Maximum Living - June/July 2011

What’s the best way to disposeWhat’s the best way to disposeof old medicines?of old medicines?

Regular walks help boost attitude of local men,Regular walks help boost attitude of local men,women - including a 92-year-old!women - including a 92-year-old!

6 self-care strategies for women6 self-care strategies for women

Platinum Prom offers chance for new memoriesPlatinum Prom offers chance for new memories

FIND OUT MOREABOUT COVERARTISTELISEARMSTRONGINSIDE: PAGE 2.

June/July 2011FREE

LIVINGMaximum June/July 2011

A WELLNESS & SPIRITUALITYMAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

ON THE COVER

ABOUT THE ARTIST: ELISE ARMSTRONG

Creativity and resil-ience are two skills EliseArmstrong is remindedof when she works onart.Those who look at

Armstrong’s painting of asun on the magazine cov-er wouldn’t know at firstglance the sun wasn’t herinitial plan for a subject.“I was initially going

to paint something else,but I messed up and hadto make something else,”admitted Armstrongwhen asked what in-spired her choice. “It wasa happy accident.”The “happy accident”

was part of her study ofart during her junior yearat Seton Catholic HighSchool. The paintingwas on display in Apriland May as part of theAll Wayne County HighSchool Art Exhibition atRichmond Art Museum.Armstrong hadn’t had

the opportunity to takeart classes until this yearand hopes to study morethis fall at school.Art offers many chal-

lenges, Armstrong says.“You can definitely

say I’m a bit of a perfec-tionist. There are a lotof roadblocks and notall mistakes are happyones,” she says.But she sees art like

many things in life asan exploration. To getstarted in art at any age,

Armstrong says you justneed one paintbrush,one canvas and primarycolors.“You have to let your

imagination go. You can’tdo anything wrong withart,” she says.She sees parallels

between visual art andmusic.“It’s an easy way with-

out talking ... you canexpress yourself and a lotof times produce some-thing other people enjoytoo,” she said.Armstrong, who plays

trumpet and piano, wonRichmond SymphonyOrchestra’s Young ArtistCompetition in 2009 ontrumpet and would liketo major in music perfor-mance.No matter where she

attends college, she plansto continue painting as ahobby.

Puzzles

Puzzles

2 | Maximum Living June/July 2011

Elise Armstrong

PALLADIUM-ITEMMEDIA GROUP

MILLICENT MARTIN, Editor(765) 973-4468 | [email protected]

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CONTACTUS

EDITORIAL: For comments about editorial content or suggestions for the next issue,contactMillicentMartin at (765) 973-4468.

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SUBSCRIPTION: To request additional copies of themagazine,contact Heidi Lipscombat (765) 962-1575.

© 2011MaximumLivingThewellness and spiritualitymagazine forwomen is a productof the Palladium-ItemMedia Group. Thesematerials are the sole and

exclusive property of the Palladium-ItemMedia Groupand are not to be usedwithoutwritten permission.

in this issue• Familiar faces behind the veils 4

•6 self-care strategies for women 6

•Survey results and prize winner 7

•Platinum Prom offers new memories 8

•Reflection on life and death 11

•6 quick tips for health 14

•Grilling flavor into salad 15

•Dispose of medicine responsibly 16

•Walking helps boost attitude 19

•Events calendar 22

•Writer hosed by mixed message 23

SHARE YOUR ADVICEIf you’d like to contribute quick tips or thoughts onhealth,

spirituality, savingmoney, caregiving or other topics of interest to local

women, please send them in care ofMillicentMartin, MaximumLiving,

1175N. A St., Richmond, IN 47374or [email protected].

Informationwill be considered for publication in future issues.

June/July 2011 Maximum Living | 3

Familiar facesbehind veils

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

Instructor of international students learnshow to bridge communication gap


inspiration

Dark, expressionless eyes peer out from a heap of fabric drapedover a still, human form. I know the human figure is female, not byany familiar distinguishing features, but by the knowledge that it iswomen, not men, who are thusly covered in the Muslim world.The image stirs fear, confusion, pity, even anger in Western

minds, especially in Christian women who find comfort and vali-dation in Jesus’ liberating and honorable treatment of women. Wecan’t understand a religious doctrine that commands women to gointo hiding; it seems terribly wrong. Yet we also know it is politi-cally incorrect, perhaps even morally incorrect, to cast judgment,

COLUMN BYRIVER LIN

File photos by Associated Press


inspiration

so we keep a distance and look the other way.Three such figures sit in my classroom

and suddenly, I am no longer able to look theother way.In fact, there is nowhere else to look but

directly at these motionless forms. I am frus-trated by the knot of emotions inside me andby the questions that veil my own vision:What should I do? What can I say? How will Iever get to know them?Getting to know my students is a top prior-

ity for me; it sits right up there at number onealong with academic objectives.When I started teaching international stu-

dents at Ball State University in Muncie, itwas my first exposure to so many Muslimsand on such an intimate basis.I had no problem with female students from

