We are one with nature

This blog is totally different than any I have posted.  I have spent my last week in reflection and greater observation of the world around me after attending a weekend at the Kripaly Center for Yoga and Mindfullness.  One of my goals in attending was to have a weekend to clear my head of all the craziness around us.  I encouraged my husband to also attend as I felt we both needed an opportunity to learn more about yoga and meditation.  I do yoga regularly and think the mind/body connection is vital to our survival.  I will share my experience below.
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Last Sunday morning my husband and I journeyed close to 120 miles for a two day yoga retreat with 16 members of my synagogue at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, located in the serene and tranquil Berkshire Mountains of Stockbridge Mass.  The drive itself gave us a chance to separate from the busy lives we lead and metaphorically represented the space needed to transition to a quieter place. 

The first official program many of us participated in was Yoga Dance.  As someone who is very self-conscience and sometimes too aware I found this exercise particularly challenging at first.  The premise of the class was to encourage each participant to get outside of his/her personal space.  By being able to freely express one’s self through dance and movement one can learn to be moved by the breath.  I admit I was tempted to leave after the first 10 minutes but then my breath and the flow overcame me.  I suddenly felt able to let myself move freely and embrace the flow.  By the end of the class I felt much more at ease. 

Next we had a group lunch and then an optional program entitled Deep Unwind for Body and Mind.  This class further explored R&R techniques through a series of breathing exercises, mild meditation and journalizing our free flowing ideas.  As the afternoon progressed we were invited to participate in various levels of yoga classes which were followed by a private group dinner.  As dinner concluded our Rabbi shared a reading from Psalm 104 and historic perspective on Judaism’s relationship to nature.  Many of our holidays are related to the seasons and the importance of specific crops.  Many of our rituals express gratitude for the gifts from nature of the food we eat.   He specifically spoke about wine and bread as a symbolic food in our traditional meals.  The blessings we recite over both are a small sampling of how we nurture and utilize nature to feed and sustain us.  The significance of bread throughout our practice is fascinating and ties into many of our traditions today.  (I am limited on words or could add much more). 

Following dinner we had a program on Meditation and Mindfulness.    The group leader Bhavani asked each of us for our ideas on what meditation was.  She shared interesting visual and background perspectives from her 30 years of leading meditation practices.  Through guided exercises we were introduced into a method of meditation that allowed us to slow down physically and get to into a space where we could meditate. After completing this session I thought began to think how we could embrace this ideology into our daily lives.   We should each take time to slow down and breath and allow ourselves to think.  Maybe this would give each of us a little time to act with reason instead of just being reactive to the stimuli surrounding us.  We gathered after this program for tea and conversation.  As we got to know each member of our group we began to develop deeper bonds and spirituality  together through heightened awareness of our common interests.

On the second day those who were adventurous attended an early Gentle yoga class(6:30am) and then proceeded to breakfast.  Breakfast hour is silent at Kripalu.  Embracing silence was an amazing opportunity to observe the environment around us. Although we didn’t speak we still sat primarily as a group and were able to communicate through our eyes and facial expressions. 

Following we had Shacharit, this was a form of group gathering.  We formed a circle where we shared morning prayers and personal readings reflecting our relationship with nature.  The CEO of the Kripalu Center joined us during this service.  She shared that she grew up in an ultraorthodox community that was very judge-mental.  She appreciated our ability as a Temple group to share our openness or how valuable this was to the mission of the mission of the Kripalu Center and its integration of Eastern/Western values. 

We were invited to further explore our oneness with nature as our group participated in a group hike around the wooded 400 acres of the Kripalu complex later that morning.  We were given Snowshoes and hiked along the Shadowbrook and surrounding terrain. During the hike we had opportunity for silent meditation and observance, thus continuing the theme of our being one with nature.  As our group leaders shared we are all part of the same eco-nature system.  The quality of our air is created by the breath and a nature of the trees surrounding us. 

