Garry F. Liday Corp - March 2021

Garry F. Liday Corp - March 2021

Call Us: (503) 620-3531 www.garryliday.com

MARCH 2021

Garry F. Liday Corporat ion FINANCIAL COACH

RETIREMENT ASSET MANAGERS, INC. A Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA)

Life Can Be Scary

Where Did You Learn That? FOR MOST OF US, OUR VALUES GO BACK TO CHILDHOOD

We constantly learn things from the people around us, but we appear to be most impressionable when we’re children. That’s when it takes the least effort to learn new things, as compared to when we age and have more difficulty — a challenge that must be met with our own effort in order to succeed. My parents made very strong impressions on me from quite a young age. And if I look back at that, I can pinpoint where certain parts of my interests — if not my personality itself — originated from my folks. I consider the work I do a calling, and I’ve always enjoyed helping others. If I can make a difference in someone’s life and leave them better than when they started, I’ve done a good job. Sounds like common sense, right? Unfortunately, it also doesn’t sound like some of the black sheep in my industry, who could do with a little common sense. But common sense or not, this attitude is exactly the kind of thing I’m talking about. I learned it from my father. My dad was a carpenter, and a perfectionist at that. We’d move from house to house, and he’d remodel and sell, then do the same all over again. Keep in mind, this was on top of his day job, which kept him away from the family for a fair bit of time. That’s how work was back then, and we all knew how to handle it.

He was an interesting man, having left home at age 14 to ride freight cars around the country during the Great Depression. Eventually a train brought him here to Oregon, and he stayed. My father taught me to never break my word and to never steal. And watching him with his own clients, I saw how much care and pride he had when they liked his work. These were important lessons for me to learn at a young age, and learn I did. At the same time, my dad wasn’t a great businessman. Time and again, I saw him lose money when someone wouldn’t pay him or dragged him along just to get the money he’d been promised. I realized my father was losing more than money; he was also losing respect. Another lesson to learn. So if Dad wasn’t handy with money, then Mom had to be. And she was, making sure whatever my father earned went toward the groceries and other expenses of growing a family back in those days. She had a high school education, raised five kids, and loved us all. I’d feel so bad if I argued with her in the morning that I’d go find a pay phone on my walk to school and call to apologize. It was fromMom that I may have gotten my knack for business. She was at least the first person I saw handle money responsibly, and the one who taught me — over and over — the value of a dollar bill, especially when you don’t have much else.

Those childhood days are long behind me, but my memory of them remains clear. I believe part of that has to do with how much I learned back then, and who I learned it from. Honesty, hard work, money acumen, and the importance of giving to charity are all values I hold very close to my heart, and they’re also the things I learned from my parents. I may not have them anymore, but I still have those values. And I’m still learning, every single day. – Garry Li day

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A metal detector can take anywhere from 1–4 days to detect land mines in the war-torn landscapes of Cambodia. However, a Gambian pouched rat named Magawa can detect them in 20 minutes. Magawa’s ability to sniff land mines has been lauded as “truly unique,” as he potentially saves hundreds of lives every day. Yet, he weighs a mere 2.75 pounds and is only 28 inches long. While that’s larger than your average rodent, Magawa is still light enough to safely step over land mines without setting them off. That’s been amazing news for Cambodians. The land mine problem began during the civil wars of the ‘70s and ‘80s, causing over 64,000 casualties and creating 25,000 amputees since 1979. An African Rat Receives Prestigious Gold Medal for Saving Lives

