No matter your age or economic status, planning a will is one of the most important estate planning steps you can take. If you pass away without having a will in place, your estate—your money, home, and assets—will be divided up according to state law. If you have particular wishes or recipients for each of those assets, a will can ensure they go to the right person.

“It will never hurt to have a will that states your wishes,” explained Sam Patel of Patel & Dalrymple, PLLC. “More practically, people often make a will after a major life event—marriage, buying a house, having a child. These are just a few examples of things that might make your wishes change, and it can help to update your estate plan accordingly.”

Determine Your Executor

One of the first steps toward creating a will is determining who the executor of your will and estate will be. This executor will act as your personal representative and will be in charge of handling the details of your will. This person should be someone you implicitly trust. You should talk with this person ahead of time to ensure they are up to the task, and then let them know where to find all important documents, such as your will, insurance policies, and passwords for important financial accounts.

“Consider discussing your estate plan with your family after you’ve put it in place,” said Keith Orgera of the Law Offices of Ron Feinman. “Generally, it is far better for your loved ones to know what is going to happen when you die rather than to get surprises after it happens. Talking to everyone in advance, while not a fun conversation, can avoid a lot of hurt feelings and squabbling after you’re gone.”

Ask the Important Questions

“I would suggest one decision and one question,” said Orgera. “It’s important to decide what you want to accomplish with your will. They are powerful instruments and can do many things. Knowing what you want the will to make happen is more important than who exactly will be your executor or who gets the Buick. Related to that is the question: ‘Is a will the best way to achieve what I want?’ Once you know what you’re trying to do, you can talk with your estate planner about the best way to accomplish it and how.”

Once you have your will in place, it’s important to make sure it continues to reflect your current wishes. Consider updating your will once a year, making sure to update it after marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and other life events.

Look at the Bigger Picture

“A will is just one component of an estate plan,” explained Peter Davies of Davies & Davies Law Firm. “An estate plan should address powers of attorney, advance medical directives, wills, beneficiary designations, tax planning, and possibly trusts, among other things. An estate plan should be in place for someone when they have kids, get married or divorced, have a blended family, have tax concerns, have health issues, and so on. A good estate plan addresses many aspects, not death alone.”

While a will is a powerful document that can enact your final wishes, it doesn’t necessarily accomplish everything. A legal professional can help you evaluate the details that fall outside of a will and help you put together a more comprehensive estate plan that covers the entirety of what you’ve worked hard to save or build.

Hire a Professional

Some things are too important to leave up to chance. A poorly drafted will can be worse than no will at all. Often, self-prepared wills aren’t signed and finalized correctly. For example, a self-prepared will could have an executor or family members who are listed as beneficiaries, who also signed on as witnesses. That could either invalidate the witness to your will or prevent the witness from receiving any benefit under the will.

“This isn’t a time to DIY,” furthered Davies. “A comprehensive estate plan assembled by an attorney specializing in estate planning can go a long way to prevent a mess.”

An attorney will help you sort through the maze of estate planning so you can feel confident that your final wishes will be fully enacted.

“A lot of things can pass outside of a will; sometimes the entirety of a person’s property,” said Patel. “This can be beneficial in some circumstances, to avoid probate taxes and costs, or to avoid public scrutiny of a probated will. This is something to discuss with your beneficiaries, and with your attorney. There are lots of ways to pass on your belongings, and it’s always good to know your options.”

How The Listening is making changes for the future

The Listening, a creative non-profit based in Lynchburg, has been connecting writers, artists, students, and the creatively curious for a little over 10 years. Now, they are looking to the future and how they can adapt and grow over the next 10 years and beyond.

“I’ve made a habit of saying that The Listening is for artists, but over the years, it’s become much more,” explained Nicholas Steven George, Founding Executive Director. “Our mission is to engage, change, and save lives with the performing arts, and we hope to provide a safe and brave space for our community to discuss issues like mental wellness, social action, and education through art forms like spoken word, theater, dance, and songwriting.”

