Enjoy Your Own Company

Although the idea of “me time” has become more popular, there are people who equate being alone with loneliness—and no one wants that. Solitude can seem hard to find if you live in a busy city or a crowded house, but intentionally carving out time for yourself can have positive mental and physical health benefits. If, that is, you embrace being alone. Experts say that if being alone is your choice, you’re much more likely to enjoy the solitude and less likely to succumb to loneliness. But this doesn’t mean you have to become a hermit to be happy alone. It means you’re able to find happiness in solo pursuits of your choosing— exercising, birdwatching, creating art, or even working. If you struggle to do something you love when you’re alone, you may want to try an activity that boosts endorphin levels. After all, if you’re getting a happiness high from the activity, you’re more apt to do it again. Physical activity like gardening or beachcombing can work here (you don’t have to go to the gym to be physical), but you can also do volunteer work. Studies show volunteering makes people feel more fulfilled, and solo volunteer work may even be something you can do from home—think preparing meals for houseless people or making hats for preemie babies. The Japanese practice of “forest bathing” is a poetic term for something research has shown time and again: Spending time in nature is very good for us. Taking a solo hike in the woods is great, but movement isn’t necessary. You could knit in the park on your lunch break or watch flickers dig for ants in the backyard. It can also be a meditative experience, immersing yourself in the natural environment to allow you to take it in with all of your senses. Treat yourself to something special that you usually need company to justify, like dinner at a fancy restaurant or a ticket to the opera. And this doesn’t need to be expensive or even outside the home. You could cook a favorite meal, for instance, served on your good dishes. You don’t have to skimp on things you’d enjoy just because you’re flying solo.

Landscape Maintenance Checklist

In the spring:  Remove leaves, sticks, and debris that collected throughout winter.  Prepare garden beds for the season.  Do a maintenance check on drainage systems and outdoor lighting. In the summer:  Raise mower height to at least three inches.  Mulch flower beds as soil dries out.  Apply fertilizer to lawn mid-summer, if necessary. In the fall:  Mulch around perennials and plants that need extra insulation.  Winterize sprinkler system by draining and turn off watering timer.  Clean up all leaf and plant debris from yard and garden. In the winter:  Cut grass until temperature drops below 50 degrees F.  Use winter snow fences or burlap to protect plants from wind and salt.  Lubricate hand gardening tools to prevent rust.

Number #1 Source Of Calories

How many soft drinks or other sugar-added drink do you consume a day? One, two, five, or more? There’s an alarming trend occurring in the American diet—soft drinks and other sugar-added drinks are becoming the main source of calories. According to researchers at Tufts University, the average American consumes enough sweet drinks each day that add up to more calories than any other food source. In the study, researchers collected data to study the relationship between obesity and certain foods. What they found was shocking! Two-thirds of the people sampled reported that they consumed enough sweet drinks to provide them with more daily calories than any other food source. Want to lose weight? Limit your sweet drinks.

Seattle Parks and Rec

Seattle Parks and Recreation was formed in 1887 to manage city owned parks, open spaces, Woodland Park Zoo, The Seattle Aquarium, numerous boat launches and community centers. We have over 6,200 acres of property to maintain which is equivalent to roughly 11% of the city’s total area. The departments total budget is well over $100 million dollars per year! The largest park in Seattle is Discovery Park which has 534 acres of land in the Magnolia neighborhood. The park is built on the historic grounds of Fort Lawton. Our oldest park is Denny Park which was donated in 1861 by pioneer David Denny. One of my favorite parks is hidden Schmitz Park which was donated to the city in 1908 and holds the largest remaining tract of old growth forest left in the city. If you make the effort and walk the trial system, you will feel miles away from the big city. I hope you will make some plans to enjoy one of our beautiful parks this summer!

