Be Proud of your Past and Embrace the Future

Hispanic Heritage Week was first celebrated in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, and the observance was expanded into Hispanic Heritage Month in 1988 under Ronald Reagan. Hispanic Americans today are identified according to the parts of the world that they or their ancestors may have come from, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, or any of the Spanish speaking nations of Central or South America.

As of 2019, the US Hispanic population was numbered at 60.6 million, or about 18% of the US population. Hispanics are the second largest racial or ethnic group. The five states with the largest Hispanic population are California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois.

The starting date of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15, coincides with the independence day of several Central American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Celebrations are done in many ways, from parades to concerts and food fairs.  On an individual level, visit a museum to study Hispanic artists, or research important Hispanic figures.

Resources:

Hispanic Heritage Month

American Latino Heritage

Hispanic History

US Hispanic Population Figures

The idea behind the September observation of National Preparedness month is to encourage individuals to take important steps to prepare for emergencies. Individuals and families need to be aware of the types of emergencies that may affect them in order to create a useful emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan, and become engaged in the preparation of their community. National Preparedness Month is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

There is an abundance of resources available online to assist with information one may need to consider while planning for emergencies. Please see the resources listed at the end of this article for links to that information.

Some of the many considerations for an emergency plan can include:

• How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings?
• What is your shelter plan?
• What is your evacuation route?
• What is your family communication plan?
• How do you need to update your plans or preparations with regarded to COVID-19?
• Medications and medical equipment
• Dietary needs
• Pets or service animals
• Devices and equipment for the disabled
• Battery and electronics charging backups
• Reviewing and updating insurance coverage
• Protecting critical documents and valuables
• First aid supplies

Take time this month to consider or update your family’s plans for emergencies.

Resources:

FEMA Emergency Preparedness Publications

Department of Homeland Security Website

Making a Plan

Healthy Aging Month has been observed for over 20 years. Its purpose is to provide inspiration and ideas for those ages 45+ for physical, mental, and financial well-being. We’re not just talking about baby-boomers anymore – The first of the Generation X-ers reached the age of 50 in 2015!

It may be time to re-invent yourself – is there something you’d like to learn more about? An athletic goal you would like to try? A new business you would like to start? Somewhere you’ve been hoping to travel? Go for the rejuvenation that comes with positive measures to enrich your life.

Here are some suggestions to re-invent yourself this September:

1. Do Not Act Your Age – Don’t accept ‘expectations’ about your age – be the age you want!

2. Be Positive

3.  Ditch the Negativity – surround yourself with positive people

4. Walk Tall – Find the best, most comfortable and supportive shoes and walk with confidence

5.  Stand Tall – Do what your mother told you and stand up straight!

6. How are your teeth?  – Good oral health is a big part of overall health – visit your dentist regularly. Also, consider teeth whitening for a younger look!

7. Lonely? – Pick up the phone, landline, or cell and make a call to do one or more of the following:  Volunteer your time, take a class, or invite someone to meet for lunch, brunch, dinner, or coffee. 

8. Walk 10,000 Steps A Day – Good for your health, your mental well-being and a good way to see your neighbors!

9. Exercise – Yoga and Tai Chi are excellent ways to improve your balance and agility.

10. Mental Acuity – Games and puzzles are great ways to actively exercise your memory.

11. Diet – Eat a well-balance diet for digestive and heart health.

12. Get Your Annual Check-Ups – See your doctor at least annually and keep up with health screenings.

13. Find your inner artist – Music? Art? Woodworking? Crafts? All wonderful ways to add richness to your life.

14. Get plenty of sleep! It’s never too late to take a pro-active approach to aging! This September, try a few new things to enrich your life and improve your health.

Resources:

Healthy Aging

September – Healthy Aging Month

Health Highlights – September

Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19^th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote. The amendment states:

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by and State on account of sex.”

