Parker, CO November 2020

N OV E M B E R 2 02 0

LI F E + C U LTU R E C HAN G I N G L IVES - O N E P U P P Y I N T R AI N I N G AT A T I M E

7474 Gooseberry Court Parker, CO $850,000 | 5 Bed | 6 Bath | 4,934 SQ FT Don't miss this opportunity to own a home in the beautiful Timbers neighborhood on a cul-de-sac! This home features a professionally landscaped 1/2 acre lot with mature pine trees, large deck and private backyard complete with new hot tub. The main floor features maple hardwood flooring throughout the foyer, formal living room, dining room, kitchen and spacious family room. The kitchen has been updated with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, and glass backsplash. The double staircase leads to the upper floor where you will find something that you don't see very often....4 bedrooms each boasting a private ensuite!

The master bedroom suite includes a fireplace, five-piece bathroom with 2 walk in closets. Welcome houseguests to the finished basement to enjoy their private bedroom/bath in addition to a large bonus room with a pool table in a musician's paradise. Enjoy this home convenient to schools, Colorado Horse Park, Pinery Country Club/Golf Course, and numerous walking trails!

Nancy Austin CRS, GRI, CLHMS, CNE, ABR Broker Associate 720.371.9779 nancy.austin@compass.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

NOVEMBER 2020 PUBLISHERS

Joan Dameron | joan.dameron@lifestylepubs.com, Jeni Fleck | jeni.fleck@lifestylepubs.com

Where Would We Be Without You? WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU? We know so many of us can't wait for this year to be over, yet how can it be that we are already nearing the end? The holidays will be here before we know it, and pretty

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Hannah Echols Grieser | hannah.echols@lifestylepubs.com AD DESIGNER

Whitney Lockhart L AYO UT DESIGNER

Dani Moore

soon we will be writing out our New Year resolutions as we look to a brighter, more

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

vibrant 2021.

Joan Dameron, Hannah Echols Grieser

In this issue, we offer you the opportunity to reflect with us and spend some time being grateful for the people we have around us. Hannah Grieser takes a deep

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jolie Rodriguez, Cameron Yarumian, Sarah Majka

dive into gratitude. We can all find something to be grateful for each and every day. Sometimes it is in giving that we get more than we ever thought was possible.

This is the perfect time of year to get your kids or grandkids involved in a charitable organization. Nonprofits like Extended Hands of Hope (featured on page 18) are struggling this year due to the lack of public events and annual fundraisers. Our volunteer efforts are important to organizations like Freedom Service Dogs of America (featured on page 12)-- they’re in need of puppy raisers! As Francis Chan points out in ‘Walking the Walk’, people who choose to be loving and selfless are the happiest.

Thank you for your community service and all you do to keep Parker thriving. We are proud of where we live, and we know it wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you. We are so grateful that we get to create this magazine every month and connect with you and your family. Thank you for sharing your stories

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

and for reading ours. Thank you for always supporting the local businesses in our

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

community, as without them, this magazine wouldn't be possible.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

Continue to share stories of what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving and embrace

AD MANAGER Chad Jensen

your gratitude journey every day. Don't forget to look at each person around your

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams

table and remember how they have made a difference in your life. If you can't be

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

with loved ones this holiday season, pick up the phone and tell them what they mean to you. We wouldn't be here without each other.

Happy Thanksgiving, Parker.

With heartfelt gratitude, Jeni and Joan

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

ARIZONA | CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | CONNECTICUT | FLORIDA | GEORGIA IDAHO | ILLINOIS | KANSAS | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MICHIGAN

Jeni Fleck, Publisher

Joan Dameron, Publisher

MINNESOTA | MISSOURI | MONTANA | NEW JERSEY | NORTH CAROLINA OHIO | OKLAHOMA | OREGON | PENNSYLVANIA | SOUTH CAROLINA TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WASHINGTON

ON THE COVER Freedom Service Dogs Puppy in Training

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMANDA ENGEL PHOTOGRAPHY 4

Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

Proverbs 3:5-6 Parker Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Parker area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Parker Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

INSIDE THE ISSUE NOVEMBER 2020

FEATURES 8 Seasonal Strength Workout Anywhere, With Anything!

