Medicare Insurance Broker Archives

Watch out for the holiday turkeys🦃😆❤️

Pre Thanksgiving Greetings 🦃 …

We hope your favorite football team is winning (sorry Dave😞🏈), and your Medicare Insurance Coverage is not driving you bananas🍌.

Questions about your Medicare Insurance? Email Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com, or book a time on my calendar.

Quantz and Miti will be heading east for the holiday to spend time with family (and for Miti to see a bit more of the US). Before they left we took her to the Botanical Garden.

While they toured the grounds and took a wreath making class, I set up in the coffee shop and did my best to catch up with people who are still needing reviews.

One of the biggest changes in Medicare for 2025 is that almost all drug plans have stopped allowing brokers to enroll clients in Part D drug plans.

Of course we are still reviewing drug plans for existing clients and making recommendations, but this change is frustrating for us and for clients.

I guess it is just a dog eat dog world, right Plato?

The good news is that it is relatively easy to log into Medicare.gov and review your Medications to see if your plan is appropriate. If it proves too complicated, and you are an existing client, please don’t worry, just email Gray a request with the names of your drugs and your current plan and we’ll still do the review for you.

Thanks to Carol and so many of you for your referrals and your Google reviews.

Even though our honey harvest was much smaller this year, we are still sending it out to loyal followers who either give us a review on Google, or refer new clients. Help us reach 400 Google Reviews.

These bears sure like Florida.

Miti has been helping us label and send so if you haven’t received yours, and we promised you some, please let us know.

Plato told Julius it was okay to share the honey with his friends, but he’s pretty sure they’d prefer bones, just saying!

So as we prepare for the holidays, try to spend time with the people you love❤️ (like Q’s elementary school pal Elaine). And…

Do your best to tolerate the turkeys🦃😂. We only have one life, put your energy where it counts.

Keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin

The Big 65 Medicare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 10 organizations that offer 50 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

🌟 Notice the blessing, not the blemish 🌟

Northern Light greetings …

May this note find you well, with your Medicare Insurance keeping you in the pink.

Questions about your Medicare Insurance? Email Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com, or book a time on my calendar.

I missed the Northern Lights twice while visiting Iceland. I guess I should’ve just stayed in Colorado. Did you see them where you live?

Despite all the Medicare madness, it’s been fun catching up with so many of you during this Annual Election Period. I enjoy reconnecting (even on quick calls) with the same people year after year.

Staying connected, looking back, and looking forward.

99% of the calls are invigorating (even when finding the right plan is a challenge), but ever so occasionally, I chat with someone who will only focus on the bruise, never on the blessing.

What always amazes me in these calls? It’s often the people with the greatest challenges (to health and life and family) who show the deepest gratitude for the blessings in their lives.

(Our exchange student Miti can now ride a bicycle).

My father in law said it best…

Being born in America is like winning the lottery.

In no way do I wish to minimize the struggles many face, and still…, as Viktor Frankl’s book reminds us in Man’s Search for Meaning,

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Being at home for much of this year and re-seeing the world through the eyes of a young girl who comes from the 9th poorest nation on planet…

Well, it gives us pause daily to stop and reflect on how much in our lives are actually working…

And to think about the blessings instead of the bruises.

(Speaking of small things, we’ve been sending out our honey to those who wrote Google reviews. If we still owe you honey, please let us know. Or…write a review and get some while supplies last!)

This year I learned the importance of mouse guards to protect the hives from vermin— and it got me thinking about how we also need guardrails to keep negativity from sneaking into our minds.

Research shows that reducing anxiety frees up cognitive resources, improving executive functioning, working memory, and attention.

Happiness keeps Plato sharp, and he’s almost eleven!

So when you find yourself going into that angry/anxious place, flip the script.

Remind yourself that you still have the power to choose.

Focus on the strife, the chaos and the destruction, or…

Celebrate that, this week, Miti is learning how to swim. The choice is always ours!

Keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

Refer A Friend

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Hey,🦻Can You Hear Me Now?

Happy November!