The Women’s Suffragist movement formally began in 1848 at the Seneca Falls convention in Seneca Falls, NY. Organizers drafted a “Declaration of Sentiments, Grievances, and Resolutions” echoing the Declaration of Independence that all men and women are created equal. The battle for equality and the right to vote continued for over 70 years with women like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and Carrie Chapman Catt on the frontlines, lobbying Congress and the White House on behalf of American women.

As we celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of the 19^th Amendment right to vote, which is the foundation of democracy, please join me in honoring those who fought for women’s right to vote and exercise that right to effect change.

“I believe that the influence of woman will save the
country before every other power.”
~ Lucy Stone

Children are our future. They absorb the life around them and we can maximize their experiences by choosing actions that make a difference. In times of e-learning and social distancing, we can help our children with enriching and meaningful life experiences and in managing the stress of the additional demands of our time.

Most recommendations for making a difference for children reference being fully present for the child in your life. Put down the phone, make eye contact, smile, listen, and provide your full attention. Share meals without electronics.

Here are a number of other suggestions:

1. Spend time with a child – your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, child of a friend.
2. Help a child immerse him or herself in what (s)he loves most at the moment.
3. Focus on a child’s strengths.
4. Model perseverance and patience.
5. Show a positive attitude.
6. Don’t avoid stressors – instead, talk about them with a view to developing coping tactics.
7. Be reassuring.
8. Watch for signs of trouble or abuse in the child’s life; bring it to the attention of appropriate resources.
9. Support an organization that serves children – Scouts, YMCA, Big Brothers and Sisters, local recreation outlets, or places of worship.
10. Tell policy makers to support initiatives that are good for children.

July is a great month to spend time with children. The rewards for the child are lifetime in length, and the rewards for you are too.

Resources:

• 100 Ways to Make a Difference to Children
• Make a Difference for Children Month
• The Power of One
• Making a Difference to Children

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health issue some people develop after being exposed to traumatic or life-threatening events. We commonly think of it in relation to combat and other military experiences, but it may be caused by other trauma such as a physical or sexual attack, a serious accident, terrorist attacks or natural disasters.   It may include reliving the event, avoiding things that remind one of the event, having more negative thoughts and feelings than before and feeling on edge.  Trouble sleeping, negative behaviors such as smoking, drinking, abuse of drugs and increase in aggressiveness may also be present.

If these symptoms persist for more than a few months after the initial trauma, it may be PTSD. Treatment for this disorder can be very effective in improving the lives of those who suffer from it. Symptoms may be reduced, less intense, or even disappear. The important think to recognize is that it is something experienced by many people and can be treated so that the quality of life can improve.

Many may not feel ready for treatment or that they have perhaps waited too long to seek treatment. However, not wanting to talk about the trauma can actually be a symptom of PTSD. Treatment can be effective even many years after the initial trauma.

Treatment may include individual counseling, support groups and/or medications. Many insurance plans will cover the treatment; check your policy to see what is covered. Find an experienced provider that you are comfortable with.  Treatment for PTSD can be a life changing experience for the better!

Resources:

Understanding PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Causes

What is PTSD?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This includes all the Asian continents and Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island). Beginning as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1979, Congress passed a law declaring May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 1992. There are more than 15 million people of Asian/Pacific Island descent in the United States today.

May was chosen to recall the first immigration of Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1943 and to commemorate the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, because of the abundance of Chinese workers on the railroad.

The National Archives, Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center are among the institutions that observe Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month with special exhibits. See these websites and a central website, https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/, for abundant information on the Asian and Pacific Island heritage in the United States.

Resources:

Asian Pacific Heritage Month
Library of Congress Asian-Pacific Heritage
Smithsonian Asian Pacific Heritage
National Archives Asian Pacific Heritage
https://www.nga.gov/ (National Gallery)
www.neh.gov (National Endowment for the Humanities)

Why Financial Wellness Matters

April is Financial Literacy Month and a great time to focus on financial education. A lack of financial preparedness has huge societal costs, and in the coming years as Americans age, these costs will likely increase. There are daunting challenges facing not only the poor but also the working middle class. In the face of flat real wages, structural unemployment, a high tax burden, and higher health-care costs, it is becoming more difficult for millions of Americans to find extra income to save at the end of the month. In addition, many don’t understand the enormous commitment a self-financed retirement entails.