After lunch we had one last structured session with a talk led by Michah Mortali.  Michah lead a conversation with the Rabbi on the Eastern Western Perspectives on the Spiritual Benefits of Nature.  With a powerful introduction Michah shared  an area he has been studying coined by author Robert Louv titled  “NatureDeficit Disorder”.   He put up a slide showing common causes of this disorder.  Many of its symptoms of correlated with our day to day lives.  As highlighted there are numerous negative consequences to human development the more we fall victim to our jobs, city lives, computer screens and all things that take us away from the outdoors.  For thousands of centuries our development and adaptability to the environment was based on our survival needs.  In many ways we have tools that enable us to be removed from the land in our daily lives.  Rabbi Perkins complemented this perspective by sharing Psalm 23 The Lord is My Shepard.  This prayer is one of many that ties Judaism and our worship to the importance of nature and the earth we walk on.  He also shared a few other examples of prayers that tie our faith to nature.  The more we sit at a desk and have the world brought to us the less we are able to assure our physical sustainability to survive the natural instincts we were born with.  This heightened much our awareness to the importance of being able to step back and look at how we can improve our daily routines to better embrace nature.   I took this to mean that we as individuals needs to better understand our soul and our space.  Then we can use this strength to forge ahead to better build relationships with our community and then the community with the larger world. 

In our hour of free time before we wrapped up to leave,  I exited through the gift shop as my son would say is the tourist thing to do and bought a meditation dvd and a beaded yogi bracelet.  I plan to wear the bracelet to remind me to sit back and think about the breathing techniques I learned through the program.

As we came to the end of our program the Rabbi suggested we go outside again to have closing remarks.  As a group we formed a friendship circle and were given one last opportunity for a closing blessing.  We were encouraged to go around the circle and share our final reflections on our experience. What came to my mind my Dad when I was young as he always asked me if I thanked him for the breath of life.  I had always taken this question for granted and today as we were all together as one, as a community and ready to journey back to the other end of the Mass Turnpike my answer was yes.  I think we arrived to Kripalu as individuals but left with a new sense of community.  Although I speak for myself I believe each member of our group left feeling a much stronger connection with our faith, our spiritualism and appreciation for the world surrounding us.  My prayer for the group is that we are able to transcend what we learned and experience it with those around us.  It is with much gratitude to our group organizers that we were able to participate in this program at the Kripalu and hope that we can return again next year. 
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One week later as I reflect on the program I am trying to spend more time each day thinking vs just reacting to stimuli around me.     I used to log on to my social media real time and am now trying to significantly cut back and segment my day to leave my phone and toys out of sight.  

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Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Needham and truly loves helping people. 

Pet Safety when traveling and at home

According to the North American Pet Insurance Survey over 68% of Americans own pets and this translates into over 85 million families.   A large number of these owners have a dog or cat who they enjoy traveling with.  These pets typically are considered a family member and thus usually are treated as a vibrant part of the nuclear family dynamic.

As a dog owner I was horrified to hear of two separate incidents last week with United Airlines concerning pet travel.  In the first a flight attendant forced a passenger to put her 9 month old puppy in the overhead storage cabinet on a flight going from Houston to New York.  Although if it were me I would have asked to speak with the pilot or would have gotten off the flight, I am not writing to pass judgement on the passenger but to point out the inherent dangers of pet travel.  On the second incident a German Shepard was accidentally flown to Japan instead of its domestic destination of I believe Akron Ohio.

I have put together some travel tips for those planning to travel with a pet.  The Wall Street Journal had a useful article today with many suggestions if you must fly although ultimately recommends making alternative arrangements if you are traveling somewhere short term as travel puts unnecessary stress on a pet.

Below are some useful websites to check before planning your next trip with your pet

Petfriendlytravel.com- list of airline, hotel and other accommodations for traveling with a pet

AAA.com PetBook- before you go by plane, train or automobile, advise on documentation and what you will need to know

ASPCA.org- wide range of health and safety tips to consider for all steps in preparing for safe travel

RedCross.org - insight into how to prepare for an emergency before and during travel

III.org -article on pet safety during an emergence evacuation

Of course, common sense should prevail. After you travel with your pet you will be at your destiny whether it be a new home for you due to a relocation, a hotel. or  you are a guest at someone else's home.  I wrote a blog post about having a pet safe home about a year ago and have some other articles below.   Safety is key and you want to be proactive to be sure you are vetting a safe environment.  

Pet Safety Guide

Sharing Your Home with a Pet

How to Make Your Home Design Pet Friendly

Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and enjoys writing about issues near and dear to her heart.  She advocates for pet safety and her own pet fits this bill.  She runs a small side business selling light up dog leashes to improve pet visibility (Bella Cose .  For more blog posts or real estate information please visit her blog at www.wendybcb.com.

