Adaptiiv Signs Leading Canadian Cancer Centre as a Collaboration Partner
HALIFAX, Feb. 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc. (Adaptiiv) is pleased to announce that the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) has become its latest Collaboration Partner. The two organizations have agreed to work together to design, develop, and validate a new solution for surface and intracavitary brachytherapy within Adaptiiv's 3DBolus Software.
The Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal is an innovative hospital devoted to serving patients. It provides the highest quality specialized and ultraspecialized care to patients and the general public all over Quebec. Through its unique expertise and innovations, its aim is to improve the health of the adult and aging population. As the Université de Montréal hospital, CHUM is dedicated to care, research, teaching, health promotion, and the assessment of technology and health intervention methods in order to continually improve the quality of care and the health of the population. Since the fall of 2017, patients and their families have been able to enjoy a renewed hospital experience at CHUM's new facilities.
"We are excited to be a part of this groundbreaking technology," says François DeBlois, Physics Department Head, Radiation Oncology at CHUM. DeBlois is thrilled about the collaboration opportunity. "Adaptiiv is the first company to offer a platform that fully integrates into the existing treatment workflow and their team has demonstrated the ability to rapidly develop and validate new ideas that can be used in treatment today. The opportunity to work in consultation with Adaptiiv to develop and showcase new brachytherapy applications can lead to tremendous breakthroughs in radiation therapy," says DeBlois.
Adaptiiv's 3DBolus Software provides practitioners with a turnkey software solution that enables 3D printing of patient-specific devices for use in radiation therapy. Devices created using Adaptiiv's software conform to the patient anatomy to improve dose delivery and the patient experience. Patients are more comfortable throughout the treatment period and because the software fully integrates with a cancer centre's treatment planning system, set-up and production times are drastically reduced.
"We are very pleased to make this announcement," says Adaptiiv CEO, Peter Hickey. "By working with François and his team at CHUM, Adaptiiv continues to make significant strides in the battle against cancer by introducing our breakthrough technology into real world applications."
Adaptiiv is the first company in the world to receive US FDA 510(k) clearance to market its 3D printing software for use in radiation oncology. The company's software is used in the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, Ireland, Hong Kong, and England.
About Adaptiiv Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc. is the definitive software platform to design 3D printed medical devices for use in radiation oncology. Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Adaptiiv is shaping the future of patient-specific healthcare through innovation and collaboration with leading cancer centers throughout the world. Adaptiiv has US FDA 510(k) clearance, is ISO 13485 certified, and has received a CE Mark.
The CAR of the Future: Speeding Past Cancer By Joshua Mansour, MD
Have you heard about the futuristic ‘CAR’ that might soon be speeding past cancer?
No, this is not a new automotive car being released this spring, but instead is something even more exciting. This type of CAR is a cancer therapy that is making headlines and is now on the road to being one of the treatments of the future.
In a throwback to Henry Ford’s Model T, this medical innovation is called CAR T-cell therapy. The CAR stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor. This type of cellular immunotherapy involves physicians extracting a particular type of white blood cell from the patient’s blood (T-cells) and then attaching them to one of these artificial receptors. Once these cells are infused back into the patient they begin to multiply, and with guidance from the receptor, recognize cancer cells that contain their same antigen.
This is a cancer therapy that was discovered in 1989, but has not yet been put into high gear until recently. It is already changing how patients with blood cancers that have not been responsive to previous therapy are being treated. Although the technology has been described almost three decades ago, clinical implementation has not occurred until recently. Even though CAR T-cell therapy is not well known to the general public, it has been speeding along the medical highway, with no rest stop in sight.
This rapid pace is of great value because hematological malignancies (blood cancers) are the fourth most common cancer in the United States. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is the most common of these in the United States and outcomes in aggressive and refractory subtypes are poor. Of this disease, the most common subtype is Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in which only small percentage of patients with relapsed disease or disease that was refractory to initial therapy is then cured with a stem cell transplant. Although this treatment has been approved for patients under the age of twenty-five with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, until recently this type of therapy had been restricted to smaller clinical trials for other very advanced and aggressive diseases.