With summer reading programs, peer support groups, after-school workshops, open mic sessions, performance showcases, and routine creative conferences, The Listening keeps their reach and approach broad on purpose.

“It doesn’t just impact artists and creatives, but people of all backgrounds,” said Keaira Reese, Co-Executive Director of Programming and Development. “The programs it provides allow for people to have a space to show authenticity with no judgment. For example, having the Open Mic nights allows vulnerability and it helps bring a sense of community to everyone that sits in the room. Moreover, we provide opportunities for our youth to learn how to read, write, and even express their emotions through being artistic.”

The Listening has had growing success with their various programs over the past 10 years under the leadership of George. Now, that leadership model is shifting. As of August 31 of this year, George has stepped down as acting Executive Director and will be passing the metaphorical baton to Reese and Angelina Randolph, Co-Executive Director of Operations and Outreach.

Under this new shared leadership structure, Reese and Randolph will share the overarching leadership and vision casting for the non-profit organization, but will each take on different roles that support its ongoing growth.

“Keaira and I do have titles that help others, as well as ourselves, know what we are leading,” explained Randolph. “For example, I am over the operations and outreach, therefore I oversee the recruiting of leadership council, volunteers, establishing the connection between our community and organization, almost anything that falls within those areas. Keaira oversees the programming and development of the organization, which would essentially be the open mics, the youth programming—as in our Yearly Freedom School—and more. However, though we are the lead in those activities and departments, it does not mean that we will not assist one another. This style offers diversity of ideas, perspectives from outside of ourselves, and essentially the overall manifestation of true teamwork.”

With two individuals now at the helm, alongside the support of a Creative Citizen Leadership Council, Reese and Randolph believe this shared management structure will allow for more outreach, more in-depth events, and the continuation of the legacy that George worked tirelessly to establish.

“Research shows how important it is that organizations continue to grow and evolve and how its leadership should evolve as well,” detailed George, whose departure from a leadership role with The Listening has given him time to focus on his family and pursue his own personal creative projects. “With nearly 10 years of building and leading this organization, I am acutely aware of how much The Listening has changed since 2013. At the same time, I also see the opportunity for new leadership to take this organization beyond my abilities.”

Reese and Randolph have developed a plan to further and iterate on the vision George created for The Listening, and will work to create an environment where the arts are empowering, powerful, and eclectic.

“We are planning to build off of the foundation [Nicholas] created to make it a place for everyone to be heard,” said Reese. “Not only our small little town, but any small town that has an underserved population. Our vision is to sync to what he wanted to create.”

Randolph expanded, “What I want is for those who experience The Listening, for them to walk away thinking about how they can do more, what else they can do to further themselves as artists, where they can make a positive impact, and be present.”

The future of The Listening will continue to evolve, just as art is always fluid. For now, community events like the open mic nights and signature sessions—where artists are invited to share their craft and the community is also invited to hear and even share—will continue, as well as their youth programming. The community who knows and loves The Listening shouldn’t expect any changes to the level of support and connection they receive from the organization.

Reese and Randolph look forward to having more people alongside them to work and further the mission of The Listening. They will continue to show diversity and use that to commune with and understand one another, and they will continue to give back to their community through advocating and bringing awareness to the importance of education, social justice, and wellness.

“If you look at major events in history that have majorly impacted people and society—music and art was produced from that,” said Randolph. “Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come spoke directly about the Civil Rights Movement and the effect he and his community felt. Lil Baby, with The Bigger Picture, mentions George Floyd, protests, and the perceptions that we have of one another. Many people listen or have listened to these two different artists, but one thing they have in common is the fact that they are making art that reflects their lives, their now, their community, and how the community feels.”

Similarly, The Listening will continue to encourage artists to do the same—to expose their hearts, dissect social bias, and find connections with one another that can only sometimes be done through art. And they will continue to be there to listen.

