One Million Acts of Kindness

Bob Votruba is on a mission of kindness. Cruising the country in a bus emblazoned, "One Million Acts of Kindness," Votruba is on a 10-year mission to encourage kindness in America.

Inspired by the September 11 attacks and Virginia Tech shootings, the 54-year-old Clevelander is traveling across America in an old, white-painted school bus covered with hand-lettered messages of inspiration. With his dog Bogart riding shotgun, Votruba aims to visit 100 college campuses this year to spread his message. Along the way he's met a lot of friendly folks in towns across the country and touched a lot of hearts with his message that even little acts of kindness can have a big impact on someone's life.

Votruba says to reach 1 million acts of kindness, he'll need to perform 50 acts of kindness every day for 55 years, a goal he says is "totally obtainable with kindness in the heart." This story in the January-February 2010 issue of the AARP Bulletin inspired me to wonder if we couldn't start our own Acts of Kindness effort here in Louisville. Start today. Smile at a stranger on the street. Thank the checker at the grocery. Lend your neighbor a hand. Call your mom. Stop by and say hello to a friend. Hug your kids. Kiss your husband (or wife or special someone). Spread the love and watch it grow. I feel better already!

Music Can Change the Way We Feel

Winter blues got you down? Feeling sad and lonely? Feeling churned up and anxious? Dreading some obnoxious chore? Having a hard time getting your body in gear and moving? Try a little music.

Scientist have found that music has a powerful impact on human emotions and behavior. Movies and television use background music to synch our emotions to key plot points. Stores use music to encourage us to stay and shop longer. Sports arenas use music to rouse the crowd to cheer for the home team. Businesses use music to placate customers when they put them on hold. Your workplace may even use music to encourage a productive work environment. If we use language to communicate information and ideas, then we use music to communicate emotion.

Our response to music can change the way we feel. Music can pump us up, calm us down, energize us, relax us, wash us with sadness or put us in the mood for romance. If you're feeling blue, turn on some tunes and get happy!

Setting Clocks Back Gives Your Heart a Boost

When you set your clock back an hour tomorrow morning (Sunday, Nov. 2), you'll be giving your heart an unexpected little boost. In going over 20 years of records, Swedish researchers found that the number of heart attacks actually dips a bit -=- about 5% -- on the Monday after clocks are set back an hour. That extra hour of sleep seems to be good for our hearts.

Unfortunately, come spring, losing an hour of sleep when we turn clocks forward has the opposite effect. The same study found an overall 5% increase in the number of heart attacks during the first week of daylight-saving time. The early part of the week when people struggle most to adjust to the change in biorhythms was the most stressful with heart attacks rates increasing by 6% on Monday and Wednesday and 10% on Tuesday.

"Sleep -- through a variety of mechanisms -- affects our cardiovascular health," said Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Sleep not only impacts how we feel, but it may also affect whether we develop heart disease or not."

So pamper your heart tomorrow and enjoy that extra hour of sleep. You'll need it come spring!

Tips for Coping with Election Day Stress

With the elections only a few more days away, election stress is getting to many of us. We are constantly bombarded by phone calls, mail fliers and negative television ads. It's enough to make you grind your teeth and reach for the Tums.

Psychologists say economic uncertainty isn't helping. "Human beings, generally we do better in periods of calm, stability and certainty," said Illinois psychologist Nancy Molitor who said this election season is the most anxious she's seen her patients in 20 years of practice. All this anxiety is causing sleep problems, edginess, irritability and concentration problems.

Elections are a major stress producer because people vote from a "very, very core place in their personalities," said Lisa Miller, an associate professor of psychology at Columbia University Teachers College in New York. She said we tend to project our hopes and fears onto presidential candidates, expecting them to protect us keep us safe.