Saudi Arabia who were completely coveredfrom head to toe, so long as I could see theirfaces.They were bright-eyed, curious, eager to

participate, and they exuded an attractiveenergy that contributed significantly to theclassroom environment making it a comfort-able place to learn.Those whose faces were also covered, how-

ever, revealing only their eyes, posed an un-easy challenge for me. Because I was afraid togawk and stare, I hesitated to look directly atthem when they talked to me or I to them. YetI couldn’t avoid them.Female voices are notoriously soft, even

softer among international students strugglingto produce strange English sounds.Added to this is a shyness due to being

in an unfamiliar environment studying withstrangers.For the female students from Saudi Arabia,

this is often the first time for them to studyalongside men. All these factors contributeto the teacher’s challenge to hear and under-stand.Now it was compounded for me even fur-

ther by the veil, which made me uncomfort-able on several levels.As a teacher of English to speakers of

other languages, I rely on facial expressionsto establish a sense of emotional safety in my

classroom. Sometimes I read lips in order todecipher what a student is trying to say. Withthese Saudi women who appeared to be noth-ing more than shrouded bumps with mysteri-ous eyes blinking through narrow slits, I hadno choice but to lean in close and meet themeye to eye.The first time I met the fear in their eyes

with the fear in mine, I giggled away my dis-comfort. They giggled back. The ice was bro-ken. I quickly learned that if I penetratedtheir gaze with mine and smiled genu-inely, the curtain between us would wavein the ripples of our laughter and opengently at the side.There, in awkward glances and female

camaraderie, I could slip in behind theveil. I could hear and understand whatthey spoke. We talked of families andlove, cultural traditions, and faith in Godas the background for learning and prac-ticing English grammar, increasing vo-cabulary and correcting pronunciation.Religion, culture, and language cannot be

pried apart and separated as independentcomponents. Therefore, as I got to know mySaudi female students, I also got to knowabout Mohammed and his teachings, Islamiclaw, and ancient desert traditions rapidly be-ing thrust into the 21st century with globalizedvalues of consumerism, materialism and idealsregarding women’s rights.I learned that my God — God the Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit — is their God — Godthe father of Abraham. I learned that we arenot so different after all.When I unveiled my own fear and confu-

sion and met these women — my sisters— face to face, eye to eye, woman to woman, Ifound familiar faces behind the veil.

River Lin, a native of Muncie, Ind., writespromotional content for websites, feature ar-ticles, and online marketing materials as well asprovides writing and editing services. She alsoteaches English as a Second Language at BallState University. Learn more at her Web siteshttp://theriverside.synthasite.com/ and http://nittygrittyofwriting.blogspot.com/

Self care is the process of nurturing yourself. But in afast-paced and often chaotic society, many women tendto put their own needs on the back burner.So many women constantly put everyone else first,

allowing their own needs to suffer. Some women mayeven become resentful because their personal needshave been neglected. Self-care for women is imperative.Follow these self-care strategies to help you take care ofyourself and achieve balance your life.

Realize that self-care isn’t selfishThe concept of self care refers to taking

personal responsibility for one’s physical,emotional, intellectual and spiritual health.Practicing self care is preventative, notselfish. Yet the concept of making self carea priority remains controversial. For mostof us, if we do not take care of ourselves,no one else will. So, self care is anythingbut selfish. When women don’t make selfcare a priority, they often feel like victimsof something outside of themselves, in a position ofrestrictions and limitations. This prevents women fromhaving rich and fulfilling lives.

Be your own best friendWhat would happen if you treated yourself the same

way you treat your best friend? You would likely bemore attuned to your needs, your problems and yourgoals. You would be generous to yourself, as you are toothers. You would love and honor your health and well-being. You would put aside all else to be your own bestfriend. One of the most important things you can do foryour family and friends is to care for your own health.You can start by being a great friend to yourself today!

Spend time aloneSpending quality time alone is anything but lonely.

Spending time alone allows the rest of the world to con-tinue spinning while you rest, refuel and regroup. Timealone can be as simple as sitting quietly outdoors, read-ing a book at the park or sitting in your favorite comfort-able chair with a cup of tea (having a favorite comfort-able chair is essential!).

Create supportive surroundingsLook around. Do you feel inspired by your surround-

ings, or do you feel tension and chaos? Create support-ive surroundings by clearing the clutter of the stuff thatdrains you. Clear the clutter in your home, car or office.Clear clutter in relationships too, like one-sided relation-ships. Find a partner who also wants to redesign theirlife for the better. The support will be empowering forboth of you and a model for others around you. It willalso help you balance the multiple roles you play.

Believe that saying ‘No’ is OKHow many times have you said “yes,” “sure” or “no

problem” to a request, only to immediately regret yourresponse? Have you ever committed your energy, timeor money to a project, even though you have little or nodesire to participate? Learning to say no is a skill, and itis a key self care habit that can ignite your confidenceand free your inner strength.

Rewrite your routineIf you can relate to the previous five suggestions,

and you acknowledge the need to make changes in yourlife, then you might need to radically alter your daily orweekly routine. Begin by scheduling your own prioritiesinto your routine first. When your own priorities arefulfilled, allow others’ priorities on your schedule. Otherpeople in your life may notice these changes. Share yourplan with them, and explain your need for self care.They will see the benefits of self care reflected in yourattitude and approach to life as well as the direct benefitthey will receive from being in relationship with a morebalanced you!

Susan Gillpatrick, M.Ed., LPC, CTS, is a crisis management specialistfor Centerstone, which has programs in Richmond. She may be reachedat [email protected]. Centerstone is a not-for-profit pro-vider of community-based behavioral health care for all ages.