We hope this note finds you well, with your Medicare Insurance keeping out the cold.

Questions about your Medicare Insurance? Email Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com, or book a time on my calendar. There’s still time, even if the pumpkins are getting a little long in the tooth.

Plato reminds you, this is our busiest time of the year, so, if for some reason you haven’t heard back from us, please reach out again, our desks are piled high and deep! We have till December 7th and we will get to everyone, that’s a promise.

Miti, our exchange student from Madagascar had a lot of fun for Halloween.

The joy of hosting someone who has never seen Halloween is you get to experience the event with fresh eyes. Q had a ball taking Miti trick or treating.

Plato and I maintained the candy bowl and caught up on email.

Thanks to Barb in Houston for catching something that I missed in a previous newsletter.

She wrote:

“Last week’s email reminded people to have certain health checkups, but I don’t think you included one’s hearing. The Poster picture below is one that my ENT has in all his exam rooms. I think it’s a powerful reminder for us to not neglect our hearing health.”

👂 Don’t Forget Your Hearing — It’s Linked to Brain Health

We often remember to check our blood pressure and vision, but hearing health is just as important.

Research shows that untreated hearing loss can increase the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Protecting your hearing may also help protect your brain.

It’s often pride that prevents us from admitting our hearing has diminished, but a free hearing test can quickly give you answers and you can start by taking this test online.

Untreated hearing loss can lead to:

Trouble thinking clearly or remembering things
Higher risk of dementia
Feeling lonely or isolated
More stress, fatigue, or sadness
Missing alarms, doorbells, or important sounds

👉 Protect your brain — get your hearing checked this year!
A simple hearing test can make a big difference in staying sharp, connected, and healthy.

I’ve been wearing hearing aids for more than 15 years and they’ve made a huge difference in my life and in the lives of the people I love.

Most hearing aids come with a trial period, which means you can return them if your not pleased. Usually it takes a few weeks to get used to them. If your plan does not include hearing coverage, check out Costco and Sam’s Club. They both offer excellent, affordable hearing aids.

So I challenge you to try something new… just like Miti did. Last weekend, we taught her to ride a bicycle. She’s an amazing kid!

Speaking of amazing kids, longtime clients Jack and Adrienne don’t seem to be getting any older. They’re always up to something fun!

My little brother Haas was just up in Canada hunting geese with his buddies. Winter is coming!

Just remember, the purpose of good hearing…

To help you stay connected to the people you love. Never miss a chance to reconnect with people who bring you joy, like my old high school buddy Esteban.

After recently retiring as a Radiologist, he’s still climbing glaciers at 65 and training to climb the Matterhorn next summer. Keep going brother, keep going!

Keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Feed the good wolf🐺🍎

Pre Halloween Howdies to you and your family.

The autumn leaves 🍁🍂 are turning and we hope your Medicare Insurance Plan is working the way it should and not causing you to believe in Bigfoot!

If you’ve reviewed your plan and everything looks ok, no action is necessary.

If you are unsure, email Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com, or book a time on my calendar. There are plenty of slots in November and we’ll be sure to talk.

This is our busiest time of the year, so, if for some reason you haven’t heard back from us, please reach out again, our desks are piled high and deep! We have till December 7th and we will get to everyone, that’s a promise.

Having an exchange student from Madagascar living in our home, well, it opens our eyes to the surprise all around.

Who knew Bigfoot worked at the Denver zoo😂 ?

If we’d posted this picture first without mentioning the zoo, would you be wondering if Bigfoot was real🧌👣😲? That’s an orangutan.

Here’s the challenge of modern living…

We take in more information on our phone in a morning than our grandparents took in reading the paper for a month📱🤯😵‍💫.

It’s way too easy to get stressed out with information overload😵‍💫 and it can actually be harmful to our health.

The quote attributed to Mark Twain is certainly on point:

“I am an old man and have known a great many troubles👴🤯, most of which never happened😄.”

This week, yours truly finally celebrated The Big 65!