However, the remarkable rate of responses from these trials caught the eyes of researchers and physicians around the world. These results have shown that patients who had failed conventional therapy were not only seeing their disease stabilize, but also saw a significant response. Recent trials have shown ongoing complete remission with duration ranging from 18-24 plus months. In early trials, there were even persisting CAR T-cells observed in great than 70% of patients remaining in response at 1 year. Durable responses continued to remain in patients with and without detectable persisting CAR T-cells. Although these responses can deepen and improve over time, it has also been seen in instances that the ongoing response of these cells can decrease when a higher amount of tumor burden is present.
So, is this exciting CAR of the future right for every patient? No. It depends on the individual, their disease, and several other factors. Plus there are still some side effects that patients should be aware of before they take this CAR for a spin. One of them is a “cytokine storm” or cytokine release syndrome (CRS) that about 70-90% of patients may experience. Think of it as the radiator breaking down, leading to overheating of your engine with severe flu-like symptoms of fever and body aches. This occurs secondarily to the multiplying activity of the T-cells, leading to a dynamic immune response.
Another side effect, known as “CRES” (CAR T-cell Related Encephalopathy Syndrome), can begin a few days after infusion of the cells where patients become confused and disoriented. Think of it as a breakdown in the transmission. You are unable to mentally shift gears and form complex sentences and thoughts that you were able to once before. Just like when you take your automobile to a busy shop, it takes a few days for things to be back to normal. These adverse effects are reversible with the right mechanic and a skilled tune-up.
Isometric strength training exercises are one of the biggest fitness trends right now. And it’s easy to see why - they don’t require weights, intensive cardio, or even a gym. And with Activ5, the new smart isometric device designed to monitor muscle development, guide and even entertain users with five-minute fully body workouts, isometrics have become even easier.
The Best Exercises for Knee Pain: Isometrics as Knee Injury Exercises
You might be surprised to learn that the ideal exercises for those who suffer from knee pain involve isometrics. Because while rest is an essential part of recovery after a knee injury, restoring strength is a vital part of preventing future injuries to the joint. The most common causes of knee injuries is damage to the ACL, also known as the anterior cruciate ligament. And the best way to protect the ACL is by strengthening the muscles around the knee. Essentially, the stronger these muscles are, the better your knees will be at absorbing shock--one of the typical causes of ACL injuries.
After a knee injury, most physicians and physical therapists recommend gentle exercise to strengthen the surrounding muscles. That means avoiding weight-bearing exercises or moves that compress the knee. Fortunately, isometric exercises are extremely low-impact and great for rapidly strengthening the muscles. Studies have shown that isometric exercises are extremely effective at targeting the muscles and tendons surrounding the knee.
The 5 Biggest Disruptors Wreaking Havoc On Your Hormones
As 2019 dawns, some people are taking a “new year-new you” approach. They’re determined to make self-improvements that provide a fresh, positive outlook and strong sense of well-being.
But sometimes health factors undermine those good intentions, such as depression and its link to hormone imbalances. There are myriad ways both men and women suffer adverse effects to their hormones, says Don Colbert, M.D., and many of them are avoidable.
“We are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals on a regular basis in the air, water and food,” says Colbert (https://drcolbert.com), author of Dr. Colbert's Hormone Health Zone. “Some of them are hormone disruptors because they disturb your endocrine system, wreaking havoc and creating hormonal imbalances.
“Not only are the effects of all these disruptors depressing to think about; they actually cause depression, along with countless other ailments such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and more. But the basic principle is this: decreasing the number of disruptions will improve your health.”
Dr. Colbert breaks down the top hormone disruptors affecting men and women along with ways to minimize the disruption or stop it:
Lifestyle choices. “Whether it’s weight gain and a lack of exercise, anger and unforgiveness, drinking too much alcohol or some other thing that can be controlled, your hormone levels drop and you begin a slow slide to poorer health,” Dr. Colbert says. “Make better choices, and that dramatically decreases the chances of having any hormone deficiency symptoms.”