6 self-care strategies for women

COLUMNBY SUSANGILLPATRICK

inspiration



inspiration

‘Hard to improve a great

magazine and it’s free JKeep up the good work.”

That’s what Debbie Gray of Richmond said about Maximum Living

magazine in a recent reader survey. Gray’s entry was drawn at random as

the winner of the survey. She won a microwave from Koons Home Center

and gift certificates for Curves and El Rodeo in Richmond.

Some other responses:

“I enjoy reading every article. Can’t wait for the next issue. Good job!!!”

“I thought it was an excellent mag. being my first experience with it.

Most free mags. you pick up when out shopping, eating, etc. do not offer

enough of interest to take home. I took this home!! ...

‘Thank you for free information of health events in our local area and

good short stories. ...”

“Enjoy reading every article. Always look forward to it. I’ll continue to

read it.”

You LIKE us — you REALLY like us!

Debbie Gray’s reader survey wasrandomly selected as the winner.Photo by Joshua Smith

Never again will I go to the prom by myself.It’ll be a lot more fun with someone else along.On April 16, I went to the Richmond High School

Alumni Association’s Platinum Prom.I’d wanted to go ever since first hearingof the event three years ago. A recentbirthday got me past the minimum agerequirement. All right, I thought. Let’s go.Why such enthusiasm? I was looking

for a way to make up for my high schoolfiascos — a junior prom with a date Ibarely knew, both of us so shy we hardlycould speak, and a senior prom unat-tended at all. My plan was to treat myselfright, with a special outfit selected with-out parental interference, a hairstyle that didn’t embar-rass, comfortable shoes and all the self-confidence theteenage me never could muster.Trouble was, until the last minute it appeared I

wouldn’t be able to get off work that night. When theOK finally came, I had only a couple of days to get

ready. No time to shop for an outfit or shoes, no timefor a haircut even. I was stuck with my everyday hairand the clothes in my closet. The adult me knew Ilooked fine, but the teenager inside felt unprepared.Poor kid. It wasn’t really what she’d been hoping for.In my not-at-all-scientific survey of the crowd, I’d

divide the prom-goers into three categories.1) Couples. Prom always has been and always will

inspiration


COLUMNBY LOUISERONALD

Louise Ronald, center, laughs with a bingo player during the Platinum Prom at Richmond High School in April. Below,promgoers try their luck at bingo. Photos by Joshua Smith

Platinum Prom offerschance for new memories


inspiration

Clockwise from top left:Couples dance to the RushCounty Big Band.

Guests talk at tables inthe Richmond High Schoolcafeteria decorated for thetheme of “An Evening atthe Ritz” and watch thedancers.

Peggy Booker and DwightMcCauley, right, pose to-gether for a photograph.

RHS student Hannah Clark,left, and Mack Crockettdance.

Big band music helps setthe mood of yesteryear.

inspiration


be primarily for couples— no matter how plati-num they become. Manyof the couples were thereto dance, some of them todance quite well. It wasfun to watch them. Thetwo couples with whomI shared a table dancedonly a little. Neither pairhad been together in highschool. They seemed tobe having the big date theywished they’d had back then,had they known one another in those days.2) Pairs. When I began to feel that I was cramping

the style of the couples at my table (one of the wives, inparticular, seemed to feel responsible for making sureI didn’t just sit there watching), I went into the bingoroom, where I encountered people who had come tothe prom in pairs. Women friends, mostly, but therealso was a man who appeared to have come with hismother. He was well qualified for the minimum ageand she was stooped, wheelchair bound and absolutelybeaming.3) Gaggles. Tables full of friends or fellow retire-

ment home residents who came together. Several of thecouples and pairs were also members of these gaggles.The music was loud enough and the tables big enoughto prevent a lot of visiting, but the gaggles seemed to behaving a great time nevertheless.I think the teenage me had been picturing something

like the junior high church dances of many decadesago, those functions where the girls sat along one walland the boys along another. When the music started, aboy stood up and asked a girl to dance — unless Ladies’Choice had been announced beforehand.Where this idea had come from I don’t know. As

soon as I walked in the door, I realized how unrealisticit had been.It didn’t take long to adjust.I even had a good time playing bingo for the first

time in years. I won a bar of handmade soap.But next time, I won’t go alone.I’ll take some dancing lessons and go with a partner

or gaggle from the group.Or I’ll scout around for a gaggle to join or to form.Or I’ll ask a platinum friend to go as a pair. Someone

who doesn’t get out much, who wouldn’t ever considergoing alone, who would enjoy a round or two of bingo,who would sit and watch the dancers and listen to themusic and just have a lovely evening.Yes, I expect that’s what I’ll do.It’ll be my best prom ever.

Louise Ronald is a copy editor for the Palladium-Item.