Care giving and protecting your loved ones

Although I am not a financial planner or an elder care attorney I have been focusing much of my real estate practice on how to help protect our loved ones.  I became the primary caretaker for my Mom after she was my Dad's until he predeceased her a few years ago. As such I had a lot of "on the job training"  dealing with many end of life decisions for both my parents.  I was actively involved while they were at the end of their lives through the downsizing and selling of their home.  Since earning my SRES about a year ago I have been working hard to build a network of people to work with to allow me to share my knowledge and expertise to help others who, likewise,  may be confronting similar situations.

If you have a loved one who is aging it is good to have a conversation and figure out the best long term plan for their living situation while they are able to participate in the conversation.
In Saturday's Wall Street Journal there was a great article on how to reduce to costs of being a caregiver.  Often times this role is thrust upon you without any preplanning.  It may be difficult to alter the situation you are confronting when this happens as you need to deal with a full plate at the moment.

Additionally, when one is instantly thrown into the role of caregiver he/she may not know the daily routine of their new dependent.  One little tweak can throw someone off balance and create uncircumstancial havoc.  We had this issue when my father in law was on dialysis.  He was transported to a Dialysis Center 4 weekday mornings.  After several months of this routine the center decided to move him to the afternoon. This threw him off kilter and made it difficult for him to eat with his peers and engage with his familiar surroundings.  It ultimately led to his health decline and had tragic consequences.  Change is difficult for older people.

Another overlooked problem may be the medication situation of an elder.  Often there is a dependancy on medications that can be overlooked if rushed to a hospital.  We had this situation when my father was in the hospital and they changed his medications without informing us.  A certain medicine he needed was not given and he developed ICU psychosis.  Because he had family advocates this was eventually corrected.    It is important to have a complete list of all up to date medications particularly if someone is living on their own.  See here

I have started a networking group called Next Steps and work with a team that includes an elder care attorney,  a home health care aide, a family mediator, a move consultant, a financial planner, insurance provider and myself as a realtor.  Our team is continually growing to accommodate the needs of the clients we service.  Although my focus initially was seniors who are downsizing we also help clients are all stages of their life cycle.  Therefore the goal is to help people navigate the process and plan for the future before it becomes the present.

A few key features we are sharing to promote our groups' marketing efforts are below:

NEXT STEPS

a L.O.C.A.L. team of professionals

Life is a Journey.   Do you know your Next Steps? 

Whether you are seeking your first apartment, buying a starter home, financial or estate planning, confronting family challenges, thinking about retiring or in need of help with Senior Care for a loved one….

we have a team of dedicated specialists to help you and your family navigate each step along the way. 

We are a group of professionals specializing in various disciplines to serve and help with each phase of life related to the things you acquire and the things you divest along the way.  Our basic approach is simple, we are here to:

Listen

Observe and

Consult on

Acquisitions and

Liquidations related to personal property and related life transitions

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The purpose of my group and efforts to become an SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) are to help share expertise in an area near and dear to my heart.  It was a great honor to be able to spend quality time with my parents during their last years.  I was able to help them feel whole and navigate their end of life with dignity and meaning.  Isn't this what we all want for our loved ones?

Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Needham and recently jointly started marketing Coldwell Banker Needham-Your Cape Cod Connection.  If you need any advice on buying, selling or investing in the Metrowest or lower Cape please feel free to contact her at wendy@wendybcb.com.

Cybercrime, identity theft and consumer protection

We hear it in the news every day.  Facebook and email accounts are being hacked.  Tax scammers file and collect your tax refund.  Security data is breached from agencies we trust like Equifax. Cyber crimes are on the rise as we are becoming very aware in the recent news media.  Identity theft statistics are quite frightening and they appear here to be here to stay.  We can never be too careful.  There is a very strong underground economy that mirrors our world with illegal transactions originated by stealing identities and personal information in a place called the dark web.  Much of what we value in protecting our assets and personal lives can be stolen in seconds and cause financial ruin.

