Healthy Habits

We’re all creatures of habit (some major, some minor) and sometimes we don’t even know we do these things. Here are seven strategies to help you break some of those repetitive habits:  Think about things you do and write them down. Consider asking your friends if you do things that annoy them (text too much?) and solicit their support for changing your behavior.  Focus on one habit at a time. See if you can figure out what triggers that habit. For example, shopping may give you instant gratification. Or maybe you do it because you are stressed or bored. If you can understand why, you do something repeatedly, you are one step further towards making a change.  Start small. Instead of saying, “I will no longer procrastinate,” say “I will spend 30 minutes working on this project today.” Use a timer and then take a break.  Find out how to implement a healthier routine that will give you the same reward. If you have the urge to eat, look at all your eating habits and make a commitment to a healthier diet. Avoid temptation: Get rid of the junk food in your house. Make eating healthier your new habit.  Do it with a friend or a group. Try a new activity, such as running or yoga. Groups and friends hold each other accountable.  Consider meditation. Once you know what triggers a behavior (especially stress), meditate to distract yourself when you’re in that situation.  Be your own coach. Be patient. Don’t beat yourself up if you make mistakes.

Summer at Crystal

There is more to Crystal Mountain than just winter activities! Crystal is open daily this summer beginning May 22nd and has a full schedule of activities. Start with the scenic gondola ride with over 2,400 vertical feet to the summit where you can enjoy amazing views of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Mountain Range. The Summit House features locally sourced, sustainable ingredients, at the highest elevation restaurant in the state. Take on the Flying Raven Adventure Course, an unforgettable activity for families as well as thrill-seekers. You can even say ‘I Do” atop Crystal with Mt. Rainier as your backdrop. Crystal is now ready to host your dream wedding. Mountain bike, hiking trails, and much more. Crystal Mountain summer activities are all family and dog friendly. When you stay at any of their lodging options, the Mt. Rainier Shuttle has daily trips into the park, and they stop at Rainier’s Sunrise Visitor Center. They even have room for your RV with hookups for rigs of all sizes. Have Fun!

Friends

 According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, men who have lots of friends, social contacts, and relatives live longer, more satisfying lives. In a study of 28,000 men in their early 40s to late 70s, researchers found that men who were socially isolated loners were 20 percent more likely to die prematurely. The socially isolated group also was 53 percent more likely to die from heart related diseases and stroke. Unmarried men included in the study had markedly higher death rates than married men with a strong family support system did. It appears that making friends and nurturing social relationships not only will make you healthier, but it could make you a lot happier too! Although it is hard to measure social isolation and loneliness ask yourself if you have fewer activities now than you did before the pandemic. Most people would answer fewer connections and fewer social gatherings are on their schedules. People are generally social by nature, and high-quality relationships should be part of our everyday lives. Finding a fun activity can be the key to adding friends to your life! Pick an activity like going to the gym, find a workshop or a class, volunteer for a non-profit, try a new sport like racquetball, find a church or spiritual group. You are certainly not alone if you are having a hard time making friends as an adult.

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.