It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again when our friends and family start heading back to their summer homes. It feels bittersweet, especially now that the weather is at its best. If you’re traveling home, I wish you a safe and pleasant journey. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall!
This month, our theme is forgiveness. Lately, I’ve had conversations with friends and loved ones who struggle to find joy, because they’re holding onto unresolved anger—toward others and themselves. I hope this inspires you to seek and offer forgiveness, both to yourself and to those you love.
Whether you’re getting your home ready for Easter guests or preparing to leave for the summer, don’t forget to visit the local businesses that support The Grand Season They offer amazing products and services to our community.
Enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts—I have to admit, I’m a little nervous that those triple-digit temperatures are just around the corner!
Wishing you a joyful and blessed Easter!
Melissa Whitton Editor/Associate Publisher
INSPIRE LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.
Bryant H. McGill
The ineffable joy of forgiving and being forgiven forms an ecstasy that might well arouse the envy of the gods.
Elbert Hubbard
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.
Bruce Lee
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.
Lewis B. Smedes
When you forgive, you in no way change the past—but you sure do change the future.
Bernard Meltzer
I believe forgiveness is the best form of love in any relationship. It takes a strong person to say they’re sorry and an even stronger person to forgive.
Yolanda Hadid
We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it’s absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive.
T. D. Jakes
Africa is the only continent with land in all four of Earth’s hemispheres.
The highest golf course in the world is the Tuctu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, sitting 14,335 feet above sea level at its lowest point.
Vladimir Putin’s grandfather worked as a chef for Rasputin, Lenin, and Stalin.
Colonel Sanders got fired from a dozen jobs, was a lawyer who once assaulted his own client in court, started a restaurant that went out of business, and found himself broke at the age of 65. That’s when he started KFC.
The Mayans drilled holes in their teeth to insert semiprecious stones.
Iceland has an official book-buying season that runs from September through December. More than half of all the books sold in the country are purchased during the month before Christmas.
Australian compass termites construct their mounds on a north-south axis.
Bluetooth technology was named after 10thcentury King Harald Bluetooth, who united Denmark and Norway, just like technology united computers and cellphones.
AAA SENIOR PLACEMENT AZ
A Message from Sue Royer
“I was born and raised in inner city Chicago, the sixth of eighteen children with fifteen brothers. Being the oldest daughter, I was always a caregiver which I believe influenced me to pursue work in the healthcare industry. Today, I have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Years ago, I volunteered for hospice and knew immediately that helping seniors was my calling. I was soon employed by hospice but I felt something was missing. I realized it was the limited time I was able to spend with my clients. Having my own business allows me to provide the intimate hands on service needed in our community. I am committed to our seniors throughout their lives and I thank the community for the opportunity to serve.”
Sue RoyerDirector
About Us
Since 2002, AAA Senior Placement AZ has been offering FREE services helping seniors find safe, affordable and loving assisted living.
When it becomes too difficult for you or your loved ones to safely manage daily living and/or manage medical needs, call Sue Royer for help navigating the many options available.
We are specialists in all levels of assisted living care resources with referrals to Arizona’s best:
• Group Homes
• Assisted Living Communities
• In-Home Primary Care Physicians
• Home Health Care Therapy
• Transportation
• Private Duty In-Home Care
• Respite Care
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Memory Care
• Hospice
• Support Groups
Assisted living resources accepting:
• Private pay
• Arizona Long Term Care-ALTCS
• Medicaid
• VA Benefits
6 Reasons You Should Call
AAA Senior Placement AZ
• We are well known and respected in the medical community.
• All clients are given a thorough assessment to determine proper placement needs.
• There is never a fee charged to the senior or their family for our service.
• We are NOT contractually bound to any outside business. This allows us to serve our clients with only their interests in mind.
• Years of knowledge and experience in the field of senior care.
• AAA Senior Placement AZ is family owned, allowing us to give you quality, personalized service.
HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS
Leonardo DiCaprio has been absent from big screens since “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was an artistic success but a boxoffice disappointment. However, 50-yearold DiCaprio has just completed “One Battle After Another,” opposite Oscar winners Regina Hall, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro. It’s scheduled to open on Aug. 8.
Brad Pitt wrapped the American sports action drama “F1,” featuring the Formula One World Championship, and it opens on June 27. Pitt then jumped right into the actionadventure film “Heart of the Beast,” which is about a former Army Special Forces soldier and his retired combat dog who fight for survival after crashing deep in the Alaskan Wilderness. Pitt still doing action/survival films at 61 says a lot about the gene pool that he came from.