Laugh More, Age Less WHY LAUGHTER IS GOOD FOR YOU

As we age, we’re told to wear sunscreen, eat more vegetables, take vitamins, and even walk more — all in hope that our internal clocks will slow down and we will age better. But something as simple as laughter could actually be one of the easiest ways to slow the ticking clock of aging. Scientists have long known that laughter can be therapeutic and help us live longer. It has been shown to reduce wear and tear on our bodies and improve our relationships. A Norwegian study found that those who prioritized humor were more likely to live past 70 than those who didn’t laugh often. At a biological level, laughter can reduce tension in your muscles and activate a powerful stress-relief response from your brain by releasing dopamine. Just one chuckle may even improve your breathing and heart function! In fact, laughing can work wonders for the heart. One study showed that laughter therapy helped reduce the blood pressure and cholesterol levels of its participants. Their

blood circulation improved, too. Studies have also found that regular laughter can help strengthen your immune system, and it has long-term benefits for those with respiratory conditions. In addition to your body, laughter is also good for your social life. (And we don’t mean that people will want to spend time with you if you have all the good jokes!) Throughout history, laughter has been an evolutionary sign of understanding. When there are language barriers, laughing together can create camaraderie and a tighter bond between people of different cultures. The dopamine release that comes with laughter aids in stress relief and creates powerful memories that can improve your mood and strengthen friendships. Of course, laughter has its downfalls, too. Laughing at someone else’s expense is detrimental to their health and can harm your relationships. So, stick to light jokes and actively seek shows, cartoons, or people who make you laugh. You’ll feel good, and your body will be pretty happy, too.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world last year, many things have gotten shorter, like school days and our patience. But perhaps the main thing that’s grown shorter for all of us is our attention spans. In 2019, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark reported that our collective attention span is indeed narrowing — and it may be because we’re bombarded with tons of information that we don’t want to “miss out” on, whether we’re scrolling through Facebook or finding new videos on YouTube. Unfortunately, a poor attention span can affect us in many ways. It may risk our performance at school or work or cause communication difficulties in relationships. It may even result in poor health related to self-neglect and an inability to practice healthy habits. Improve Your Attention Span And Transform Your Life!

But where did Magawa come from? A Belgium-registered charity named Apopo trained Magawa in Tanzania as part of the program HeroRATs where after a year of training, the animals become certified. This program has been around since the 1990s, teaching animals how to detect land mines and tuberculosis. Magawa only works for a half-hour during the day, but as he nears retirement age at 7 years old, Magawa has sniffed out 39 land mines and 28 unexploded munitions in his career. His tremendous work has now been recognized worldwide. In 2020, the U.K. veterinary charity PDSA gave Magawa its gold medal for “life-saving devotion to duty, in the location and clearance of deadly land mines in Cambodia.” Over 30 animals have received this award so far, but Magawa is the first rat. “To receive this medal is really an honour for us,” Apopo’s chief executive, Christophe Cox, told the Press Association news agency. “But also, it is big for the people in Cambodia, and all the people around the world who are suffering from land mines.”

How do you fix it? Is it even possible to improve your attention span? Yes, you can! But it will take time. Here are a few ways you can get started.

First, accept that you may make yourself a little mentally uncomfortable while expanding your attention span. It simply won’t feel natural to focus on a single task for a longer period of time than normal, but, with a routine, it’ll get more comfortable as time goes on.

Now that’s a real hero if we’ve ever seen one. Thank you, Magawa, for all your hard work, and we hope you have a long and happy retirement ahead of you!

Second, give the Pomodoro method a try. Named after a tomato-shaped timer that its creator used, the Pomodoro method has gained a lot of attention over the years as a brain workout, and it’s a great way to slowly expand your attention span while accomplishing tasks.

Asparagus and Smoked Mozzarella Pizzettes Inspired by EatingWell.com

INGREDIENTS

To get started, think of a small task. Then, adjust a timer to 25 minutes

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1 lb prepared whole-wheat pizza dough, divided into 6 equal portions 12 oz asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

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1 cup shredded smoked mozzarella cheese

(or longer, if your attention span will allow). Work on your task for 25 minutes straight. Then, take a five-minute break. After you break, repeat the process. After four rounds, take a break of 15–20 minutes. Congratulations, you’ve used the Pomodoro method, which you can repeat as many times as you want. It’s very handy for getting your tasks finished in a flash, despite any attention span issues! Third, meditate, work out, or adopt new, educational interests. Anything that keeps your brain, body, and spirit engaged can help you learn how to focus better. There’s plenty of research that shows the benefits of meditation and exercise to your focus — the trick is exploration. Not every form of meditation, exercise routine, or hobby will work for you, so don’t give up right away! Stay curious and keep exploring. We’re living in a technological age where we can learn almost anything and reach almost anyone at the tap of a button, so we have to learn how to create opportunities for ourselves. We hope these tips help you get started!

