January 2021 OutreachNC

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1

Feature Intro: The Cutting Garden: Creating and Sustaining a Flower Garden of Your Own

There is, perhaps, nothing more hopeful than a garden. As we step into a new year, planning for spring planting is often what gets many through the darker months of winter, when the earth seems to lie dormant but, in fact, is bustling with activity in preparation of the year’s biggest show. Katie Thomas, owner and designer of Katie Did Florals in Sanford, NC, offers thoughts, tips and a bit of education on the upcoming gardening season from both a personal and professional perspective. In both her professional work as a floral designer for weddings and other events as well as in her own garden and yard, Thomas strives to source American flowers, often locallygrown, some even grown by her own hand.

For Thomas, plants and flowers are not a onetime, one-event thing; they’re a cyclical part of an ever-working, ever-growing, ever-thriving natural environment that can’t exist if we don’t care for it and sustain it. Thomas sat down with ONC for a chat about how to create this sustainability in our own gardens so that we might have cutting gardens from which we can pull each year. We provide ourselves with lovely flowers and the environment with the care it needs to continue feeding and sustaining the complex and ever-beautiful ecosystem we rely on for so many of life’s wonders.

This interview has been edited for length.

CONTENTS

continued page 3

ASK THE EXPERT: RESPITE CARE FEATURE: THE CUTTING GARDEN PHYSICAL THERAPY: Q&A - BALANCE RECIPE: SAUSAGE, BEAN, AND PASTA SOUP FAITH: ON HAPPINESS, HOPE & A NEW YEAR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Amy Phariss, Editor-in-Chief, OutreachNC | editor@outreachnc.com

JANUARY 2021 - 2 Amy Natt discusses caregiver respite in Ask the Expert, and Colette Bachand explores the question of happiness in her column on faith.

Well, we made it. Twnety-Twenty is over, and 2021 is officially here. Though we’re still wearing our masks, distancing as appropriate and missing loved ones we haven’t seen in too long, we are grateful. The holidays brightened the end of 2020 and reminded us all of the glowing goodness around us.

Let us all take comfort in the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, who wrote:

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier’

We are ready to tackle another year and embrace the inevitable challenges, joys, surprises, inspirations and day-to-day tasks on this beautiful journey, no matter our age or stage.

This month, we are particularly hopeful and thinking ahead toward spring and gardening.

Sanford’s Katie Thomas of Katie Did Florals helps us navigate our own personal gardens and find beauty in enjoying and sustaining the florals in our own yards.

Indeed,

Dr. Sara Morrison of Total Body Therapy and Wellness offers up a helpful Q&A regarding balance, how to address it when it becomes an issue and how to prevent balance problems before a fall.

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ASK THE EXPERT: RESPITE CARE

Q: During a recent telehealth meeting, my doctor noticed that my stress level has increased while caring for my husband who has dementia. She mentioned looking into respite care for him, to give me a break. What exactly is respite care and will my insurance cover it?

A: This is an excellent question and one that is being asked more frequently as caregivers have spent an increased amount of time in the home caring for their family member during this pandemic. In very general terms, The National Institute on Aging, provides this definition “Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Care can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center.” So essentially, your physician is saying you need a break from your caregiving responsibilities to reduce stress and take care of yourself.

Respite care can be formal or informal.

Formal care would be provided by a paid professional, community program or facility.

Informal care might be provided by a friend or family member. There are different ways that families can approach respite care. First, determine if you need a one-time break, to get a weekend away, or if this is an ongoing need.

Then determine if you have a friend or family member who is willing and able to provide the care he will need, without you in the home.

Sometimes respite care is a combination of both formal and informal care. For example, your adult daughter offers to stay at your home with her dad, so you can go visit a friend for a few days. However, your daughter also works and will need a paid caregiver to come in during the day until she returns home in the evening. The combination of the two sources would provide him the support he needs and you the time away.

In a non-COVID world, facilities and adult day centers also offer options for short term respite care.