As your Medicare Insurance Broker, I have had the privilege of watching hundreds celebrate this auspicious event, and now it’s my turn. So I’m not just the owner of The Big 65, now I’m a member.

In life, it’s rarely what actually happens to us that causes the pain and suffering. Instead, it’s how we choose to respond!

Here’s what I’ve learned from you all when I’m feeling overwhelmed:

Interrupt the pattern.

Take a break, grab a cup of joe☕️, go sit in the sunlight and visit a friend (seen here hanging with 60,000 of my closest friends🐝.)

Get busy.

Most of our stress comes from living in our heads vs working with our hands. When the weight of the world feels crushing, pick up a tool, clean out a closet, get your body moving.

This was a tough year on bees all across the country. 40% of the hives didn’t make it. We had to requeen one hive and do major triage on the other but…

They survived! We weren’t able to harvest much this year, but the hives are healthy, and the supers are full of honey and now the girls are ready for the winter. Next year will be better.

Practice self care.

Modern cars run a long time… if you change the oil and rotate the tires. Same goes for humans.

Get your teeth cleaned, have your eyes checked, schedule your annual medical wellness visit. And don’t bite your dentist!

Do something fun!

Since we’re at home this year as exchange student parents, Quantz is scheduling lots of fun activities: flower arranging, Zumba at the rec center, free lectures around town.

Plug into a local group that catches your fancy and try something new.

Help others.

I’ve been mentoring a young un named Brayan, a super smart kid who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and made a terrible mistake at 15. He spent five years in prison and was just released in April.

Remarkably, Brayan came out a reborn soul. He finished high school and is now working with the district attorney to educate new lawyers on how to help other young uns to avoid the traps he fell into.

When you spend time with a person who should have come out broken but instead used a horrible experience to transform his life, well, you just realize there’s hope for each of us and for the crazy world we live in.

Feed the good wolf.

Where attention goes, energy flows. I share these stories not trying to pretend that world is perfect, but to remind myself that the world has always been imperfect, and the job is ours…

To keep our eyes on the prize, to focus on what’s right and on the things we can change. I have great confidence in Brayan and David, brothers and entrepreneurs. The path is never easy is but they will find their way, and I’m gonna do my best to help them as they continue their adventure.

Be like my buddy Sally:

Don’t get blown away by negativity! This life we have is an adventure, the choice is always ours. Feed the good wolf!

Keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

👋🌊❄️ Keep fighting the cold and the years

Greetings from the North Sea.

May October find you well with your Medicare Insurance Coverage safe and sound.

The Annual Election Period begins October 15th, so book a time on my calendar if we need to speak. If your medications💊 or physicians🧑‍⚕️have changed, please email the changes to Gray@TheBig65.com , then I’ll be ready to help you.

If anyone calls you about Medicare deals, they’re probably breaking the law!

The Lemster Tower (in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands) has been a beacon of safety and pride for centuries.

According to local legend, the bells sometimes ring on their own during storms🌩️, a sign that the tower is protecting the town😲✨ and the sailors who still navigate these icy waters.

Lemmer is filled with bridges that must be lifted by the local bridge guards👮 (like Peter) when the boats wish to head into or out of the harbor😄.

Payment is collected by lowering a wooden shoe (apparently they take cash and credit cards😄).

My mom told me our family has roots in this area so it was a joy to visit a province I’d never seen and to connect with our ancestral homeland. Serendipity gave me two excuses to visit:

Two of our former German exchange students were renting a house nearby to kite surf and to celebrate a birthday (Happy Birthday Chris)…

And Nicholas, our Air Force son, had to be in the area for training (no it wasn’t row boat training). It was so much fun to spend time with the people I love.

When asked how many children we have, I often say, “eleven and counting.” Two biological kids plus nine exchange students who each lived with us for a year.

The beauty of sharing your home with others is that it expands your horizons and gives you friends all over the world.

The older we get, the easier it is to become a cranky old bastard (at least it is for me), so spending time with others, being in different places, and experiencing new things, well…

It makes us more flexible and happier (plus Hans taught Nick a new way to open a beer bottle.)