How the Hill City celebrates Kwanzaa

For the uninitiated, Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration—beginning on December 26 and ending on January 1—where family and community join in fellowship to honor their ancestors, tighten bonds, celebrate African heritage, and enjoy meals, readings, storytelling, drums, and poetry.

The holiday was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and chair of Black Studies at California State University in 1966, with each day of the week representing one of seven principles. The seven principles are:

Umoja
Unity

Kujichagulia
Self Determination

Ujima
Collective Work and Responsibility

Ujamaa
Cooperative Economics

Nia
Purpose

Kuumba
Creativity

Imani
Faith

A candle is lit nightly on the Kinara (candleholder), usually by a child surrounded by family to signify that day’s principle. These principles, called Nguzo Saba in Swahili, are a set of ideals that emphasize the importance of tradition, family, community, and heritage. For those who celebrate, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to study and reflect on history, tradition, and legacy.

Sheron Simpson, a Lynchburg native and founder of Kuumba Dance Ensemble, a nonprofit West African Dance group, has been integral in bringing Kwanzaa celebrations to the Hill City.

“It’s been an opportunity to learn more about my African roots,” reflected Simpson, recalling the discoveries she’s made while personally celebrating Kwanzaa. “It has been said that if you do not know where you come from, you will not know where you are going.”

Kuumba Dance Ensemble alongside The Legacy Museum of African American History and the Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, have been providing an annual Kwanzaa Celebration for years.

“The museum committee invited various members of the community to represent the principles and Kuumba Dance Ensemble, Inc. participated, with the children lighting the candles, singing, dancing, poetry reading, along with the performance of the drummers,”
explained Ramona Battle, Chair of the Exhibit Committee and the Governance Committee at the Legacy Museum. “The program was held in the Miller Center theater. After the celebration program, various food offerings were available to all who attended and participated.”

“Kuumba Dance Ensemble has become one of the instructors of Kwanzaa thanks to the Legacy Museum and Lynchburg Parks and Recreation,” Simpson furthered. “These two groups provided the opportunities for us to teach about Kwanzaa one bite at a time. So, we started in 2019 sharing one piece of Kwanzaa that could be ingested in a two-hour format. Last year, the Legacy Museum gave the charge to the Kuumba children to create the celebration and activities that they would like. They created videos that canvassed over a period of 7 days, presenting Kwanzaa in its entirety. For me, I simply enjoy sharing how Kwanzaa is for everyone, because it is a celebration of family values.”

During the pandemic, the event was held virtually via YouTube and Channel 15, and it will continue to be held virtually this year as well. Everyone—regardless of age, race, or background—is encouraged to join in the Kwanzaa celebrations.

“Kwanzaa has been one of the premier programs of the Museum,” explained Battle. “I share the responsibility of coordinating the program with long-time board member, Mrs. Phyllistine Mosley. We depend on the members of the community to enhance the festival through their participation, which allows us to showcase this important celebration.”

Folks hoping to participate in this year’s Kwanzaa celebrations can continue to do so virtually via Channel 15, where it will air each day, or via YouTube where it will be uploaded after its initial air on television. All event details can be found on the Legacy Museum and Parks and Recreation website.

“Kwanzaa does not take away from those who celebrate Christmas, it is in addition to Christmas and begins the day after Christmas. This is a time to celebrate unity, family, cooperative economics and instead of buying gifts use your hands to make gifts for children and family,” Simpson concluded.

Lynchburg is filled to the brim with generous, mission-driven, philanthropic people, and the hundreds of nonprofit organizations in our area are a result of that. Across the Lynchburg region, organizations are holding the hands of those in our community who are vulnerable, hurting, or in need of extra support.

We are so honored to tell the story of just a few of them.

The Giving Back Awards are an opportunity for the community to give back to the nonprofits by nominating them a designation. This award signifies the impact the organization has made in the community and validates even further the incredible work that the organization has done throughout the year.

Flip through these pages, read the profiles of the award recipients, and consider supporting them in their number one needs and upcoming goals. 