Medications. Medications affect the body’s cells, and sometimes side effects manifest in major problems. For example, Dr. Colbert cites Mayo Clinic research showing a prescription statin drug that lowered cholesterol could result in liver damage, memory loss or type 2 diabetes. “I estimate that 55 percent of the entire US population is taking pills that directly and negatively affect hormone levels,” Dr. Colbert says. “Get off these harmful medications you hate.”
Things you touch. Chemicals entering the body through the skin can cause long-term damage. Dr. Colbert notes phthalates, disruptors found in household cleaners, cosmetics, toys and numerous other products. “Phthalates negatively affect both men’s and women’s ability to use the testosterone that is in our bodies,” Dr. Colbert says. “Another is BPA (bisphenol A), found on the inside of metal-canned foods and plastic food-storing containers. Specifically, BPA has been found to cause or contribute to cancer, fertility problems, developmental issues and heart disease. I recommend buying glass jars of food and storing in ceramic containers.”
Diet deficiencies. “The standard American diet is usually low in key nutrients that support a healthy thyroid,” Dr. Colbert says. “Many patients with hormone imbalances have low iodine. The best solution is eat more vegetables, ideally raw or steamed.”
Aging. Dr. Colbert says estrogen levels for women begin to decline around the age of 50; for men, testosterone levels can drop low around age 45-50. “Aging is a natural combatant as a hormone disruptor,” he says, “but we can slow the acceleration of the effects of aging by optimizing our hormones. Healthy habits can make a huge difference.”
“Symptoms of serious problems indicated by hormonal imbalance can be reversed by those who focus on health in their diet, lifestyle and living environment,” Dr. Colbert says. “Then they can enable all of their systems to function optimally.”
About Don Colbert, M.D.
Don Colbert, M.D. (https://drcolbert.com), is the author of Dr. Colbert's Hormone Health Zone. He has been a board-certified family practice doctor for more than 25 years and has offices in Orlando, Fla., and Dallas. The author of over 40 books, he wrote two New York Times best-sellers - The Seven Pillars of Health and Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet - has sold more than 10 million books and treated 50,000-plus patients. Dr. Colbert is a frequent show guest of Christian leaders Joyce Meyer, John Hagee, and Kenneth Copeland and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, and in periodicals such as Newsweek and Reader’s Digest.
NutritionFacts.org Launches Free Downloadable Healthy Living Guide For Health Professionals and the Public
Washington, D.C., United States – Nonprofit science-based health organization NutritionFacts.org has released a free, downloadable evidence-based eating guide geared towards assisting the public as well as allied health professionals with providing comprehensive nutrition information to their patients. This all-inclusive resource is available to download for free at: https://www.nutritionfacts.org/healthkit.
This Evidence-Based Eating Guide: A Healthy Living Resource from Dr. Greger & NutritionFacts.org is a tool backed by the most balanced evidence of current research regarding nutrition and human health, and it is designed to simplify the switch to a healthier lifestyle. It is an easy-to-follow guide with valuable, applicable information for eating healthier, including a breakdown of Dr. Greger’s Traffic Light Eating, tips for using Dr. Greger’s Daily Dozen checklist, sample menus, and resources.
Dr. Michael Greger, MD is a physician, New York Times bestselling author, founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and internationally recognized speaker on nutrition, food safety, and public health issues. In 2017, Dr. Greger was honored with the ACLM Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award. He is a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine. All proceeds received from his books, DVDs, and speaking engagements are all donated to charity.
NutritionFacts.orgis a strictly non-commercial, science-based public service provided by Dr. Michael Greger, providing free updates on the latest in nutrition research via bite-sized videos. There are more than 1,700 videos on nearly every aspect of healthy eating, with new videos and articles uploaded every day. Incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit charity, NutritionFacts.org relies on individual donors to keep the site alive and thriving. NutritionFacts.org is a proud member of the True Health Initiative, a global voice for lifestyle as medicine. Information regarding Dr. Greger’s New York Times best-selling book How Not to Die, his free Daily Dozen app, and podcast are also available on NutritionFacts.org.