Ellen Guthrie plays bingoduring the Platinum Prom.Photo by Joshua Smith


inspiration

“What do they call those bed baskets thatdead people are put in?”My 5-year-old granddaughter looked at her

mother with a serious little face and hugebrown eyes.“Bed baskets? Livvie, those

aren’t baskets, they are casketsor coffins.”“Well, why are they so bor-

ing? They are always brown.I think I’d want a polka-dotcasket. Or maybe we could usea cheetah print. Don’t you thinkthat would be nice?”Uh-oh.When I heard this conversa-

tion, I did some thinking. After,I did some laughter. Only a child cajolesadults to rethink tradition. Children see ourworld with fresh and creative eyes. Theyguide in amazing ways. They reinvent.Have you ever thought of a polka-dot or

cheetah-print casket? I haven’t come remotelyclose.If you’ve lost a young loved one, my deep

condolences, but I know you’re probablypuzzling over this surprising brainstorm of a5-year-old.I, frankly, squinted my eyes, furrowed my

brow and then dropped my mouth. Wheredid she get this idea? Then a questionformed.Why not a new trend for children’s “bed

baskets?”Bright colors, bubbles, flowers, animals,

polka dots and puzzle prints always say chil-dren. The idea of creatively styled caskets is

probably out there somewhere, but how manyyears will pass before we see change in tradi-tion?I don’t know, but Granddaughter Livvie is

right. Caskets have always been, well, maybenot boring, but certainly subdued.Our society and much of the world views

death in somber tones and there is no denialdeath brings sadness and shadows.Color might just add that needed cheer. I

know making the event a celebration of a lifeeases the sorrow.Livvie doesn’t know, but her 6-year-old

cousin, my first grandson, had an eye-catch-ing, cream-colored casket. No, it wasn’t apolka-dot casket, but it was bright and alongwith classical music, his favorite song, “Dustin the Wind,” was played. Other cousinstucked good-bye notes in his pocket. It wasbittersweet, but still a celebration of life givenfor a short space.I personally like the idea of cheetah-print

or polka-dot caskets for anyone who wantsone. I also like the idea that the gift of theMaster Jesus has canceled the sting of deathand the victory of the grave. Eugene Petersonin his Message Bible in I Corinthians 15:55says “Oh, Death, who’s afraid of you now?”Now doesn’t that sound like something a

child might say?Someone like Livvie.

Judy Martin-Urban of Muncie writes Chris-tian fiction and inspirational non-fiction. Shecan be reached at www.judeurbanski.com andjudeurbanski.blogspot.com.

Why NOT polka dot?

COLUMNBY JUDYMARTIN-URBAN

Jesus’ gift cancels sting of death



wellness


Making smallchanges like thesecan have a bigimpact on yourwell-being.6

quicktips

Source: Pat Murrah, community benefit coordinatorfor Reid Hospital & Health Care Services

Fuel Up to Start the DayDuring the busy holiday season, or any busy time in your

life, always remember to eat breakfast. Breakfast providesfuel to your body to start the day. It also gives you energythroughout the day and keeps you alert and performing bet-ter. Your car won’t work properly if you don’t put fuel intoit; neither will your body. Fuel up with breakfast!

Pain Relief1 in every 4Americans suffers from sometype of pain every month. These tips canhelp manage common pain:• Use a cold pack or grab a bag offrozen peas. Apply around the soremuscle.• Let your body rest.• If your pain comes from migraine

headaches, avoiding certain foods thattrigger headaches can help-turkey, cheddar

cheese, diet sodas and dark chocolate.• Avoid wearing flip flops for extended periods of time-this

can cause aching feet and pinched nerves.• Regular exercise can help tone your body and avoid

muscle pain.

Beware of Fair FoodJust about anything can be deep

fried and served at summer fairs andfestivals-and it usually is. A little tasteis not bad; just don’t consume manyof these treats. Look at the content ofsome of the popular fair foods:• Deep fried Snickers Bar-444

calories, 29 grams fat• Deep fried Twinkie-420 calories,

34 grams fat• Deep fried cheesecake-655 calories,47 grams fat• Deep fried giant turkey leg-1,136 calories, 54 grams fatIf you want to try these summer treats, purchase one item

and share it among 4 or 5 people. You can have the taste ofsummer with less calories and fat.

Gifts of TimeIf your gift budget is tight this

year, give gifts of service. Manytimes these are appreciated morethan a material gift. Make a certifi-cate and wrap it in a nice package-you now have terrific gift someonewould love to receive. Some sug-gestions for gifts of time:• Babysitting• Housecleaning• Dog walking or pet sitting• Doing laundry• Meal preparation

Interval TrainingThere are many benefits to varying your walk-

ing routine. The main reason most people fail tomaintain a walking program is boredom. This canbe easily remedied by adding different types ofwalking to your workouts. One of the best waysto step up your workouts is through interval train-ing. This means you will speed up your pace fora minute or two and then return to your originalpace. It is really not as complicated as it sounds.If you are feeling adventurous try incorporatingshort bursts of jogging into your brisk walks.If jogging is not for you, simply increase yournormal pace for a few minutes. Use landmarksto determine how long you will maintain yourfaster gait. Alternating between higher and lowerintensities helps improve your endurance, yourcardiovascular strength, and can greatly improveyour metabolic rate. Interval training is a greatway to burn more calories while at the same timefighting off boredom.

