Things You Must Give Up to Move Forward

If you want to fly and move on to better things, you have to give up the things that weigh you down – which is not always as obvious and easy as it sounds.

Starting today, give up…

1. Letting the opinions of others control your life. – People know your name, not your story.  They’ve heard what you’ve done, but not what you’ve been through.  So take their opinions of you with a grain of salt.  In the end, it’s not what others think, it’s what you think about yourself that counts.  Sometimes you have to do exactly what’s best for you and your life, not what’s best for everyone else.
2. The shame of past failures. – You will fail sometimes, and that’s okay.  The faster you accept this, the faster you can get on with being brilliant.  Your past does not equal your future.  Just because you failed yesterday; or all day today; or a moment ago; or for the last six months; or for the last sixteen years, doesn’t have any impact on the current moment.  All that matters is what you do right now.  
3. Being indecisive about what you want. – You will never leave where you are until you decide where you would rather be.  It’s all about findingand pursuing your passion.  Neglecting passion blocks creative flow.  When you’re passionate, you’re energized.  Likewise, when you lack passion, your energy is low and unproductive.  Energy is everything when it comes to being successful.  Make a decision to figure out what you want, and then pursue it passionately.
4. Procrastinating on the goals that matter to you. – There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.  Follow your intuition.  Don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do.  When there is love and inspiration, you can’t go wrong.  And whatever it is you want to do, do it now.  There are only so many tomorrows.  Trust me, in a year from now, you will wish you had started today.
5. Choosing to do nothing. – You don’t get to choose how you are going to die, or when.  You can only decide how you are going to live, right now.  Every day is a new chance to choose.  Choose to change your perspective.  Choose to flip the switch in your mind from negative to positive.  Choose to turn on the light and stop fretting about with insecurity and doubt.  Choose to do work that you are proud of.  Choose to see the best in others, and to show your best to others.  Choose to truly LIVE, right now.
6. Your need to be right. – If you keep on saying you’re right, even if you are right now, eventually you will be wrong.  Aim for success, but never give up your right to be wrong.  Because when you do, you will also lose your ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.  
7. Running from problems that should be fixed. – We make life harder than it has to be.  The difficulties started when… conversations became texting, feelings became subliminal, sex became a game, the word ‘love’ fell out of context, trust faded as honesty waned, insecurities became a way of living, jealously became a habit, being hurt started to feel natural, and running away from it all became our solution.  Stop running!  Face these issues, fix the problems, communicate, appreciate, forgive and LOVE the people in your life who deserve it.
8. Making excuses rather than decisions. – Life is a continuous exercise in creative problem solving.  A mistake doesn’t become a failure until you refuse to correct it. Thus, most long-term failures are the outcome of people who make excuses instead of decisions.
9. Overlooking the positive points in your life. – What you see often depends entirely on what you’re looking for.  Do your best and surrender the rest.  When you stay stuck in regret of the life you think you should have had, you end up missing the beauty of what you do have.  You will have a hard time ever being happy if you aren’t thankful for the good things in your life right now.  
10. Not appreciating the present moment. – We do not remember days, we remember moments.  Too often we try to accomplish something big without realizing that the greatest part of life is made up of the little things.  Live authentically and cherish each precious moment of your journey.  Because when you finally arrive at your desired destination, I guarantee you, another journey will begin.

Source:

http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/08/20/10-things-you-must-give-up-to-move-forward/

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Help Your Parents Prepare for Long Term Care

Are your parents prepared for long term care? If not, are you prepared to help?

Your parents might only think about golfing, birding or traveling around the country when you talk about retirement. They should also mind about health issues, though it may not hinder them from enjoying retirement years, it can punch a heavy dent in retirement savings.

“As we age, usually our medical or long-term care expenses increase, sometimes depleting our assets to a level of crisis,” says financial advisor Jake Lowrey, president of Lowrey Financial Group. “It’s important for retirees, and anyone planning for retirement, to become educated about what the pitfalls are and what they need to do to avoid losing their life savings” he added.

Continue to original article:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/annabahney/2015/01/31/how-do-i-help-my-parents-prepare-for-long-term-care/

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7 Ways to Stay Healthy After 40

Age 40 is a milestone when the risk of many health conditions increases. This makes the birthday a perfect time for taking stock of your health, experts say.

Whether people have demanding jobs, aging parents, growing children or all of the above, it's easy to put health aside. But 40 is the time to evaluate your wellbeing, and to plan for the long-run.

