The Big 65 Archives

In sports and in life, outcomes aren’t guaranteed 🌋

Autumn greetings …. we’re not quite there yet, but Plato hopes you’re peachy🍑 keen and that your Medicare Insurance is working well.

Have you received your notice of Medicare plan changes yet? If your medications💊 or physicians🧑‍⚕️have changed, please email any changes in medications and any new doctors to Gray@TheBig65.com. After that, I’ll be ready!

We can’t make changes till the Annual Election Period beginning October 15th 📅, but, we want to be ready in advance. Anyone new to Medicare, please book a time on my calendar.

Well, the peach harvest is in (singular). While it was only one, at least we beat the racoon🦝 family to the punch this year.

The honey harvest is in as well🐝🍯🏠. This year we only gathered sixty pounds of honey (last year it was 160 😮), despite a lot more care and TLC this year.

Miti, our high school exchange student from Madagascar, celebrated her 17th birthday and her first cross country race 🏁⬅️🏃‍♀️.

She could only run a half mile when she arrived, and though she is far from the fastest, she is making great progress. We are very proud of the effort we see her making.

So, after finishing these projects (and all my 2026 Medicare certifications), I decided it was time for me to flip the script on Quantz and take a trip ✈️ before the crazy Annual Election Period begins October 15th.

Don’t worry, Q is still at home with Miti.

Besides, it was time to visit our Air Force son and make certain all is well and that the volcano 🌋, Mt. Etna, hadn’t completely covered his apartment in ashes.

Mission accomplished❤️.

Like most of us, age has made me crankier. Every day, I have to challenge myself to maintain an open mind and look for what’s right in the world.

The Spanish film director Buñuel wrote:

“If I were exiled to a desert island, and could only take one thing with me, it would be coffee. I have always taken refuge in it. Then, tobacco, and friends — these three things I would keep for life.”

I don’t need tobacco, but a strong cup of coffee☕, a warm cipollina (a Sicilian onion pastry with ham & cheese), and perhaps the unexpected smile of a stranger remind me that life is still a miracle and I’m not dead yet😊.

In sports and in life, outcomes aren’t guaranteed. It takes way more courage and energy to live life with hope and compassion than it does to live with cynicism and despair.

We always have a choice, so be like Claire and Fancy (on the right). They just added Haze to the family and everyone is better off for it.

Our time on earth is short, even if we live to be one hundred. Today is all we have, so…

Break bread with someone you love.

Forgive the person who caused you pain.

Find a way to help another person.

Laugh as much as you can.

Most of all, give thanks for another day.

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:

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
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Pennsylvania
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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.

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:

The super-agers have a message for you 📢🫂

Summer Greetings! May this blog find you keeping cool☀️, with your Medicare Insurance coverage working well.🐫.

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

In talking with clients all over the US, it’s been hot as the dickens. Plenty of reason to be inside during the day, even if you’re having guests.

We just finished our final week of hosting friends from overseas. It was a delight to have them here and to reconnect. The best part of company is you actually do a lot of things you don’t normally do: chess, puzzles, and local tourist attractions.

In all the years we’ve lived in Colorado, I’ve never managed to make it up to Wyoming for the Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne.

As a boy, I grew up working on Abe Lincoln’s uncle’s dairy farm in the Shenandoah Valley but…

Though it was impressive to watch the young men and women risking their lives for glory and cash, you couldn’t pay me to get on bucking bronco!

My mission is to never win a Darwin award.

Watching the young native American dancers preserving their traditions was quite moving. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo serves as a way for the families from all over to stay connected and to remember the old ways.

And I’m here to tell you:

Despite what the young uns say, the old ways ain’t all wrong. Of course I’m a big fan of convenience and simplicity, but many of our daily connections and rituals have disappeared along the way.

And according to a recent article on super agers, people over 80 who’ve retained the memory and cognitive skills of folks decades younger, their secret isn’t just diet and exercise—it’s the power of deep, meaningful social connections.

While some followed all the “rules” of healthy living, others didn’t—yet they still kept their brains sharp. What they all had in common was a strong social life.

We celebrated Romain and Christine’s 15th wedding anniversary and shared our secrets for child rearing 😂, of course our children are still in therapy😉.