Outdoor Adventure Websites

Why sit inside when a world of adventure waits out your front door? www.rei.com – In addition to selling gear, REI offers an array of classes (many of them free) to help prepare you for everything from cycling and hiking to camping and climbing. www.geartrade.com – Gear can be pricey, but you can buy it used for a fraction of the price at this site. www.nps.gov – Find a U.S. National Park near you to begin exploring today.

Websites For Fun

You’re probably familiar with theonion.com, but consider these other sites for interesting tidbits and laughs: www.mentalfloss.com – Articles cover unusual topics from “performing the Star Wars theme on a calculator” to “how to kill bed bugs.” www.howstuffworks.com – Do you wonder how airbags really work? Find out here. www.maps.google.com – Click on the “Pegman” in the right-hand corner and browse Street View images. Search locations around the world and you’ll see amazing things.

Be Grateful

We would all rather be happy if given the choice. In some cases, our state of happiness can be a conscious choice we make to focus on the positive things in our lives. Learning to be grateful in your daily life is a surprisingly effective way to improve your health and overall happiness. The benefits of being grateful can be huge. Studies show that people who are more grateful sleep better, feel healthier, have higher self-esteem, have more energy, and experience less stress. Staying grateful isn’t always easy, but with all these physical and mental benefits it’s absolutely worth the investment of your time. Here are some easy ways to practice gratitude on a regular basis. Try out a few of them to see which suits you best. • Keep a “gratitude journal” to jot down 1-2 things you’re grateful for daily. • Actively work on cultivating positivity by looking for a bright side to negative situations. • Pay someone an unexpected complement each day. • Talk about 2-3 positive moments from the day during nightly dinner conversation. • Offer a heartfelt – not routine – “thank you” for a mundane task, such as someone holding a door open for you at the store. • Say out loud what you’re grateful for, even if you’re talking to yourself. • Put a picture of your family, or whatever you’re most thankful for, somewhere you’ll see it multiple times a day. • Donate your time to a favorite cause. Monetary donations are great, but donating your time is even more effective at making you feel grateful.

Make Family Your First Priority

1. Strong families spend lots of quality time together. We’ve all heard the well-known quote, “How do kids spell love?” T-I-M-E! Strong families spend lots of positive time working on family projects and playing together. 2. Appreciate One Other. Strong families appreciate each other’s unique qualities and contributions and express their feelings openly. Make a commitment to compliment each other at least once each day. 3. Foster Communication. Strong families listen to each other, respect each other’s opinions, and avoid interrupting. One of the most valuable ways to foster communication is by having at least one meal together each day. Do your best to set an example by putting away your phone or computer during meal time. 4. Strengthen Commitment. Strong families work together to solve their problems. They may not always agree, but they are willing and able to bring things out into the open and to talk about them. 5. Create Traditions. Strong families stay connected – another reason for having at least one meal together each day. Also, give your children the gift of friendship with their cousins, aunts, and uncles by keeping in touch regularly. 6. Set Rules and Expectations. Strong families set and put into practice clear guidelines and limitations. Family members take responsibility for their actions. Give grace and grace will follow.

Camping Tips: Safety First

There’s nothing like a camping trip to truly get away from it all. Make your next camping adventure more calm than calamitous with these important safety tips. • Know the weather forecast, current fire danger level, and how to handle local insects and wildlife you might encounter. • Ask for tips, information, and any current warnings from park staff. • Prepare for the elements with sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat in hot weather and warm layers in cold weather. • Bring a first-aid kit and insect repellent and be prepared for emergencies. • Pack plenty of water (or a way to purify water) and stay hydrated. • Allow at least two hours of daylight to scout a safe spot and set up camp. • Practice fire safety. Never cook in an enclosed space (carbon monoxide is odorless) or leave a fire unattended. • Learn how to store food overnight to keep wildlife at bay. • Know how to properly strike your camp, leaving no trash behind. • Notify someone of where you’ll be and when you plan to return, especially if you’re camping solo or will be out of cell phone range.