When you start to feel overly stress about the election, here are some things experts say will help:

• Step back. Shut down the computer, turn of the TV, stop answering the phone and close the newspaper. Avoid getting into political arguments with friends and colleagues.
• Be pro-active. Volunteer to help your candidate. If you're actively working for what you believe in you'll won't feel powerless which is at the root of much election anxiety.
• Take care of yourself. Stress wears you down physically and mentally. Make sure you eat healthfully, exercise and get enough sleep. The very act of taking control of something decreases stress.
• Be realistic. Every candidate has both strong and weak points. No candidate is all good or all bad, despite what you may hear. The country has always survived no matter who was elected. Though ideas and view may differ, each candidate is sincerely trying to do his best for the country. And remember, our forefathers mandated a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one person or viewpoint can rule. The President must be supported by Congress and vice versa which guarantees a fair amount of balance and compromise in governmental decisions.
• Change the subject. When you can't take it anymore, just change the subject. Agree to disagree. Go for a walk, get out in nature, do something that takes your mind off politics.
• Remember to vote. Make sure you go to the polls and cast your ballot on Tuesday, November 4. Whether your candidate wins or loses, you'll know your voice was heard!

Worried About the Economy? Tips for Coping with Financial Stress

Bad news about the economy has everyone stressed. People are worried about their retirement savings, their mortgage payments, their credit card bills, their jobs, their banks and just about everything you can think of. It's taking a real toll on the American psyche. In fact, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association, 80% of us say the faltering economy is a source of significant stress in our lives. That's a big increase from April when only 66% of us blamed the economy for making our lives miserable.

People who don't normally have trouble coping with life's stresses are reeling under the constant bombardment of new disasters. All this stress is sending more people to therapists for help coping with the added mental strain. On the flip side, money troubles are causing some people to cut back on needed counseling and medications to save money.

Medical experts say the best way to cope with stress is to exercise, eat healthfully and spend more time with family and friends. The American Psychological Association also suggests the following:

• Don't panic. When you hear bad news, take a deep breath and try to remain calm. Don't allow yourself to get caught up in the doom and gloom. Try to focus on what's actually happening in your life today and not all the things that might happen.
• Make a plan. Identify the things that cause you financial stress. Think of ways you can reduce expenses and manage your money more efficiently. Even small changes like cutting out your daily Starbucks run can have a significant effect on your budget. At $4 a day, that latte costs you $20 a week, $80 a month or almost $1000 a year. Write down your plan and stick to it. Review your plan periodically and make adjustments as needed.
• Be smart. Many of us respond to financial stress in unhealthy ways: drinking, smoking, emotional eating or gambling. These things will only compound stress and should be avoided. Fight unhealthy urges by eating right, exercising more and seeking the support of family and friends.
• Take action. A large degree of the stress people feel during economic downfalls comes from being pummeled by forces out of their control. Take control of what you can. Take a walk or have dinner with your family. Improve your future job potential. Learn a new skill, take a course through your employer or tap into free and low-cost job skill resources available in your community.
• Call in the pros. Seek help from a professional credit counselor or financial planner if you feel like you're in over your head. They may be able to negotiate more favorable loan terms and set up realistic payment plans with creditors. They can also help you develop a workable financial plan to get out of trouble and stay out.
• Get help. If you still feel overwhelmed, talk with a counselor. Don't let yourself sink into depression. Everyone needs a little extra help some time. There's no shame in admitting you aren't Superman.
• Have faith. Don't ignore the power of prayer. Many people find great comfort in their faith, particularly in times of high stress. When you feel life's burdens are getting too heavy to shoulder, ask God to share the load.

Triad Senior Day Out

Mark your calendar if you are in Louisville, KY for Tuesday, October 14, 2008. That day is the Triad Senior Day Out. It will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center at 4th and Market. The event goes from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. There will be health screenings, door prizes, entertainment, speakers, BINGO and information booths.

There is no charge for this event. A free lunch is provided for those who register before Sept 26th. Call 502-574-5092 for information to register.

You will find us during the day at the Aging In Place pavilion. We hope you will stop by and say hello.