For example, if you are going away for a week, he could visit one of the local Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) for the week. This can serve as a trial period to see how he does in this setting and provide you with reassurance that he is being

JANUARY 2021 - 3 cared for while you are gone. A respite stay in a facility requires an available bed, and paperwork the facility will need from the physician. This is more difficult now, as most will have restrictions in place that may make a short-term respite stay more challenging to coordinate.

It would also likely require a quarantine period once in the facility. This may be more than you want to put your husband through if it is only temporary. However, if you are looking at an extended respite stay, such as a month, it might be an option worth investigating.

The majority of respite care occurs in the home and is an out-of-pocket expense. The National Institute on Aging states, “Respite services charge by the hour or by the number of days or weeks that services are provided. Most insurance plans do not cover these costs. You must pay all costs not covered by insurance or other funding sources.

Medicare will cover most of the cost of up to 5 days in a row of respite care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility for a person receiving hospice care.” Some individuals might have a long-term care insurance policy with a respite benefit as well. Each policy is different and would need to be reviewed. There are also a few community grant programs that might provide assistance with the funds needed. AOS and Friends Care, Duke Family Caregiving Program and Dementia Care Alliance of NC are just a few that come to mind.

If you decide to pay for a caregiver to come into the home to provide care for him, you will need to determine if this is something you want weekly (every Monday from 1 to 4, so you can go grocery shopping) or for a predetermined period of time (for the weekend so you can spend a weekend at the beach). Either way, once you know what hours or days you need care for, then you will need to figure out what skillset the caregiver needs to have. What are his daily needs and what will the caregiver need to do for him? This will help you choose the care provider who is the right fit. You can hire a private duty caregiver or seek care through a home health agency. You will need to make a few calls to see who has the ability to meet the criteria you have outlined and what the cost will be. They should be able to provide you with an estimate, based on what you have requested, and provide you with some options and guidance.

Respite care takes some planning, but it is essential that you get a break and pay attention to your own needs. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the process or are not sure what you need, seek out a social service professional or Aging Life Care Manager who can help you accurately assess the situation and help provide you with resources.

You are not in this alone. Reach out and get the support you need to enable you to be the best care partner to your husband that you can be. Taking the time to take care of yourself will be worth every penny!

JANUARY 2021 - 4

The Cutting

Garden

Creating and Sustaining a Flower Garden of Your Own

by Amy Phariss

continued from page 1 ONC: Many people, during the COVID pandemic, have turned to things like gardening, woodworking and other hobbies to fill time at home and learn new crafts. For some of us, we might be entirely new to gardening and afraid of making mistakes or messing this up. Where should a beginner start?!?

Katie Thomas: The best place to start is probably a friendly cutting garden. You can start with seasonal plants like cone flowers, echinacea, zinnias, milkweed, Benjamin button and bee balm. These are all beautiful plants that also make pollinators very happy.

ONC: Why are pollinators important?

KT: They’re very important in balancing our eco-system. We have milkweed right now in our yard. And caterpillars come to eat the milkweed and then they turn into butterflies.

People think of caterpillars as something to get rid of, but they’re not. They turn into butterflies, which are pollinators, which help your garden. Your perennial plants then grow bigger and better every year.

JANUARY 2021 - 5

Mia Lorenz is an experienced attorney whose 25-year record of service in the law demonstrates her commitment to her clients and community.

ONC: So, the type of plants matter? It’s not just what looks pretty but also what can help the environment of your yard?

KT: Yes. Even for a cutting garden, think native and non-invasive! Find out which species are non-invasive to your area. The best plants to put in your yard are native plants. They will grow and thrive and support our environment. And they’re best for our type of local pollinators. Some non-native plants will do okay here and can grow and be beautiful, but be sure to stay away from invasive plants. The grasses we plant are a great example of native vs. non-native. A lot of grass planted in yards is non-native, so it doesn’t put as much back into the soil and environment for our area. Remember, some plants are takers from the soil and some are givers; they put nutrients back into the soil.

Moss is a great example. Moss puts things back into the soil.

She is passionate about assisting clients in their quest to maintain control and dignity as they age and/or experience illness, as well as plan to preserve assets while maintaining care.