MOVE FORWARD
Forgiving yourself can be one of the hardest yet most important steps toward healing and personal growth. We often hold ourselves to high standards, and when we make mistakes, the guilt and regret can be overwhelming. However, self-forgiveness is essential for emotional well-being and a more fulfilling life. Here are some steps to help you let go and move forward:
1. Acknowledge Your Mistakes
The first step in self-forgiveness is recognizing what happened. Avoiding or suppressing the mistake only prolongs guilt. Be honest with yourself about what you did, why it happened, and the impact it had. Acknowledgment is not about self-punishment but about understanding.
2. Accept That You Are Human
No one is perfect, and mistakes are a part of life. Remind yourself that growth often comes from failures. Instead of defining yourself by your past actions, recognize that mistakes do not determine your worth. You are more than your worst moments.
3. Apologize and Make Amends
If your actions hurt others, taking responsibility and making amends can help ease guilt. Offer a sincere apology and, if possible, find a way to make things right. However, remember that you cannot control how others respond—focus on your own growth.
4. Learn and Grow
Instead of dwelling on regret, use your mistake as a lesson. Ask yourself what you can do differently in the future. Growth comes from experience, and sometimes our biggest mistakes lead to the greatest personal development.
5. Practice Self-Compassion
Be as kind to yourself as you would be to a close friend. Practice positive self-talk, engage in selfcare, and remind yourself that you deserve love and forgiveness.
6. Let Go and Move Forward
Holding onto guilt will not change the past. Once you have learned from your mistakes, make a conscious decision to release them. Embrace the present and look ahead with self-acceptance.
Forgiving yourself is a journey, but with patience and self-love, you can move forward with peace and a renewed sense of purpose.
DINING GUIDE
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Dinner and a Movie!
Sponsored by:
4. For People and Pets
5. Order for Easter!
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Stephen Bearden, Surprise 7. Constantine Jasonos, Sun City 8. Jan Semin, Sun City West
LOVE STRONGER TOGETHER
Forgiveness not only heals our hearts; it heals relationships. Often, we think of forgiveness as something we need for big things—but it’s those little things that can lead to resentfulness and bitterness, especially towards our spouses. Forgiveness in marriage is critical if you want to have a healthy relationship. So, when your husband forgets to do something you asked him to, or when he says something in a tone you don’t like, deal with it right then. Tell him how you feel, and then make up your mind to wipe that slate clean and forgive him. If you need help getting started, here are four steps toward forgiveness in your marriage.
1. Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.
You may not feel like forgiving. You may want to harbor the anger and hurt and make your spouse pay for what he has done. But, once you decide you want to grant forgiveness, you can begin to work through those feelings.
2. Share your hurt.
After your spouse has apologized and asked for forgiveness, you need to talk about the matter
before you move on. It might be uncomfortable, but you need to share how you feel. Don’t point a finger; just share how you feel so she’ll understand the depth of your hurt.
3. Plan for change.
The goal here is not to punish your spouse with requirements, but to set up guidelines that you both agree to. That way, there will be fewer gray areas that can lead to disappointment later in your relationship.
4. Stop the
video.
Do not replay your spouse’s infraction over and over again in your mind. When your mind starts to wander and you begin to dwell on the incident and the hurt it caused you, tell yourself to stop. It’s one thing to need to talk to someone like a counselor about your pain so you can move past it, but it’s another when you keep inflicting the pain on yourself by dwelling on the hurt.
When you commit to resolving the small issues in your marriage, you’re actually creating a solid foundation of trust for when your relationship may face larger disappointments in life.
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BEVERAGE CLUB
CITRUS FIZZ
Ingredients
1 part Pinnacle® Citrus Vodka
2 parts Club Soda
Garnish with Raspberries
Garnish with Lemon Wheel
Instructions
Mix ingredients and serve over ice. Garnish with raspberries and a lemon wheel.
ORANGE CREAM MARTINI
Ingredients
2 parts Pinnacle® Orange Whipped® Vodka
1 part DeKuyper® Creme de Cocoa White Liqueur
2 parts Orange Juice Orange Wedges
Instructions
Shake with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange wedge.
JUICY SCREW
Ingredients
1 part Pinnacle® Original Vodka
1 part Watermelon Schnapps
3 parts Orange Juice Splash of Soda Water
Instructions
Cocktail: Build over ice, stir gently, and serve. Ice Cubes: Cut fresh watermelon into workable pieces. Remove the seeds and the rind. Puree the watermelon in a blender or food processor. Pour the puree into ice cube trays and freeze.
GINGER ROGERS
Ingredients
2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
2 1/2 parts Mango Nectar
1/2 parts fresh Lime Juice
1/2 part Ginger Beer
1 dash Bitters
Cubes, fresh Mango
Instructions
Pour the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, nectar, lime juice, ginger beer and bitters into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for about 25 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass or serve over ice. Garnish with 3 cubes of mango spiked on a 5-inch wood skewer.