A power of attorney is a document that can make both your life and the lives of your family members much easier. A power of attorney allows your agent to act on your behalf. How and when your agent, or attorney-in-fact, can act depends on the type of power of attorney.

A general, durable power of attorney is the broadest type. It allows your agent to do almost anything you could do on your behalf, with the exception of making a will. It goes into effect immediately upon signing, and it remains in effect if you become incapacitated.

Executing a power of attorney does not mean you are relinquishing your right to conduct your own affairs. If you are competent, your power of attorney should only be acting at your direction. Occasionally, people worry about giving such broad power to another person, but Virginia law requires that an agent acting under a power of attorney must act in your best interest.

There is the option to add language to a power of attorney that makes it go into effect at a certain time or under certain conditions, called a springing power of attorney. For instance, someone may only want a power of attorney in effect if they are hospitalized or unable to make decisions for themselves. One problem with using a springing power of attorney is that it can be difficult for an agent to act easily and quickly.

There are times when a limited power of attorney can be helpful. This power of attorney only allows the agent to act for a specific purpose. For example, you may be out of town for a real estate closing and you want your spouse to be able to sign loan documents for you.

An advanced medical directive is similar to a power of attorney, but it names a healthcare agent. The healthcare agent can easily talk to medical providers and make decisions for your care if you are unable. It can also state what type of care you would like to receive in the event of a terminal illness.

“It is not legally required for the individual holding financial powers to also have the medical powers of decision-making,” explained Lisa Sprinkel, Vice President of Home Health and Hospice at Carilion Clinic. “The important thing is that the individual holding the medical powers knows the values and wishes of the individual for whom they are making decisions. It is likewise important for the medical providers to know WHO those medical proxies are and get that documented in the medical record.”

Who should you name as your agent in your power of attorney?

Often people name their spouse as power of attorney first, and then an adult child if their spouse is unable or unwilling to act as the agent. Others will ask a close friend or other relative. The main requirement for choosing your agent is that the person is someone you trust.

It is important to ask the person you intend to name if they are willing to take on this role. You should make sure they know where the power attorney is kept. It is best kept in a place where the agent can quickly and easily access it. If it is kept in a safety deposit box, your agent may have trouble retrieving it. The agent may even keep a copy of the power of attorney if you are comfortable with that. The agent should keep records of what they have done on your behalf and those records should be made available if you ever have a question about what your agent has done for you.

Finally, a power of attorney can be revoked, but it must be done so formally, while you still have capacity, and the agent must be given notice.

When should you consider getting a power of attorney?

You should determine a power of attorney before you need it. You must be able to understand the power and effect of the document you are signing. Having a power of attorney in place in case you are incapacitated can save you and your family money and time. If there are no legal documents in place to allow family members to act on your behalf, and you are in a position where you are unable to take care of your own personal or business needs, your loved ones would have to file to have a guardian and conservator appointed for you. This requires many steps, including a hearing in court. It will also require the person acting on your behalf to file regular reports with the commissioner of accounts and with social services. If a power of attorney has been executed, the person named as the agent may start acting without delay, and they won’t have the same reporting requirements.

If you wait until you need it, it may be too late. A power of attorney is a helpful tool, and it is often drafted alongside wills. It is best to have an attorney draft your power of attorney so that you end up with a document that will be valid if you are ever incapacitated.

About the Author: Sarah W. Houck is a Family and Domestic Law attorney in Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black’s Lynchburg office, where she advocates for clients in custody, divorce, and support cases throughout Virginia.

Shout Outs
Our recent story on KAYA Health’s art service project—The Art of Healing, found in our Sept/Oct issue—is gathering supporters for KAYA Health’s cause! Read what Dr. Andrew Anderson, owner of KAYA Health, had to say: “Thank you to Lynchburg Living magazine for the kind article and for bringing awareness to our little project. I just got a call from a Girl Scout troop yesterday asking to donate to our walls and purpose. I love seeing the kindness of others and sharing in the blessing that it is!”

