whitton Associate Publisher/ Editor
THE GIFT OF CLARITY
For me the greatest beauty always lies in the greatest clarity.
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
When you quiet your mind, you can enter a world of clarity, peace and understanding.
Alice Coltrane
Clarity of vision is the key to achieving your objectives.
Tom Steyer
Beautiful things comfort; they bring a real clarity and ease. We have to continue to make our environments beautiful - it’s sort of like a prayer.
If you surround yourself with beautiful things, you have a better life - one with more oxygen.
Anjelica Huston
The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality.
Conan O’Brien
There is a beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Fearless means trusting your instincts and clarity of thought. Once you have made up your mind, don’t be scared of what if.
Ravi Shastri
Clarity affords focus.
Thomas Leonard
Mindfulness is about love and loving life. When you cultivate this love, it gives you clarity and compassion for life, and your actions happen in accordance with that.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
YOU LET IT GO!
Stress is a normal part of life, but sometimes it can be overwhelming. When you feel like you’re in the middle of a hurricane, take a moment to practice these ideas.
Just breathe
Your body already has a built-in stress fighter: your mind and your lungs. Focus on breathing slowly. Feel each breath. Try “grounding” yourself by taking stock of your surroundings and engaging your five senses. Tell yourself, “I feel my feet are planted on the ground,” “I hear the television is on in the background” or whatever else you’re noticing about the present moment. This may help ease your stress.
Go for a walk outside
Exercise—even if it’s just walking—can affect your mental health in profound ways. But you may be missing out on a few added perks by keeping your workout indoors. Research shows taking a walk in nature can alleviate depressive symptoms and significantly increase your mood. There’s something to be said for a little sunshine with your stroll.
Keep a gratitude journal
Or any journal, for that matter. Research suggests writing down negative thoughts can help clear your mind and jotting the things you appreciate can help improve your mental well-being.
Give therapy a shot
There’s nothing wrong with seeking mental health support. Experts agree that talk therapy is incredibly beneficial to sorting through and managing any negative emotions or behavioral health issues. And if you’re feeling weary of talking to someone face to face, online services can also be a way for you to sort out what’s going on with your psychological well-being.
Take a media break
Research shows that constant exposure to negative news can have a detrimental impact on mental health. If the cycle is weighing down on you, try unplugging or cutting back your media consumption for a period of time.
Go to bed an hour earlier
Sleep is a magical elixir when it comes to mental health. Research shows that losing Zs can make it difficult to regulate emotions and make you more irritable.
If your bananas start to brown on the outside, put them in the fridge. They will still get brown, but the inside stays firm instead of getting mushy.
Repair enlarged screw holes with a wooden golf tee. Use a hack saw to saw it flush, sand and finish!
While boating or fishing, tape small blocks of styrofoam to your eyeglass arms so they will float if they go overboard.
DINING GUIDE
Robert Downey Jr.’s breakout film was actually his 20th film -- “Soapdish” (1991). It was then followed by “Chaplin,” which earned him an Oscar nomination. It took 21 more films before he scored again with “The Singing Detective” (2003). It was common knowledge that he had substance abuse problems, which made producers hesitate to hire him.
But 16 films later, Downey scored again as Tony Stark in “Iron Man” (2008). Then came “The Incredible Hulk,” “Tropic Thunder,” two “Sherlock Holmes” films, “The Avengers” (2012), and “Iron Man 3” (2013). He continued to play Tony in “The Avengers” sequels, “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) before they killed Tony off! In 2020, his “Dolittle” film bombed and was a critical and commercial failure. However, winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for “Oppenheimer” prompted Marvel Studios to hire Downey again, this time as Dr. Doom in two upcoming “Avengers” sequels. HOLLYWOOD
Dinner and a Movie!
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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
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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.
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Find time to de-clutter your mind.
It’s that time of year when life begins to pick up steam and doesn’t slow down for several months. Before you get overwhelmed by the chaos, take time to practice de-cluttering your mind, so that when the time arrives, you can manage the chaos with a clear head and a calm heart.
Start the purging process with some of these ideas:
Read a book
Visit the aquarium
Get a massage
Take a drive
Watch the sunrise
Talk to a friend
Listen to relaxing music
Breathe deeply
Play cards
Meditate
Listen to music
Color in a coloring book
Take dance lessons
Go for a hike
Write a letter to yourself
Write a letter to a friend
Go for a swim
Practice yoga
Clean your closet
Dance
Journal
Unplug from technology
Take time to garden
Watch the sunset
Drink a cup of coffee
Play with playdough
Give someone a hug
Take a walk
Hold someone’s hand
Pet your favorite animal
Take a nap
CHECK MATE
Don’t let stress sabotage your relationship
“Stress impacts our love relationships more than we are aware of or acknowledge,” according to Judy Ford, a LCSW. She says, “Stress has become such a normal part of daily life that partners become immune to the symptoms and warning signs,” she said.
Ignoring stress only ignites it. “Even when a couple tries to ignore stress, like static in the air, it is felt and absorbed.” If partners do talk about being stressed, they may not know what to do about it, Ford added.
Also, “stress is contagious.” Ford compared stress to a game of ping-pong, where the tension “bounces back and forth between partners.” Partners become both unable to relax and enjoy each other, she said. Below, are a some ideas on how to protect your relationship from stress.
1. Recognize stress symptoms
Couples often become so accustomed to unchecked stress that they barely recognize it. So how do you know when your partner (or you) is stressed? Look for these signs: one or both partners are snappy, cranky, withdrawn, moody, pouty, teary, ornery, angry,
restless, hyper, agitated, overly excited. Or, one or both partners are self-medicating with drugs, alcohol, food, etc.
2. Listen
Learn how to listen. We all want the person we love to listen and understand what we’re going through. Unfortunately, listening is a skill few people actually do well, so make an effort to learn how to become an active listener.
3. Comfort
Many partners forget to console their significant other and instead try to problem solve. But, as Ford said, “Comfort each other first, problem solve second.” That’s because your partner might be looking for stress relief rather than a nitty-gritty brainstorming session.
4. Ask your partner what you can do.
An important way of supporting your loved one is to ask them flat-out how you can help. According to Ford, you might say: “Is there anything I can do to make your day go smoother?”
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