"Forty is a good time to take a deep breath, and, although you have a lot of other things out there, do a little introspection and say, 'OK, there's some things I need to do to make sure I stay healthy,'" said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, an internist at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.

And if you're not there yet, there's no reason to wait, said Dr. William Zoghbi, professor of medicine at the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston and president of the American College of Cardiology.

"It's not like people are going to wake up and say, 'I'm 40, I'm going to change everything I'm doing to get healthier,'" Zoghbi said. Instead, "the earlier they can start, the better it is for them."

Here are seven ways to stay healthier when you are nearing or turning 40:

Keep your eyes open for vision problems

At age 40, vision can start to worsen, so have your eyes checked out, Fryhofer said. "You need to be able to read the fine print on medicine labels, and lots of different labels. If you don't have reading glasses and you can't read the fine print, you might miss some important information," Fryhofer said.

She also suggested wearing sunglasses to prevent further damage. "Too much sun exposure can increase cataracts, so sunglasses are a good idea," Fryhofer said. "Make sure they have the UV-A [and] UV-B protection.

A diet high in fruits and vegetables – which are full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals – may slow vision loss, added Heather Mangieri, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The leading cause of blindness in the elderly is a condition known as macular degeneration. It affects 9.1 million Americans over age 40. "Macular degeneration tends to be genetic, but we can use nutrition, a diet rich in lycopene (found in red fruit and vegetables) and antioxidants to slow down that vision loss," Mangieri said.

Know your numbers

Age 40 is a good time to look into your numbers for blood pressure,cholesterol levels, blood sugar and body weight. "People need to know what their cholesterol level is and if they haven't checked before age 40, they should," Zoghbi said.

When you visit a pharmacy, take time to get your blood pressure measured, and visit your doctor to get a simple blood sugar test, he suggested. Knowing these numbers will help you and your doctor identify potentially hidden disease risk-factors.

For example, people with higher blood pressure are at higher risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, Zoghbi said.

Explore your family history

During your fifth decade, it's time to look carefully at your family tree to find out if your genetics increase your risks for diseases such as cancer or heart disease. "Once you hit 40, when things go wrong, you have to think of the C-word and that's cancer, cause you're no longer a kid," Fryhofer said. "That's a good time to make sure you understand your family history."

For example, those with a family history of colon cancer may want to get a colonoscopy at age 40, instead of waiting until age 50, Fryhofer said.

The same goes with heart disease: a calcium test can help determine whether your arteries are starting to harden, and if you need major lifestyle changes or medications. "People get by with a lot until they hit 40, but then when you hit 40, it's got to be a little bit about you. It can't be just worrying about everybody else," she said.

Muscle up

Starting at age 40, we lose about 1 percent of muscle mass per year.

So people can benefit from incorporating weight-bearing exercises, along with cardiovascular exercise, into a weekly physical activity plan, Mangieri said. "Even if it's using cans of soup to do some bicep curls — it doesn't have to be in a gym, it just needs to be some sort of resistance training," Mangieri said.

As we age, we also become less flexible. Mangieri suggested adding yoga or Pilates, which can help improve flexibility, core strength, balance and range of motion. "If we can maintain our muscle mass and maintain our strength, then as we get older, we can continue to do the things we enjoy doing," Mangieri said.

Fiber is your friend

The days of gorging without gaining weight are over. And as your metabolism slows around age 40, eating fewer calories can boost health. But you should also make sure to get adequate fiber and fluids, Mangieri said.

"We want to make sure the calories that are decreasing come from things like sweets, but we keep those high-fiber foods in the diet, and we also make sure we meet our fluid needs. That's really important," Mangieri said. "Make sure that our daily eating plan is packed full of nutrient-dense food, like lean protein, fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy and whole grains.

"Those items are important through all the stages of life, but as we get older, we want to make sure we maintain those high-nutrient foods even though our caloric needs are less," Mangieri said.

Consider the big picture of your lifestyle

Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan emphasized the difference that a generally healthy lifestyle can have on preventing heart attacks and strokes.

For cardiovascular events, "we know that the risk increases with age, and you can't get younger. There's no cure for getting older," Jackson said.

But losing the spare tire around your middle could help you not only fit into your clothing, but reduce the risk for heart disease, diabetes and vascular diseases. "When you think of lifestyle modifications, there's a lot of bang for your buck in all different factors," Jackson said.

Doing regular physical activity, reducing stress levels, maintaining a healthy weight and a eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables and polyunsaturated fats all "help keep our blood vessels healthy," Jackson said. "And that keeps our heart healthy, that keeps our brains healthy, and it really helps us prevent that waistline increasing. An investment in healthy lifestyle will pay off through every subsequent decade," she said.