I just went to a workshop on this and one major thing we all need to do is have good password protection. Logging into your computer with a password is like having a key to the front door to your house.   Once you are inside it is easy to go from room to room.  You need to guard the entrance.  Make your password a phrase or something only you can recognize.  Hackers play around with algorithms to detect passwords so familiar street names, address numbers etc can become easy hacking targets.  You need to be on guard as cybercriminals are very smart and they are out to get all of us.   As we were told in the workshop spend an extra 15 minutes a day to be sure your cyber life is being protected. As part of my research for this blog I researched several articles on cybersecurity tips.  I then found a comprehensive link on the U.S. Government website.  If you have not read anything on protecting your identity I ask you to check this out this site as it shares much valuable information.

Signs that You're Already a Victim of ID Theft

Always keep aware of your banking and personal spending accounts.  Review your monthly statements for unusual activities.  Likewise if you start receiving statements or bills you don't recognize someone may have opened a new account without your permission.  Below is a list of warning signs to keep aware of:

A creditor informs you of an application for credit in your name and Social Security number that you never made, or that you’ve been approved or denied credit for which you never applied.
A collection agency contacts you to collect on delinquent accounts that you never opened and never authorized.
 Unfamiliar charges on account statements, including your bank accounts, credit cards, loans, mortgage, calling card, utilities, other established credit or billing account statements.
Your bank sends you an automatic insufficient funds notice or an overdraft funds transfer notice when you should have sufficient funds in your account for all debits, checks and payments you’ve made.
 An unusual or unexplained notice from a government agency, or state, county or federal tax notices may indicate your information was used to commit fraud involving a government agency, a federal or state assistance program or taxes.
A visit from a police officer involving a criminal investigation or a warrant for your arrest for something you didn’t do.
Service of summons to appear in court or lawsuits for actions you know nothing about.
 The amount of mail you typically receive is suddenly significantly reduced without explanation, or specific bills, documents or account statements are not received.
An automatic credit report alert or your regular annual check of your credit reports informs you of recent negative changes in your credit report, unfamiliar account or unexpected credit activity.

How to protect yourself and be smart 

Always be watchful when using your credit or debit card.  If you use plastic frequently you may want to have a separate debit payment account for small transactions.  I keep an account with a low balance for day to day transactions such as gas, groceries and postal purchases.  I transfer money from my primary account that I use to pay larger items such as the mortgage.  This way if someone gets into my debit account the exposure risk is limited.  Another important thing to do is to shred all documents and bills.  Identity thefts will go through the trash and recycle bins to phish for account and social security numbers.  You must destroy this evidence.  Use privacy and security settings on social media.  Always be thinking about what you are exposing each time you looks a post or respond to an email   Never click on an unfamiliar email.  

In today's Boston Globe there was a suggestion by Michelle Singleton, author of Color of Money to set up an online IRS account to periodically check to suspicious activity around your federal income tax filing.  You also want to be sure no one has tried to tamper with the title of your real estate property.  You should have Title Insurance and check to see if your local Registery of Deeds has a program to check for any fraudulent activity.  I provided a link to the one for my primary area as an example for consumer alert notification here.

Below are ways you can be smart to safeguard your business and security risks.  

Check your credit reports annually to identify problems, errors or possible identity theft.
Check all of your credit card and bank statements monthly or more often for any errors or unauthorized purchases. Even if you still have your card, your account number may have been stolen.  You may want to use a product such as Quicken to download and reconcile your account balances on a regular basis to review any unusual transactions.
You don’t have to wait for your monthly statements to come in the mail. You can check your financial account statements more often online or via automated phone customer services.
Check all of your bills and receipts including utility bills, were authorized by you.

Look for monthly billing or other account statements, credit card replacements or other expected communications from your creditors or bank. Make a note to yourself about when credit or debit card replacements should arrive.

Its a tough world out there and we always need to be on guard for our surrounding and think of ways to protect our vulnerabilities.  Sometimes pictures and videos speak louder than words thus I have included a fun Article from October 2017 cybersecurity month that includes some memorable media clips from around the country.  Enjoy.  I hope this blog gave you some insight into ways to be proactive.

P.S. Supplement to above:  In today's WSJ there was an article about privacy settings on our smart devices.   The article points out that data about where we are, how we shop and more are being sold based on the location tracking on our phones.  Always check your privacy settings.  

P.S.S. New supplement concerning online dating scams .  Bottom line is always bewarey and careful with any personal information.  

Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Needham.  She enjoys sharing her insights into the local area and ways to protect the interests of her clients.  You can visit her on facebook @wendybcb or at her website www.wendybcb.com.