This is a complex problem. According to a recent survey, over 50% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings. To combat this, our country needs a combination of things that will alert citizens to the financial reality they are facing. To start, workers need skill sets that keep pace with a rapidly changing world and wages that at least track inflation and rise with productivity gains. Workers need to be educated on the importance of regular savings especially with the rapid decline of pensions.

There also needs to be a deeper understanding that everyone is responsible for their own financial freedom and how challenging that is to attain. To accomplish this, we need to educate on the importance of starting early. For example, young workers will need to save close to $1,000 per month to remain in the middle class; $925 per month for 30 years at 8% grows to $1.26 million, but that amount saved for 20 years only grows to about $508,000. Young people are often surprised to learn that the few hundred dollars they’re saving each month may not be enough to retire into a middle-class lifestyle.

As a nation, we need an environment where a business can thrive and where sponsoring a retirement savings plan for employees doesn’t lead to sizable amounts of paperwork, time, cost, and risk. We need a smart, pro-growth regulatory environment that protects workers and consumers, but also allows for strong economic growth so our workers earn sufficient wages. Historically, each generation of Americans has worked for a chance to achieve a better lifestyle and we need this dream to continue. People would be wise not to look to the government for middle-class financial freedom. We have seen the failure of governments that promise a workers paradise complete with middle-class wealth. This is, after all, an impossible task for any nation to finance—especially one already $21 trillion in debt. With this realization, we should arm ourselves with the knowledge and tools to begin our own journey towards financial freedom.

Financial literacy needs to permeate all communities, regardless of demographics or socioeconomic standing, especially families with young children. We need early financial education in the home, mainstream financial literacy programs starting at a young age, and government funding for a public awareness campaign much like those on public health and safety issues. It should be incorporated into school curricula, media campaigns, corporate wellness programs, and, most importantly, ongoing parental discussions.

The Council for Economic Education is participating with its #MySavingsTip campaign that features personal savings tips from inspiring leaders and entrepreneurs. They include:

1. Treat your finances like flossing; do it every day – Annamaria Lusardi with George Washington University’s School of Business knows first-hand the importance of spending time each week going over your expenses and savings. “If I don’t pay attention, I’m likely to spend more.” She also offers lessons learned from her own mistakes, including taking advantage of opportunities like maximizing a 401(k).

Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, the daughter of investing legend Charles R. Schwab, agrees. “Make savings a part of your routine – like brushing your teeth.” Her advice: Start early by putting aside a small portion – say 10% – of every dollar you earn.” Most people’s mistakes are about procrastination,” she said. “As a young person, retirement seems so far off.” But when it comes to saving and investing, “time is of the essence.”

2. Find the credit card that’s right for you – New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of bestseller-turned-movie “Too Big to Fail”, says it’s important to do your research. “It’s not a five minute research project; you might need a few hours online. Your needs are going to be different than other people.”

Choosing the best credit card is an important decision, advises NerdWallet. “The credit card you choose should help you achieve your financial goals in the most affordable, efficient way possible.”

Research your options and ask the right questions to find the card that’s the best fit for your spending habits and credit situation. Do you want to build or rebuild your credit, save on interest, or earn travel or cash back rewards? Other questions to consider include how much it costs to open an account, is there an annual fee, what is the card’s policy on balance transfers, and how quickly will you earn rewards.

3. Use biweekly payments to save money on interest and improve your credit – Biweekly loan payments are a simple way to pay down your debt – such as a car loan, student loan or high credit card balances – without drastically changing your lifestyle. And, when you reduce your total debt, your credit score improves which can translate to a lower interest rate on your next loan.