Top Teachers
Lynchburg Living is recognizing and honoring the amazing, inspiring educators in our area with the Lynchburg Living Top Teachers Awards. Submit your entries on lynchburgliving.com for your favorite current and local teacher who, if chosen, will be honored in our upcoming March/April 2023 issue of Lynchburg Living magazine. Nominations are open until November 30th.

Email us at megan@lynchburgmag.com.
Correspondents must identify themselves; names may be withheld on request. Lynchburg Living may edit or condense.

Foster Fuels

​​How has your business recently impacted the community?
One of the initiatives that we participated in recently was with FuelFit. Foster partnered with KidFit to co-host an event called FuelFit. KidFit is a local organization that provides mentorship and opportunities to kids of all backgrounds through skilled athletic training and coaching. Together, we hosted FuelFit providing fitness activities for youth in Campbell County. Creating healthy habits starts early, so our team was proud to work with this great organization to promote active, healthy lifestyles for youth in our community.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
As a family-owned and operated company, we focus not only on providing excellent service to each of our customers, but also on family and community impact. Through the FosterGives campaign, employees and their families have the unique opportunity to participate in, donate to and give back to the community around us.

Community service and involvement are close to the Foster family’s heart. One of Watt R. Foster, Jr.’s favorite quotes is from Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Foster Fuels has been in this community for over a century, and their goal is to give back and grow the community that has given them so much.

Information provided by Olivia Beavon, Propane Marketer

Legacy Wealth Management

How has your business recently impacted the community?
We recently hosted a fundraising event for a local girl fighting an awful illness. $3,000 was raised to assist the family in fighting back against this disease. Each year we host a free Christmas lights drive thru and hand out hot chocolate and donuts to everyone. We simply ask that they bring a canned good or non-perishable item for the local food bank. Last Christmas, more than 1600 vehicles came through for community night.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Life is hard and life is short. We believe that helping organizations that are trying to find solutions to community issues brings meaning to what we do. There are so many organizations that are trying to help their fellow man, that we have found that when we partner with existing organizations who are focused on a problem, we can multiply the community impact.

Information provided by Joshua Stamm, President of Legacy Wealth Management

Lynchburg Dental Center

How has your business recently impacted the community?
Each year we participate in selected charitable events.
New to us this past year was participating in the “Give Kids a Smile” event. We regularly donate to the Oral Cancer Foundation and provide funding, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss to our local veterans, schools, and those less fortunate in our community. Our doctors regularly volunteer at the free clinic to provide services such as root canals, fillings, and emergency services.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Our team at Lynchburg Dental Center loves what we do. We take care of people and have done so for close to 50 years. As needs in our community arise, we determine if our strengths and resources can help. Ensuring confident, healthy smiles is more than our motto, it is the way we run our practice. Smiles come from our work, but they are also a result of our service and giving back.

Information provided by Kristie Coffer, Office Manager

Successful Innovations

How has your business recently impacted the community?
We take pride in supporting our community. We have been a supporter of the Lynchburg Education Foundation for over a decade. We sponsor classroom grants for teachers so that they can have funding to implement innovative programs for students and resources to support learning. We recently supported the Kiwanis Club of Lynchburg to help with funding towards the first fully accessible children’s playground in Virginia. In addition to this, we have sponsored Lynchburg City Schools’ Boys Basketball Program at Heritage High School to support with funding for resources for the team. In an effort to promote the professional learning and growth of educators within the community, we have provided scholarships to local educators to attend our annual National Family Engagement Summit.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
Our company prioritizes giving back because we truly believe and live our company’s mission of making a difference in the lives of others. True success in life is not measured by the accumulation of riches, but rather the significance of the impact that we make in our communities…one individual at a time. We want to pay the blessings forward that we have been grateful to receive. We rise by lifting others.