Active in the community as legal advisor to NAMI Moore County, AOS & Friends Care, Inc. and Linden Lodge.

JANUARY 2021 - 6 ONC: What is your best tip for creating a sustainable cutting garden?

KT: I’d say a rule of thumb when

planting a cutting garden is to plant two plants of each variety.

Leave half for the pollinators and take half inside the home. So, plant two echinacea, for example. You cut from one plant, and you leave the other for the pollinators. This way, the environment gets what it needs, and you also get flowers for your home. And…the garden is full and beautiful as well.

ONC: Where should people buy plants, especially if we’re looking for native and non-invasive plants?

KT: I like to buy local. First, find a locallyrun garden center. In Lee County, my favorite locally-run garden center is Big Bloomers.

They have a great selection and have a lot of native plants, herbs and perennials. They have blooming trees and fruiting trees. And they self-propagate their plants. Unlike local home improvement stores, which buy plants that have been produced by international growers all over the world, a place like Big Bloomers is a local business that is using their own seeds to create next year’s generation of plants. They’re not 100% local, but a lot of what is in their greenhouses are plants that they have self-propagated, that do not have to be shipped. Then, if I can’t buy local, I try to support American farmers and USA-grown farms.

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ONC: What are some other pro-tips or important reminders for gardening and maintaining a sustainable, beautiful garden and keeping house plants healthy?

KT: A good fertilizer is important. You’ll need to fertilize twice a year and use a good, all-purpose (and preferably organic) flower food.

ONC: Does organic really make that big of a difference?

KT: My philosophy is to use as few pesticides as I possibly can. Even though I’m not eating my house plants, I think it’s important to utilize organic methods everywhere because we are constantly putting things into our environment. Everything gets ingested into the plant, then put into the bird, then into the bird’s predators and through the whole ecosystem.

When you put something into the ground that isn’t made from Mother Earth, it does get into the animals and into the ground water, into the rivers, to the ocean, to the fish, and we eat the fish. In general, we need to start thinking about ways we can effectively garden to keep us and our plants and our environment healthier. It is harder to maintain your yard when you don’t use traditional pesticides. It takes more effort.

I pull weeds like nobody’s business. It takes time. Not everyone has time to go out to their yard and pull weeds every day. Frankly, if you don’t use pesticides, you’ll have to put in that kind of time. But there are creative ways, like growing moss, that hopefully will become more in fashion, more so than having a large lawn-filled….more native species, more pollinator gardens, etc.

We want to enhance our environment rather than taking away from it.

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JANUARY 2021 - 8

RESOURCES We asked Katie where to go for all things cutting garden: where to buy plants and where to find more information. Here is Katie’s go-to list for finding local and American-grown flowers and plants and where she turns with questions of her own.

1. BIG BLOOMERS FLOWER FARM – Lee County, Sanford, NC – for local gardening supplies, plants and flowers and even tips. http://www.bigbloomersflowerfarm.com/ 2. WHITE FLOWER FARM – Litchfield, CT – White Flower Farm has a great option for beginners: pre-planned flower gardens to fit specific spaces. If you’re looking to turn a certain area of your yard into a cutting garden, White Flower Farms has pre-planned options making this process much simpler. The Farm also offers pre-planned vegetable and fruit gardens. https://www. whiteflowerfarm.com/ 3. HIGH COUNTRY GARDENS – Albuquerque, NM – Thomas’ pick for dahlias and peonies as well as tons of other sustainable gardening supplies. https://www. highcountrygardens.com/ 4. BRENT & BECKY’S BULBS – Gloucester, VA – Thomas says Brent & Becky’s Bulbs is a great resource for fall planting. Spring planting items are also available (as of January 2021), and the site offers indoor bulbs as well. https://www. highcountrygardens.com/ 5. NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – Thomas recommends the NC Coop Extension for all questions related to gardening, especially questions regarding native and non-native species. Thomas says you can even write to the local Extension Agent, and they’ll write back with answers! These are the experts when it comes to what to plant, when to plant it and how to keep it healthy and thriving in our local environment. https:// gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/

ONC: That’s true. That’s the point, of course, not just pretty flowers but an overall better environment. Do you have any tips for house plants for those of us who struggle to keep them alive? What is the biggest mistake you see plant owners make with house plants?