12 Service Dogs Transforming Lives Freedom Service Dogs of America Provides Trained Assistance Dogs Nationwide From Right Here In Colorado

24 Cozy Up Sarah Fennell of Interior Delights Offers Accessories to Warm Up Your Home

12

28 Cultivating Gratitude How to Create a Lifestyle of Sustainable Thankfulness

8

24 28 DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

8

Healthy Lifestyle

12

Giving Back

18

Inspired By

24 Renovate & Refine 28 Faith Reflections 31

Hometown Hero

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

SEASONAL STRENGTH WORKOUT ANYWHERE, WITH ANYTHING!

ARTICLE HANNAH ECHOLS GRIESER | PHOTOGRAPHY JOLIE RODRIGUEZ

YOU’VE HEARD OF PUMPING IRON, BUT HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF PUMPING— PUMPKINS? We took a team up to Bluffs Regional Park to see how we could fuse fall and fitness together. Don’t worry, you don’t have to haul a pumpkin up the 2.25 mile loop like our model, Marcus Dilley, did to get a good workout in. Bluffs Regional Park has rocks of all sizes that can be substituted for the moves pictured below, while also offering stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown Denver. Many gyms are under tight restrictions or closed due to COVID-19, but Colorado is privileged with several natural alternatives to build strength and endurance. If cooler weather or snow hinders outdoor options, all of these moves can be completed at home with a medicine ball, a large book, or a bag stuffed with with heavy items.

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

“MANY GYMS ARE UNDER TIGHT RESTRICTIONS OR CLOSED DUE TO COVID-19, BUT COLORADO IS PRIVILEGED WITH SEVERAL NATURAL ALTERNATIVES TO BUILD STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE.”

01.

DEEP SQUAT

02.

THE V

03.

UPPER-BODY LUNGES

Start with your feet shoulder-width

This move is true to the name.

Keep the upper body straight and

apart and gradually move them out-

Simply position your body in a V for-

engage your core. Step forward with

wardly until you feel comfortable. The

mation, making your legs and arms

one leg and lower your hips until

wider your stance, the more you work

as straight as possible. You’ll begin

both knees are bent at a 90-degree

your butt rather than your quads. Sit

to feel the tension in your abdominal

angle. Don’t let your knee extend

back into the squat and resist pushing

muscles almost immediately! Hold

beyond your ankle. Continue to step

your knees forward. As you go deeper,

the position for as long as you can.

forward with the weight held above

your glutes and hips work harder and

Tip: Use your phone as a timer so you

your head. The burn you feel in your

gain strength. Listen to your body and

can keep track and push your limits.

arms just might distract from the

adjust accordingly.

pain in your legs!

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

9

The Dream Starts Here!

We are the ultimate instructional school for all things BEAUTY, from COSMETOLOGY to ESTHETICS and MORE!

What makes the

BEAUTIFUL

Difference?

• Our students are our #1 customers!

• We are growing people not businesses. Our passion for our students' success drives us to be the best.

• A luxury salon atmosphere instead of an institutional environment creates an elevated, real life learning experience.

• We produce career ready students, not apprentice ready students.

• A low Student to Teacher ratio allows for immersive learning and individualized development.

• We teach multiple product lines so our students graduate with confidence and the skill set to start their careers.

Stacey James Institute also gives back to the community by participating in many non-profit events and as a valued student, you can take part in this culture.

Our learning environment mimics the real-world salon experience so our students are fully prepared upon graduation to start their career. Our educators go through constant continuing education so they are able to pass their extensive experience on to our students.

Call for a TOUR today and experience the STACEY JAMES DIFFERENCE in person!

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GIVING BACK ARTICLE HANNAH ECHOLS | PHOTOGRAPHY AMANDA ENGEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Service Dogs TRansforming Lives

FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS OF AMERICA PROVIDES TRAINED ASSISTANCE DOGS NATIONWIDE FROM RIGHT HERE IN COLORADO

12

Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ADAGE THAT DOGS ARE A MAN’S (AND A WOMAN’S!) best friend. However, this local nonprofit has an even deeper understanding of the role a dog can serve.

“Clients often say that their dog saved their life,” says

“I’M NO LONGER STARED AT AS A HUMAN LIABILITY, AND PEOPLE DON’T QUESTION WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME.”

Erin Conley, the Communications Director at Freedom Service Dogs (FSD). “Dogs have found their humans in crisis, or even pressed life alert buttons. They also provide needed companionship and connection.”