Information provided by Darla Edwards, President and CEO

Central Technology Solutions

How has your business recently impacted the community?
Team CTS has recently impacted the community by becoming a mentor to local high school cyber security clubs, creating a hub of free educational videos for our customers and community, sponsoring non-profits, local sports, the VA 10 Miler, and more. We also launched a podcast that spotlights community leaders to normalize the conversation around technology and business.

Why does your business prioritize giving back?
We prioritize giving back to the community by breaking the scaremongering stigma that the IT industry has created for years. This approach discourages curious behaviors and history shows how curiosity has always led to great achievements throughout humankind. We hope our efforts encourage tech users of all levels to remain curious and learn about the world of IT/technology.

Information provided by Sherri Arthur, Marketing Director

An online skin care shop helps women uncover their true skin

Wash, moisturize, repeat. Skin care routines can be monotonous and ineffective. After using the entire skin care store that is on your bathroom counter, your skin is often still left dry, rough, and stripped of its natural oils. The process then repeats itself. But Myscha Gaines is breaking that cycle.

In 2014, Gaines took a trip to Disney World, where she discovered the wide world of sugar scrubs. She realized they were so expensive, and the price didn’t match the quality of ingredients. So, she returned to Lynchburg with an idea—to create an affordable body scrub that was good for the skin.

“I literally just came home and said, ‘Let me see if I can recreate what I had experienced.’ I came up with a couple of different formulations solely based on the things that I already had in my house,” Gaines explained.

Her business, EmGe Naturals, began as an oil-based sugar scrub in a glass jar. It was her mother-in-law’s idea to decorate the jars, and they began to hand out Gaines’ homemade sugar scrub to family and friends.

Gaines and her husband then saw how these homemade sugar scrubs could be used for good. Profits made from the scrubs went to their nonprofit that provided first night backpacks to children entering foster care. From there, Gaines began to attend vendor events and distribute her products in local stores.

EmGe Naturals was growing, but it paused in 2015 when Gaines’ grandchildren came to live with her. Four years later, Gaines knew she needed to start making scrubs again.

“I was like, ‘Okay, what can I do to help around here? To help our household?’ We relaunched EmGe in the latter part of 2019 as an online business,” she said.

Since then, EmGe Naturals has gained a steady online clientele. For Gaines, the business is still a one-woman show. She makes local deliveries with the help of her son and mails orders as far as Alaska and Canada. Her business and products have evolved throughout the entire process.

“The product itself has been an evolution,” Gaines detailed. “The product is now more shea butter–based than oil-based. The skin benefits are phenomenal when using shea butter.”

Shea butter is full of antioxidants, such as vitamin E and A. It protects the skin from damage and improves its natural barrier. This ingredient, along with other all-natural ingredients, makes EmGe products different from other skin care products on the market.

Body scrubs are not the only products EmGe offers. Body wash, butters, lotions, and salts are also available on the online store. Gaines perfected the production of the body butters and lotions after receiving a diploma in skin care formulation in August. To achieve the best result, a routine is required, but it is a simple one.

“Anytime you’re using a scrub, you want to protect this new skin that you have revealed. A body butter or body lotion is the way to do that. Because you have exfoliated, it improves the effectiveness of your lotion. The dead skin that was there would be blocking the moisturizer from being able to impact your skin,” Gaines pointed out.

She added, “The most important thing is consistency.”

With a simple line up of a scrub followed by a butter or lotion, consistency is much easier to achieve when compared to other multi-step beauty regimens out there.

“We focus a lot on our face. We tend to neglect the rest of our body. Especially if you’re a busy mom running around, you get your face straight but forget the rest,” Gaines added.

Having an entire body skin care routine is important because having soft skin feels good on the outside, but it can feel even better on the inside. One of EmGe Naturals main goals is for the customer to “love the skin they’re in at any age.”

“If we can alleviate your dry skin for you, then that helps with your confidence. It helps you feel more carefree,” Gaines assured. “The fact is, we all feel better and carry ourselves differently when we’re feeling good and looking good.”

Select EmGe Naturals products are now available exclusively at Something Else Boutique in River Ridge Mall, or you can shop online at emgenaturals.com.