KT: They just need consistent water, but not as much as you’d think. Often a tablespoon or two of water is plenty. Many people overwater houseplants.

ONC: I feel like we’ve had a mini-education in creating not just a personal cutting garden but doing so in a sustainable way that won’t hurt the land and soil but might actually help it. Do you have any other tips for suggestions for creating a thriving garden or yard?

KT: Sure. I say puts lots of foliage in the yard to use for décor. Magnolia, camelia, hollyhock, eucalyptus, olive branches, forsythia, quince, and viburnum are all great for making wreaths, for example.

You can make a beautiful wreath from your own yard rather than buying one made of cuttings shipped from far away.

Also, try to put something in your yard that’s blooming in every season – spring, summer, fall and even winter. Big Bloomer’s hellebore is easy to grow, hardy and self-propagates in the ground after about a year. Winter jasmine is beautiful, too. Gardening is not only for spring. Finally, have a mix in your yard. Have things you enjoy, things that support the environment and have something that, like I said, blooms in every season.

ONC thanks Katie Thomas for her personal insight and professional tips to help us get excited about this year’s gardening. The idea of creating a sustainable, healthy, rich environment in our own yards, particularly during a time of global unhealth, makes us feel better about the coming months.

Sometimes, it’s a blessing to focus on what we can control, even our small patch of land, flower box or house plant, that makes all the difference.

JANUARY 2021 - 9

WHY US? WHY NOW? LIFE IS BETTER AT

At Fox Hollow Senior Living, we take pride in keeping our residents happy and healthy while following the necessary CDC precautions.

WHY US? • We are open for business as usual and committed to safely moving new residents into our community • Our team has taken additional measures to prevent the spread of infection – from extra education, to sanitation, proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the use of Protexus electrostatic sprayers • Culinary team is on-site and preparing three delicious, nutritious meals daily • Personalized activities available to residents in the comfort and safety of their room • We are using Zoom, Skype, and Facetime technologies to ensure our residents are staying connected to their loved ones

WHY NOW? • We provide a safe environment with a highly-trained team • Our team provides regular monitoring and quicker response times for any health-related concern • With all needs available on-site, there’s no need to leave the community for food, supplies, or medical appointments • Safe social contact is available to prevent isolation • Safety and peace of mind for family members who are unable to check in on their loved ones

WHY WAIT?

Call 910-695-0011 to learn more and set up a virtual tour.

190 Fox Hollow Road • Pinehurst, NC 28374 910-695-0011 • www.FoxHollowSeniorLiving.com ASSISTED LIVING • MEMORY CARE • RESPITE/SHORT-TERM STAYS ©2020 Five Star Senior Living

PHYSICAL THERAPY: Q&A - BALANCE

Dr. Sara S. Morrison, T, DPT, CDT, FCE, CFT, Cert DN, Cert FMT | Owner of Total Body Therapy & Wellness in Lillington

JANUARY 2021 - 10 Q: I have been missing activities with family and friends because of my balance. I am very afraid of falling. Is there any way to help my balance?

A: Balance is something we tend not to think about until it’s ALL we think about. Without your knowledge, your body does an astonishing balancing act every day. And I am not just talking about your busy schedule! When we rise from a chair, climb stairs, and walk outside, there is cooperation between the brain, nervous system, muscles, and bones that keeps us from falling. There are many separate systems that work in unison to keep our body balanced, active, and independent.

Physical therapy is a wonderful tool to help regain your strength and balance after a fall.

But why not PREVENT THE FALL in the first place? Physical therapy can help not only regain strength and balance but also prevent falls through improved balance.