Talking To Your Kids About The News

We’re all exposed to a barrage of news from the media and internet 24/7. While access to information is good, many of the stories and images -- from school violence to natural disasters like the earthquake in Haiti -- may be disturbing to kids. Here are tips to help allay their fears and put the news in perspective:  Be aware of what they’re watching and monitor age appropriateness. Kids between the ages of 6 and 10 are most vulnerable to the news.  Watch the news together. Discuss current events and listen to what your child has to say about them.  Be sensitive to how you respond to a news event. Kids are always listening, even if they’re in the other room.  Talk about how you can help, particularly in the case of natural disasters. For information and guidance, go to www.pbs.org/parents.

Student Loans

Even if they’re financially savvy, a lot of Americans continue to carry student loan debt with them for years after they’ve graduated from college. Use these strategies to shake off that heavy financial burden: • Make it a priority. Yes, you have a lot of bills to pay, but focus on paying off student loans so you can turn your attention to saving for retirement. • Create a repayment plan that works. Make sure the date your student loan payment is due works with your monthly budget, and consolidate your loans so you only need to make one monthly payment. • Focus on variable private loans. The interest rates on these loans can quickly change, so pay as much toward them as possible while also putting at least a minimum monthly contribution toward fixed-rate federal loans. • Sign up for auto-deductions. If you opt for auto-deductions, you won’t accidentally miss a payment date. Plus, all government and some private lenders charge a slightly lower interest rate if you pay this way.

Gas Leaks

Natural gas leaks can be extremely dangerous—and because it’s naturally odorless, that familiar “rotten egg” scent is added to alert you as soon as possible about a gas leak. But there are some things that can make that warning smell weaker so you may not notice it quickly. • There is the danger of a spark causing a fire, of course, but natural gas poisoning is also possible if a gas leak goes undetected. Some of the symptoms include nosebleeds, headaches, chest pain, ringing in the ears, and dizziness. Pay attention to your pet’s behavior, too, as things like lethargy and vomiting may mean they have gas poisoning, too. • You should check all your gas appliances regularly to make sure the pilot lights are on (they should be blue with a yellow tip), and it’s not a bad idea to have your gas lines checked by a professional. In addition to your home’s smoke alarms, you might also want to install natural gas and carbon monoxide detectors to help with early alerts. • If you detect a leak, immediately open the windows, turn off electronic devices, and shut off the gas. Then call the gas company. Don’t go back inside until they say it’s safe to do so.

Sunscreen Benefits

It doesn’t just keep your skin from burning. A new study shows that using sunscreen every day decreases skin aging by 24 percent. Plus, look for the words “broad spectrum” on the new FDA-required label. That means the product will protect you against both UVA and UVB radiation. If a label has a high SPF but doesn’t say “broad spectrum,” then it’s not necessarily screening your skin from the longer UVA wavelengths. Sunscreens that aren’t broad spectrum, or have an SPF lower than 15, now have to include a scary warning on the label.

Solar in Seattle

The short answer is YES! The long dry summer days have the potential to make up for the dreary weather we get much of the year. According to a Google Project Sunroof analysis, which estimates viability based on Google Earth imagery approximately 85% of buildings in Seattle are solar viable. Look for incentive programs. There is a federal tax credit for homeowners who install a solar photovoltaic (solar) system before December 31, 2023. Learn more about the federal tax credit at energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics Get competitive bids. The EnergySage site (energysage.com/) lets you see multiple bids from solar providers. There are more than 500 companies in the site’s database, all of which have been pre-screened. Use the solar calculator. EnergySage also has what it calls a “Solar Calculator” (energysage.com/solar/calculator/), which gives you an estimate of what your potential monthly savings might be if you added solar panels to your house based on your current monthly electric bill. Consider leasing. Buying outright is increasingly popular with homeowners, but leasing solar panels is also an option. With a lease, you don’t pay for the system or its installation. If you end up generating more energy than your house consumes, Washington State even allow you to sell some of that energy back to the grid. Once you’ve calculated your monthly savings and gotten a bid, you can see how long it will take until you recoup your upfront costs.