Butt out

Age 40 should include a reality check for smokers.

"If you're a smoker, it's time to take this seriously and stop it by whichever way, shape or form. Get some help," Zoghbi said.

Quitting "is not easy, but believe me, it will decrease the incidence of everything bad that you can think of, from heart attacks [to] heart disease, stroke, kidney failure as well as lung cancer and lung disease," he said.

Thyroid check

People who feel worn out, and are gaining weight and whose hair and skin have lost their luster, may consider getting their thyroids checked. This neck gland helps control energy levels and regulates hormones, and 40 is a time "when thyroid disease can show its face," Fryhofer said.

A test can determine if your thyroid is functioning as it should, she said. An underactive thyroid is primarily results from genetic condition causes, but you can stave off its complications with prescription medications, Fryhofer said.  

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Lincoln Financial Group is Up for a good start this 2015

The group scored 90 out of 100 percent which reflected the company’s commitment to LGBT employees and their families with respect to tangible benefits, practices, and policies.
The company has announced that they has been named Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI)  national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

On the other hand, Lincoln Financial ended the year 2014 by announcing the winners of its Give Thanks photo contest.
The winning photo was submitted by Sommer Pacana of Buffalo, N.Y, with her mom, Renee.

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Life Hacks Anyone Over 50 Should Know

Who doesn't need life to be made a little bit easier? Below are 25 tips to do precisely that. Readers are invited to post their own life hacks below in comments.

1. Take a photo with your phone of where you park your car at the mall. That way, when you misplace the ticket you can at least show the nice security guard where your car is.

2. Take a cell photo of a list of all the medications used by relatives in your care. It's handy to have it in case of an emergency or when you take your mother to see a new doctor.

3. To get rid of your turkey neck in photos, photographers recommend that you stick your neck out and tuck your chin down.

4. To make your smile look bigger in photos, squint your eyes just a little.

5. Use nail polish to paint a colored dot on the end of your mom's keys to help her remember which one unlocks what. Green for front door; red for back door; etc.

6. Use a hanging shoe rack to store cleaning supplies inside the pantry door. It eliminates having to crawl under the sink to find the ones you use most frequently.

7. Can't hear the alarm clock? Set the alarm on your smartphone and put it in an empty glass near your bed. The sound will be amplified.

8. When a friend borrows a tool or book, snap a photo of them holding it so you'll remember later where it went.

9. Mark the side of your water bottle by hours so that you can keep track of what you've had to drink and will stay hydrated.

10. Take a photo of the inside of your refrigerator to help you remember what you need at the grocery store.

11. Use the clasps of an old skirt hanger to keep your cords from tangling and being tripped over.

12. When you downsize your house, consider buying a well-made foldout cot instead of a pullout sofa.
Your guests will thank you.

13. Use two-sided tape on area rugs to keep them in place.

14. Replace your aging parents' area rugs with wall-to-wall carpeting to minimize falls.

15. Use cold cucumbers to reduce eye puffiness. Cucumbers contain antioxidants that are thought to reduce irritation, while the cooling effect reduces swelling.

16. Carry a big scarf with you 24/7. It's as good as a shawl in overly air-conditioned restaurants, movies and airplanes and can double for sun protection at beaches and outdoor cafes.

17. Give charitable donations as gifts. Most charities notify the honoree only that a donation was made in their name from you and leave the amount out. You can appear to be a bigger spender and do some good in the meantime.

18. Have a big event and want to look glamorous? Make an appointment at a department store makeup counter for a makeover with their products. Sure they'll try to sell you stuff, but buy the least expensive item and tell them you'll think about the rest.

19. Feet making your shoes a bit odoriferous? Try sticking a dry teabag in each shoe overnight to reduce the smell.

20. Have trust issues with your GPS? Highway sign tip: If the exit sign is on the left of the sign, the exit itself will be on the left. If it's on the right, the exit will be on the right.

21. In a rental car, look at the little icon for the gas pump. The direction the gas handle is pointing is the side where you put your gas in.

22. Carry a nightlight with you when you stay in hotels. Sleeping in unfamiliar territory and trying to find your way to the bathroom in the dark can be a challenge for anyone.

23. Attach a small vial of hand sanitizer to the outside of your purse and use it liberally when you are out in public places. Escalators, elevator buttons, door handles are all germ territory.

24. Make your own emergency first aid kit by stuffing into an old prescription bottle: two bandages, a tiny sample of antibiotic ointment and -- if you are caregiving for a heart patient -- some nitroglycerin tablets.

