We went to the wrong city 40 years too late and this is what we learned

Hello and may this blog find you in amazing health 💪 with your Medicare insurance coverage 🏥 working properly.

For Medicare questions, quotes, or quandaries, email Gray@TheBig65.com or book a time on my calendar and we’ll get it sorted.

Are you watching the Summer Olympics in Paris?

Q and I were hoping to compete in the bobsled competition. Turns out we went to the wrong city, for the wrong Olympics, and we were forty years too late.

Karl and Quantz on old bobsled course.

Sarajevo (in the former Yugoslavia) hosted the Winter Olympics in 1984. Do you remember watching the bobsled races?

This bobsled track was once a site of glory but fell into ruin and disrepair due to war and neglect. During the war, it was used by the Serbs as a bunker from which to attack the Bosnians. After the war, the graffiti artists took over.

Our health is like a track, if we don’t take care of it, it will break down.

An old bobsled course.

In the book “Good Energy,” author Dr. Casey Means explains the importance of metabolic health, how everyday choices affect our health and energy levels.

According to the book, 93% of Americans have poor metabolic health, leading to fatigue, weight gain, and chronic illnesses.

Karl near the Olympics site in Sarajevo.

The good news is that, just as a war torn country in the Balkans can mend, focusing on small steps will increase energy levels, improve mood, and raise our overall well-being.

In the picture below, yours truly is standing in the footsteps of the assassin who shot the Austrian Arch Duke triggering World War I. Thanks goodness our former President wasn’t assassinated. That would not have been good for our country.

Sign

Here are the key take aways:

Foundations of Health:  Dr. Means emphasizes the importance of foundational health practices such as balanced nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management.

This is the bridge of Mostar, bombed during the Yugoslavian war in the early 1990’s, now fully restored. It is now a symbol of peace and hope.

The bridge of Mostar lighted up at night.

Nutrition and Energy:  The book delves into how different foods impact energy levels, with a focus on whole, unprocessed foods that stabilize blood sugar and support metabolic health.

If you ever get to the Balkans, the vegetables and the olives are amazing. I’m not sure that beer is a vegetable (flexible mind, right 😉😂).

Quantz sitting in front of a table full of food and one beer.

Gut Health:  Gut health is highlighted as a cornerstone of overall well-being, affecting everything from energy levels to mental clarity and immune function.

Burek is a savory pastry made of thin, flaky dough layers. It is typically filled with beef or lamb, cheese, spinach, or potatoes. I can’t comment on its healthiness, but it is the ultimate Balkan comfort food.

As we always say at The Big 65, everything in moderation, even moderation 😊.

A lady in white working in a kitchen with food.

Mind-Body Connection:  “Good Energy” also explores the intricate connection between mental health and physical well-being, offering strategies to enhance both through mindful practices and positive lifestyle changes.

My German dad was a chess fanatic so it was great fun watching these fellows in the square playing every day. They had a great time yelling, playing, and giving each other smack. I loved it. As my father always said, “they would’ve killed me like a chicken.”

Men playing chess with over-sized chess pieces.

For Medicare clients, understanding the holistic approach advocated by Dr. Means aligns with the wellness themes we frequently discuss in our blog (yes, like my wife Q says, I am a broken record 😊).

Here are the simple steps (and check out the chair yoga below).

Women doing chair yoga in a park outside.

Eat Real Food:  Fill your plate with colorful vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and healthy fats.

Move Daily:  Incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your day.

Prioritize Sleep:  Create a relaxing bedtime routine to help you get better sleep.

Manage Stress:  Find activities that relax you, whether it’s reading, gardening, or practicing mindfulness.

Don’t close the door on good health. In the old days, a strong metal door could have been the difference between life and death.

Karl admiring and old door.

You should also watch the webinar we created on balance and mobility. These tools are the bedrock of wellness just like the pillars of health in Dr. Means’ book.

As we travel through Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia Herzegovina, again and again, we see the resilience of the human spirit and it gives us hope that these countries can continue to heal and improve the lives of all their inhabitants.

Despite hardship and challenge, it’s never too late for any of us to change our world or our health. Don’t ignore fires on the horizon (like this one in the hills of Mostar). If you do, you will get burned.

A fire burning on the horizon in You should also watch the webinar we created on balance and mobility. These tools are the bedrock of wellness just like the pillars of health in Dr. Mean's book. As we travel through Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia Herzegovina, again and again, we see the resilience of the human spirit and it gives us hope that these countries can continue to heal and improve the lives of all their inhabitants. Despite hardship and challenge, it's never too late for any of us to change our world or or our health. Don't ignore fires on the horizon in Mostar.

And in the meantime, 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.

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

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

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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.

Karl Bruns-Kyler the Medicare insurance broker with The Big 65.