Beatitudes Community

Celebrating the Beatitudes Team on Labor Day

On Monday, we will celebrate Labor Day, a day that pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. Labor Day was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer and is often a time of celebration.

On this Labor Day, I want to celebrate each of the Beatitudes team members—not just for the individual and unique strengths they bring for the collective good of Beatitudes Campus, but for their dedication to the campus mission. They are the backbone of the campus. If we achieve anything, it’s because of the passion and dedication shared by our staff to a common cause – to inspire purpose and vibrancy among our residents in whatever they do.

I know that our staff have made many sacrifices to keep our Beatitudes community engaging and safe, particularly during the past 18 months. I am incredibly grateful for each member of the Beatitudes Strong team. Their amazing talent and limitless energy continue to be focused on the shared goals of the campus. We would not be the community we are without their commitment and effort.

On this Labor Day weekend, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on the countless contributions of our Beatitudes team members. They ensure our community is an engaging place to live. When you are out taking a walk, eating a meal, or just sitting enjoying the view, please take a moment to thank the staff for their hard work and dedication. Tell them they have made a difference. I guarantee you will make their day.

Have a good and safe Labor Day weekend.

State of the Campus – Oct. 30

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, we tested 268 staff members as part of our testing program. We received negative results for 266 staff and two samples were not useable, so the two staff members will be retested. Earlier this week, we were informed that a server in Plaza View tested positive; this individual is at home quarantining and contract tracing for possible exposures is being conducted. The resident and staff member who tested positive earlier this month are both out of the hospital and continue to recover. Our prayers are with them.

Living into the Promise

And then I thought of the staff I did not see, working behind the scenes, including those providing 24 hours-a-day service “behind closed doors” in our HCC and AL, truly serving on the front line. Again, a feeling of gratitude washed over me, and I realized I had begun repeating silently, like a mantra, “thank you for your service” for all of our over 400 employees.

Happy Kwanzaa

As we live into our commitment to be diverse and inclusive here at the campus, we aim to be intentional in the ways that we grow in our understanding and celebration of who WE are. There are friends and family who celebrate Kwanzaa and there is much to learn about this celebration which honors African heritage in African-American culture and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67. Maulana Karenga, a black nationalist who later became a college professor, created Kwanzaa as a way of uniting and empowering the African-African community in the aftermath of the deadly Watts riots. Having modeled his holiday on traditional African harvest festivals, he took the name “Kwanzaa” from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits.”

Many people celebrate both Kwanzaa and Christmas. Though often thought of as an alternative to Christmas, many people actually celebrate both. “Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one with an inherent spiritual quality,” Karenga writes. “Thus, Africans of all faiths can and do celebrate Kwanzaa, i.e. Muslims, Christians, Black Hebrews, Jews, Buddhists, Baha’i and Hindus, as well as those who follow the ancient traditions of Maat, Yoruba, Ashanti, Dogon, etc.” According to Karenga, non-blacks can also enjoy Kwanzaa, just as non-Mexicans commemorate Cinco de Mayo and non-Native Americans participate in powwows. Kwanzaa centers around seven principles which are umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity) and imani (faith). Kwanzaa also has seven symbols–mazao (crops), mkeka (mat), kinara (candleholder), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (unity cup), zawadi (gifts) and mishumaa saba (seven candles)–that are traditionally arranged on a table. Three of the seven candles are red, representing the struggle; three of the candles are green, representing the land and hope for the future; and one of the candles is black, representing people of African descent. Some families who celebrate Kwanzaa dress up or decorate their homes in those colors. Homemade and educational gifts are encouraged. U.S. presidents habitually wish the nation a happy Kwanzaa.The holiday also has made inroads with the U.S. Postal Service, which has issued four separate Kwanzaa stamps since 1997. The latest, from 2011, features a family dressed in traditional African garb lighting the kinara.