25. A frozen wet sponge in a Ziploc bag makes for a great icepack that won't leak.


Original post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/25/life-hacks-for-those-over-50_n_6173276.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

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What To Do When Long Term Care Rates Increase

Despite of 8.6% increase compared to last year, long term care advocates and advisors are still not yet discouraged to let their clients use it.

According to Stiles, Slome and planner Paul Jarvis, of United Capital in Fargo, N.D, Here are steps to consider when advising clients as the costs of policies increases:

1. Put the cost of coverage into perspective.
2. Don't try to offset all costs of long-term care.
3. Consider employer policies.
4. Buy in the sweet spot.
5. Shop around.
6. Give your clients options.
7. Negotiate with insurers.
8. Consider hybrid life insurance and long-term care policies.
9. Go with 30- or 60-day elimination periods.
10. Address the disconnect.
11. Prepare to teach.

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Signs You’re Succeeding In Life Even If You Don’t Feel You Are

We all feel like failures from time to time. While this is a normal feeling, you have to find a way to see yourself and your life from a different perspective. Sometimes we ignore the “little things.” Just because you are not a millionaire, don’t live in a mansion, and you don’t drive a fancy car, that doesn’t mean you’re a failure. In fact, it’s quite the contrary.
Here are 20 signs that you are succeeding in life:

1. Your relationships are less dramatic than they used to be.

Drama is not maturity. As we age, we should develop maturity. So maybe your relationships were drama-filled in your past, but if you have moved beyond that, then you are successful.

2. You are not afraid to ask for help and support any more.

Asking for help does not equal weakness. In fact, it is a strength. No person has ever succeeded in isolation. It takes teamwork to accomplish goals. Asking or help is a sign that you have grown as a person.

3. You have raised your standards.

You don’t tolerate bad behavior any more – from other people, or even yourself. You hold people accountable for their actions. You don’t spend time with the “energy vampires” in your life anymore.

4. You let go of things that don’t make you feel good.

No, this is not narcissistic even though it might seem like it. Self-love is success. Love yourself enough to say ‘no’ to anything that doesn’t make you happy, doesn’t serve your purpose, or drags you down.

5. You have moments where you appreciate who you see in the mirror.

Ideally, you should appreciate who you see in the mirror at every moment. But even if that doesn’t happen, if you do it more than you used to, then that is success. Love yourself. You are awesome.

6. You have learned that setbacks and failure are part of self-growth.

Not everyone can have success 100% of the time. That’s just not realistic. Life is about victories and losses. So look at your setbacks as stepping stones to something better. In reality, there really is no such thing as as setback. It’s all just part of a wondrous journey.
You may be interested in reading this too: 20 Common Habits Successful People Consciously Reject

7. You have a support system that includes people who would do anything for you.

If you have figured out the people who “have your back” and recognized the ones who only pretend that they do, then you have succeeded. This is a painful realization, but once you learn to see the signs of betrayal, you can stay away from those people.

8. You don’t complain much.

Because you know there really is nothing to complain about. Unless you really have gone through some horrific life experience and had unimaginable losses, most of what we all experience on a day-to-day basis is just mundane. And successful people know that. And they live in a space of gratitude.

9. You can celebrate others’ successes.

Just because other people succeed, that doesn’t make you a failure. Applaud the people who rise to the top. The more positive energy you give to other people’s victories, the more you will create your own.

10. You have passions that you pursue.

You are not stagnant. You know you have something wonderful to contribute to the world. You have unique talents and gifts. Not only do you know that, you pursue it.

11. You have things to look forward to.

If you don’t have exciting things going on in your life that you are eagerly anticipating, then you are slowly dying inside. Successful people create goals that they are passionate about pursuing. They let this excitement drive their life.

12. You have goals that have come true.

Even though “failures” are a part of life, you have stuck to your goals and dreams long enough to make them come to fruition. You have  some tastes of victory. It fuels you.

13. You have empathy for others.

A person without empathy is dead inside. Empathy equals spreading love and positive energy into the world. Successful people know this. They love others as if they are family.

14. You love deeply and open yourself up to be loved by others.

Love is risky, and sometimes scary for people. It’s the one thing we all strive for, but it’s also intimately tied to the one thing we fear the most – rejection. If you open your heart enough to love and be loved, then you are successful.

15. You refuse to be be a victim.

You know that life doesn’t always happen to you. Many times, you are a co-creator of your life experiences. Successful people know this and refuse to be kept down by life experiences. The rise up and conquer anyway.

