October Kitchen - B2C - June 2018

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THE NOURISH LETTER NEW BEGINNINGS From the Dark of Winter to the Joys of Summer

JUNE 2018

www.OctoberKitchen.com | 860-533-0588 | 309 Green Rd., Manchester, CT 06042

Meet the Men Behind Your Meals

got her white coat from veterinary school in

As we finish out spring and head into summer, I am hung up on the idea of new beginnings. My life is blessed with wonderful new opportunities and experiences, but for a time I couldn’t see them. This really was the winter that never went away, and for me, the lingering cold seemed to reflect what I was going through in my personal life. It was a long, dark winter. I was still adjusting to life without my dad and my dog, and those losses affected me more than I thought they would. I’m a busy person and I used work to distract myself from the grief and pain. I wanted to bury those feelings until they went away. But they never did. Instead, they just bubbled under the surface as I slipped back into bad habits. I put on 10 pounds over the holidays because I was indulging in coping mechanisms. I also began suffering from intense shoulder pain that interfered with my sleep, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and I began to have trouble walking. With my own life buried beneath layers of physical and emotional pain, I found myself losing sight of all I have to be grateful for. Finally, I couldn’t ignore it anymore and I had a breakthrough. I was really sad about my dad passing. I was really sad about losing the dog. And it’s okay to feel those feelings. They’re raw, but they’re real and relevant. Stepping back from work and all my struggles, I made myself take the time I really needed to heal physically and emotionally. It wasn’t an easy process, but I’m glad I took the time to put myself back together and get in control again. Now we are in the bright warmth of summer and I can see all the wonderful things I have to be grateful for. To start, Alison and I are super solid, and we enjoy working together as husband and wife in life and in business. Our daughter just

Guthrie is getting so big!

Shady says hello.

April. Alison and I flew down to Indiana for her White Coat Ceremony and we were so proud to see Audriana stepping into this next chapter of her life. In addition to starting her career, Audriana recently got engaged! Her fiancé is a really good guy and they’re happily planning their wedding for 2019. That’s not the only great news we brought back from Indiana. While Alison and I were out there, we got to meet our new dog! Shady is a beautiful black lab who was donated to Purdue University so the vet students could practice working with a live animal. After Audriana’s class graduated, Alison and I were able to adopt Shady and bring her home with us. No dog could ever replace Bingo, but we’re ready to bring a new lovable canine into our family. Speaking of family, my sister and her partner had a baby last year and little Guthrie’s first birthday is coming up in July. Guthrie is an adorable kid and he’s changed my relationship with my sister in a lot of ways. We’ve grown closer in the last year and after losing my dad I’ve begun to recognize how important family is. They’re not always going to be there, so you need to invest in your family while you have the chance. There have been some tough times, but I have been able to come out on the other side stronger and better able to recognize what I have to be grateful for. I have a new dog, a new son-in- law-to-be, a wedding to plan and a nephew to play with. I am thrilled for this summer and look forward to what the future will hold.

“Stepping back from work and all my struggles, I made myself take the time I really needed to heal physically and emotionally.”

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I WISH YOU ENOUGH

Powerful Advice From Bob Perks

Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?

“That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations,” he replied. “My parents used to say it to everyone. When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.”

This is a question Bob Perks addresses in his book, “I Wish You Enough: Embracing Life’s Most Valuable Moments One Wish at a Time.” A series of anecdotes celebrating life’s most important moments, Perks shares a story about a trip to the airport, where he watched a man and his adult daughter share a tearful goodbye. As they hugged, the father said, “I love you. I wish you enough.” The daughter replied, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too, Daddy.” They kissed and the daughter went to catch her flight. Though the father was on the verge of tears, when he saw Perks, the man asked, “Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?” The father went on to explain that his daughter lived very far away and due to his own health problems, he knew the next time she flew out would be for his funeral. Perks then asked what the father meant when he told his daughter, “I wish you enough.”

After a moment, the man smiled and recited the old blessing from memory.