When he envisioned the celebration of Kwanzaa, Karenga recognized that on the whole, African Americans do not live in an agricultural setting. Nonetheless, he sought to emphasize that the basic principles found in producing the harvest are vital to building and maintaining strong and wholesome communities. Kwanzaa is that time when we reflect on our use of the basic principles, share and enjoy the fruits of our labor, and recommit ourselves to the collective achievement of a better life for our family, our community, and our people. We celebrate family, community, and culture, and wish our friends, Happy Kwanzaa! *

Holiday Weight Loss Tips

Tips for surviving the holidays without sacrificing your weight-loss goals

No one wants to be a killjoy at a Christmas party or a family get-together. But when it comes to dealing with the temptations of the season’s high-calorie bounty, you don’t have to be a Grinch.

You do need a plan, says Susan J. Bartlett, Ph.D., an associate director of clinical psychology at Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Baltimore and a specialist in weight and eating disorders. Last year, she led a small group at the center through the following eat-right strategies. Her expertise and her students’ experiences provide practical lessons for anyone to try.

SOME TIPS

  • Weight specialist Susan Bartlett suggests the following ways to keep your caloric count in check at a big event:
  • Don’t arrive hungry; eat something before you go.
  • Pass up peanuts, pretzels, chips, and other everyday snacks. Spend your calories on the special treats you really want.
  • Wear a form-fitting outfit, with a belt if possible.
  • Make socializing, rather than food, the focus of the event.
  • Keep your portions in check — to keep calories under control.
  • Plan how much alcohol you’ll drink. It loosens your inhibitions and contributes to calorie consumption.
  • Don’t stand near the buffet table. In fact, keep your back to it, so you won’t even see it!
  • Make a deal with yourself that you will learn something new about someone you don’t know at the party.
  • Wear a special piece of jewelry — a sparkly bangle or big ring — as a visible reminder to yourself to eat in moderation.
  • Practice saying “no, thank you.” It’s okay to turn down invitations or tell a pushy host you don’t want seconds.

Worth Fighting For

Growing up, Independence Day was one of my favorite holidays. I remember running around with my cousins in our back yard, sparklers in our hands, with our parents watching us as they conversed about whatever. Towards the end of the night we’d gaze at the dark sky as the fireworks lit up the quiet night. At the time, that’s what the holiday was for me, a time to have fun with my family. However, I didn’t understand what sacrifices had to be made for us to have those times of solace.

As the years have passed, we, as a country, have largely forgotten what the true meaning of every holiday stands for. In the case of Independence Day, we often see fireworks, barbeques, and carnivals flooding the environment. However, at its core, these services have very little to do with the holiday. Independence Day is about our individuality as a nation. This holiday is a reminder to its citizens of the freedom we sought during its founding. Thus, in celebrating this holiday we specifically remember those who fought, and continue to fight, for that peace.

The community of residents here at Beatitudes are among the many who faced such challenges and helped pave the way for my generation to be so privileged. It’s because of your passion and sacrifice that I’ve never had to worry about being drafted for war, I can go to any school I choose, I’m not segregated in any location I enter and I can sleep at night knowing I’m safe. These are such luxuries that we often take for granted. Somewhere, in another country, there’s an individual who’s in constant fear of being taken away from his family. Constant fighting is erupting outside his home and he doesn’t know how much longer they will be safe. We have it lucky here in America and we owe a great deal of that to our military forces.

I have several friends and family in the military, some have seen combat. When asked why they joined, they all give a similar answer which related to protecting something they cherished. This can be related to last week’s main article written by the late Don Fausel. He spoke of the term “ikigai” and its meaning being your sense of purpose in life. For these individuals, and I’m certain for many others, they share the same feeling. As a country, we’ve depended on our soldiers for so long to keep us safe. Likewise, they wake up every morning ready to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves, all while fighting for their own lives.

For almost a month, the 3rd floor of the Plaza South Lounge was decorated with memorabilia from almost 20 residents here on campus from their time in service. Purple Hearts, Medals of Honor and Silver Stars garnished the room as you contemplated, “what’s worth fighting for” in your own life? Once again, a huge thank you to all the veterans and current serving military forces. You do not receive enough praise and we owe a great deal to you. You fight for our freedom and keep us safe. My prayers are with you. God Bless.

The Gate at the End of the Year

As the clamor of the holiday season has faded once more into hopefully happy memories of light and joy, we turn now and look to the future, as we step into the New Year of 2017.