SAINT LUCIA RESORT BECOMES THE FIRST TO JOIN A GLOBAL LEADER IN CONSCIOUS TOURISM
(TORONTO, ON) – Stonefield Villa Resort in Saint Lucia joins Kind Traveler, the first socially conscious 'Give + Get' hotel booking platform that connects travelers to hotel’s with charitable affiliations.
Kind Traveler selects its hotel partners based on wellness features called “Kind Factors”. Stonefield Villa Resort “Kind factors” include, the use of eco friendly amenities, an organic farm to table experience, a no plastic straw policy, composting of organic waste and a bee program.
Participating hotels in the program must also select a charitable affiliation as a “Kind Factor” to empower communities, the environment or protects animals. Stonefield Villa Resort has selected Pawasol Pour Ti Mamai as their charity of choice. The organization provides the basic needs in education and healthcare for underprivileged children empowering struggling Saint Lucian families.
Booking Stonefield Villa Resort directly through Kind Traveler is making a conscientious decision to support a great cause that positively impacts the future of children in Saint Lucia. For every booking, a US$10 nightly donation will be made to Pawasol Pour Ti Mami. All proceeds are given directly to the charity organization, a triple win amongst the traveler, the hotel and charity.
“The Stonefield brand embraces all the natural elements of Saint Lucia, we wanted to make an impact that benefits the future of children's lives and local communities through Kind Traveller. We are excited about this partnership and hope more Saint Lucian resorts join Kind Travelver in this responsible tourism initative”, said Cybelle Brown – Managing Director of Sales & Marketing for Stonefield Villa Resort.
Kind Traveler’s booking platform unlocks exclusive rates by redirecting guests to Stonefield Villa Resort’s booking engine to complete the transaction. This direct booking allows the resort to communicate directly with guests before, during and after their stay.
“Our win-win platform offers solutions for everyone,” said CEO & Co-Founder Jessica Blotter. “For travelers, they become warriors for good and support hotels that are making a positive impact in the world – while receiving exclusive hotel rates. For hotels, they cultivate new relationships with cause-minded consumers and take another step towards corporate social responsibility. For charities, they receive 100% of donations and a new, sustainable channel for fundraising.”
For more information on how Stonefield Villa Resort has partnered with Kind Traveler to be a force for good, visit www.kindtraveler.com. Stay at the Stonefield Villa Resort and support Pawasol Pour Ti Mamai. Share your experience on social media – @stonefieldvillaresort - and remember to #TravelKindly.
Stonefield Villa Resort is one of the most desirable destinations for the discerning Caribbean traveller. This 17-villa boutique property is nestled at the base of St. Lucia’s Pitons overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Guests relax, luxuriate and rejuvenate in spacious secluded villas each with large private pools, outdoor garden showers, large verandas and extraordinary views of the Petit Piton and the Caribbean Sea. The resorts’ full-service spa, gym and yoga studio has attracted fitness and wellness groups globally offering annual retreats for exceptional rejuvenation. Consistently rated over four stars on Trip Advisor, Stonefield Resort and Spa has become an award-winning annual vacation escape for visitors all over the world.
ABOUT KIND TRAVELER
Kind Traveler, a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), is the first socially conscious ‘Give + Get’ hotel booking platform that empowers travelers to benefit the wellbeing of communities, the environment, and animals. Travelers give a $10 nightly donation to a local charity that positively impacts the visiting destination, or to a favorite charity of choice on the platform. As reward for their donation, travelers get an exclusive rate to book directly with the world’s best hotels and unique properties. 100 percent of the donations raised on the Kind Traveler platform go directly to charities.