FSD aims to unleash the potential of dogs by transforming them into custom-trained, life-changing assistance animals for people who live with certain disabilities.

Though it costs between $30,000 and $50,000 to train one dog, they are completely free to those accepted into the program. Accredited by Assistance Dogs International, the highest standard, FSD ensures that both team members are equipped to support one another.

In order to achieve these goals, FSD does quite a bit of work. Nobody tells the story of this organization better than the people who are most closely a part of it. Here are a few testimonies from recent graduating classes.

London & Lori (Team LoLo) Lori has mobility challenges due to experiencing strokes and spinal stenosis. Her service dog, London, is a great comfort and companion. “I remember the day I got the call from FSD. It was August 14th. “We think we have a service dog for you. Are you interested?” they asked. Was that a loaded question, or what? Of course, I said yes. From then on, I counted every day, every hour, until I could look into London’s baby brown puppy dog eyes. Then the day came. Several of us met in the conference room at FSD. I had to fake paying attention, and kept telling myself, “Let’s just get to it! I want to meet this little fur ball!” Finally, someone let London into the room.

She slathered me with the wettest, sloppiest kisses, and she hasn’t stopped since.

London is a great conversation starter to bring people into the realm of disability culture. I’m no longer stared at as a human liability, and people don’t question what’s wrong with me. They become comfortable with seeing me as a unique individual with a unique way of dealing with the world— and, with a cute dog.”

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

13

GIVING BACK (CONTINUED)

Jackson & Windy Jackson is an exuberant 12-year-old with autism. Windy has been trained to snuggle with Jackson and help him stay calm in times of stress with simply a nudge of her nose.

“I like Windy because she’s always happy, and when she comes to me in the mornings, she goes crazy! We get up, play in the morning, and rest at night-time,” Jackson says. “I pet her, rub her belly, and sometimes feed her treats so she’ll be good.”

Windy’s kisses help Jackson relieve stress, and he says that rubbing her belly is undoubtedly his favorite part to pet. He says that she does the “wiggle butt” when she plays, and that he will “wiggle her butt for the rest of my life!”

Danny & Mentor, U.S. Air Force Veteran Danny is studying to become a Licensed Professional Counselor with the hope of helping fellow veterans.

“Mentor has really helped me with my anxiety and PTSD. Being diagnosed with PTSD while on active duty is very isolating, and after losing so many of my friends, I realized things needed to change.

That’s where Mentor came into the picture. Mentor helps me get out more and socialize. I look forward to hiking and traveling with him because I haven’t been able to due to the anxiety of not having anyone around.

If you’re on the fence about getting a service dog, you should look into it. I used to compare myself to a lot of veterans by thinking things like, “I’m not missing an arm or a leg, so I don’t need a service dog.”

However, my service dog changed me, helped me through therapy, and is still helping me today.”

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

“WE BUILT A CONNECTION, AND IT’S PRETTY POWERFUL.”

Ben & lapis U.S. Air Force Veteran

Volunteers Needed!

FSD needs Colorado residents to vol-

“My name is Ben, and I am 38 years old. I came to Freedom Service Dogs looking to acquire a service animal because there are a lot of things, including combat related stress, that I struggle with. Sometimes, with my triggers, I am not able to cognitively be present. Lapis really helps me, and when I’m out with her, I can constantly engage with her, treat her, and monitor her behavior. We built a connection, and it’s pretty powerful. However, it took me a while to get used to her and to be able to read her body language. I think that’s what practicing mindfulness is about… it’s about monitoring your senses and staying present, and she helps me do that. It’s amazing.

I remember lying in bed the night that I first got Lapis. I felt discouraged and wondered if I would be able to do this. I had all of these doubts, was sobbing uncontrollably on my bed— kind of triggered— and she jumps up and starts licking my neck. Almost immediately, she pulled me out of that negative thought process. It is a really good grounding skill that I didn’t teach her or tell anybody

unteer and help raise the next generation of service dog trainees. These specially-trained volunteers will host a 4-5 month old puppy in their homes for approximately 10 months. They play an integral role by reinforcing basic obedience and manners, as well as socializing them through exposure to different people, places, and experiences. The hope is that these puppies will grow up to be service dogs that increase the independence and self sufficiency of their human partners. It’s a big commitment, but so rewarding!

that I needed. She just knew.”