Like the refrain in the Dylan Thomas’ poem:

“Do not go gentle into that good night…Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”

I found myself locked in a playful struggle with Chris, both of us laughing, testing strength, refusing to go gently (though he could have won if he’d tried).

Later, plunging into the ice-cold North Sea, I felt the same truth — “life is a fight worth embracing, right up to the shivering, breath-stealing edge.”

On Sunday, Nicholas returned to Italy and we all said our goodbyes. So remember:

Live each day to the fullest. Tell the people you love that you love them as often as you can. Momento Mori – live each day as if it were your final day. And remember, especially in hard times, keep going!

Keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

We are the bows, they are the arrows🏹.

Bonjour! May this blog find you in good spirits, with your Medicare Insurance keeping the water off your head💦 .

We had a client fall for a duplicitous Facebook ad promising Medicare riches. Beware⚠️! Someone signed her up for a new plan and she didn’t even know it. Fortunately, we were able to remedy the situation and file a formal complaint against the 📞call center.

New plans come out in October. If your medications💊 or physicians🧑‍⚕️have changed, please email any changes to Gray@TheBig65.com.

We can’t make changes till the Annual Election Period begins October 15th, so book a time on my calendar if we need to speak.

After time with Nicholas in Italy, I pivoted to France to spend time with some of our six exchange student grandchildren. Gustave is repaying me for the water I “accidentally” 😆poured on his head.

Regular readers will remember these two rascals visited us in Colorado earlier in the summer. We looked at pictures of their dad’s time in the US in high school in our house in Roswell, twenty years ago.

I consider myself an honorary grandparent and it sure is fun to watch them grow and become genuine humans.

The boys’ grandfather, Martin, measures the world by the trees he grows. Trees grown from seed he’s collected from all over the world: palms and persimmons from Asia, Alsation apples, peaches and pears, loblolly pines from Atlanta. Even sequoias from the northwest grace his land.

Thirty nine years ago, Martin and I planted a 🌳 tree to honor the birth of his first born son (on his father’s farm).

How fun to return and see the labor of a lifetime, a forest in his backyard that will probably outlive us all, as hopefully our children and grandchildren will outlive us.

The only thing I know for certain? Martin’s grapes are way better than mine.

Kahlil Gibran wrote: “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”

That’s what happens, right? We have them, we raise them, then they have to find their way, their path, not ours.

Hopefully, from time to time, our paths converge. We eat together (tarte flambé), perhaps raise a glass to celebrate the memories and continue to watch the children of our children grow.

When you reach the end of your life, for what will you hope to be remembered?

Let it be those tender moments you shared with the people you love. Make more of them whenever you can and you won’t be disappointed.

Life is an adventure. Look before you leap, but always keep going.

And do keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

You may not need a trainer 🧑‍🏫🏃!

Hello! Plato hopes this blog finds you well, with your Medicare Insurance working and his nickname “Plate” helping with your wordle puzzle clues🧩😂.

Medicare Supplement plans can be switched any month of the year, (if you are in good health). Medicare Advantage or Part D Drug plans can be changed in the fall, from October 15th to December 7th. Please e-mail Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar.

Remember, keep calm and Plato on🐕!

We had a quiet Labor Day Weekend here in Colorado, Quantz caught up on the yard work.

Shava and I focused on the hives. The bees and the queens looked super healthy but we only harvested 30 pounds of honey🍯! Last year, we pulled 160 pounds from the same two hives, five times more than this year😮!

Our care protocols were exactly the same as every year: regular inspections, mite iradication, and proper feeding of the bees🐝. What changed?

The answer, things beyond our control: Mites & viruses, pesticide exposure, habitat loss & monoculture, and extreme weather.

But just because we didn’t get the results we wanted doesn’t mean we are going to give up on good habits (like feeding the hives after we harvest the honey).

And the same message applies to brain health and dementia.

Even though each year is a little tougher than the last, a new JAMA study shows that everyday lifestyle choices — moving your body, eating well, staying social, and challenging your brain — can help protect memory and thinking as we age.