Choom Completes Buildout of E-Commerce Platform
VANCOUVER, Feb. 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Choom™ (CSE: CHOO; OTCQB: CHOOF) ("Choom") a Canadian cannabis retail company, is pleased to announce the completion of its e-commerce platform.
Choom, through a licensed enterprise-level platform, has completed the buildout of a top tier e-commerce retail solution. This online storefront will provide a customized shopping experience that's integrated with Choom's retail stores and capable of scaling to $500M+ annually. Choom has ensured the platform's flexibility to compliantly handle both B2C and B2B sales to service and sell to any type of buyer in the cannabis industry.
Chris Bogart, President & CEO, states, "For the last 6 months we have been building out our e-commerce capabilities in parallel with our brick and mortar footprint. As part of building a cannabis brand presence across the country, we want to ensure Choom is positioned to reach all consumers through all available retail channels. We've invested strategically in our e-commerce capabilities and look forward to providing an industry leading online storefront for consumers to connect with our brand".
SAY HELLO TO CHOOM™ Choom™ is an emerging adult use cannabis company whose mission is to establish one of the largest retail networks in Canada. The Choom brand is inspired by Hawaii's "Choom Gang"—a group of buddies in Honolulu during the 1970's who loved to smoke weed—or as the locals called it, "Choom". Evoking the spirit of the original Choom Gang, our brand caters to the Canadian adult use market with the ethos of 'cultivating good times'. Choom™ is focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through our curated retail environments, offering a diversity of brands for Canadians across a national retail network.
"Chris Bogart" President & CEO
Cautionary Statement:
NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Forward-looking information This news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's proposed activities and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information relates to management's future outlook and anticipated events or results, and include statements or information regarding the future plans or prospects of the Company. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors include risks and uncertainties associated with or arising as a result of delays in obtaining or an inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, the results of diligence investigations, the results of negotiations with third parties, developments in the cannabis sector, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, reliance on key personnel, regulatory risks and delays and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company's interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings, including the Company's Listing Statement, made with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information.
SOURCE Choom Holdings Inc.
Hard-Core! The Best Exercises for the Transverse Abdominus
Shhhh…we’ve got a secret, and it’s a doozy.
It’s all to do with getting that sleeker, slimmer waist – the one that people spend hours upon hours, angrily doing crunches trying to achieve. But the secret, in fact, lies in an often-overlooked set of muscles sitting deep within your core. They’re called the transverse abdominus muscles, and have been called everything from the ‘abdominal corset muscles’ to the ‘body’s natural girdle’. Sometimes, they’re even referred to the ‘Spanx of the Body’!
Working out core muscles like the rectus abdominus or obliques tend to make your belly jut out, without actually reducing the size of your waist. And that’s where the transverse abdominus comes in – not only do these wonder muscles tighten your midsection, they also help with stability, posture, breathing and lower back strength. The question is: is there anything the transverse abdominus muscles can’t do?
With that said, let’s take a look at five essential transverse ab exercises, to get that lean, slender look you’ve always wanted.
Not surprisingly, the plank is one of the best transverse abdominus exercises around. The keys to getting results from the plank are time and form. You want to hold your plank for as long as you can, increasing over time, while always maintaining proper form. When your form starts to break down, that’s a good sign you’ve had enough and it’s time for a rest.
To perform the plank:
· Begin laying face down on your stomach
· Lift yourself up onto your elbows and toes
· Keep your spine flat, with your buttocks in-line with your body
· Try to stare straight ahead of you, making sure you don’t strain your neck
· Hold for 5-10 seconds to start, then lower yourself back down
· Gradually increase your duration by 5 seconds with each rep
· Repeat 3 times
Cat Kom is a celebrated expert in the fitness world, who launched a global movement to bring fitness to the masses, no matter their age, ability or skill level. Through her company Studio SWEAT onDemand, a fitness studio based in San Diego, California, she produces streaming workouts that can be accessed through their app, any internet browser, Roku and many others. As one of Huffington Post’s ‘Limit Breaking Female Founders,’ Cat has gained notoriety for her classes featuring passionate trainers and real people, getting real results.