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.” Life is full of ups and downs, but it doesn’t take a lot to be happy. All we need in life is enough and to find that “enough,” we just need to be willing to embrace the beautiful moments life has to offer.

I wish you enough.

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF

3 A W E S O M E D A D S

Fathers Who Put Their Lives on the Line for Their Kids

in the side and when that didn’t work he leapt onto its back and started punching it in the face. When the bear finally released Gabriel, Greg threw rocks until it fled. His son was hurt but made a full recovery in the hospital over the coming weeks.

This Father’s Day, thousands of dads will receive a “No. 1 Dad” mug to sip coffee out of at the office. But the following dads took that “No. 1” to a new level.

Brian Munn gave his son a liver transplant.

Artur Magomedov saved his daughters from ISIS.

When doctors discovered that baby Caleb Munn had a rare disease called biliary atresia, they told his parents that he was unlikely to survive past age 2 without a liver transplant. Luckily, his father was a perfect match and he eagerly donated part of his liver in March of 2015 to save his son’s life.

Artur Magomedov was devastated to discover that his wife had taken his 3- and 10-year-old daughters from their home in Dagestan under the cover of night, flown to Turkey and crossed into Syria to join ISIS. But he resolved to get his kids back. After a long, hazardous journey, he arrived in Tabqa to embrace his two daughters. To leave the caliphate — under penalty of death — they hitched a ride to the border one night and crawled along a railway line until they were within 70 meters of the border. Then they ran under fire from Turkish border guards until they could scramble into tall grasses. After some help from the Russian consulate in Istanbul, they made it back home, together again and safe.

Greg Alexander battled a bear for his son’s life.

While camping in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Greg Alexander was startled awake at dawn by the screams of his 16-year-old son, Gabriel. He rushed out of his hammock to see a black bear dragging his son away by the head. Without hesitation, he kicked the beast

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L I S T E N T O Y O U R G U T How Gut Bacteria Can Improve Aging

as they are for your waistline. Instead, add plenty of vegetables and fiber-rich foods, like beans, broccoli and artichokes to your diet. You also need

Bacteria get a bad rap. Sure, bacteria can cause meat to rot and spread infectious diseases like strep throat and E. coli, but certain types of bacteria are necessary to keep your body healthy. This is especially true of the bacteria in your gut. Gut health is a topic more people are starting to think about. Inside your gastrointestinal tract is an entire ecosystem full of bacteria, fungi and a few viruses. This sounds like a gross mess, but maintaining a healthy gut will support your immune system, turn the food you eat into energy, filter out foreign toxins and help your brain produce serotonin, the so-called “happy” hormone. Good gut health is very important in seniors. Researchers at the Lawson Health Research Institute of Western University in Ontario, Canada, in collaboration with the Tianyi Health Science Institute in Zhenjiang, China, found that older adults who were in good health have the same bacteria in their guts as healthy 30-somethings. If you want to feel great well into your golden years, make your gut a priority. How Can I Improve the Health of My Gut? The best way to maintain a healthy gut is to be mindful of the food you’re eating. Junk foods and alcohol are as bad for your gut

to make probiotics a priority. Plain Greek yogurt is great for your gut, and you can add some fresh fruit

