Perfect Time to Plan a Summer Road Trip

Summer road trips are an American tradition that cannot be beat! On May 3rd, 1903, a former bicycle racer, his dog, and a retired doctor looking to collect on a $50 bet embarked on the first cross-country road trip. Previous automobile trips had ended in failure as roads were still extremely primitive. There were no road signs or gas stations, auto repair shops, or phone booths; you were basically on your own. Leaving San Francisco, it took 63 days to get to New York City. The Cannonball Run record is currently 25 hours and 39 minutes. Dwight D. Eisenhower signed The Federal Highway Act of 1956 which authorized $25 billion for construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways. It was by far the largest public works project in American history. We now have nearly 49,000 miles of interstates. Hop on the longest interstate highway in the United States in downtown Seattle and in 3,020 miles you will reach the end of I-90 in Boston MA. The United States of America has 63 National Parks that are operated by the National Park Service. President Ulysses S. Grant signed an act of Congress creating Yellowstone as the first National Park in 1872. Yellowstone was the first National Park in the world! We now have more than 52 million acres protected for future generations. We have 26 National Parks within a two-day drive. One of my all-time favorite road trips was to Yellowstone National Park coming in from Cody and leaving thru Grand Teton National Park to Jackson. I hope you are inspired to get out on the open road and celebrate our country’s lasting love affair with the automobile this summer.

Healthy Friendships

We sure had some crazy weather this week...wow! Looks like a nice weekend ahead. Hope you have some fun plans! Good friendships are good for your health and happiness, but you need to nurture them. Just like a marriage, you need to work on staying connected and forgive and forget any slights. Friendships share a lot in common with marriages so don’t take them for granted and don’t forget you need to work on them to keep them healthy. Here are three reminders of small things you can do to be a better friend. Be there for your friends, in good times and bad. The most valuable thing you have to give is your time. Let friends know that you care about and appreciate them. When was the last time you made a simple gesture, like a phone call or personal visit instead of an email or text? If a friend needs to talk, it’s your turn to listen. Give advice or offer your opinion, but only if your friend asks for it. Of course, keep your conversations private. Keep it fresh and dynamic. Introduce your friends to other friends. One-on-one is wonderful, but adding new friends to your circle can bring different viewpoints, interests and personalities. CB Since 1906! I am ready to go to work for you today. David

The Healing Power of Kindness

When was that last time you noticed you were grumpy, then, out of the blue, someone does or says something nice to you? Didn’t it make you feel better…even a lot better? When you are kind to other people, it also makes you feel good about yourself. And it’s good for your health. Researchers have found positive people have fewer health problems. In his book, It’s a Meaningful Life, it Just Takes Practice, author Bo Lozoff writes about the importance of being kind and building a better community. That community encompasses family, friends, co-workers, and the people you meet in your daily life (the bank teller, cashier, the parking lot attendant). So as you go about your day, be kinder to your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, and wherever your travels take you. Then see if adding a little more kindness to your daily diet makes a difference in how you feel, how other people respond to you, and how others feel when you are kind to them. It’s a worthwhile experiment!

Keys to Happiness and Success

Albert Schweitzer once wrote, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Here are seven steps you can take today to achieve more happiness and success in your life: 1. Believe In Yourself. Identify your natural talents and abilities. Do what you enjoy and what you do best. Truly successful and happy people find joy in their working lives. Invest your time in what you do best. Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses. 2. Develop a Vision. First, define your path and start working your plan. Write down a vision for yourself and your life. Be specific. What do you want to accomplish? What do you want your life to look like in 5 years, 10 years? 3. Develop Good Habits. Happy and successful people choose good habits. If you’re watching too much TV, chronically late, or eating poorly, make a commitment to change your bad habits into habits consistent with your goals. 4. Show Gratitude. The happiest people are also the most grateful people. Count your blessings frequently and you’ll quickly start seeing a change in yourself and the world around you. 5. Take A Chance. Seize opportunities! Success and happiness does not come to those who sit and wait for it to be brought to them. 6. Give to Others. Studies reveal that the happiest people are also the most generous. Do, say, or give something nice to another and see how your own life improves. 7. Take Responsibility. You hold the key to your future. Take responsibility for your actions. Choose the work you like to do, and do it well. Ultimately, you are the master of your fate. You choose your own future by the decisions you make and the actions you take.

Pets Add Years to Our Lives

We know how much love and affection pets can bring to our lives, but there’s more. Scientific studies have found that having a pet can significantly improve your health. 1. Heart Benefits. The American Journal of Cardiology reports pet owners are more likely to survive a heart attack than those who don’t own a pet. Another study found people who owned a dog were more likely to be alive one year after a heart attack. 2. Lower Blood Pressure. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that pets help lower blood pressure. An American study found men who owned a cat had a lower resting heart rate and lower blood pressure than men who didn’t own a cat. And after a stressful event, their blood pressure returned to normal more quickly. 3. Mood Elevator. People, particularly seniors, who own pets are less likely to be depressed and lonely. Pets can provide companionship, humor, and add playfulness to our daily lives. 4. Kids and Health. Research presented at the Conference on Human Animal Interaction found that children who have pets have fewer sick days. They reported that children who had pets had higher self-esteem and functioned better emotionally. Research studies also found that children with pets coped better with divorce. 5. An Exercise Buddy. Dogs need regular exercise, which also gets their owners walking. This can improve their overall health. As an added benefit people improve their social network as they socialize their pets.

Cozy Home

We spend so much time in our homes that it’s important to create a space that relaxes you and allows you to rejuvenate for whatever is next on your to-do list. • Choose fluffy fabrics. Bump up the squish factor significantly with a faux fur throw pillow, blanket, or throw rug. • Opt for warm lighting. Candlelight isn’t the only kind of “warmth” we mean here. Look for light bulbs that give off a warm-toned light. • Layer in lap blankets. Drape a super-soft lap blanket over the arm of your favorite chair to snuggle in with a good book. • Add more textiles. Hard surfaces make sounds echo, which may make a room seem more cavernous than it is. Lay down a big area rug or hang textile art to dampen sounds. You may want to consider upgrading your loungewear, too, to include fuzzy slippers or a fluffy new bathrobe.

Immune Boost

Here are a few habits you might want to get into to boost your immune system.  Move! There are many reasons why daily physical activity is good for you, and you can add immune boosting to the list. Movement helps reduce stress, and stress taxes your immune system. Try to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise weekly (walking, hiking, bike riding).  Be mindful of what goes into your body. It’s no surprise that you’ll help your immune system by quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, but the same is true for adding more plant-based foods into your diet. Even some herbs and spices contribute to immune health, including cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, and thyme.  Get a little sun. Yes, you can take vitamin D supplements, but sun exposure is still considered the best way to get vitamin D into your system—and some evidence indicates it may help your immune system. A good rule is 10-30 minutes, a few days a week (just don’t get burned).  Plan a Vacation Many Americans have unused vacation time, and more companies are going with a use it or lose it policy instead of offering to cash out accrued hours. Planning a vacation is half the fun and you will absolutely boost your mood and boost your immune system.  Relax. This doesn’t mean you have to learn to meditate, but it does mean that it’s important to your immune system that you don’t let stress take over. Set aside some time every day to do something that relaxes you.  Laugh. When we laugh, our stress levels decrease, and that’s good news for the immune system. Hang out with a funny friend!