DIGITAL BRANDS LLC LAUNCHES CARE SKINCARE
A Consumer-Direct Clean Beauty Brand Formulated with Superior-Grade Ingredients and a Simplified Approach to Skincare WellnessNEW YORK, N.Y. (Spring 2019)—After a year of intensive research and development, Digital Brands LLC announced the official launch of Care Skincare. The brand was developed by a team of world-class experts who formulated five key highly effective multi-functional products that would address the skin’s most important needs in a straightforward, simple way using superior-grade ingredients. A clean beauty brand, all formulas were developed using only safe, proven ingredients that are fragrance-free. Additionally, no products in the line are ever animal-tested. Care Skincare sells directly to consumers—avoiding retail markups and costs. These savings are passed along to the consumer in the brand’s pricing.
“After having spent many years leading product launches globally for Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., I came to the conclusion that what works in skincare is actually very simple,” said Care Skincare Co-Founder, Ricardo Quintero.“We felt we really owed it to the marketplace to launch a brand that offered a straightforward approach with superior product at a better price.”
The Care Skincare launch includes essential products designed to deliver outstanding results, with minimal daily effort. The collection is straightforward, clean and honest. The brand strives to be easy to understand, having stripped away any unnecessary jargon from its marketing. Packaging is simple, legible, functional, and always recyclable.
“Having tried out skincare regimens throughout my pregnancies, seasonal changes, and travels, I was very much in touch with the challenges of committing to products that weren’t flexible enough to fit my needs at different stages in my life,” said Care Skincare Co-Founder Pilar Quintero. “Care offers safe, highly effective products that work for all skin types. We knew it was possible to achieve that.”
All products in the Care Skincare line were developed by a team of world-class experts using superior-grade ingredients that strictly adhere to the brand’s clearly communicated standards for “Clean Beauty.” Everything offered from the brand is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, mineral oil-free, paraben-free, phthalates-free, and cruelty-free.
“Themost important lesson I have learned in my 35 years of developing prestige skincare products is that it’s not just about a singular ingredient—it’s how each formula has been independently and expertly curated to work at its maximum potential,” said Debbie D’Aquino, Head of Product Innovation for Care Skincare. “The comfort and elegance of a skincare product is equally important to performance and safety. That’s why each Care product has also been designed to be extremely pleasurable to use. This way, you enjoy using them each and every day.”
The Care Skincare launch collection features five key products:
Soft Sweep Micellar Cleanser + Toner—This gentle, rinse-free formula cleanses effectively without stripping the skin. Its microscopic micelles act as dirt and oil magnets. Soft Sweep Micellar Cleanser + Toner is available in 8 oz. at a retail price of $24.
Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream—This gel-cream moisturizer has a soothing texture. The hyaluronic acid in the cream absorbs deeply to provide multi-level hydration and support skin elasticity. The product was designed for use as a daily moisturizer and can be applied under or over make-up and as a quick rehydrating mask. Deep Moisture Fix Hydrating Water Cream is available in 1.7 oz. at a retail price of $35.
Tireless, Retinoid Night Serum—This transformative serum renews and repairs skin overnight. Granactive Retinoid™ provides unparalleled anti-aging benefits without irritation. The product was designed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation for a visibly brighter, smoother complexion. Tireless, Retinoid Night Serum is offered in two sizes: 1 oz. at a retail price of $45, and 2 oz. at a retail price of $68.
Eye + Lip Nourishing Cream—Formulated to treat and repair the delicate area around the eyes and around the lips, this dense cream with a light-diffusing finish softens the look of fine lines and dark circles. It absorbs quickly and won’t drift into eyes or interfere with makeup. Eye + Lip Nourishing Cream is available in 0.5 oz. at a retail price of $30.