16. You don’t care what other people think.

You know you can’t please everyone. You know that the standards with which society judges people is many times unrealistic. So you just keep true to yourself and love the person you are.

17. You always look on the bright side.

Life can be full of disappointments – if you choose to see them that way. Otherwise, they are learning opportunities. No negative experience is ever wasted as long as you learn from it.

18. You accept what you can’t change.

Let’s face it – there many things you can’t change in life. All you can change is how you view what happens. If you can change your negative perspective on situations to a positive one, then you are successful.

19. You change what you can.

And let’s face it again – there are many things you can change in life. Successful people don’t sit around accepting the negatives that are changeable. They get out there and do something about it!!

20. You are happy.

To me, this is the ultimate definition of success. It doesn’t matter what the balance is in your bank account, how big your house is,  or how many fancy vacations you take. If you are happy, then you are succeeding in life.


Even if you don’t see yourself in many of these 20 things, don’t fret. It’s okay. Be happy that you see yourself in just a few. In time, the rest will come. You just need to keep moving onward and upward.

Source:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/20-signs-youre-succeeding-life-even-you-dont-feel-you-are.html?dgs=1

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Top Ten Features Your LTCI Policy Should Have

Watch the video and learn the important features that a long term care insurance policy must have.

1. Company Reputation

2. Inflation protection

3. Home Health care benefit option

4. Shared care rider

5. Monthly benefit limit instead of daily

6. Care coordinator services

7. Cash benefit

8. Pero day elimination period

9. Pool of money for maximized coverage

10. Comprehensive coverage for all levels of care

 Credits to: http://www.fpsinsurance.com/

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Something all marriages should strive for

Something all marriages should strive for.

Do you have a successful marriage? 
Share it with us, and inspire others to keep hold of their marriages too!

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Long term Care Insurance Pros and Cons

Most people does not welcome the conversation about needing long term care, but mnost of us will be needing it at some point of our life.

In fact, 70 percent of people turning 65 years old can expect to need some type of long-term care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Advocates of long term care insurance says that the investment will surely pay off if you wind up using it. Policy might be pricey but it can surely defray the costs.

Who needs it?

Continue reading:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102338393#.

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Avoid Stress By Having Long Term Care Insurance

Caring for love ones can cause a great burden within a family.

Daughters are more likely to provide care than any other family members, according to University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study. The research suggests that in families with children of both genders, sons will reduce their time spent with their elderly parents while daughters increase that time to compensate for their brothers.

That lack of participation by one or multiple siblings can cause discord within a family, but proper planning can cut the family feud short, said Stacia Vetter, assistant vice president at National HealthCare Corp.

Vetter is an insurance broker specializing in long-term-care insurance who also has a policy for her parents.

Unlike traditional insurance, long-term-care insurance is designed to help families with the financial burdens of aging by providing funds on a daily basis for long-term care, she explained.

"We are living longer, and we are living longer with chronic illness," Vetter said.

Long-term care is needed when an individual cannot do normal daily things—like eating, bathing, dressing and driving—without some kind of help, said Vetter, a long-term-care insurance specialist.

Read the full article here:
http://www.dnj.com/story/money/business/2015/01/03/long-term-care-insurance-helps-relieve-stress/21244641/

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Everyone Can Dream

Some years ago I took on an assignment in a southern county to work with people on public welfare. What I wanted to do was show that everybody has the capacity to be self-sufficient and all we have to do is to activate them. I asked the county to pick a group of people who were on public welfare, people from different racial groups and different family constellations. I would then see them as a group for three hours every Friday. I also asked for a little petty cash to work with as I needed it.

The first thing I said after I shook hands with everybody was, "I would like to know what your dreams are." Everyone looked at me as if I were kind of wacky.

"Dreams? We don't have dreams."

I said, "Well, when you were a kid what happened? Wasn't there something you wanted to do?" One woman said to me, "I don't know what you can do with dreams. The rats are eating up my kids."

"Oh," I said. "That's terrible. No, of course, you are very much involved with the rats and your kids. How can that be helped?"

"Well, I could use a new screen door because there are holes in my screen door."

I asked, "Is there anybody around here who knows how to fix a screen door?"

There was a man in the group, and he said, "A long time ago I used to do things like that but now I have a terribly bad back, but I'll try." I told him I had some money if he would go to the store and buy some screening and go and fix the lady's screen door. "Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes, I'll try." The next week, when the group was seated, I said to the woman, "Well, is your screen door fixed?"