4 signs you may benefit from help with your balance: 1. You have fallen before 2. You hold onto furniture or walls when you walk 3. You shuffle your feet or walk with them wide apart 4. You don’t like uneven surfaces such as grass, gravel, or thick carpet Balance is a very complex thing. Many factors make up your ability to balance, including: Visual Cues: Visual cues from our eyes tell us all sorts of information about our environment and where we are in space. Our eyes help us see and prepare for potential dangers and obstacles. They tell us if there are cracks in the sidewalk, if there is an object we need to step over, or if we are walking straight or walking to the side.

Our eyes give our brain 70-80% of all the information it receives!

Have you ever gotten up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and needed to hold onto furniture and walls more in order to get there. This is not just because you may be sleepy; it’s because it is dark. Your vision has been taken away. Your eyes can no longer give you hints on what is in front of you. This means your body has to rely heavily on the other systems to balance safely.

Inner Ear: The inner ear, sometimes referred to as the vestibular system, provides important information on the position of our head and its movement in space. This is how you know you are “tilting” sideways - it can get overwhelmed, making you feel dizzy or nauseous think roller coaster! The inner ear is made up of 3 canals or tubes that have tiny microscopic crystals inside. When you turn your head to one side, the crystals on one side vibrate. This tells your body that your head is turning. These crystals help keep your head in the correct alignment and tell your body where you are.

Joint Sensation: Joint sensation is a built-in mechanism that tells your nervous system where your arms and legs are positioned in space. It senses pressure changes in the joints. Let’s play a game: - Close your eyes. Now move your foot. Can you tell if your foot is pointed or straight? Can you tell if it is facing left or right? Yes you can! This system can help you identify where your body is, even if your eyes don’t see it. This is very useful when walking to the bathroom at night!

Pain: We tend to “suck it up” and “deal with it” when it comes to pain. But pain can be dangerous.

If something causes you pain, especially in your back or legs, it can make you lose your balance.

When your leg gives out or the back pain shoots down, it causes you to lose control of your leg.

And that is precisely when falls happen. Don’t underestimate the dangers of pain.

When one of these areas is not working right, it can put you at risk of falling. A Balance Physical Therapist will be able to evaluate you and distinguish which of these systems is the cause of your falls… or prevent them altogether. Once the cause of your fall(s) is determined, we can then address it! We will use specific exercises to address pain, weakness, dizziness, inner ear issues… whatever is the root cause of your balance issue.

Best yet, PT is all natural. No medicines, shots, or surgery.

No doctor referral is required and it is covered by your health insurance (including all Medicare plans)!

GRAY MATTER GAMES

ACROSS

1. Apprehension about what is going to happen 9. Coin 15. Drive off 16. Heathens 17. Intact 18. Swallow 19. ___ it on thick 20. “Malcolm X” director 21. Atlanta-based station (acronym) 22. Blackguard 23. Be a snitch 25. Pre-Christian priests among the Celts 27. Bank offering, for short (acronym) 28. Like a brigadier general (2 wds) 30. Brio 31. Henry Clay, for one 34. Meeting at a certain time and place, esp. lovers 36. Very, to Verdi

37. Grassland 38. Christmas wish 39. Not now (2 wds) 41. Went bad 42. Egyptian fertility goddess 43. Try to forget 45. Engage in passive activities, often with “out” 46. Put things in order (2 wds) 47. Declines 51. Egg cells 52. Driver’s lic. and others 53. “Acid” (acronym) 55. “Fantasy Island” prop 56. Second shot 58. By no means (3 wd) 60. One who runs away to get married 61. Club restriction? (2 wds) 62. Beat

63. Mountain range between France and Spain

DOWN

1. ___ Ste. Marie 2. Arm bones 3. Woman prophet 4. The “p” in m.p.g.

5. Carbon compound 6. More rude 7. Directs 8. Dusk, to Donne 9. Dry by centrifugal forces 10. Imitates a hot dog 11. ___ roll 12. Small tropical

wormlike amphibian 13. Financial protection for property 14. Alienated 21. Beauty pageant wear 24. Numbers games 26. Altogether 29. “High” time 30. Forever, poetically 31. Plant and animal eaters 32. New Deal president 33. Crocodile relative 35. Cowboy boot attachment 37. Advances

Open Arms

JANUARY 2021 - 11

40. Those who show the way 41. Bartender 44. Laudatory speech for one who has died 46. Kiddies 48. Hold responsible 49. Contradict 50. Sedimentary materials 54. “Over” follower in the first line of “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” 57. “Tarzan” extra 58. 40 winks 59. Bolivian export

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JANUARY 2021 - 12 DON’T JUST LIVE HERE...