The Everything Multi-Level Moisturizer—This multi-functional formula nourishes, hydrates and repairs the skin and includes powerful antioxidants, turmeric and black tea ferment. Additionally, peptides provide the benefits of a serum in the comfort of a cream. The Everything Multi-Level Moisturizer is available in 1.7 oz. at a retail price of $40.
Care Skincare products are available exclusively at careskincare.com, where you can find more information about the brand. Information also can be found on Instagram: @careskincare, and Facebook: Care Skincare.
About Care Skincare Care Skincare was launched by husband and wife founders Ricardo and Pilar Quintero. Its products are developed by a team of world-class experts who formulate highly effective skincare that addresses the skin’s most important needs in straightforward, simple way. Care Skincare sells directly to consumers, avoiding retail markups and costs. The most expensive thing about Care Skincare products is each best-in-class formula, crafted with superior-grade ingredients.
Happier, Healthier and Younger in Retirement
By Former Fortune 100 Company President Fred Sievert
We all understand and appreciate the need for sound financial planning during the years preceding retirement. Who among us hasn’t gone online to calculate our retirement “nest-egg” needs and then panicked because accumulating that much wealth seemed inconceivable; especially if we started the process at age 55 or later?
While it’s critically important to solicit financial planning advice from professionals and then to demonstrate strong personal discipline in executing the plan, there is another aspect to your retirement plans that are equally important. My own retirement has proven to be a magnificent experience of feeling happier, healthier and younger than I’ve felt in decades. How did I plan for that and how can you plan too?
While being prepared financially for a secure retirement certainly contributes enormously to our happiness, I have found it even more important to attend to all of the other nonfinancial aspects of post-career lifestyle and plans.
Caught up in the rigors of pursuing a career, many of us dream of a time in retirement when we can relax, pursue leisurely activities, travel more often, and hence we believe, enjoy life more fully. I remember when I was climbing the corporate ladder at New York Life and working 14 or more hours per day (with little reprieve on Saturday or Sunday). A half-hour with family was rare but wonderful and even running errands for an hour or two on a Saturday morning was a welcomed escape from the toil and intensity of the job. How wonderful it was to fantasize about the days when I would finally get some well-deserved rest and relief from that hectic pace.
However, like many people, since embarking on the very real retirement voyage, I have discovered that the formula for success and happiness has little to do with how much we relax, rest and enjoy leisurely activities. A happy retirement comes from continuing to live a life of consequence and impact. In fact, if you’re like me, when the time comes, you will quickly stop describing yourself as “retired” and instead talk about how engaged and energized you are in the pursuit of your most important lifelong passions. The adjective “retired” is a real misnomer for me and for thousands like me.
Whether you’re in your 60s, 50s or even 40s, let me offer some advice on how to begin to explore and plan for your nonfinancial activities in your retirement years. The earlier you do this the better since the planning you do now can position you for greater fulfillment later.
Perhaps the easiest way to start the nonfinancial planning process is to ask, and honestly answer the following three questions:
What has made you happiest and provided the greatest gratification in your pre-retirement years? In short, what are your greatest passions?
What are your unique gifts and skills that can be best utilized to generate the most satisfaction following your career?
What can you do now to position yourself for the greatest impact on your world when you decide to scale back or retire from your current vocation?
The answers to questions like these are unique to every individual and will force you to wrestle with elusive concepts like “success,” “satisfaction” and “happiness.” Nonetheless, I think you’ll find it thought-provoking and enjoyable to go through the exercise of contemplation and answering.
Perhaps it will be useful for you to read about my own discoveries as I navigated through this important planning effort. My financial planning began long before retirement but my nonfinancial lifestyle planning began in earnest just three years before my official transition out of my career and into the next phase of my life. Over that three-year period, I benefited from the advice of a financial advisor, a personal coach, and a spiritual coach. Although utilizing such advisors and coaches can be enormously helpful and I would highly recommend it, I don’t see it as an essential element of the process.