"Oh, yes," she said.

"Then we can start dreaming, can't we?" She sort of smiled at me. I said to the man who did the work, "How do you feel?"

He said, "Well, you know, it's a very funny thing. I'm beginning to feel a lot better."

That helped the group to begin to dream. These seemingly small successes allowed the group to see that dreams were not insane. These small steps began to get people to see and feel that something really could happen. I began to ask other people about their dreams. One woman shared that she always wanted to be a secretary. I said, "Well, what stands in your way?" (That's always my next question.)

She said, "I have six kids, and I don't have anyone to take care of them while I'm away." "Let's find out," I said. "Is there anybody in this group who would take care of six kids for a day or two a week while this woman gets some training here at the community college?"

One woman said "I got kids, too, but I could do that." "Let's do it," I said. So a plan was created and the woman went to school.

Everyone found something. The man who put in the screen door became a handyman. The woman who took in the children became a licensed foster care person. In 12 weeks I had all these people off public welfare. I've not only done that once, I've done it many times.

- Virginia Satir

Source:
http://www.101inspirationalstories.com/2014/11/everybody-has-dream.html

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Wealth, Success and Love

A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them.

Then she said, "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked. "No," she said. "He's out." "Then we cannot come in," they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened. So, he said, "Go tell them I'm home, and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in. "We do not go into a house together," they replied. "Why is that?" she wanted to know. One of the old men explained. "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and pointing to another one he said, "This man is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now, go and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was over-joyed. "How nice!" he said. "Since that's the case, let us invite in Wealth. Let him come in and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "Why don't we invite Success?" But, their daughter was listening from the corner of the room. She jumped in with her own suggestion. "Wouldn't it be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

The wife agreed. "Then, let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love in to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started walking toward the house. Then the other two also got up and followed him.

Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, "I only invited in Love, as you directed. Why are you all coming in?" The old men replied together, "If you had invited only Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed. However, since you invited Love... wherever He goes, we go with him... because wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"

- Author Unknown

Source:
http://www.101inspirationalstories.com/2014/09/wealth-success-and-love.html

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How to Know if Long Term Care Insurance is Right For You?

About 70% of individuals 65 and older will need some kind of long-term care—whether at home or in an assisted-living facility or nursing home, that's according to researchers at Georgetown University and Pennsylvania State University. But how many of them should really need to have long term care insurance?

To assess the odds of needing long-term care, the researchers used government data to “calculate monthly probabilities of transitioning among various health states” from age 65 on. The data show that 44% of men and 58% of women will spend at least some time receiving nursing-home care.

However, many people spend only short spells in nursing homes. Government data show that, on average, men who require nursing-home care spend an average of less than a year in such care over their lifetimes. For women, the figure is about one year and four months.

See the original article here:
http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2014/12/23/is-long-term-care-insurance-for-you/

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How to Forgive Someone When It’s Hard - Tips To Let Go Of Anger

How do you forgive someone when every fiber of your being resists? How do you look at them lovingly when you still have the memory of their unloving action? How to let go of the way you wish things had worked out if only they made a different choice?

Here are some tips:

1. I remember them as a child and it’s much easier! -Joy Thompson

2. I remind myself that I forgive not for them but for me and that it’s easier to forgive than to hang on to so much anger, hurt and betrayal. -Sarah Clark

3. I just acknowledge that we are humans, so we are allowed to make mistakes. -Haydee Lizbeth Lopez Cruz

4. Remind yourself that they are not separate from you; they only appear that way. Then you will realize you are one, and it is yourself you are forgiving. -Justin Hayden

5. Do not keep thinking of the past or the bad thing that happened; when you let go of it, you get over the anger/bitterness that you felt and it clears the path of forgiveness! The best thing is time! -Ashna Singh

6. Remember that we are all doing the best we can at the time. -Diane Paul

7. Remind yourself of how much forgiveness would mean to you if it was your turn for a mistake! –Carol Mcbride-Safford

8. Wayne Dwyer describes how hate is love which has been turned around. Seeing the expression of what can’t be forgiven as love makes it easier to forgive. Were also all doing the best we can, according to our own evolutionary state, including those we find hard to forgive. -Lise Heeley

9. Because it takes less energy to love and forgive than it does to stay angry and hold a grudge.It brings peace to your life. -Linda Adams

10. I know that I need to forgive someone, not for their benefit, but for my own peace of mind.Don’t do it for them, do it for you! -Cathryn Kent