There are many special days for us individually that cause us to pause and reflect on what has happened in our lives and what may be yet to come, but as we hang our new calendars on our walls, and try to remember to write 2017 in our checkbooks, we have a chance to collectively contemplate as we celebrate.

Looking back over 2016, we can remember both times of celebration and times of sadness and difficulty. Thinking firstly of celebrations, 2016 was the first year during which child mortality rates fell substantially across the globe. 2016 was also the year during which the nations of the world gathered together in Rio to celebrate their sporting achievements. Speaking of sporting achievements – the Chicago Cubs broke their 108 year dry spell by winning the World Series in Game 7!

Unfortunately as well as being able to reflect joyfully on these and many other events, during 2016 the world was repeatedly distressed by the continuing conflict in Syria with its resulting humanitarian crisis, as well as by the terrorist attacks in Orlando, Europe and the Middle East which, amongst many others around the world, have resulted in the loss of so many innocent lives.

As we step into 2017, we may ponder to ourselves what news the next twelve months will bring both in our own lives and in the wider world. Amid our wonder and our apprehension, perhaps we should greet 2017 with the words of this poem by M. L. Haskins in our hearts and minds:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.” So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.”

May our New Year bring us closer to God, who walks beside us on our pilgrimage of life, and a Happy New Year to you all.

Maintaining Mindfulness During the Holiday Season

The most joyous time of year can also be the most stressful. The holidays bring pressure to gift everyone you know and love, mingle and small talk with people at parties, navigate family members’ opinions at the dinner table, and attempt to stay on track with our exercise and healthy eating regimens. Although some of these stressors are inevitable, there are some ways we can maintain a sense of mindfulness and intentionality amidst the holiday chaos.

First, remember to breathe. I was working with a client a few weeks ago who brings a lot of enthusiasm and zest to our conversations. I noticed, however, that while he was sharing a stressful work situation, he was not taking any breaths. I invited him pause to take a deep breath. One exercise that helps recalibrate your breathing is the 2/4/10 method. Breathe in for two seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat 10 times. You can do this simple exercise in your office, while driving, or while shopping at the mall.

Second, keep on track with your healthy regimens. Just as we prioritize getting tasks completed at work and home, it is imperative that we also prioritize our exercise routines and healthy eating habits. During this time of year, every time you turn around, someone is offering you a piece of chocolate or a glass of egg nog. Of course it is OK to indulge: just remember to supplement the indulgences with something that makes you feel good. Even a walk around your office building or standing while working can help balance how you feel.

Do you get nervous at cocktail parties? Or even your own work party? Do you get anxious making small talk with people you don’t know? If so, you are not alone. Parties are intended to be fun, but they can create a great deal of stress. One suggestion is to “buddy up” with a friend or a coworker you already know. It’s often easier to strike up a conversation with three people rather than just two.

Lastly, carve out some alone time. This can be especially hard with larger families; however, carving out an hour for yourself can help you maintain sanity. Even running an errand by yourself, or taking a drive. Solo time is a great way to stay grounded and clear-minded.

’Tis the season to be grateful for all that we have in our lives. Take care of the greatest gift of all: yourself.

For more information please visit msec.org.

Christmas Traditions

The holidays; it’s that time of the year that some love and others really struggle with. For me it is a combination of the two. It is a reflective time of year for me as my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer on December 15th of 1993 when I was 20 years old. Christmas was my mother’s favorite holiday and she always made it wonderful for us kids. That year leading up to Christmas, as you can imagine, was tough. Many of our traditions went by the wayside that year as she was so ill.

One tradition that stopped that year for my brother and I, because that was our last Christmas with her as she died in early January of 1994, was the tradition of picking out a “special” ornament each year that had our name and the year on it.  The ornament often reflected something we liked or were interested in that year.  For instance in 1986, my brother Michael got a red truck ornament, as that was the year he received his driver’s license and a red Ford truck.  My mom started this tradition because she always said that when we moved out she wanted us to have ornaments for our own tree.  Michael and I enjoyed each year when we would decorate the Christmas tree with our parents. It was always fun to unwrap each ornament and then discuss why we had chosen that ornament as our “special” ornament that year.  There usually were lots of laughs because, in retrospect, some of the reasons were very silly.  After my mother’s death, every year when I would put a tree up, I would have moments of tears and smiles as I placed my ornaments on the tree.  I remember thinking that I couldn’t wait to start a family and begin that tradition with them.