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

15

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

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INSPIRED BY

EXTENDED HANDS OF HOPE COLORADO NONPROFIT GIVES SEX-TRAFFICKING VICTIMS A PLACE TO PROCESS AND HEAL ARTICLE HANNAH ECHOLS GRIESER PHOTOGRAPHY SARAH MAJKA

“HOPE IS BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT THERE IS LIGHT

safe house, is a farmhouse-style building tucked away on

DESPITE ALL OF THE DARKNESS.” — Desmond Tutu

10 acres of land. The word Avanti means “come in”, and

Light eradicates darkness and exposes hidden injustices.

the cozy atmosphere of EHH’s refuge stays consistent

Awareness about a certain injustice— sex trafficking— is on

with it’s inviting namesake. It contains two bedrooms, a

the rise, and a group of hopeful Coloradans are fighting it

communal living room, and can house up to five girls at

with open hands.

a time. They aim to stay at capacity because of the huge

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which

need, and the hope is that the girls will stay for 1-2 years.

individuals perform commercial sex through the use of

The program manager at the Avanti House, D’Shayanna

force, fraud, or coercion. According to the National Human

Donning, notes that the decision to stay at the safe house is

Trafficking group, there were 127 sex trafficking cases in

often a complicated one for the girls.

Colorado in 2018. That’s not to mention all of the crimes that went undocumented. Many of these victims are children.

Statistics are just numbers,” notes Sarah Majka. “Those don’t hit home. But when you hear a real story about a par-

“It’s not always warm fuzzies at Avanti House. The work that we ask these girls to do is HARD. They are faced with working through vast traumas, and are expected to follow rules that may seem silly or unrealistic to them,” she says.

ent that trafficks their child, a runaway who has to sell them-

The understanding that healing is a journey is what allows

selves to survive, or a young girl who falls in the hands of a

EHH to operate with a sustainable, realistic hope. The team

“boyfriend”/predator who sells her, that is when the statistics

celebrates small successes and provides space to grow.

become glaringly and painfully real.

“We might be only be one link on a long chain of recovery,”

Sarah is the Developmental Director for Extended

Sarah explains. “These young girls don’t just come to the

Hands of Hope (EHH), a nonprofit that provides a safe

house, get their treatment, earn a high school degree and

house and trauma-informed supportive services to girls

become miraculously reintegrated into society.”

from the ages of 11 to 17 that have undergone sex traf-

Sadly, only one percent of trafficking victims nationwide

ficking or are at risk of being trafficked. They also have a

have a shelter bed available. This means that many adults are

Community Program for girls 17+ to help assist with case

left homeless and many children are looped into the foster

management, holistic care, life skills, advocacy, family

care system. According to Jefferson County and Arapahoe

relations and beyond. True to the name, a safe home is

County social services, there are young girls in Denver that

a haven where people who have experienced some form

will not be alive in one year if there isn’t an intervention of

of trauma can live and recover. The Avanti House, EHH’s

safe housing and services for them.

18

Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

CONTINUED >

THE TEAM AT EXTENDED HANDS OF HOPE GETS

DOLLED UP TO PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY AT

THE HOMECOMING DANCE FOR THE SAFE HOUSE GIRLS.

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

19

INSPIRED BY (CONTINUED)

The team at Extended Hands of Hope is doing what they can to mitigate the need. They have a 24-hour team in the Avanti House, as well as a teacher and a therapist.

Through the Carriers of Hope program, girls are partnered with a community mentor who invests in them both when they are in the safe house and once they leave. In addition, they created an empowerment and entrepreneurship program called ‘Simply Good’ where they sell all natural, handmade body and lip scrubs.

EHH hopes to accrue the support necessary to build more safe houses on their expansive property. Each room they’re able to offer has the potential to redirect the course of a young girl’s life. The Coronavirus has hindered EHH fundraising efforts while simultaneously exacerbating the need for their services.

“There’s more demand for help because more kids are at home, environments are more toxic for abuse, and many children run out on the streets to escape,” Sarah says. In addition, children are spending more time online for school and socializing, so traffickers are targeting them on the internet. According to Web-IQ, a cyber company that combats illegal actions through extracting online data, there was a 200 percent spike in posts on child sex abuse forums between February and March, combined with nearly 90 percent drop in the amount of child sex abuse material removed from the internet.