A few tips on destressing this holiday season

The feelings leading up to the holidays are often a combination of excitement, wonder, anticipation…and sometimes a sprinkling of stress, agony, and disappointment. Let’s just put it all out there on the table: The holidays aren’t always sunshine and rainbows and, for some, can be filled with irritability, anxiety, chaos, and depression.

The key to eliminating those feelings is not in this article, sorry to report. However, please keep reading for ways to help you take back control, stay present, and feel a little more balance this season. Cue the champagne pop!

Plan Ahead
A good, old-fashioned list can go a long way and it can be satisfying to cross things off. Organize your holiday to-dos by category so you can make as few trips to the store and supermarket as possible.

While you’re planning, also plan to make a dedicated space in your house for wrapping/gifts. Ideally, all your tape, paper, tags, and ribbon will fit in a plastic bin that you can pull out and place in its temporary home for the season.

Financial Woes
Especially during the holidays, money can feel tight across the board. Set spending limits with your office, family, and friends, and stick to them. Send a Christmas email newsletter instead of cards plus all that postage. Draw names with the little ones in your family so each child gets one gift from another child. Do the same with adults. Set a price max and get the person you drew something they really want.

The Power of No
“Just say no,” should be applied and accepted much more widely than it is. Guess what? When someone invites you to a party that you know is going to overcrowd your weekend, require the cost of a babysitter, Uber, and hostess gift and, quite frankly, you’re just not feeling it…there is only one response. “No, thank you.” You don’t owe anyone an explanation and you don’t need to make up an excuse. That’s it. RSVP with regrets and move on.

Outsource
Quite often we are paying for convenience when it comes to certain goods and services, right? There is no better time like the holiday season to splurge on conveniences. Get groceries delivered and tip your driver. Stop by Magnolia Foods or Peakland Catering for last-minute treats, ham biscuits, and snacks. Order a cheese board from Purple Door Gourmet Kitchen. Pick up a case of wine from Everyday Sommelier or Reserve and have a gift on hand for last minute holiday visitors. Buy a loaf of cottage cheese dill bread from Montana Plains and make someone (that someone can be you!) very happy.

What Gives
Take the guesswork out of it and support local businesses while making your people smile. Did you draw the name of an avid exerciser when your family drew names for Secret Santa? Buy them a gift card to Iron and Grace, Prana, or James River Yoga and they can use it how and when they want. Foodie friend on your list? Get them a gift card to Grey’s on Fifth or the new Hill City Donuts. Would a clean house make your receiver smile? Hire a local housekeeper to tidy up. Would your people prefer an experience? A gift card to Rise Up Climbing would be well received by everyone. A win all the way around is to donate to a favorite charity in honor of the receiver.

Tips from a Pro
“All of our feelings are generated by what we think,” said Life Coach Kristin Dabney. “It isn’t something happening outside of us that creates our feelings. Rather it is our interpolations, opinions, and thoughts about the situation. For instance, if you were ready by October 1st for the holidays, when you realize it is a week until the holidays, you will most likely feel elated, ready, excited, prepared. However, if you have not begun any holiday prep and you realize it is a week before, you may feel behind, frazzled, pressured—in a word ‘overwhelmed.’ The number of days until the holidays is neutral until you have a thought about it.”

Decide in advance how you want to feel this holiday season: Calm, joyful, motivated, hospitable, spiritual, faithful, organized, generous? And choose thoughts that create these feelings.

“Thoughts like, ‘No matter the state of my home I look forward to hosting people this holiday,’ or ‘I plan to give of my time this season and talents instead of giving gifts, so I don’t overextend myself financially,” Dabney expanded.

Write down everything you want or need to do this holiday season. Then, look at the whole list and decide what you can actually remove. Next, what can you delegate on the list? You do not have to do everything on the list. Get creative about how you can accomplish all that you want to accomplish without you doing it all. Finally, assign a time and date on your calendar to everything left on your list. Be realistic about how much time each item will take.