AM Warner Insurance Unveils New Website

We're excited here at AM Warner Insurance. Today we unveil our newly designed website. We've been working hard to make our website even more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Click here to check out the new AM Warner Insurance website.

At the top of our home page, you'll find a handy tab for each of the major insurance services we offer. With a click of the mouse you can access helpful web pages that provide valuable information in easy to understand terms, no confusing industry lingo or undecipherable acronyms. You'll also find answers to commonly asked questions and detailed descriptions of our services.

Easy to click topics at the top of each web page provide detailed information pertinent to that particular insurance service. For example, the Long Term Care Insurance tab offers topic choices on risks, payment options, coverage choices, and special information for business owners. We believe that education is the key to making wise decisions and strive to give you the information you need to make the best possible choices for your future.

We know you'll also like the handy left-hand navigation bar that appears on every page. It allows you to navigate to any area of our site from whatever page you're currently viewing. You can also access our blog, newsletter archive and other exciting features and resources from the left-hand navigation bar. While you're at our site, take a minute to sign up for our email newsletter. Just click the box on our home page.

At AM Warner Insurance, we specialize in long term care insurance and Medicare options. We also offer life insurance, dental plans, health insurance, hospital indemnity insurance plans, cancer insurance, and annuities. Our clients are important to us. We work hard to serve as a knowledgeable resource for our clients and pride ourselves on the personal service we provide. We never recommend something to our clients that we wouldn't offer our own family. At AM Warner Insurance, we treat you like family. To find out more about our services, contact AM Warner Insurance today. We look forward to serving you.

Don't Worry! Be Happy!

Laughter is the best form of medicine, they say. Though scientists haven't been able pinpoint why, studies show there's a lot of truth to the old saying. Many people are firm believers.

Many cancer patients say laughter helps them cope with pain. Laughter gives us an emotional boost that can decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Some think laughter strengthens relationships, that we achieve a special bonding when we laugh together that makes it easier to cope with life's troubles. At the very least it provides a welcome distraction. Nursing home residents in a Clemson University study requested less pain medication after watching I Love Lucy reruns. Slapstick comedy produced the best results, according to study leader, Clemson professor Fran McGuire.

Doctors do know that laughter can boost the immune system. "Laughter is just like a vitamin that you take every day," said Mary Bennett, director of Western Kentucky University's nursing program. "It's another one of those healthy behaviors that we all should do, like eating right and exercising."

"We hunger for humor. We long for laughter," said Sister Sue Tracy, a survivor of multiple cancers and Dominican nun in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That hunger has led to the formation of laughter clubs where people get together to tell jokes and puns and share a good belly laugh.

So next time you need a good laugh, tune in Lucy and Ethel or the Three Stooges, pick up a book by humor columnist Dave Barry, regale yourself with a Stephanie Plum adventure by comedic novelist Janet Evanovich, turn on Comedy Central, stay up and catch Jay Leno's opening monologue, read the jokes in Readers' Digest or go on the internet to your favorite joke site. You'll be happier if you have a good belly laugh every day!

New Auto Safety Features for Older Drivers

Auto manufacturers are working to meet the needs of the aging Baby Boomer generation. New safety features are being introduced to help older drivers continue to drive safely. If you or your parents are in the market for a new car, ask about the following safety features:

• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel. Adjustable steering columns alleviate neck and shoulder pain and allow you to position yourself a safe 10 inches from the front airbag (usually housed in the center of the steering wheel).
• Thicker steering wheel. The thicker steering wheel shown in some sports models is easier for arthritic or weak hands to grip.
• Mirrors with wide visibility. Wider visibility helps compensate for the more limited range of motion that occurs with aging. Drivers don't have to turn or crane their necks to check blind spots. If arthritis is a factor, consider power mirrors.
• Heated seats and lumbar support. Lumbar support helps prevent back aches while driving. Heated seats are comfy in cold weather and make driving more comfortable for arthritic drivers.
• Adjustable power seats. Six-way adjustable seats enable shorter drivers to see over the steering wheel. They also make it easier to get in and out of the car.
• Adjustable foot pedals. Adjustable pedals allow shorter drivers to reach the pedals while still maintaining a safe distance from the front airbag.
• Extendable sun visors. Great for shorter drivers, of course; and they cut the glare that can bother older eyes.
• Larger dash controls. Bigger is better as you age. Bigger controls are easier to see and easier to manipulate.
• Side safety lights. Front side lights illuminate the street as you're turning, making it easier to see where you're going.
• Four doors. Time to trade in that sports car. The lighter-weight doors on a sedan are easier to open and close and allow more room for entering and exiting the car in parking lots.

Words of Wisdom from My Dad

My dad died last Christmas and I miss him. He was an honest and admirable man. He taught me that in both personal and business relationships you should treat people as you would like to be treated -- honestly and fairly. You might not always get the sale, and you might not always make the most money, but you would always be able to look yourself in the eye. That's what was important to my dad, and me: being able to face the man (or woman) in the mirror each morning.

How often in our life and particularly in business do we practice the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The idea that we should treat others as we would like to be treated harkens back to Greek philosophy and seems to be a universal moral ethic. The same concept is found in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and a host of other world religions. It is an ethic consistently taught by the world's great moral and religious leaders -- and in our house by my dad.

Our dads teach us many things. I'm grateful for all the things my dad taught me. His lessons have helped me lead a satisfying and successful life, and they drive my business philosophy. I strive to provide for and treat my clients as I would a member of my own family. I try to live my life so that when I look in the mirror each morning, I'm happy with the woman who stares back. Thanks, dad.

Save Money at the Gas Pump with These Tips

We usually talk about health tips in this space, but with the cost of gas teetering at $4 a gallon I figure a blog on gas tips is a good stress reliever for all of us. So here are some tips from California petroleum expert John Hotaling on how to wring the last drop from each dollar you spend at the gas pump:

• Fill up early in the morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Gas stations store their gas in underground storage tanks, so cold ground means cold gas. Gas is at its densest when it's cold which means that you get more actual gas because the gas molecules are packed more tightly together. As temperatures rise during the day, gas molecules expand and each gallon you pump contains less actual gas. This is such a hot issue in the trucking industry where it can cost more than a thousand dollars to fill a semi tank that diesel pumps have temperature compensation safeguards. Those of us who drive regular cars and trucks have to provide our own safeguards. To get the most gas for your buck, fill your tank early in the morning.
• Pump gas at low speed when you fill your tank. Most gas pump nozzle triggers have three speeds: high, medium and low. Most of us squeeze the trigger tightly to fill the tank quickly on high speed. Pumping fast and furiously causes some of the gas you pump to turn into vapor in your gas tank. Since modern gas pumps are safety equipped with vapor returns, that vapor is sucked back out of your car and returned to the underground storage tank where it condenses back into gas. In effect, by pumping fast you pay for gas you don't keep. Pump your gas slowly on the low setting to minimize vapor creation and keep most of what you pay for.
• Fill up when your gas gauge hits the half full point. Gas evaporates unbelievably quickly. As your vehicle uses gas, the gas is replaced by air in your gas tank. The gas in the tank starts to evaporate into the air. By keeping your tank full, you keep air from building up in the tank and thus minimize evaporation.
• Don't fill up if the station's tanks are being filled. If you arrive at the gas station and the tanker truck is there pumping gas into the underground storage tanks, buy your gas somewhere else that morning. The process of filling the storage tanks stirs up dirt and debris that normally settles at the bottom of the tanks, swirling it through the gas. It may take a couple of hours for all that debris to settle back onto the bottom of the tank. You don't want that goop getting into your car's gas tank where it can filter into your engine and cause trouble. So if you see a tanker at your normal gas station, cruise on down the street and visit the competition.