EatUp! Denver, an annual fundraiser that typically generates up to $100,000 in fund for EHH, only raised 15 percent of that total this year. Though the Coronavirus has been detrimental to the majority of the population’s pocketbooks, Sarah urges people and companies who haven’t been negatively affected to consider giving to EHH. “Giving is living,” she says, “Sex trafficking is in our backyards, it’s under our noses, and once you know, you can’t unknow. Everyone can play a part.” EHH”s Year End Campaign “Sowing Hope” is coming up quickly, along with Colorado Gives Day on December 8th. You can easily donate at www.extendedhandsofhope.org, or reach out to Sarah at smajka@extendedhandsofhope.org for more information on how to become a Sower of Hope!

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

CityLifestyle.com/Parker

21

REDEFINING YOUR OUTDOOR

living space

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

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23

RENOVATE & REFINE

Coz y Up ARTICLE JOAN DAMERON | PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERON YARUMIAN

SARAH FENNELL OF INTERIOR DELIGHTS OFFERS ACCESSORIES TO WARM UP YOUR HOME

GET COZY.

Neutrals provide a timeless canvas for your interior space

The intoxicating scent of an apple cider candle draws cus-

and seasonal pops of color can be added without competing

tomers into the front door of Interior Delights. Fall is in the

with your room’s overall style. This fall and winter, think out-

air. Cozy, neutral farmhouse decor instills an instant sense

side the grey and cream box. On trend schemes mimic the

of calm and the longing to cuddle up by the fire with a good

colors of nature - terracotta, cinnamon, caramel, khaki and

book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Wood furniture,

olive green create layers of depth and warmth.

unique lighting, metal accents, soft throws and textured pil-

Wall decor can be both functional and fun. A wood or

lows provide the tools to do a total room makeover or spruce

metal clock can make a statement on its own or be grouped

your space up for the fall and winter holiday season.

with photos or other artwork on a large wall. Woven baskets

24

Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

1.

are accent pieces that provide storage for everything from throws to firewood and holiday babbles to pine cones. Detail pieces like a miniature snowy owl bring a realistic taste of nature indoors and add a touch of whimsy. They can be set on a mantle, incorporated into a centerpiece, or tucked into the branches of a Christmas tree. The warmth and comfort of textural throw pillows will beckon you to take that much needed break by the fire.

3.

2.

Interior Delights owner Sarah Fennell and her expert staff will help you cozy up your own home and find the perfect gift, too.

get the look 1:

TUFTED

AND

FRINGED

TEXTURAL

PILLOW WITH AN ORGANIC TWIST OF COLOR BLOCKING ACCENTS The perfect

4.

design to balance out solid pillows.

2:

BLACK AND WHITE WOOD WALL CLOCK It’s so cute, you might forget that it’s functional.

3: 5.

GREY AND BLACK CHEVRON THROW WITH FRINGE TRIM Comfort equipped with a classic pattern that never goes out of style.

4:

PLUSH PILLOW IN CREAM WITH A MOROCCAN DESIGN This soft and subtle design adds just the right amount of visual interest to more even-toned aesthetics.

5:

WOVEN WOOD AND METAL BASKET This component adds texture and extra storage for a shelf or mantle. For an earthy touch, fill it with greenery.

6.

6:

LIFE-LIKE MINIATURE SNOW OWLS These cuties will add a unique and whimsical touch to your winter decor.

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25

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

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FAITH REFLECTIONS

C U LT I VAT I N G G R AT I T U D E HOW TO CREATE A LIFESTYLE OF SUSTAINABLE THANKFULNESS

ARTICLE HANNAH ECHOLS GRIESER

IT’S THE FOURTH THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER. You’ve been fast-

Each one of these definitions is circumstantial. They position

ing all morning in preparation for the main event— Thanksgiving din-

gratitude in dependency to the receipt of some benefit, pleasure, or

ner. Sweet and savory aromas have mingled and intensified through-

comfort. From this angle, it can be nearly impossible to stay grateful.

out the day, and you’re starving. It’s finally time to indulge in the feast,

In a season where the world is suffering from disunity, violence and

but before food is eaten, thanks must be given. You muster up a list

tragedy, we must find a better method.

of “I’m thankful fors” as quickly as possible before your heaping pile of mashed potatoes gets cold.