Here are some of the key take aways from the article about super agers:

Super-agers are rare. They remember as well as people 20–30 years younger, often recalling long lists of words with ease.
Lifestyle habits vary widely. Some exercised daily and ate clean; others smoked, drank, and slept poorly—but still excelled mentally.
Social bonds were universal. Every super-ager studied rated their relationships highly and maintained active, positive social lives.

It’s also important to teach every visitor to the US the power of roasted marshmallows!

Brain differences are striking. Their brains had more Von Economo neurons (linked to social interaction) and a thicker anterior cingulate cortex (tied to empathy, motivation, and emotional regulation).
Alzheimer’s resilience. Some showed resistance to age-related brain changes, while others appeared to adapt and maintain function despite them.
The social brain connection. Staying socially engaged may be just as important for cognitive longevity as eating well or exercising.

If you ask me for an example of super agers in action, my cheese lady at the grocery store personifies a super ager. Although she is only 3 x 25 years old, she has the exuberance, the health, and the positivity of somebody half her age. Plus, she always has GREAT cheese recommendations.

The bottom line, we can’t control all the factors that determine how our brains age, but we can nurture friendships, join communities, and keep showing up for each other.

I count on Shava to help me with our hives. This year’s harvest will be MUCH smaller than last year, but we did our best for the bees and we just keep going.

Now that Romain and his family are back in France, our house feels pretty empty. Plato misses the boys too. One chapter ends, another begins.

If you say, “The world stinks and everyone has forgotten me 😡😠,” you’re right!

If you say, “I’m feeling a little lonely, what can I do for someone else🤔?”

It’s easy to be a cranky old bastard (I’m a pro if my wife Q doesn’t remind me to wake up!)

The road to a super-aging brain is paved with curiosity 🤔 and kindness 🫂. Let me know what you are doing to change your world, it only takes a smile and a few words of connected kindness. Plato says get busy!

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:

What’s your back up plan🧯🚨🛟?

August Greetings! May this blog find you balanced🧘, with your Medicare Insurance keeping you above the sand☀️🐫.

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

Gustave did a great job holding up his family during our adventures.

Twenty one years ago, his father, Romain, was a high school exchange student, from France, living with us in Atlanta.

After the school year ended, we took him and our young children on a trip to the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. That’s our youngest by the sign, read the words carefully.

How strange to see the same sign, so many years later, withered and worn. “Time waits for no man” and gettin’ old ain’t for sissies, right?

We camped near the dunes, watched the stars, talked about life, and how time passes.

The boys went crazy over Chef Boyardee pasta, (not a staple in France).

We were well prepared, plenty of supplies for smores🪵🔥🍡🍫, and even an extra lighter, just in case.

When camping, it’s good to have a back up plan⛺.

Thanks to Stan here in Colorado, we are reminded this strategy applies to Medicare as well.

When a client was preparing to leave for a routine medical screening, she couldn’t locate her medical insurance cards. The cards weren’t in the regular spot in her wallet😱.

Her husband called while I was at my desk and not in the Sand Dunes, though the call would have gone through to my colleague Gray and he would have resolved the issue😌.

I was able to log in, download a copy, and send it to them, no harm, no foul.

Here’s what Stan wrote to me:

“I guess the lesson learned is never trust your husband with your purse contents! (Turns out, after an ER visit, he had put them back in the wrong place.)

…The other lesson is that you need to be sure you have scanned/electronic copies of all your critical medical cards, readily available, for your spouse to use in an emergency.

Had she been physically unable to find her purse before we left for the ER, I would have been left with no proof of insurance to provide the hospital. ”

Wise words Stan, wise words👍.

We learn from experience.

It’s ok to make mistakes, as long as they are new ones, right😂?

So while you are reading the newsletter:

Pull out your phone, take a picture of all your insurance cards AND your Medicare card.
Save a set of on your phone.
Email a set to your spouse, your kids, or to another person you trust.
Print up an extra set and put them on top of the fridge (or in a place everyone in your house can find).

That way, next time you’re in the desert, you’ll have plenty of extra water, or soda😆.

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:

Here’s the surprising connection between teeth and tickers🦷🫀!

Happy Summer! May this blog find you staying cool😎, with your Medicare Insurance not driving you crazy🤪.