Leave the Cell Phone at HomeYou might think that a long vacation is the way

to beat job burnout. But the kind of vacation youhave is just as important - if not more important-than its length, said Profession Don Eden, a psy-chologist from Tel Aviv University. The key to aquality vacation, he said, is to put work at a dis-tance. And keep it there. “Using work cell phonesand checking company email at the poolside isnot a vacation,” Dr. Eden said. If youstay connected to the office elec-tronically, you pay the price.And Dr. Eden said suchconnectivity is a cause ofjob stress. He recommendsyou take a shorter vacationmore often.


wellness

The Associated Press

Grilling the flavor into saladGrilled Steak and Spring

Vegetable SaladStart to finish: 25 minutesServings: 5For the dressing:5 tablespoons lemon

juice1/4 cup extra-virgin

olive oil3 tablespoons grated

Parmesan cheese1/4 teaspoon saltGround black pepper,

to tasteFor the salad:1 pound sirloin steak,

1- to 1 1/4-inches thick,trimmed of fat1/2 teaspoon saltGround black pepper,

to taste1 pound asparagus,

bottoms trimmed14-ounce can arti-

choke hearts, drained1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved4 cups arugulaShaved Parmesan cheese, to garnish (optional)Heat a gas grill to high or light a charcoal fire.To make the dressing, in a blender combine the

lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, salt andpepper. Blend until emulsified. Set aside.Season the steak on both sides with the salt and

pepper. Grill the steak, about 5 minutes per sidefor medium rare, 6 minutes per side for medium.Remove and let rest on a cutting board for 5 min-utes.Meanwhile, grill the asparagus and artichoke

hearts, turning occasionally, until slightly charredand the asparagus spears are tender-crisp, about 5minutes. Remove from the grill and cut the aspara-gus into 2-inch pieces and the artichoke hearts inhalf. Place the vegetables in a large bowl with thecherry tomatoes.Thinly slice the steak across the grain and add to

the bowl with the asparagus and artichoke hearts.Toss with half of the dressing.In a large salad bowl, toss the arugula with the

remaining dressing. To compose the salad, placesome of the arugula on each serving plate and ar-range the grilled steak and vegetables on top. Gar-nish with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded

to the nearest whole number): 309 calories; 153 caloriesfrom fat (50 percent of total calories); 17 g fat (4 g satu-rated; 0 g trans fats); 52 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohy-drate; 26 g protein; 5 g fiber; 928 mg sodium.

If you want to add great flavor to foods without using theusual tricks — fat and salt — just head to the grill.The high and dry heat created by the grill does an ex-

cellent job at searing food surfaces and locking in naturalflavors, while also adding that unmistakable charred, smokyflavor. And this all comes at no cost in terms of fat and calo-ries.Typically, we think of the grill as the way to cook the

main course — the burgers, some chicken, or a steak. Butyou also can take advantage of this healthy cooking tech-nique to make other parts of the meal, including the sides,breads, even fruits for dessert.This composed salad of steak and spring vegetables uses

the grill to cook and flavor the meat, as well as many of theother components of the dish.The natural sweetness of asparagus is enhanced when

caramelized over high heat and the woody flavor of thesmoke is a perfect match for the slightly grassy taste of thestalks. Similarly, canned artichoke hearts (you can use freshif you have them) have an earthy, almost nutty flavor that isteased out even more when they are charred.The salad includes cherry tomatoes, which aren’t cooked,

but if you like, you also can throw them on the grill untilthey soften and get a bit wrinkly.We’ve chosen to use sirloin steak, which is not only a

budget-conscious option, but also falls in the extra-lean cat-egory of beef. But it still has enough fat that it won’t dry outon the grill (as long as you don’t cook it past medium).

Above: Bags of pills brought in during a collection of unused prescription medicines in Wayne County. File photo by Joshua Smith; Expireddrugs are sorted in preparation for disposal. File photo by Steve Koger Picture of Stephanie Hays-Mussoni by Greg Pyle


wellness

Don’t be a pill — dispose ofold medicine responsibly

COLUMN BYSTEPHANIEHAYS-MUSSONI


You take your own bags to the grocery, you use yourreusable water bottle and coffee cup, you garden andcompost, you ride your bike or walk, and you recycle.You do your part in a variety of

ways to conserve our resources. Youwouldn’t dare toss or dump anythinginto the street drain or local river,stream, or lake. But have you everthought about what the best way todispose of your over-the-counter andprescription medicines?Throw them away or flush them?

That is the proper disposal, right?In recent years, it has been brought

to the forefront that excess drugs beingdisposed on in these manners might becreating issues in our waterways. While our wastewateris all treated and sent down stream and then treatedagain to become potable water again, our treatmentmethods do not focus in on these types of chemicalsthat come from our medicine cabinet.

Various concentrations of different drugs are beingfound in our waterways. Some of this is because of thenatural processing and disposal method that our bodiesutilize these medicines. Some of it might be becauseof the direct disposal of unused medication throughflushing down toilets or sinks and into our municipalwaterways.Evidence of adverse affects of these chemicals is be-

ing observed in fish, mollusks and other aquatic life inour freshwaters within our borders and in the oceanssurrounding the countries.This has led to in depth studies of the affects of

medicines on wildlife. While the amounts of medicinesbeing found in waterways is considered to be a smallamount, it has been enough to already warrant concernin the observed affects in aquatic life. If there is expo-sure to the frogs, fish and other animals living in thewater, it will eventually make its way into our drinkingwater and food chain.

Safe medicine disposalIn Richmond, Phillips Drugs takes back unused medication at all of its locations and sends

them away to be properly disposed.

Phillips Drug locations are 1626 E. Main St., 631 E. Main St. and 1390 National Road W., all

in Richmond. For more information, call (765) 966-5544.

