Aging Well: Gardens are Rewarding
May 27, 2021
No matter if you are seeding, weeding or watering, the aspects of gardening are perpetually therapeutic. Planning a garden mirrors life’s best lesson. Everything must be done in the proper order with attention to detail. Gardens need to be nurtured for growth to occur. You must respond to the conditions and act accordingly if you want it to be successful. Having your hands in the earth tickles the senses. Watching the growth of a plant, from seed to plate fosters feelings of pride and positivity. Fewer things are more rewarding then heading to the garden to gather the ingredients for a meal.
Having an abundance of vegetables and fruits triggers a greater consumption of nutrient-dense foods. Healthy eating equals a happier family. My grandmother had an intentionally oversized garden so she could share the bounty with people in her congregation. Every Sunday she could be found preparing a big basket of goodies that she would place on the step of the church. This simple gesture of helping others meant everything to her. Gardening can impact people in a glorious way.
Perhaps the world could use a garden right now. Imagine community gardens sprouting up where strangers would come together to heal and prosper. I love the idea of a young family starting a garden under the leadership of the widow across the street. Imagine boxes of free vegetables popping up to help feed families that are struggling. These uncertain times may be the perfect time to plant, share and grow your community.
Cathy Graham is the director of Graceful Aging Wellness Center, part of Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and a District 3000–HRFA member. cgraham@bethlen.com
Since December 2024, donors have contributed an impressive $1,443,000 to
the GBU Foundation, establishing new scholarship, educational grant and
donor-advised charitable funds. These gifts help to shape a brighter future for
students, communities and charitable causes across the country.
Legacy giving, also known as planned giving, is a meaningful way to leave behind an impact on the causes and organizations you care about. By incorporating life insurance and annuities into your estate planning, you can maximize the benefits of your legacy gifts, ensuring they are both impactful and tax efficient.
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
GBU has designated four Community Pillars - Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving and Hometown Hero Support - which are a concentrated list of causes that resonate with our values.
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The Defined Benefit Annuity from GBU Life can help you to create a plan for a guaranteed income in retirement by making regular contributions based on your retirement income targets.