for flavor and vitamins. Kombucha, a type of fermented tea, is also a good choice. Just be sure you are drinking enough water too. In addition to your diet, the state of your gut can also be influenced by lifestyle habits. Do what you can to get enough sleep and learn how to best manage stress. Certain antibiotics can also wipe out the healthy bacteria in your gut. If you get a prescription for antibiotics, be sure to ask your doctor how you can take care of your gut health while taking the medication. Maintaining your gut health can be a real balancing act, but once you get the hang of it, your body and your gut will thank you. TESTIMONIALS At October Kitchen, our mission is to provide delicious, nourishing meals. In doing so, we hope to help our clients lead healthy and independent lives. Nothing fills our hearts more than knowing we’ve succeeded in our goal when we hear such kind words from our clients. “Love the meals — tuna casserole, chicken pot pie, turkey divan, all delicious. I had gastric bypass surgery and need small meals. These are nutritious, and one serving is two for me. Perfect to pop in the microwave. Great job!” –Sharon G. “I’m not sure how we lived without October Kitchen before this! Highly recommend, even if it is just to have a few quality frozen meals in the freezer. They provide complete nutritional information so you know what you are getting. They also provide delivery — but I like going in to see what extras they have I might enjoy.” –Sharon P. “My husband and I received gift certificates for October Kitchen when we had our baby, and we’ve continued to order. Nutritious, wholesome and delicious meals delivered to our door are a lifesaver! I’d recommend October Kitchen to anyone, young or old. Every meal has been fantastic.” –Jayne C.

_____________________________ Write your name here and fax the completed puzzle to 860-533-0585, send it via empty delivery box or bring it to the shop and receive 10 percent off your next order . Limit one per customer. Expires June 28, 2018. Oc ber Kitchen

J C S X E A A E D P T U E J I I Y V P Z A N L N V N W N W L F I N N E Y E V I Y Q N O U I I H H S R E M M U S A P U H F L A G S G G A M U A O J G S G J U N E N N L X H I Q N H U Z G C F O V U W N C L V B T C Z S N C D A O E F G V Y K G O M M M I P Z H S U D Z H O E G E P Q I L C V V R A M T W S N M J X J T A O O D D H L H F I L G O I B X E Y L S O A D H R Y P K Y C M K H H Y R E K M V G F G I N C P L D O W H T S H Q Z S M V N A X N M U T N U V Z

RINGO SHARON SUMMER

HEALTHY JAYNE JOY JUNE KITCHEN PAUL

ALISON DAD ENOUGH FINNEY GUT HEALING

ALISON FINNEY

DAD GUT

ENOUGH HEALING

HEALTHY

JAYNE

JOY

JUNE

KITCHEN SHARON

PAUL

RINGO

SUMMER

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309 Green Rd. Manchester, CT 06042 INSIDE

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A Future of Hope

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Enough to Be Happy

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3 Fathers Who Risked It All for Their Kids

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Ignoring Your Gut Feeling?

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Word Search

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Ringo to the Rescue!

A Nose for Trouble Ringo the Tabby Saves His Family Ray and Carol Steiner found Ringo, a red tabby Manx, living in a shed when he was 10 days old. Despite already having three cats, the couple decided to open their hearts to the friendly feline — a decision that would one day save their lives.

over to get a better look, she was nearly overwhelmed by the smell of natural gas. The gas company discovered an old steel coupler had broken open, leaking dangerous levels of gas into the Steiners’ house. A single spark outdoors could have set off an explosion that would have consumed six other houses, potentially killing 22 people. Ray and Carol’s doctor told them that even if they avoided an explosion, they would have died from methane poisoning if they’d been exposed much longer. The gas meter did not register the leak, but Ringo did. Once they aired out their home, the Steiners’ health improved immensely. Because of his dedication to his family, Ringo became the 11th cat in history to be awarded the American Humane Association’s national William O. Stillman Award for bravery.

Years after adopting Ringo, Ray and Carol began to oversleep and experience high blood pressure, dizziness and headaches. The couple attributed these troubling symptoms to their recent health problems — Ray had just undergone heart surgery and Carol was recovering from a car accident with her leg in a cast. But Ringo realized something was amiss. One blistering day in August, the usually mellow cat caused a ruckus. He meowed loudly and banged his body against the front door. Carol let him dart outside, but the moment she closed the door, Ringo began to aggressively meow again. This was unusual behavior and Carol realized Ringo wanted her to follow him. The red tabby brought Carol around to the side of the house, where large bushes hid the air conditioner and gas and water meters. Ringo started to dig in the jagged lava-rock landscaping, cutting his paws on the sharp stones. When Carol leaned

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