Newsletter October 2020

Cliff Notes on real estate…

Dear friend,

Welcome to pumpkin season! Summer looked a little different this year but oh, those recognizable orange gourds all around us feel like a joyful sign. I feel that something familiar is right around the corner as autumn blows into the scene with a flaming burst of life. There are several sweet pieces in this month’s newsletter to remind us that October has arrived:

• A recipe for spicy pumpkin hummus dip – perfect for transitional days.
• Tips on how to support Breast Cancer Awareness (get your pink out!)
• Interesting statistics on shopping trends, just in time for the holidays that are approaching.

Even in exciting times, we all need a place of calm. Did I mention there is a basic introduction to meditation in the October newsletter? I hope you find a cool, peaceful place to read this month’s newsletter, someplace removed from the concerns of a world still coping with the pandemic while simultaneously looking ahead to the holidays. I also hope you’ll let me know what I can do if you’re looking to buy or sell to help you find that space, whether it is in your current home or in a new location.

Looking forward to talking when you have a moment,

Cliff

____________________________________________________________________

A Reminder

A group of students who had recently graduated were invited to afternoon tea by their college department head, a favorite professor who most students enjoyed in their final year. Not everyone invited could make it and some chose to stay home, but there were still about ten graduates gathered in the comfortable living room. Within minutes, conversation turned to the stress everyone was feeling about work and life since graduation, with everyone talking about what, if anything, they were doing these days.

The professor rang a small bell to gather everyone’s attention, then directed them through to his large dining room. The main table held several small trays of desserts and delicate snacks alongside a massive buffet with hot tea, cream and sugar, and an assortment of cups and mugs that the professor had collected over the years— some delicate porcelain with a saucer, some vintage glass, and some plain pottery mugs.

When everyone was finally seated at the table, the professor observed: “I see you have all chosen the nicer looking cups.”

He smiled around the table and switched to his beloved classroom voice.

 “While it’s normal for you to want only the best, that’s also the source of your stress. What you really wanted was tea, not the cup, but you still went for the best cups, and some of you are even eyeing each other’s cup! If life is the tea, then jobs, money, and status in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life.

Don’t let the cups drive you. Enjoy the tea.”

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Recipe: Pumpkin Dip

Pumpkins and corn—those two ubiquitous fall sights seem to make everyone smile. While pumpkin spice can be found in plenty of sweet treats this time of year, here is a unique recipe for a spicy pumpkin hummus dip, modified from a Food Network recipe.

You will need:

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree

(Make sure it isn’t pie filling)

1 1/2 cups canned chickpeas

3 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tsp. cayenne

1 teaspoon ground cumin

*1 clove garlic, minced

Salt

To make:

• Drain and rinse the chickpeas, then dump them into a large mixing bowl.
• Add the pumpkin, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic, and mix well.
• Mix in the cayenne pepper and cumin, then add salt to taste.

7 – BIG MISTAKES

MADE DURING

A PROBATE

FREE e-book… On how to avoid them when you are an Administrator or Executor of a probate.

Learn them in less than 10 minutes by going here:

ProbateServicesCliffKeith.com

Note This

Embrace your fears this Halloween season. Be bold and tackle an issue you have been too afraid to write about. You might be surprised at how easily the words flow out of you once you figure out the best way to journal your thoughts.

A Notebook:

Some of us feel safest when using familiar tools, like a plain lined notebook that could be used for any school class. Choose a color that feels right, pick up a pack of pens or pencils you can comfortably grip, and get to writing

A Journal:

High end journals can be pricey but beautiful, and if the cover and heft of the book make you smile every time you open it, then it’s money well spent. From leather bound to organic paper, options abound!

An Online Application:

If you have everything set up so it is just right at your workspace, then consider using an online journal application and type out your most personal thoughts in a password protected program. Or, set up a personal email address and simply email yourself a daily letter.

Free Reports!

How Sellers Price Their Homes

 Free Information!

The Five Biggest Mistakes Home Buyers Make

How to Sell Your Home for the Most Money

Free Newsletter Subscription!

Beat By A Bird

Parrots can do more than mimic words. At least one of them can beat humans in a classic memory game. The LiveScience website reports that an African gray parrot named Griffin defeated 21 Harvard students in the so-called ‘shell game’. The game involves placing an object underneath one of three plastic cups, which are then moved quickly around. The goal is to keep track of which cup the object is under.

In the experiment, Griffin beat the 21 undergraduates in 12 of 14 games. Researchers note that he may not be average for a parrot, though. He’s 22 years old and has been the subject of numerous cognitive and communication studies since the age of seven and a half weeks. His owner, a Harvard psychologist, also taught him how to pronounce about 30 words and understand at least 40, including the names of colors.