And best of all you don’t have to hire a trainer to get the lion’s share of these benefits. Here are things you need to do.

💪 Move Your Body

30 minutes a day, 5 days this week.
Mix in brisk walking, light strength work (chair squats, wall push-ups), or balance practice (heel-to-toe walk).

Miti, our exchange student, and I helped our neighbors plant trees and bushes. That was a serious workout.

🥗 Eat Brain-Healthy Foods

Add at least one extra serving of leafy greens each day.
Swap butter for olive oil once or twice this week.
Enjoy nuts or beans as a snack or side.

Brad and Chau brought over dinner after we worked in their yard. OK, the s’mores weren’t healthy🤫, but the chicken and the salad were!

🧠 Challenge Your Mind

Do a crossword, puzzle, or memory game 3 times this week.
Try learning one new skill or word.

Our neighbor Tony just bought this sweet ride as his future retirement hobby. Keeping it on the road will definitely be good for his brain!

🤝 Stay Connected

Schedule at least two social moments this week: a phone call, a coffee with a friend, or a group activity.
Bonus: combine with exercise (walk and talk).

Our daughter surprised us with a visit and it was such a delight to see her again and for her to meet Miti.

Of all the habits you can practice, staying connected to the ones you love is the most important of all. Be sure to keep it at the top of your list!

And do keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

This is why your gut loves old friends 🌿

Happy Labor Day! May this note find you above water🏄‍♂️💧, among people you love, and with your Medicare Insurance working well.

We just read an article that Medicare may start requiring “prior authorization” in AZ, NJ, OH, OK, TX, and WA. Looks like a test program, stay tuned🚨📺📢.

If you need help 🙋‍♂️ with Supplements, Medicare Advantage, or Part D Drug plans🤔, please e-mail Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar.

Be sure to ignore all the illegal calls🚫👿 you are receiving. The scammers are out there🛑🤥📢 causing trouble!

Plato’s been enjoying the last days of summer and our new exchange student from Madagascar seems to be adapting to high school and adventures in the Bruns-Kyler house.

Our daughter Sus and KC attended the annual Tour de Fat costumed bicycle parade 🚲🎉 in Fort Collins, seen here as “dandy lion🦁” & the “dandelion🌼.”

Everyone knows being outside is good for the soul…

But a recent lecture at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science had six short lectures confirming the scientific benefits of nature and the microbiome.

Think of the microbiome as a hidden ecosystem living with us in constant interaction.

When balanced, the microbiome promotes health; when disrupted, it can contribute to disease.

The microbiome isn’t just inside humans. It exists in all environments — soil, rivers, oceans, plants, animals, and even the air.

Much of the human microbiome originates from our interaction with nature: the food we eat, the soil we touch, the animals we encounter, even the air we breathe.

The word on Haas’ farm… bear🐻with me😂!

🌱 The Old Friends Hypothesis suggests that humans evolved alongside microbes, parasites, and other organisms in soil, plants, animals, and food that helped train and balance our immune systems.

Today, with cleaner environments, processed foods, and less contact with nature, we’ve lost exposure to these “old friends.”

Instead of fighting parasites 🦠we no longer encounter, our immune system can turn on itself, apparently contributing to rising allergies, asthma, and autoimmune conditions

But if you are indoors, it never hurts to have flowers. This week, the theme of Quantz’s flower class was Elvis👨‍🎤. Thank you very much🎸!

Sleep also interacts with our microbiome — the trillions of microbes that live in our gut and on our skin.

According to the Johns Hopkins presenter below, “longer sleep” equals “higher amounts of healthy bacteria.”

When we don’t get enough rest, the balance of these microbes shifts, which may raise inflammation, lower immunity, and even affect mental health.

So what’s a human to do🤷‍♂️🧬?

🥦 Feed your gut: Eat fiber and fermented foods to support your microbiome.
🌞Get outside: Sunlight and nature boost mood, immunity, and sleep.
🤝 Stay connected: Friendships and laughter keep the brain and heart strong.
🚶 Move daily: Walk, garden, or stretch — little bits add up.
😴 Rest well: Good sleep helps the body and mind reset.