Gratitude is traditionally thought of as a state that one enters after receiving a gift. It’s in the elementary realms of dotting your i’s,

What does it mean to be authentically grateful? Not the obligatory

crossing your t’s, and saying please and thank you. On the contrary,

gratitude that nags at us this time of year, but a sustaining, holistic

I have found gratitude in and of itself to be one of the best gifts of all.

kind of appreciation?

True gratitude finds itself in the ranks of joy, peace, and contentment.

Miriam Webster defines grateful as follows:

28

The easiest way contentment is snatched from our midst is by

Grateful - adjective

fixating on what we don’t have. In other words, it’s impossible to be

grate·ful | \ ˈgrāt-fəl

content when overwhelmed by the content that isn’t in our control. In

1) a. appreciative of benefits received

the age of instant gratification, we can get most goods and services

b. expressing gratitude

delivered to our doorsteps in less than 48 hours. This pace programs

2) a. affording pleasure or contentment; pleasing

us to think we can attain that level of satisfaction quickly in other

b. pleasing by reason of comfort supplied or discomfort alleviated

realms as well. As a young adult, there isn’t a day that goes by where

Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

I don’t think about who I’m becoming and how to get there. I think of all the ladders I want to climb and I become exhausted before my foot reaches the second rung.

We can cultivate gratitude by the simple act of noticing. Making gratitude lists is a practice that helps me tremendously. While it might sound cheesy, this therapeutic exercise has power. Now I know exactly when I need to make a list. It’s after I scour the internet looking for job openings I don’t need. It’s after I check my bank account for the third time in one day. It’s after I look at the social media account of a successful friend and spend hours wondering if I’ll ever be that creatively composed. Everyone has their own triggers for discontentment.

Try this practice as soon as you start to feel covetous, lacking, or anxious.

GRATITUDE OPTION 1: FOCUS GROUPS Take into consideration the areas in your life that you think need work. Some common categories are relationships, career, finances, and personal growth. Create the necessary groups and proceed to make a list of things you are grateful for in those areas. Examine how you have grown holistically the past few years. Slowly but surely, you will become grounded in what you do have and less transfixed on what you don’t.

GRATITUDE OPTION 2: LISTING This one is simple. All you do is list out what you’re grateful for. It usually starts with something simple, like “I am grateful for this sunny day,” and ends with something from the deeper parts of you. In the beginning, it might feel like you’re mulling through dirt. But, if you persist, the list will evolve and you will end with a renewed sense of truth.

Gratitude is the gateway to reality. When we cultivate gratitude in our lives, we become more aware of the blessings and opportunities right before our eyes. Where you are is okay, and it should be celebrated. We’re not made to become hypnotized by idyllic scenes of what our lives could be. We’re made to steward what we have, and we cannot do that if we are not aware.

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

HOMETOWN HERO

WALKING THE WALK

A JOURNEY DOWN THE WINDING LIFE PATH OF UNASSUMING SPIRITUAL LEADER FRANCIS CHAN

IMAGINE YOURSELF AS THE LEADER OF A THRIVING MEGACHURCH IN VENTURA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, WITH MORE THAN 5,000 MEMBERS AND GROWING. You’re a New York Times bestseller making a million dollars in royalties from your first book and people love you—you’re on top of the world.

Would you leave that all behind?

Better yet, would you trade all of that, giving away 90% of your income to end up living in the poorest region of Hong Kong surrounded by people struggling to make it by on just 50 cents a day?

For most, it probably sounds like a tale of riches to rags; an unfortunate and unwanted result of someone falling upon hard times. But for Francis Chan, a church planter and best-selling author who speaks to thousands of people around the world each year, it’s exactly what he did. And exactly what he needed—an opportunity to walk down a winding path that led him toward fulfilling his purpose; toward becoming a

ARTICLE NICOLETTE MARTIN

man who can truly say he lives the life he’s been called to and encouraging others to do the same.

CONTINUED >

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HOMETOWN HERO (CONTINUED)

Watch the full interview @ CityLifestyle.com!

Francis, born in San Francisco, was raised in a very traditional Chinese home and navigated a challenging upbringing. His mother died while giving birth to him. His father remarried, then his stepmother died in a car accident when he was 8. His father remarried again, then, when Francis was 12, died of cancer.