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1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced 2 tbsp walnuts, toasted and chopped

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1 sprig of fresh mint leaves, torn

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1/4 tsp salt

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Zest of 1 orange

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 500 F and ensure there are two racks in your oven. 2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, stretch each piece of dough into a 7-by-3-inch oval and arrange evenly on the pan. 3. On a second baking sheet, toss asparagus with oil and 1/4 tsp salt. 4. Place dough on top rack and asparagus on bottom and bake for 3 minutes. 5. Remove both trays from the oven, sprinkle cheese over the dough, then top with asparagus and scallions. 6. Return pizzettes to oven and bake until the crusts’ edges are golden, about 8–10 minutes. 7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with walnuts, mint, and orange zest before serving.

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Garry F. Liday Corp. Retirement Asset Managers, Inc. A Registered Investment Advisory Firm (RIA) 15405 SW 116th Ave., Suite 103A King City, OR 97224

Call Us: (503) 620-3531 www.garryliday.com

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Inside This Issue Where Did You Learn That? PAGE 1 Meet This Life-Saving Rat From Cambodia PAGE 2 The Easiest Anti-Aging Tactic? Laughter PAGE 2 How to Improve Your Attention Span! PAGE 3 Asparagus & Smoked Mozzarella Pizzettes PAGE 3 3 Irish Travel Destinations for Your Bucket List PAGE 4

3 Irish Travel Destinations for Your Bucket List Don’t Miss These Historic Spots!

Traveling to Ireland might not be an option for you right now, but like a leprechaun hoarding gold, you can still fill up your bucket list with all of the pubs, rolling hills, and lucky sites you’d love to see. This month when you’re planning your trip to Dublin, Galway, or Cork, add these spots to your itinerary.

plague and the Spanish f lu, odds are good that it will make it through this, too! Soon, you’ll be able to raise a glass in the same rooms where the noblemen of nearby Athlone Castle shared drinks in the 12th century. Find more historical tidbits at SeansBar.ie.

more about its haunted priest’s house, murder hole room, and bloody chapel at LeapCastle.net and meet the many ghosts that haunt its halls.

A Famous Smugglers’ Shortcut Newcastle, County Down

Get ready to tie up your hiking boots! This roughly 2-mile hike, called Hare’s Gap, is one of the most famous and beautiful routes in Ireland. When you climb through this pass in the Mourne Mountains, you’ll be rewarded with views of glacial cliffs, boulder fields, and ancient-looking stone walls. Legend has it that the pass was part of the Brandy Pad smuggling route, used to ferry goods like soap, leather, spices, and coffee.

The Oldest Bar in the World Athlone, County Westmeath When Sean’s Bar closed because of the

Ireland’s Spookiest Castle Coolderry, County Offaly

If you’re a fan of thrillers and true crime podcasts, you won’t want to leave Ireland without visiting Leap Castle. This 16th-century haunt was built by the fierce O’Bannon clan, who famously ordered two brothers to throw themselves off a rocky cliff as a test of strength. The survivor was named clan chief, and later Leap Castle was built on that very site — beginning its long and bloody history. Read

COVID-19 pandemic, the entire country of Ireland groaned. The pub is famous for its Irish whiskey, music, and history, which stretches back to 900 A.D., far enough to earn it the title of “Oldest Bar in the World.” As of this writing, Sean’s is slated to reopen when it’s safe again, and considering it has already survived the bubonic

Safe travels, and ádh mór (good luck)!

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