Plato’s not sure a 150 degree heated box is his cup of dog food and he doesn’t like the ice bath either, but he does love his family.

Even though I bombard💥you with ideas every week, you know the formula:

😊 Connect and help others

😹 Laugh

🥕 Eat good food

🚶‍♂️ Walk outside

💤 Rest well

That’s the secret to wellness.

Miti just joined cross country at school🏃‍♀️, despite never having trained. Growing up with so many challenges in one of the poorest nations on earth, her positive attitude inspires us at times we feel like😠 complaining the world is on fire🔥🌍.

The next time you’re having a tough moment, remember Miti — and keep moving forward with courage and a smile💖.

And do keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

❤️Could the mystery of wellness be this simple?🎉

Howdy! Hope you’re doing better than ever, with your Medicare Insurance not driving you bananas🍌🤪.

If you need help 🙋‍♂️ with Supplements, Medicare Advantage, or Part D Drug plans🤔, please e-mail Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar.

Remember to ignore the telemarketers📞, most are breaking the law ⚠️and many call centers end up causing lots of problems☠️, if you take their calls.

Our new high school exchange student, Mitia, may be the first ever from Madagascar😲🌍. Quantz bought her a notebook to record all of the firsts in her life in the US.

On Saturday, she visited her first Zoo (down in Colorado Springs) and had a great time feeding the giraffes.

We’re not sure if Hanta, the head of her school in Madagascar, found it equally enjoyable😉, but hey, it’s good to try new things, right😂?

Given the the speed at which we all live our lives (family, work, responsibilities), it’s just too easy to forget the miracles of modern life and the blessings that surround us.

My older brother Robert often reminds me of the importance of beginner’s mind. (By the way, his new rescue, Teddy, is doing great!)

The Zen concept of beginner’s mind—shoshin in Japanese—encourages openness, curiosity, and lack of preconceptions as we go through our day. Having Mitia in our house is a helpful reminder to keep our eyes open👀

Instead of relying only on what we “already know,” beginner’s mind invites us to experience things freshly, as if for the very first time, like this deer on Haas’ farm in Virginia asking, “what the heck is this?”

Retirement and later life can sometimes lead to routines that feel repetitive.

Beginner’s mind reminds us that even ordinary activities—walking the dog, sharing a meal, gardening—can be seen with new eyes. This curiosity🧐 keeps the mind sharp and prevents life from becoming stale.

Until recently, we hadn’t roasted marshmallows🔥🍡 in a long time. Pulling out the skewers with Hanta and Mitia lead to a startling breakthrough🚀: replace the Hershey’s chocolate🍫with Nutella. You won’t be disappointed😋.

A beginner doesn’t expect perfection.

By adopting beginner’s mind, we can approach challenges—whether it’s learning technology, adjusting to health changes, or trying a new hobby—with gentleness instead of frustration. It’s a shift from “I should know this” to “I’m open to learning.”

My buddy Cary personifies beginner’s mind. Though he is a gifted oral surgeon who has a successful local practice, he and his wife Karen live a life a service, constantly learning and looking for ways to help others.

Before Hanta returned to lead her orphanage in Madagascar, Cary rounded up lots of toothbrushes for her to give to the children🎉.
We replace our toothbrushes without thinking much about it. For many people in the world, getting a new toothbrush can make a big difference in overall wellness. Thanks Cary🙌.

Studies show that openness to new experiences supports brain health, emotional resilience, and even longevity. Beginner’s mind naturally encourages us to try new foods, activities, or forms of exercise—all of which support physical and emotional well-being.

Cheryl and her husband Todd took a birthday trip up to Montana. Look at “the big one” that didn’t get away🎣. Well done Cheryl😃!

Beginner’s mind doesn’t mean you have to go far. It means waking up and opening our hearts and our eyes to the beauty of life that surrounds us every moment we are alive, even on the toughest days.