This leads to humans ending upwith medicines in our systems thatwere not prescribed.The other issue to consider is

the “cocktail” of medicines alongwith other chemicals that are find-ing their way to our soil and waterways.There are thousands of pos-

sible combinations of chemicalsand drugs being disposed of daily.Scientists do not know the affectof these “chemical cocktails” onwildlife or humans.Proper disposal of unused

medications also keeps them outof the hands of curious teenagers.Pharmaceutical drug use is grow-ing among teens in the United States. In a survey bythe Partnership for a Drug Free America conducted in2005, 19 percent of teens had taken a prescription medi-

cation to get high. Unused drugs in medi-cine cabinets are easy to get and some evenfetch a pretty penny on the street.The great news is that there are ways for

you to easily and properly dispose of yourunwanted medicines and prevent themfrom being part of the problem!In Richmond, Phillips Drugs takes back

unused medication at all of its locationsand sends them away to be properly dis-posed.Phillips Drug locations are 1626 E. Main

St., 631 E. Main St. and 1390 National RoadW., all in Richmond. For more information,call (765) 966-5544.

Stephanie Hays-Mussoni is executive di-rector of Cope Environmental Center, 4910

Shoemaker Road, Centerville, Ind. For more information,call (765) 855-3188 or see the website www.copeenviron-mental.org


wellness


wellness

Elaine Potter, left, and Pat Rea take a walk in Cambridge City. Walking together helps keep the friends motivated. Photo by Steve Koger

For Elaine Potter and Pat Rea of Cambridge City,walking time is time to stay in shape and keep theirfriendship going strong, too.The friends realized at least three years ago that each

wanted to exercise, and agreed they’d be more likely tostick to a routine if they walked together.“You know the benefits, and being with a friend

helps,” said Potter, 61. “It eventually becomes routine.You just enjoy it! … Walking is a good way to spend timetogether.”“When I walk by myself, I usually think, ‘I have to do

this and get it over with,’” Potter said. “But time goesfaster when you’re sharing good conversation in thefresh air. It kind of makes you closer, actually.”Besides being a fun way to spend time, walking is

good for health.“You know it’s good for your heart to walk,” Potter

said. “It’s a stress reliever — and walking keeps yourweight at least steady.”And for Rea, 66, walking builds muscles and boosts

her stamina. After being diagnosed a “borderline diabet-ic” about seven years ago, she decided to make healthierfood choices and exercise regularly. Walking helps Rea

breathe better, too. “You know, you can practice deepbreathing as you walk,” she said.The women prefer walking outdoors because it makes

them feel more energized. When the weather is steamy,the two walk their three miles at about 6:30 a.m. Theywalk a bit later in the morning when it’s not unbearablyhot. Potter laughed and said, “We’ve walked in the rainor in colder weather too, but don’t like it as much.”While they don’t have a set walk schedule, they try to

walk three times a week. One will call the other to seewhen the next walk will be. But there are days when onethinks, “Ugh,” and isn’t very motivated.“But we encourage each other,” Potter said. “We say,

‘You’ll feel better if you go.’ ”Or Rea: “We say, ‘Let’s DO this.’ ”The women wear walking weights on their wrists

to increase the amount of calories burned, and to helpbuild muscle.Potter and Rea walk most along Main Street/U.S. 40 in

the Cambridge City and Dublin areas. “We were thrilledwhen the newer sidewalks were finished along 40,” Pot-ter said.


wellness


By Denise Canady

Walking helps boost attitude

92-year-old feels ‘great’ whenhe walks a mile a day

For a 92-year-old Cambridge City man,

walking comes so naturally he doesn’t think

much about it. But others notice, and several

have asked him about his dedication to stay-

ing in shape.

When Vernon Clark walks his mile a day

along U.S. 40 in Cambridge City, Ind., he says

he feels rejuvenated. “I feel great.”

A few women walkers he sees on his route

join him now and then. He welcomes any who

want to accompany him, but is used to walk-

ing alone - no matter what weather the day

brings. Clark has done it for 20 or 30 years.

“Folks always try and find out what makes

me tick,” Clark said. “A lot of it is your at-

titude. It amounts to whether you’re going to

take care of you or not.”

“Your body’s meant to move,” he said. “If

you don’t move it - a lot of things just don’t

work right.” Clark asked, “Have you ever no-

ticed the first thing a dog or a cat does when

it gets up? It stretches.”

There aren’t any tricks to making walking a

routine practice. “You just have to go ahead

and do it. The first step is always the hard-

est.”

Clark attributes his good health in part to

walking. “Walking happens to be one of the

best exercises you can do. It’s number two af-

ter swimming” (he’s not much of a swimmer).

Along with walking, he said, “I do pushups

and sit ups, and other things …It must not

hurt too much!”

Clark doesn’t regularly take medication but

he does take vitamins. “I have no aches or

pains. I’m lucky I guess,” he said. “My mother

lived to be 102, so I have a long way to go.”