Answering the Passion Question
Most of us are happiest when we are pursuing our passions. So step one for me was to clearly identify those activities and pursuits that left me with the greatest sense of accomplishment, self-worth, and therefore, happiness. “What makes me tick?” I asked myself. I considered many possibilities, but the answer became clear when I thought about my participation in my church and other volunteer activities, my service on nonprofit boards and my coaching, teaching and mentoring young executives and employees. What makes me most happy is positively touching and impacting the lives of other human beings. So as I thoughtfully contemplated doing this in my future, I began to see retirement as a new beginning, a period of significance and impact rather than settling into a slower paced life of leisure. Think about those activities that give you the greatest joy and sense of fulfillment and then attempt to articulate your passions in a sentence or two.
Answering the Gifts and Skills Question
It’s almost a certainty that there will be a high correlation between what you do well and what makes you happy. However, expand your thought process by reflecting on all kinds of moments in your life — beyond your work activities — when you have felt truly happy and fulfilled. What made time stand still? What were you doing just before that tremendous sense of accomplishment and wellbeing? When you remember, then ask yourself what you personally contributed to that experience and what value you added in the process.
For me, my ability to impact people’s lives and to add value in interpersonal interactions during my career and in my volunteer activities most often utilized my financial acumen, my storytelling and writing skills as well as my teaching and mentoring abilities; and these abilities were always buttressed by my strong personal faith.
My passion was in positively impacting people’s lives and the gifts and skills I utilized to do so became pretty evident as I went through this thought process. So I realized that I should continue to pursue my passions post-retirement by effectively deploying my financial acumen, my teaching and mentoring skills and my storytelling and writing abilities, while doing so within the context and value system of my faith.
Answering the Preparation Question
Having identified your passions and your unique gifts and skills, you need to consider how you will prepare for the next phase of your life and, in so doing, maximize your effectiveness and your ultimate happiness.
Using my own example, my preparation involved several steps I initiated well before officially retiring — steps that not only set the stage for longer-term impact and fulfillment but also led to future endeavors well beyond my pre-retirement imagination.
Feeling strongly that I needed to enhance my spiritual education and development, I began to research and then apply for a post-graduate degree program in religion. Because I’d completed this work in advance, immediately upon retirement I commenced a program at Yale Divinity School that I found remarkably enjoyable and fulfilling.
Before retirement, I also began to construct a business school course on executive management and leadership in which I felt I could impact students’ lives utilizing my teaching and writing skills. As a part of that process, I wrote 16 real-life case studies derived from my career experiences. Since retirement, I have been teaching this course and others as an adjunct professor at two business schools.
In line with my identified passions and skills, I also researched both the nonprofit and for-profit organizations in which I felt I could add value utilizing my business and financial acumen and I now serve on five nonprofit and two for-profit boards where I have been able to do exactly that.
Most recently I have set up a website, Godrevealed.com, where I have posted stories of my personal encounters with God over the course of my life. The website has attracted nearly 100,000 visitors in less than a year and has proven to be an effective vehicle for expressing my faith and utilizing my storytelling skills.
It’s both exhilarating and rewarding to know that my gifts and skills have found an avenue for such meaningful expression. The peace of mind that has come from following my passions and impacting the lives of other people has literally left me far happier than I have been in many years.
And one final thought: don’t forget to remain physically active and take care of yourself. I believe that the combination of meaningful post-retirement engagement coupled with a physical exercise routine, proper sleep, and good eating habits has contributed to a dramatic improvement in all of my vital signs. One of the truly amazing outcomes in this phase of my life has been a sense of youthfulness many years younger than my chronological age.
If you’ll follow your own passions in a way that effectively deploys your own unique gifts and skills, I’m certain that you too will feel happier, healthier and younger in retirement.
About the author:
Fred Sievert retired as President of New York Life Insurance Co., a Fortune 100 Company, at the height of his career to attend Yale Divinity School. He is the author of the books: God Revealed: Revisit Your Past to Enrich your Future (Morgan James, 2014) and Grace Revealed: Finding God's Strength in Any Crisis (Broadstreet Publishing, 2018).
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