Twenty-six and newly married, Francis and his wife Lisa founded Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California in the early 90s, beginning with a membership of 30 people. Within the first two months, the church grew to 100. By 2000, membership grew even more to 1,600. And by 2008, Cornerstone Community Church was one of the largest in Ventura County and Francis’ then-new book “Crazy Love” was a New York Times bestseller.

Then, in 2010, Francis decided to leave it behind in pursuit of a more humble and impactful way of life.

The $1 million his bestselling book made in the first year, plus the money it continues to make? Francis signed it all over to a charitable gift fund helping the poor and victims of human trafficking.

After making the decision to leave Cornerstone and wrestling with what the next step would be, Francis and Lisa ended up selling their Simi Valley house and moving their family of six at the time overseas to India, Thailand and China, where he was able to embrace new interests and activities by doing what the locals do, and where he also saw an inspiring shift in culture and spiritual values.

“I wish we could learn and see the sacrifice of others,” he says. “Their mentality really isn’t a consumer mindset of ‘Here’s my needs, here’s what I feel, no one cares about me— me, me, me, me. Overseas they’re just obsessed with each other and thinking about how to get to the poor—the truly poor—like ‘We’re going to starve today,’ or ‘We’re selling off kids today.’ That type of poor. There’s just a lot more urgency.”

In the throes of a pandemic, quarrels over U.S. politics, a growing divide among people and beliefs, and the unsurety of life, Francis’ message of focus and fulfillment can be summed up simply: take your eyes off yourself.

“People that I’ve found that have spent their lives truly loving others are the j o y f u l p e o p l e .”

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Parker Lifestyle | November 2020

“A l l w e r e a l l y n e e d t o d o is hit that little button that s w i t c h e s i t o f f s e l f i e m o d e .”

“It’s so counterintuitive because, physically, if I break my arm, I’m not going to be thinking about anyone else. The only thing that’s going to bring me pleasure is getting this thing fixed. ‘Everyone look at me—my arm is broken; someone fix

he says. “I go, ‘You have no clue. This is like the happiest place on Earth. You’re gonna go nuts!’”

Francis says Rachel began to get very sad, asking if they could just go to Paint Pals.

it for me,’” he says. “But...the answer is actually to take your

“She’s working herself into tears,” he laughs. “Like,

eyes off of yourself. People that I’ve found that have spent

you’re crying because I’m about to take you to Disneyland.”

their lives truly loving others are the joyful people. You’ll find very few generous people who are miserable.”

Francis, pretending to hold up a phone facing him-

“I feel like we’re just like Rachel when she was 5,” he says, fondly recalling the Paint Pals days. “We’re accustomed to certain things and God has something so much better for us.”

self, goes on to describe how he sees this generation

Nearly six months ago, Francis’ path led him to the

as a generation all about taking selfies; noting that

Sham Shui Po area on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong

you could be in the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls

with most of his family, including his wife, all but one of

and you’re always in the picture—always the center

his daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.

of everything.

It’s a place he later found is where his mother also did

“All we really need to do is hit that little button that

ministries in the 1950s, and allows him the continued

switches it off selfie mode,” he says. “And now I can’t

humbling opportunity to live out his journey working with

even see myself.”

the ultra poor to bring relief and sharing his spiritual ful-

Looking toward the future, Francis (non-prophetically, he clarifies, laughing) goes on to recall the story of his oldest daughter, Rachel—one of seven children and two grandchildren, when she was 5 years old.

fillment with others, even while enjoying a pickup game with locals on the neighborhood basketball court.

“It’s a pretty bizarre journey to think that, first of all, my wife has stood by my side for 27 years, and it’s just been

“We regularly visited this rundown place in our city

an amazing marriage. Two years ago at our 25-year anni-

called Paint Pals,” he laughs, reminiscently. “There was

versary, she asked me ‘Do you know of anyone on the

this old maze you walked through with only a few walls,

planet that is more blessed than we are? Because I feel

some little ceramic things you could paint and this big

like we’re the happiest people on earth. It’s almost like

bubble machine that was just a hula hoop dipped in

that can’t be true, but I haven’t found anyone happier,’”

bubble solution. There really wasn’t much more to it,

he says. “It’s one thing for me to say because that’s the

but she loved it.”

way I feel, but to hear that from my wife as well and those

“One day I was just like, ‘Honey, this week I’m going to take you to Disneyland!’ And she was like, ‘What’s that?’”

truly to be her sentiments. It just feels like an impossible life all the way around.”

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