He shared that when many people finally

retire from the workforce, they get out of

routines and become unhealthy. “If you just

want to be a lump and sit on the davenport

— you’re done.”

wellness


But the two have a few other routes that are more de-manding, too.To supplement their walking days, the friends do

home exercises on an elliptical trainer machine or followalong with weight, walking or resistance-training homevideos. Potter also enjoys biking and sometimes walkingwith her husband, Jim, 60. And both spend a lot of timekeeping up with grandchildren.“People just need to exercise more,” Rea said. “They

need to get out and move. And keep going!”Both Kim Pattison of Pershing, and Jane Lunsford of

Dublin, say walking is a great way to stay healthy — bothphysically and emotionally.“I have more energy to do other things, it helps con-

trol my weight, and is heart healthy,” Pattison said. “Theextra benefit of walking is, it helps boost my attitude!”Pattison almost always walks with her husband, John.“It is a special time to catch up with each other and

share what has happened in our day,” Pattison said. “Wecan encourage each other, and the time passes muchfaster together.”The Pattisons usually walk a 3 1/2 mile path on the

new sidewalks in Cambridge City and in Dublin. Thestretch along U.S. 40 has a steady incline on the first halfof their walk heading west, and on the return trip the de-cline is a “reward for a good workout,” Kim Pattison said.

She occasionally does other exercises, but said sheusually tires of them or has a difficult time fitting theminto her schedule. “Walking is my tried-and-true favoritechoice of exercise.”Pattison also loves to walk with other friends.For Lunsford, 62, walking helps relieve stress, im-

proves sleep habits and of course burns calories.“I like walking alone, and use that time to clear my

mind from daily stresses, to talk with God, and to listento my iPod,” she said.It was hard at first to make walking a priority, Lun-

sford admits, but then “it became as addictive as thatfirst cup of morning coffee.”While some people plan to sneak in a little walk by

parking farther away in a store’s parking lot, Lunsfordsometimes leaves the office at her workplace for a 10- to15-minute walk.“My brain seems so much sharper when I return,” she

says.Her walk time and route varies, and she sometimes

shares an evening walk with her husband Rodney. In ad-dition to walking, Lunsford swims two to three times aweek at the Golay Community Center in Cambridge Citywith her cousins.

Denise Canady of Milton writes for Maximum Living.


wellnessPuzzleSolutions

PuzzleSolutions

calendar


EVENTSJULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

HEALTH• ALS Association IndianaMonthly Support Group, 6:30p.m.-8 p.m.,, First English LutheranChurch, 2727 E. Main St., Richmond.On the second Monday each month,a meeting is offered for thosediagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’sdisease), their family, friends andcaregivers. Information: www.alsa-indiana.org• Meet and Eat, 3:30 p.m. Tues-days, MCL Restaurant & Bakery, 3801National Road E., Richmond. Orga-nized by Widowed Persons Service.Info: (765)983-7307.• Senior Health Fair, 9 a.m.-2

p.m., July 15, The Gathering Place,501 Nation Ave., Eaton, Ohio. Localbusinesses and organizations willhave information on products andservices available to seniors. Orga-nized by Preble County Council onAging. Additional screenings willbe offered by exhibitors. Screen-ings are by appointment, withreservations available by callingthe council on aging. Screeningsinclude total cholesterol, good cho-lesterol, blood sugar, blood pres-sure, Hemoglobin A1C (for diabet-ics), colorectal home screenings,height and weigh measurement.Fasting not required. Information:(937) 456-4947• ‘We Care’ Caregivers Sup-

port Group, Preble County CouncilOn Aging, 800 E. Saint Clair St.,Eaton, Ohio. Call for schedule.Volunteer caregiver availableon-site with advance reserva-

tion. Free handicapped accessibletransportation is available — callone week in advance. Info: Juanitaat (937) 456-4947 or Marlene (937)456-4376.

ENVIRONMENT

• Sustainable Living Demo

Home Tours, 4 p.m., July 20, Aug.17, Sept. 21, Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21,Cope Environmental Center,, 1792Airport Road, Centerville. Visit an In-diana farmhouse being transformedinto a sustainable home! Tourshighlight a large variety and scopeof ideas and changes for thoseinterested in decreasing their con-sumption of natural resources.• Richmond’s Farmers Market,

3 p.m.-6 p.m., Tuesdays throughOct. 25, North E Street, Richmond.Area farmers providing fresh lo-cally grown produce and handmadecrafts.• Farmer’s Market, 3-7 p.m.,

Tuesdays through Sept. 22. J&JWinery, 3415 National Road W., Rich-mond. Local vendors with organicproducts.

ARTS• Live gospel musicconcerts, First Baptist Church ofRichmond, 1601 S. A St., Richmond.Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Concert at 7p.m. Tickets are $15. Performers are:July 28, Ball Brothers; Oct. 13, DoveBrothers; Nov. 17, Ivan Parker. Ticketsand info: (765) 962-3074, ext. 10.• Live bluegrass music

concerts, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., July 5,6

p.m.-8 p.m., Aug. 2,6 p.m.-8 p.m.,Sept. 6,6 p.m.-8 p.m., Oct. 4,6 p.m.-8p.m., Nov. 1, William G. Scott House(formerly Knights of ColumbusHall), 204 N. 10th St., Richmond.Hosted by Mae Wagers, perform-ers for these free shows will be:July 5, Gospel Mountain Bluegrass;Aug. 2, Faith Way Singers; Sept. 6,Kings Road Quartet; Oct. 4, RussellVanwinkle & Friends; Nov. 1, EarlWiseman and Kentucky Express;Dec. 6, Christmas party and pitch-in supper. Info: (765) 935-3476.• Jazz & Roots Music Con-certs, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Gen-nett Mansion, 1829 E. Main St.,Richmond. Cost is $10. BYOB. Lightmenu available. Performers are:July 7, Farmland; July 14, Suni Mc-Grath. Info: (765) 935-0055.• Friday Night Gospel Sing, 7

p.m. Fridays, Go Ministries Inter-national, 5125 U.S. 40, New Paris,Ohio. Performers are: July 1, King’sRoad; July 8, Genesis Trio; July 15,Hoy Bussell; July 22, The Minister’sQuartet; July 29, The Sonship Quar-tet; Aug. 5, Roy Knipp & SouthernHarmony. Info: (937) 437-0092.• InConcert July 3, Aug. 20,