LOVE IT HERE.

Residents of Quail Haven Village love the living choices, abundant resort-like amenities and nearly endless social engagements available to them. Here, residents and their families will love the emphasis on nutritious dining options, whole-person wellness and the peace of mind that comes from having continuing care in place should they need it.

Call 910.295.2294 to schedule a private visit and don’t just live here...LOVE IT HERE.

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12/10/20 12:06 PM

Gray Matter Games Solutions

JANUARY 2021 - 13 It’s that time again. The air is biting for those of us who weren’t born and raised just outside Boston or grew up on a fishing boat off the coast of Maine. It’s just plain cold. For those evenings when the sun sets early, one’s cheeks are chapped and our hearts need a bit of warmth, this soup is not only filling but healthy! I’ve played with it over the years, tweaking it for my dietary restrictions and preferences, which means it holds up well to things like gluten-free eating and suggestions to eat more protein. I consider this a solid success.

If you’re looking for a warming and hearty meal, this soup will fill both the body and soul. It pairs well with a salad, bread and wine – the trifecta of wintertime goodness.

Sausage, Pasta & Bean Soup (gluten-free and high-protein) INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound Italian sausage (I use sweet sausage because I serve this to children, whose palates are delicate) • 1 pound ground bison (you could substitute ground beef but need to do so at your own risk; I always stick with bison) • 2 tablespoons olive oil (a good slosh to coat the pan) • 1 ½ cups chopped onion • 1 ½ cups diced carrot • 1 celery stalk, chopped with leaves • 1 clove chopped garlic (more if that’s your thing) • 1 teaspoon dried basil • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (I prefer the crushed bits, which blend to the broth much better and don’t stick in one’s teeth) • ¼ teaspoon dried crushed red pepper (I didn’t measure this once while serving it to guests…big mistake.

The people were kind but there were comments).

• ¼ teaspoon dried rubbed sage (don’t skip this as you may be tempted to. It makes a difference) • 5 cups canned chicken broth or one large box (I prefer unsalted) • 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes (16 oz. is fine, too) • 1 15 – 16 oz. can kidney beans, drained (I’ve skipped draining and never been bothered by it) • 1 cup gluten-free elbow macaroni or rotini pasta (I use the Banza brand, as it’s higher in fiber and protein and

all-the-rage on social media, so my teenagers are more prone to eating it) • 1 teaspoon salt (for a good start) • Parmesan or gruyere cheese (for finishing)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

2. Add sausages and sauté for about 5 minutes, until beginning to brown, breaking up with back of spoon. In another pan, sauté the bison similarly and, when nearly all the pink is gone, add it to the browned sausage.

3. Add vegetables and herbs to pot.

Sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes.

4. Add broth, tomatoes with their juices and beans. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender and flavors blend, about 20 minutes. Taste once again for salt and season accordingly.

5. Add macaroni to soup and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper one final time. Serve with a sprinkling of freshly-grated parmesan cheese or a few shavings of gruyere.

NOTES:

If you plan to prepare the soup a day ahead, don’t add the pasta until just before serving. As the soup reheats, add the pasta for the final 10 minutes or so. If you add it and then reheat, the pasta tends to get bigger and mushier. I sometimes even set aside half the soup (if I’m planning ahead and have my wits about me), if I know I’ll be serving it over two nights.

JANUARY 2021 - 14

Navigating life after 50 can be complex for you and your loved ones.

Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year from Dr. Wellener & Her Team!