“Then, and here is the biggie, honor what you add to your calendar,” she said.

Finding connection at any age can be a challenge, but it can be particularly challenging in our later years. For seniors who don’t already have a community that they’re plugged into—a place of worship, hobby group, or friend circle—finding a group in a post-pandemic world can take a considerable amount of time and energy.

“With the pandemic lasting over several years, unhealthy patterns of isolation have become the new normal for many,” explained Laura Hunter, Marketing Director at Westminster Canterbury. “I believe there is a direct correlation between a senior’s overall health and well-being and their level of social interaction. I have talked with many seniors who have discussed how difficult social isolation can be and the effect it has had on their mental health. They have expressed their need to ‘get out around people and have interaction’ because they feel they are mentally suffering from lack of contact with others.”

But despite the challenges, there are still many great ways for seniors to connect with their community.

Plan Visits With Family

If seniors have family living close by, one of the easiest ways to stay connected is by planning routine visits. This can be as simple as an hour-long visit once a week, or something a bit more intentional such as a monthly dinner or game night.

Family members should take a bit of time to take their senior loved ones to community events or plan special meals at home together. Especially for seniors who have mobility issues or no longer drive, these routine visits can make a huge impact on their well-being.

“There is no magic answer, but the key is to do something,” said Becky Tweedy, Communications Director for Meals on Wheels in Lynchburg. “Send a card or a little package—everyone loves to receive mail! Of course, if possible, FaceTime or Zoom to include them in holiday get-togethers. If that doesn’t work, just pick up the phone and call. To know that you’re thinking about them and missing them in the midst of a gathering is heartwarming. And visit whenever you possibly can! Ask them about their favorite memories from years past. Share their stories with others.”

Join Social Activities

Whether a senior is living at home or in a retirement community, it’s important for them to remain social. Meeting and getting to know their neighbors is a great place to start. Encourage seniors to bake up a batch of their favorite cookies and safely drop them off at a neighbor’s doorstep with a note encouraging a visit. Or, if they are in a retirement community, seniors can connect with a health, wellness, or activity director to get plugged into any ongoing events.

“There is an intentional focus at Westminster Canterbury to provide as many occasions for enrichment as possible,” said Hunter. “Providing many different opportunities to learn, help others and become involved in the community brings a sense of well-being and fulfillment for those who participate. Our team members explore the activities our city has to offer so we can include as many as possible in our schedule.”

“It’s incredible to watch as people’s lives transform when they move to a community, across all levels of care,” said Brenda Dixon, Marketing Director at The Summit. “Whether engaging over meals, social events or simply connecting with neighbors passing in the corridors. The difference in assisted living—just having the reassurance that assistance is there when you need it has proven benefits to overall health and happiness. People are social creatures with diverse personalities, we are meant to be around each other and meant to have purpose.”

Enrich the Community

With age comes wisdom—wisdom that many organizations and community leaders would love to learn from. Regardless of mobility or transportation, there are plenty of ways that seniors can get involved with community enrichment and activism.

Seniors can make a list of activities that they enjoy and determine how they could benefit local organizations with those passions. If they love to garden, they could volunteer for a local gardening club. If they love to read, they could volunteer to read to kids at the library. Or, if they have career experience to share, they can mentor a young professional or offer pro bono professional consulting to a nonprofit organization. If a senior is homebound or can’t get up and about, even volunteering with a phone tree for a political or philanthropic cause could be incredibly rewarding.

Learn Something New

Education is a lifelong pursuit. In fact, research shows that continued education can help prevent cognitive decline and helps decrease the risk of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Whether a senior wants to expand on a topic or skill that they already know, or learn something new entirely, there are plenty of local classes for them to choose from. From art and pottery classes at the Academy Center of the Arts and Jackson Heights Art Studio to sewing and woodworking workshops at Vector Space, lifelong students of all ages will enjoy honing their craft and connecting with others.