Oct. 14, Nov. 19, 4th Floor BluesClub, 923 N. E St., Richmond. Mustbe 21. Cash bar available. Schedule:July 3, Laurie Morvan Band fromLos Angeles; Aug. 20, The Soulmen,a Blues Brothers tribute band; Oct.14, Big James and the ChicagoPlayboys; Nov. 19, Chicago Rhythm& Blues Kings. For tickets or moreinfo, call (765) 966-5654.

RECREATION• First Fridays, July 1, Aug. 5,Sept. 2, Historic Depot District, FortWayne Avenue, Richmond. Cruise-in,live music, beer garden, family fun.• Gaar House & Farm Mu-

seum Tours July 3, July 17, Aug. 7,Aug. 21, Gaar House Museum, 2593Pleasant View Road, Richmond. Pub-lic tours at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. Cost:Adults, $5; 17 and younger, $2. Info:(765) 962-1262.• Randolph County Antique

Club Annual Show, July 15, Ran-dolph County Antique Club AnnualShow, U.S. Hwy 27, Winchester. Info:(765) 584-8009.• Embroidery Club, 2 p.m.-4

p.m., July 3, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 7,2p.m.-4 p.m., Sept. 4,2 p.m.-4 p.m.,Oct. 2,2 p.m.-4 p.m., Nov. 6,2 p.m.-4p.m., Dec. 4, Nancy’s Fancy’s SewingCorner, 1446 N.W. Fifth St., Rich-mond. Enjoy seeing new products,learn new embroidery techniques,bring show and tell, have refresh-ments, and maybe win a door prize.We also meet the third Saturday ofevery month from 10 a.m. to noonwith the same program repeated.Find more events in the dailyPalladium-Item newspaper and inthe www.pal-item.com calendar.If your group would like to sub-mit an event to be consideredfor this calendar, please sendinformation to Millicent Martin [email protected] or 1175 N.A St., Richmond, IN 47374. Infor-mation should be submitted byJuly 10 for the August/Septemberissue.

Ihave never completely understood those elaboratebathroom showers with six, seven and eight nozzlesshooting out from the walls in shower stalls the size of atwo-car garage. These aren’t just walk-in showers, they

are drive-thrus.We stayed at a hotel recently that had a quasi-fancy shower.

It wasn’t the kind of shower you could drive a diesel truckthrough or hose off a Clydesdale in, but it was a definite nod to-ward luxury. The dual shower head featured a nozzle mountedhigh for shampooing and another nozzle halfway down the wallwhere you could bang your head on it and knock yourself un-conscious if you dropped the shampoo and forgot a nozzle wasjutting out from the wall. Both nozzles had adjustable spray set-tings ranging from fire hose agony to gentle jungle mist.Mounted on the wall next to the shower was a pretty plaque

from the hotel management inviting you to indulge in theluxury and comfort of the specialty dual head shower nozzleinstalled for your pleasure. Then there were pictures of waterdrops. Below the water drops, on the bottom half of the plaque,was another message from management asking you to considernot using the second showerhead to help conserve water andsave the planet.I invited other family members also staying at the hotel into

the room to see if they, too, had the same kind of shower thatinvited you to use it and then asked you not to. Before long,four of us were crowded into the bathroom analyzing the show-er and the plaque.“Who installs a fancy showerhead and then asks people not

to use it?”“It’s like giving you an SUV and telling you not to drive it.”“Who’s giving away SUVs?”And the discussion pretty well deteriorated from there.The shower offered a mixed message to which there was only

one response: Use the deluxe dual showerhead if you must, butplease have the decency to feel guilty about it later.We do it all the time. We buy the magazine with the picture

of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on the cover alongwith a teaser about an exercise guaranteed to flatten your stom-ach in only 10 minutes a day. Obviously, we buy the magazineto flatten our abs, but then find ourselves sitting at the tablepicking carrot cake crumbs from a now empty plate. Like theexercise we read about somehow cancels out the cake.We want the luxury of chocolate without calories, cream

without cholesterol and late nights without next-day fatigue.We want endless streams of water without a thought for tomor-row, the Pottery Barn house without the price tag and the won-derful relationship without exerting any effort.I have no idea how you can enjoy the luxury without paying

the price. Nor have I figured out how to indulge today withoutpaying for it tomorrow. We have an entire country that hasn’tfigured that one out.Until someone does solve the riddle, shower responsibly.

Lori Borgman is a columnist, author and speaker. Contact her [email protected]


COLUMNBY LORI BORGMAN

Writerhosed bymixed

message

Maximum Living - June/July 2011

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