We’re here to help with tips, advice and answers to questions. www.AOSNC.com info@AOSNC.com | 910.692.0683 • Find current & previous issues of OutreachNC • Read the latest from our blog • Join our free digital mailing list • Sign up for home delivery of OutreachNC; $16 for 12 issues • Send us your questions

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• Tell us what topics OutreachNC should explore DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH MEMORY IMPAIRMENT WHO COULD USE SOME FINANCIAL HELP?

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To learn about CapTel NC or get a phone at no cost to those who qualify, contact Kim Calabretta, CapTel NC manager Phone: (844) 519 4806 (toll free) Email: kim.m.calabretta@t-mobile.com Website: captelnc.com/getcaptel FEDERAL LAW PROHIBITS ANYONE BUT REGISTERED USERS WITH HEARING LOSS FROM USING INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP) CAPTIONED TELEPHONES WITH THE CAPTIONS TURNED ON. IP Captioned Telephone Service may use a live operator. The operator generates captions of what the other party to the call says.

These captions are then sent to your phone. There is a cost for each minute of captions generated, paid from a federally administered fund. No cost is passed on to the CapTel user for using the service. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc. NC Department of Health and Human Services • Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing • ncdhhs.gov/divisions/dsdhh • NCDHHS is an equal opportunity employer and provider. • 12/2020

FAITH: HAPPINESS, HOPE AND A NEW YEAR

The Rev. Colette Bachand | revbachand@gmail.com

JANUARY 2021 - 15 Someone asked me recently if I am happy.

I paused and thought about it. Well … my daughters are healthy; I love my job and just bought new chairs to create a quiet meditation place in my home; the end of 2020 brought some amazing sun rises to my back window, so sure, I guess I’m happy.

Then I thought for a bit and wondered if “Whether I am happy?” is the right question for these times? Maybe there are better questions to ask as we begin a new year; questions that arise out of what we’ve learned from a difficult year, about ourselves and the world.

The better questions may have to do with the way we became acutely aware of our place in the universe in 2020, humbled by a virus we couldn’t see but which touched us all. The face of this invisible foe was manifest in the face of the elder alone in a nursing home; the exhausted health care worker; the small business owner pouring over bills; the dad balancing 3rd grade math homework and a Zoom work call from L.A. In times of isolation, we wrestled with our own demons and dug deep to find courage and strength. For people of faith, we had to decide if what we have preached our whole life we really trusted: that there is a God who loves and cares for us, who is with us when things are hard, and who, in the long run, will right the world.

We’ve struggled

to find happiness and worry it will be hard to come by still in this next year.

Yet, I think of words Jesus spoke once and am reminded he never said, come to me all you who are happy people! Rather, he said come to me you who are weary, and I will give you rest. He said blessed are those who mourn, who are hungry, who thirst.

As we grow older, I think we learn that happiness isn’t about being giddy and upbeat all the time, but rather comes from feeling fulfilled, knowing that we have a purpose (at every age!) and from working toward the common good.

We learn that happiness doesn’t mean everything is right in the world, but rather we find it when we’ve done our best and arrive at a place we can hold life’s contradictions side by side, admitting we can be both joyful and sad at the same time, we can be grieving and hopeful at the same time.

Truth is, as hard as 2020 was, there were times I felt joy in the midst of it; when God tapped me on the shoulder and showed me beauty, beautiful people, places of hope and a way forward.

Famous TV anchor Andy Rooney once said about happiness, “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” So we will keep climbing in this New Year. And rather than chasing happiness, let’s just invite it along for the ride, like a friend who jumps in the passenger seat next to us, who isn’t perfect, but sure is good company.

We design financial plans with, and around you. With the right financial advice, life can be brilliant.

We all lead different lives.

Which is why we offer unique financial plans.

We’ll help you balance living life today and saving for tomorrow in a way that’s personalized for you.

Call us today for a complimentary initial consultation: 910.692.9014 Send an email to nathan@hicks-associates.com You can also find us online at www.hicks-associates.com We have offices in Southern Pines and Cary.

Investment advisory services are offered through WealthShield Partners, LLC (“WSP”), an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, doing business as Hicks & Associates Wealth Management. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

More information about WSP can be found in Form ADV Part 2 which is available upon request.

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