11. You remember why you love them. Love is about forgiveness.- Holly Chapman

12. Forgiveness comes easier with the passing of time. I tend to find that, if I am wronged, I forgive the person before they forgive themselves, and when I am in need of forgiveness, it is I who feels the guilt for longer. -Mandy Richardson

13. Stop thinking and just do it. Open your heart and forgive. -Lindsey Windrow

14. Don’t force it. If I don’t feel forgiving, I can at least not act on my anger. Eventually forgiveness will come if you welcome it. -Julie Trottier

15. Just learn to smile and let things go. -Sudharma Lama

16. Give up on all hope of a better past. -Matt Child

17. Every time you think of them send them love. After a while it gets easy. -Crystal Chang

18. Meditate, meditate and meditate some more until it’s gone! -Margot Knight-Guijt

19. The harder it is to forgive someone else, the more I am responsible. When I understand and forgive myself, forgiving others is easy. -Pamela Picard

20. Two different approaches. One involves restoring your boundaries and sense of protection first. The other involves focusing on what your body is feeling and stop dwelling on the offense. Both involve being present. -Chris Campa

21. Forgiveness comes easy when you know that what people say or do is about them, it’s not about you. -Kim Kings

22. Shift the focus, feel the pain and think of the thousands of others in the world who are also feeling the same pain, then send a loving-kindness message to everyone to be relieved of this suffering. -Nick Ong

23. When it happens I often ask myself “What strengths must I develop further from this?” Often the feeling of resentment just goes away, slowly but surely, because I wasn’t focusing on the person that wronged me, but the lesson that the event was trying to tell me. -Natassia Callista Alicia

24. I allow myself to feel again whatever I didn’t express “in the moment” when I was with them.Forgiveness always seem to follow those (usually) difficult emotions. -Cynthia Ruprecht Hunt

25. Write a brutally honest, emotionally raw letter telling them how much they have hurt and angered you, then tear it up and burn it. As you watch the smoke rise, think about the fact that you are not that hurt and that anger. It is fleeting, just like everything else. As the smoke carrying your hurt and disappointment disappears into the air, you can let it go. -Renate Wuersig

26. For some wrongs, I just have to remember that they are responsible for their actions and then it is easier for me to just let it be. -Karen Garland

27. By remembering that it will free me from the burden of the stress I feel, also, if I can’t forgive then how can I expect to ever be forgiven? -Leslie Brown

28. Just look to the future instead of focusing on what’s past…think of creating new good memories to wipe away old bad ones. -Elizabeth Lindsay

29. It becomes easy when you remember a time when you were forgiven, centering on how it made you feel. -Louisya Graves

30. Understand this: whether you like it or not, over time, you will stop feeling the pain, so why hold on to something that’s going to away anyway? -Nirav KAKU

How did I forgive when it was hard? I came to this realization: No one ever gets to the end of their life and thinks, “I wish I stayed angry longer.” They generally say one of three things: “I’m sorry,” “I forgive you,” or “I love you.”

After taking space to heal myself, I decided to cut out the middle man of time. I now set boundaries to take better care of me, but I’ll never regret that I’ve forgiven.

Original article:

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-forgive-someone-when-its-hard-30-tips-to-let-go-of-anger/

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When someone is rude, keep a smile on your face. When you stay on the road and keep your joy, you take away their power.

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How to Find The Best Long Term Care Insurance Company

There's a lot of insurance companies that offer long term care, the problem is, how will you know that they are the best and will give you the policy that will suit your needs.

Here are some tips to help you decide the ltci company you need:

Sources:
1. Ask your Friends, family, anyone you know who owns an LTCI policy
2. Read online pages and request for insurance quotes.
3. Ask/ Inquire over the phone

After knopwing different sources where you can get information about insurance companies, the next step is to compare them.

Continue reading:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/find-long-term-care-insurance-company-you-rachel-catherine-beter

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John Hancock Expands RPS Business

John Hancock Financial, a US division of Manulife Financial Corporation acquires New York Life's Retirement Plan Services business. Within the first half of 2015, all transactions are expected to close and are subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Donald Guloien, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife said that “This transaction, similar to our recently announced acquisition of Standard Life’s Canadian operations, will significantly increase our retirement plans business overall.”
“When completed, these transactions will each accelerate our strategy to grow our wealth and asset management businesses around the world,” added Guloien.

Read the full article here:
http://www.fpsinsurance.com/john-hancock-buys-new-york-life-retirement-division-expands-retirement-plan-services-business/

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Food, Taste and Hunger - Where do you get food to eat?