The Christmas of 2002, my husband Jeff and I were able to begin the tradition of the “special” ornament for our daughter, Lauren. Her first ornament, just like my very first ornament, was a brass angel with her name engraved on it. Lauren is now 14 years old and our son Luke is 10 years old and they both enjoy picking out their “special” ornaments, unwrapping them and placing them on the tree each year. This year we had custom ornaments made for each of them.  The front of Lauren’s has a picture of her kicking a soccer ball, along with her name, the year and the name of the 2 soccer teams she is on. The back of the ornament has a picture of her and her team celebrating after a win.  Luke’s ornament has a picture of him with his race truck on the front along with his name, 2016 and that he was the AZ and CA Champ. He also chose a picture of his race truck for the back of the ornament. I love helping the kids pick out their ornaments each year as it is a really neat way to remember what was important to them that year.

About 5 years ago, I began buying a personalized family ornament so that our tree won’t be completely bare when the kids’ ornaments are no longer hanging on to our tree because they have moved out and are hanging on their very own. They both have told me that they love that I have begun doing that and they will carry on the new tradition of a family ornament with their families in the future. It is interesting how something can turn into a tradition.  I hope you still celebrate the holidays with some traditions you grew up with or can think fondly of some traditions that you started. Happy Holidays!

Memorial Day


“My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
– John F. Kennedy

This Memorial Day let us give thanks to all those that have served our great nation whether they are current military, veterans, or fallen comrades.

Thank you to Don Bergem and his awesome crew for placing all of the amazing flags around campus.

Memorial Day Flags

The Easter Laugh

arkOne of my favorite pictures is of Jesus throwing his head back in a glorious laugh so I love the old Easter custom begun by the Greeks in the early centuries of Christianity – “Holy Humor Sunday.” For centuries in Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant countries, the week following Easter Sunday, including “Bright Sunday” (the Sunday after Easter), was observed by the faithful as “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Churchgoers and pastors played practical jokes on each other, drenched each other with water, told jokes, sang, and danced. The custom was rooted in the musings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. “Risus paschalis – the Easter laugh,” the early theologians called it.

In 1988 the Fellowship of Merry Christians began encouraging churches and prayer groups to resurrect Bright Sunday celebrations and called it “Holy Humor Sunday,” with the theme: “Jesus is the LIFE of the party.” Many times, I believe our worship and faith would benefit from a bit of levity and joy for we are often too straight-faced and straight-laced! The Lord’s Supper ought to be more like a celebration than a funeral service. When “Family Circus” cartoonist Bil Keane first began putting religion into his work in the 1960s, some religious conservatives took offense at the irreverence of mentioning God in the funny pages. Later, when one of his young characters reinterpreted a commandment as “Humor thy father and thy mother” or threatened to tell his mother that a sibling at prayer is “goin’ over her head,” he got accolades from the same group. The English writer G.K. Chesterton once said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly. Never forget that Satan fell by force of gravity.”

JesusThe Fellowship of Merry Christians publishes a Joyful Noiseletter and here are some samples from it. * A paramedic said his most unusual 911 call came from a church, where an usher was concerned that an elderly man had passed out in a pew and appeared to be dead. What was so unusual about that? “Well,” the paramedic said, “we carried out four guys before we found the one who was dead.” * A good sermon should have a good beginning and a good ending, and they should be as close together as possible. A few years back, North Bay Community Church in Clearwater, FL, celebrated Holy Humor Sunday. The Rev. Daniel McDonald said, “Laughter releases tension, and we have enough of that these days. I think we all need to stop taking ourselves so seriously. We need to recognize that this is really God’s world, and He has so much in store for us. We put too much emphasis on what’s wrong and what’s bad with it.” That Sunday Rev. McDonald “gave one of the world’s shortest sermons. He announced that the focus of his talk would be on sin. ‘Don’t do it,’ he said from the pulpit. ‘Amen.’ Then he sat down.” I think I’ve got my sermon for this Sunday! Rejoice and be glad this week, my friends, and be sure to have some fun and laugh! *