How does it work? Standard loans require one payment every month. Biweekly loan payments divide this payment in half and pay that amount every two weeks on a schedule that coincides with when you get paid. Because there are 52 weeks in a year, you’re making 26 biweekly payments over the course of a year (the equivalent of 13 monthly payments). On a monthly basis, the payment amount is the same. However, an extra month’s payment a year can reduce interest charges and shorten the term of the loan.

Benjamin Franklin, the original penny-pincher who appears on the $100 bill, once said, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” And, Financial Literacy Month is the perfect time to learn more about the many different ways to better manage your money.

Resources:

https://www.fdic.gov/quicklinks/consumers.html

Alcohol Awareness Month is a public health program organized by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as a way of increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related to alcohol. The program was started in April 1987 with the intention of targeting college-aged students who might be drinking too much as part of their newfound freedom. It has since become a national movement to draw more attention to the causes and effects of alcoholism as well as how to help families and communities deal with drinking problems.

The Importance of Alcohol Awareness Month

A big part of the work of Alcohol Awareness Month is to point out the stigma that still surrounds alcoholism and substance abuse in general. Psych Central points out that denial is a major characteristic of alcohol abuse, both from the person currently experiencing it and from friends and family members who are uncomfortable acknowledging the gravity of the situation. The month of April provides a chance for public health bodies, community centers, and treatment facilities to increase their efforts to reach people who may not fully appreciate the dangers of unhealthy alcohol consumption.

These organizations, many of which are part of NCADD’s National Network of Affiliates, launch campaigns on social and traditional media during the month of April to draw attention to the causes of alcoholism, the signs and effects of the condition, how to talk to a loved one about a drinking problem, and how to find treatment options. These campaigns can include advertising, especially in areas that are prone to abusive alcohol consumption like college campuses, where the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that 37.9 percent of students engage in binge drinking; public talks; content on television, radio, social media or print media; and other events to get the word out.

Signs of an Alcohol Problem

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition that doctors diagnose when a patient’s drinking causes distress or harm. The condition can range from mild to severe and is diagnosed when a patient answers “yes” to two or more of the following questions.

In the past year, have you:

• Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer than you intended?
• More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
• Spent a lot of time drinking? Or being sick or getting over the aftereffects?
• Experienced craving — a strong need, or urge, to drink?
• Found that drinking — or being sick from drinking — often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
• Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
• Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you, or gave you pleasure, in order to drink?
• More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or having unsafe sex)?
• Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had a memory blackout?
• Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
• Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, or sweating? Or sensed things that were not there?

If you have any of these symptoms, your drinking may already be a cause for concern. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change. A health professional can conduct a formal assessment of your symptoms to see if an alcohol use disorder is present. For an online assessment of your drinking pattern, go to RethinkingDrinking.niaaa.nih.gov.

Creative Prevention Strategies

For Alcohol Awareness Month in 2017, Frances M. Harding, the Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, singled out the alarming rates of alcohol consumption in colleges and universities as an example of why Alcohol Awareness Month is important. Almost 60 percent of students, some as young as 18, drink alcohol in any given month. Binge drinking is often thought of as a rite of passage, and many fraternities and sororities use alcohol in hazing rituals that often turn deadly. College administrations and state governments are turning to “creative prevention strategies” to address the epidemic, and Alcohol Awareness Month gives them the platform to spread the message.

The danger of alcohol abuse goes beyond college kids getting too drunk at parties. Every year, 6,500 people aged 21 and under die from alcohol-related accidents, some of whom were not even drinking themselves. Alcohol use by people who do not know how to drink responsibly or are unaware of the risks contributes to higher rates of violence, sexual assault, and suicide.

Going after drunk drivers and other people who cause a public safety risk through their drinking costs the government as much as $114 billion every year, according to NCADD. The human cost of alcoholism is much higher. Programs like Alcohol Awareness Month exist to ensure that families and communities have the resources, information, and options available to control the crisis of alcoholism.

Resources:

• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help
• How to Help an Alcoholic with Withdrawal, Support & Recovery