Plato and I made friends with Duane and Ashley at the bark park down the street, super nice folks doin’ their best to make this world a better place🧡.

Remember, there is no THEM, there is only US. Now get out there, get curious, and make someone smile. I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t make you happier.

And do keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including:

Our latest anti-aging experiment just landed at the airport 🛬🤫

Greetings! May this blog find you in flow, with your Insurance coverage working well💦!

If you need any help 🙋‍♂️ with Supplements, Medicare Advantage, or Part D Drug Plans🤔, please e-mail Gray, Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar.

We’re having our worst fire season in Colorado since 2020, over 15 active fires🔥, crazy times!

In times of madness, seek out cool places, like we did last Sunday, dipping our toes in the North Saint Vrain Creek.

The river flows by Planet Bluegrass, a music festival we attended with our daughter and her boyfriend.

It was great fun to get outside, drink a few cold ones, listen to live music, and to spend time with the people we love.

The concert was our last lark of the summer as empty nesters😮…

Sunday night, we had to visit the airport🛫, and it wasn’t just for the velociraptors🦖😂.

For the past year, Q has been completing paperwork to bring an overseas student from Madagascar into our home for the school year.

After 31 long hours of travel, 16 year old Mitia and Hanta, the head of the school, arrived at the airport and were greeted by Plato. Do you think Plato smells lemurs on their luggage😄?

As we age, it is the default setting to slip into routine.

We’ve worked hard, we’re old, tired, and we don’t want to be bothered. We want things to work how we want them to work, our way or the highway! Tell them kids to “get off the damn lawn👴😠🌱!”

As your official broken record💿, I’m here to share why embracing change can benefit your brain🧠, your heart❤️, and your long-term health🩺.

🧠 – Learning new routines, adapting to different cultural habits, and engaging in daily conversations with someone from another country stimulates neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new connections — which has been shown to delay age-related cognitive decline and lower dementia risk (Harvard Medical School, 2021).

Learning about the challenges this young woman has had, and the struggles her country faces (the 9th poorest nation in the world), well, it reminds me to give thanks.

Of course we have problems and discontent here in the US, but as my father-in-law has always said:

Being born in the US means you’ve won the lottery!

❤️ – Positive social interaction and shared activities can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and even improve heart rate variability, all of which are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (American Heart Association, 2017).

Now that Mitia is in the house, we’ve been going to school meetings, setting up schedules, cooking dinner on a regular basis, and I can’t run around in boxers any more😂. My wife Q says that’s good for everybody.

Memory & Mental Flexibility 🔄 – Exposure to new ideas, foods, and language requires mental flexibility and working memory, both of which are protective against cognitive impairment in later years (National Institute on Aging, 2020).

If you’d like to know my role model in this arena, look no further than Thor Colberg, a longtime client from the Carolinas. At 76, this man’s actions speak louder than his words. Thor travels to hotspots all over the world sharing his faith and helping communities to build churches and stronger communities.

Welcoming a 16-year-old from Madagascar or building churches overseas isn’t just exciting — it’s healthy! Studies show that new routines, fresh friendships, and a little cultural shake-up can boost memory, protect your heart, and even help fend off dementia. Change keeps us young… and way more fun to be around.

Just remember, even small changes in routines will increase life’s joy and make you healthier. Bake cookies for the neighbors, go to a new restaurant for breakfast, volunteer at the elementary school, call a friend you haven’t spoken with in decades.

The ball is in your court and the world is waiting!

And do keep squeezing the juice🍊 out of life and look for ways to help others.

If family or friends need help… referrals are the lifeblood of my business.

If you know someone who might like to receive The Big 65 newsletter, forward this link.

Medicare questions or problems?

Book a time on my calendar or email Gray, Gray@theBig65.com.

Let us know what’s going on and please send pictures :).

Karl Bruns-Kyler
(877) 850-0211
Book a time on my calendar here
Happy with my Service? Click Here to Leave a Review.

Karl Bruns-Kyler is a Medicare insurance broker and independent Medicare agent licensed to help Medicare recipients in thirty states around the country, including: