The Weekly Word: March 5th, 2023

Who Loves Plants?
This Spring, our daughters school is hosting a fundraiser at Hausman's Fruit Farm located in Coopersburg, PA on May 7th. This event will have family activities, delicious food, skilled artisans, and a fun fitness obstacle course designed by yours truly! 

As part of the fund raising, they will be selling organic plants from Peace Tree Farm. We have bought vegetables, flowers, herbs, and more from them previously and they have been our go to farm when we start getting our garden prepared. So, when we saw the school was using them, we were excited. If you are interested in checking out the selection, click the following link: United Friends School Plant Sale.

If you decide to purchase, you can help Emi and her fellow preschoolers out by entering MANGIAMELI FLUCK into the discount code box and Emi will get recognized for the sale. You won't get a price discount by entering her name but the credit will go towards her and the school is planning a fun treat for the classroom with the highest volume of plant sales.  One last thing, pickup is on the day of the event (May 7th). If you cannot be there to pick up your plants, you can assign someone to do so and we will make sure you receive what you ordered. 

Fitness Tip of the Week
The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) estimates that over 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders. For these people, stress and anxiety are a normal part of daily life but it doesn't have to be that way.

According to studies cited by ADAA, regular exercise works as well as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the effects can be long lasting. One vigorous exercise session can help alleviate symptoms for hours, and a regular schedule may significantly reduce the likelihood of those symptoms returning. The great thing is that it doesn't have to be anything special or overly organized. Simply adding a 10-20 minute walk has shown similar improvements when compared to those partaking in a 45 minute session. To sum it up, those that exercise are less likely to feel anxious, stressed, or depressed.

For one more way to release stress and anxiety, check out the video for a technique that you can do right now in this moment while reading The Weekly Word: Can We Eliminate Anxiety?
Healthy Living for Kids
Just as healthy kids become healthy adults, unhealthy kids become unhealthy adults. If we want to decrease the likelihood of our child suffering from those scary statistics mentioned above, there are six things that we can start doing today to ensure our children have a better tomorrow! 

1. Replace texting with talking. Being in pro-social environments in childhood will decrease the likelihood of social anxiety in adulthood. 
2. Replace indoor light with sunlight. Vitamin D, fresh air, and some sightseeing in nature work wonders for the mind and body!
3. Replace screen time with people time. This is similar to number one but this is about experiences. Just get out there and experience different things with different people.
4. Replace late nights with sleep. To do this, stop scheduling things that occur well past their bedtime and put rules into place that has kids off the screens and winding down. 
5. Replace sitting with moving. Remember what movement does for anxiety and depression? Get your kids off their backsides and engaging in some sort of physical practice.  
6. Replace supplements with real food. The quick and easy grab and go items are convenient but not always ideal for our kids long term health. 

Click here to watch the full video on this topic: Six Healthy Habits for all Children!

What I've Been Reading
The Trial and Death of Socrates by Plato

This story of Socrates has intrigued me in recent years. This man was a philosopher who has been credited with being the founder of western thought and taught many to think, rather than follow. Late in his life, Socrates was put on trial for two "impious acts": the first, failing to acknowledge the gods that the city acknowledges and second, introducing new deities. This was deemed corrupting the minds of the youth in Athens and he was set to face trial. Ultimately, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Friends and peers encouraged him to flee and it seemed he had an opportunity to do so but he was faithful to his teachings of civic obedience to the law and accepted his death sentence. Socrates drank the hemlock, accepting his punishment, and breathed his final breath. 
Quote of the Week
“I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think” ― Socrates

I hope you all have an awesome week!
Chris Fluck