A Message from Pastor Jan

A Message from Jan Hartsook, Pastor at Copperfield Hill

August is National Grief Awareness Month. All people at some time in their lives will experience grief. It is a normal human emotion. Yet, grief comes not only as a result of the death of someone we care about, but, can also be experienced at other kinds of losses. These losses may include: loss of a relationship, loss of a job, financial losses, deteriorating health, moving, loss of a pet, a betrayal by someone you had trusted and concern for a child/teenager.

When experiencing grief, most people will go through a normal series of stages: shock, guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, acceptance (working through the grief) and finally hope.

The time it takes to move through these stages is different for each person. Some may return to previous stages before moving on with hope. Grief takes time to heal. Some people find that seeing a doctor, therapist, joining a grief support group or talking to a good listener whom they trust, to be helpful.

~Pastor Jan

 

Pastor Jan holds a monthly Grief Support Group on the first Tuesday of the month at Copperfield Hill.

 

Pastor Jan1

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The Tokyo 2020 Olympics

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are officially underway, in 2021! Originally set for July 24, 2020 the games were postponed due to concerns over Covid-19. However, today, with limited guests present, the games official opening ceremony took place. Hosted in Tokyo, Japan, the games have never been postponed. So the decision to postpone the games and push them to 2021 was the first of its kind in Olympic history. The games, however, have been cancelled due to World Wars in 1916, 1940 and 1944.

The IOC president, Thomas Bach, opened the games with the following words: “the pandemic forced us apart, to keep our distance from each other, to stay away even from our loved ones. This separation made this tunnel so dark. But today, wherever in the world you may be, we are united in sharing this moment together.” Bach commented that the opening ceremony was “a moment of hope,” and he welcomed and praised the athletes for overcoming the great challenges that led them to participate.

There are many ways to watch the Tokyo Olympics, try your local coverage and other streaming services. The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics run from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021. Over 11,000 athletes will participate from 205 nations.

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How We Got Through It

In March of 2020, we could never have imagined what lay ahead for our world and our community. As we look back on the past sixteen months, we can see an evolution. Navigating the uncertain waters of the pandemic will no doubt be remembered as the biggest challenge we know. Our reactions, teamwork, attitudes, sense of humor and determination are all pieces of the puzzle that when put together, pulled us through. We all looked out for our neighbors, co-workers and all the individuals who support Copperfield Hill. We learned a lot and as we creep back to normalcy, when asked what helped us get through, residents and staff gave us their thoughts:

♥ Activities with Beth and Erin

♥ Staying in touch with people through work, seeing family, time with my husband, Zoom/phone calls and prayer time with God

♥ Essential Caregivers, my car, activities

♥ Allowing me to move in to Copperfield Hill during the pandemic

♥ Daily Delights and the activities cart that visited the apartments, weekly COVID updates were informative and encouraging, the staff> Calmness and support from the residents, they endured a lot and it was done with kindness

♥ Faith in God

♥ Family support of my belief to wear a mask and follow mandates

♥ Prayers, thank you notes/emails from residents and families

♥ Painting my house, yard work and watching Netflix with family

♥ Family, friends, my dog and lots of good books

♥ My strong faith in Christ and love for helping people

Our lives were all changed, but the main comment in regards to what got us through, was the presence of human connection. That is something we have and cherish at Copperfield Hill!

Posted in About Us /Activities /General Information /global interest /Health Topics /Spiritual Well Being /

Ask the Expert//

How to Sleep Better

sleep

We have all been there.  We dread going to bed because we don’t sleep well and never get enough sleep to feel rested.  How can we break this cycle?

Sleep is one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle.  Adults should try to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night.  Proper sleep is what recharges your system, your brain in particular.  It helps our immune systems, metabolism, heart health, creativity, vitality and even our weight.

Losing even an hour of sleep per night can cause problems.  It doesn’t just mean a tired morning.  “ A good night’s sleep begins each morning,” says local wellness coach, Janet Johnson.  “When we sleep, our bodies do the important work of cleaning and repairing our brain and body,” adds Johnson.  Ultimately our daily habits contribute to a good night’s sleep.  The following are sleep well tips Johnson shares:

► Go to bed and get up at the same time every night/morning.  Consistent wake times and bedtimes will enable your body to get into a regular rhythm for sleep.

► Go outside for at least 10 minutes in the morning.  Look toward, but not at, the morning sun.  The yellow blue contrast rays of the morning sun will reset your circadian rhythm.  This helps produce melatonin for sleep 14-16 hours later.

► Do some physical activity in the morning or midday to stimulate your brain and body.

► Stop caffeine after 2pm.  Caffeine has a half-life of 7 hours.  If you have coffee at 3pm, half of the stimulating caffeine will still be in your body at 10pm.

► Wind down before bed.  Create a calming pre-bedtime routine.  Quiet activities, such as reading and meditation are good ways to start a restful transition to sleep.  Avoid TV, computers and your smart phone before bed.

► Avoid alcohol and large meals in the evening.  Alcohol may seem like a good idea but even a small amount makes it harder to stay asleep.  Eating a big meal at night can also interrupt sleep.  If our bodies have to focus on digesting a late dinner or snack, we won’t get all the cleaning and repairing that our brain/body needs.

 

What is Circadian Rhythm?

Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock. They help the body carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most important and well-known circadian rhythm is the sleep /wake cycle.

 

Sources: nia.nih.gov, helpguide.org, janetjohnsonwellness.com, sleepfoundation.org 

 

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