25,000 people die each DAY from STARVATION, based on a United Nations report released in 2003 and reported by BBC News. This was before the current food crisis.

This heartbreaking film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of man to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left these people.

In February 2006, at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival, Filmmakers were invited to join a Short Film Competition on the Theme: FOOD, TASTE and HUNGER.

3,600 Filmmakers from around the world, joined the competition, but only 32 films were chosen to be screened at the Berlinale Talent Campus.
This film topped the competition by being adjudged the Most Popular Short Film.

Source:

http://youtu.be/ds9lw9SFmMw

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People Underestimates Long Term Care

A new study finds Americans are strongly underestimating the needs for future long-term care.

According to the study by Health Affairs, 60 percent of adults between 40 and 65 years old don't think they'll need long-term care services.

That's a potentially costly oversight, since evidence suggests nearly 70 percent of older adults will need long-term care at some point.

The study found respondents living with minor children were the least likely to expect they'll need long-term services and support; and to require paid care if the need arose.

In contrast, respondents living alone were the most likely to expect that it's "very likely" they'll need long-term services and need to rely on paid care.

Health Affairs used data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, which is data collected by the US Census Bureau.

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A Million Dollar Lesson

A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in customer satisfaction and expectation. Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up. The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy. Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell."

"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be. I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver. One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'"

Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's loss is the travelling folk's friend!

Source: Petey Parker
http://www.101inspirationalstories.com/2015/01/a-million-dollar-lesson.html

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Prudential Financial Committed $6.7 million to Containment Efforts

Prudential helps fight and control ebola crisis by committing $6.7 million to containment efforts.
“The Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa, as well as here in the United States.” stated Lata Reddy, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility at Prudential and president of The Prudential Foundation.


The Prudential Foundation promised to provide the funds under this distribution:

$6 million in Capital to the UNICEF Bridge Fund
$300,000 grant will go to Doctors Without Borders
$200,000 grant will go to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF
$200,000 grant will go to Newark, N.J.’s University Hospital


Read the full article here:

http://www.fpsinsurance.com/prudential-helps-fight-ebola-crisis-committing-6-7-million-containment-efforts/

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Life's Difficulties

An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.

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Will Medicare Pay For Long Term Care?

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people will be needing long term care at some point of their life. Yet most people underestimate the cost of that care.

A March 2014 National Health Policy Forum report, National Spending for Long-Term Services and Supports, found that the average cost of nursing home care in 2012 was $81,030 per year for a semi-private room and $90,520 for a private one. If you’re thinking that Medicare will pick up the tab, that typically isn’t the case. The following, which will help you better understand which long-term care services Medicare does—and doesn’t—cover, is based upon two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publications, Medicare & You 2015 and Medicare, Medicaid & More.

Read the full story here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/northwesternmutual/2015/01/12/does-medicare-pay-for-long-term-care/

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Family

FAMILY - where life begins and love never ends 

Agree?

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"Spirit of Giving" Campaign of Allianz Life Donates $114,000 to Local Charities

As part of their annual "spirit of Giving" campaign, employees of Allianz life raised more than $114,000 in cash donations last December. “Allianz Life supports organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of those in our community who need it most,” said Allianz life President and CEO Walter White. “Year after year I am amazed at the passion our employees have for doing so much for others in need.”

Five nonprofit organizations near the company’s offices in Minneapolis received the donations, including 24,000 pounds of food, 24,000 pounds of clothes, 3,000 new toys, 200 books and 100 new bikes.

Read the original article here:
http://www.fpsinsurance.com/allianz-life-spirit-giving-campaign-donates-114000-local-charities/

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Genworth and their Long Term Care Videos with Celebrities on it

The nation's biggest seller of long term care insurance, enlisted actor Rob Lowe and journalist and author Maria Shriver for their new educational video series about long term care planning.

Lowe and Shriver discuss the impact of an aging population and the importance of long-term care planning.

The video series will be available on Genworth's Youtube  page and at http://mariashriver.com/

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Re-planning Your Retirement Plan this 2015

New year is a best time to reflect on your retirement plans and ensure that you have updated your strategies and tactics that will increase the possibility of accomplishing your retirement goals.

You may want to build an investment portfolio that can take advantage of many different potential market scenarios, the reality is that no one can predict what return the market will provide.

Here are some practices that are worth undertaking this new year:

1. Diversify your retirement accounts as well as your investments
2. Review your debt management strategy
3. Insulate your portfolio from unexpected expenses
4. Get some investment advice

Read the full/ original article here:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/4-retirement-planning-rethinks-for-2015-2014-12-29

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