Be Supportive

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. This campaign grows awareness of the disease every year.

While purchasing products branded with the pink breast cancer ribbon has become fairly commonplace, here are just a few other ways you can help those in need without going to the store:

Share the story. Reach out and share the story of how you or a loved one has been affected by breast cancer. Be the voice of wisdom for someone in need.

Spread the word. Share about Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Put those social media accounts to work!

Make a donation. Make a one-time or monthly donation to help provide a mammogram for a woman through the charity of your choice. Unsure where to start? Try the American Cancer Society or the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

PSSSST…

It’s that time of year again. Time to check and/or change out the batteries in your smoke alarms. Still think there is a little life left in the old ones? Use them in a less crucial device to save money without risking the lives of your friends and family. Psst!

Runaway Moon

Titan, the largest moon of the ringed planet Saturn, is moving out. Not just that, but the large moon is escaping at a faster speed than anyone previously realized. CNN reports that Titan is moving away from Saturn at a rate of four inches per year—100

times faster than previously thought. Other moons in the solar system also migrate, but at a slower rate. Earth’s moon, for example, is pulling away some 1.5 inches per year.

Titan, larger than the planet Mercury, orbits Saturn at a distance of 759,000 miles. Additionally, Titan is the only moon known to have a considerable atmosphere and, aside from Earth, is the only planetary body in the solar system with liquid rivers and lakes on the surface.

In the future Titan will be visited by a NASA probe, Dragonfly, in 2034. The drone will fly through the moon’s thick atmosphere and visit an impact crater formed tens of thousands of years ago, where scientists believe they might find ingredients for life.

Start Shopping Now

The holiday shopping season is fast approaching, but will the pandemic curtail consumer spending on gifts and other festive products? The Supply Chain Quarterly website, citing a study of 1,000 consumers by the omnichannel technology provider Radial, reports that most Americans don’t expect to cut their holiday spending significantly in 2020 compared to last year, although 66% expect to do more of their shopping online.

A rise in delivery times is a concern and 41% don’t plan to start shopping for holiday gifts earlier, meaning retailers won’t experience any break between normal online orders and the rush of orders during the holiday season. Thirty percent of shoppers report that they won’t start holiday shopping until the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales after Thanksgiving.

Most consumers in the survey say they expect to spend about the same on gifts this year as last year. As far as in-store shopping goes, 63% of consumers say they are more likely to frequent retailers who are following COVID-19 safety guidelines in their stores

White Cane Safety Day

Did you know that former American President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed October 15th White Cane Safety Day a national holiday in 1964? White Cane Safety Day commemorates the accomplishments of the blind or visually impaired. A white cane represents Independence, which is a vital tool that helps visually impaired individuals navigate the world.

According to the National Federation of the Blind, the white cane helps people reach out farther to effectively assess a situation several steps in advance, find steps and curbs, locate and step over cracks or uneven places in the sidewalk, find doorways, get into cars and buses, and much more.

Breath and Focus

Meditation has many health benefits and is a highly effective way to relieve stress and maintain a healthier lifestyle. With practice, meditation becomes more of an easy habit to maintain and more of an effective one as well, given that it builds resilience to stress over time.

What you can do as  outlined by Verywell Mind’s website in there basic process to get you started.

Step 1: Get Into a Comfortable Position. Choose where and how you’ll sit. Many people like to sit in a comfortable chair while others prefer to sit cross-legged on the ground. You want to be able to completely relax while still staying awake, which is easier to do if your back is straight.

Step 2: Gently close your eyes. Become aware of your breath, attuning to the sensation of air moving in and out of your body as you breathe. Feel your belly rise and fall as air enters your nostrils and leaves your mouth. Pay attention to the way each breath changes and is different.

Step 3: Put your thoughts aside. While you can’t control your thoughts, you can control how much power they have over you. This doesn’t mean you should ignore or suppress them, but simply remain calm, note them, and then use your breathing to bring yourself back to the moment. Learning to do this during your meditation practice can help you to let things go in the rest of your life as well.

Step 4: Keep going. That’s it, really! Keep putting aside any thoughts that may pop into your mind. The quiet spaces between thoughts will become longer and more frequent the longer you practice.

Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist

Do you know someone or are you looking for FREE eBook with information on   Probates

Here’s A Guaranteed Method To End The Worry And Overwhelm That Comes With Settling A Probate Estate*

Cliff Keith

http://probateservicescliffkeith.com

This newsletter is intended for entertainment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft.

Copyright 2020 Cliff Keith DRE #00605874 dba SF Bay Homes with Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice. Any and all decisions and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a qualified physician, attorney, financial advisor

Newsletter October 2020