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

It’s been hot as the dickens here in Colorado😓. Some days, even Plato doesn’t want to go out. There is a season for everything and since Plato is ten years old, I guess we’ll cut him some slack.

Just remember, gettin’ old ain’t for sissies!

Despite the heat, Q’s as busy as ever, delivering Meals on Wheels and taking flower classes💐. She’s getting used to being at home since our new exchange student from Madagascar will be arriving in just under three weeks🌟.

I’ve been busy with 2026 Medicare Certifications, learning all the changes for next year. So far, despite all the noise from Washington, I haven’t seen anything too earth shattering. The carriers will be sharing that info in late September, so please keep an eye out for the Annual Notice of Changes when it comes in the mail📬.

Between carrier certifications, I played some♟️chess with my buddy Brayan. Unfortunately, like my father used to say when he once played Bobby Fisher, “he killed me like a chicken🪓😵🐔.” I had great chance in both games, but I got impatient. It’s always good to learn new things, even if it smarts💭. Don’t worry, I’ll get a rematch!

Speaking of new things, Q saw an article that really got my attention…

🦷Flossing might save your life! And since there are people in your life you care about, you may want to take this to heart❤️.

❤️ Flossing is linked to a 22% lower risk of stroke and 44% lower risk of cardioembolic stroke, (a stroke caused by a clot that forms in the heart🫀).

Remember, the only good stroke is a backstroke🤣. Romain, our French exchange student from long ago, is still exploring Colorado with his family (seen here doing the proper type of stroke!).

💓 People who floss also showed 12% lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib)—a common heart rhythm issue.

Now I can’t guarantee that Gustave and Justin are great flossers, but they are well attended!

🪥 Brushing + flossing = up to 75% reduction in cardiovascular mortality in long-term studies.
🔥 Inflammation from gum disease may trigger artery damage—flossing helps keep it in check.
🧵 Even flossing once a week offers noticeable benefits… but daily is best.

Life is short, even if we live to be one hundred.

Taking care of ourselves—physically, emotionally, and mentally—helps us stay strong, present, and connected to the people we love. These are my buddys from 8th grade and we are still connected to this day.

When we feel well, we show up better for others, listen more deeply, and share life’s moments more fully.

Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s how we keep the bonds of love alive and growing. So grab some floss and then go call an old friend!

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:

The trail to better health starts here 🚶‍♂️🌄✨

Hello and may this blog find you in excellent spirits, with your Medicare Insurance working well.

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

In August, my colleague Gray will be emailing you a list of your drugs from our last contact, if your are taking any medications💊🩺💉🧪. Our goal is to have all of your information updated well in advance of the Annual Election Period in October.

We don’t want you or your coverage to get lost in the woods😂

It never ceases to amaze me how rapidly time passes. You blink, and suddenly the young’uns you’ve known forever are all grown up.

This week we’ve been hosting our very first exchange student and his family. Back in 2003, Romain, came from his home in France to live with us for a year. It was such a great experience, and so good for our children, that we hosted eight more over the years. We love it when any of them visit.

The good thing about having guests in your home? It gets you out of the house and doing things locally that you never seem to get around to doing, like rafting.

Of course the rapids weren’t high enough for my wife Quantz (she’s the adrenaline junky), but everyone else had a great time.

When life gets hectic, or we just need a break, the best health remedy may not be coming from your doctor, a prescription, or your phone.

The best way to get healthy might be to hang out in the woods, alone or with the people you love.

Forest bathing (or shinrin yoku in Japanese) doesn’t mean you have to hike or count steps, it means being in nature.

It’s much more about breathing the cool air, noticing the sounds, the smells and the light.

In fact, studies show that just 2 hours a week in nature can lead to measurable improvements in physical and emotional well-being, reducing stress hormones, lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, and even boosting immune function.

Just remember not to interrupt the moose when he is forest bathing 🫎 😅

And here’s the best part:

If you’re 62 or older, you qualify for the America the Beautiful Senior Lifetime Pass—an $80 one-time fee that gets you free entry to all U.S. National Parks, Forests, and more—for life. That includes places like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain, and hundreds more.

Here’s the link or you can pick one up at any National Park Visitor center.

If you’re looking for more peace, better sleep and stronger health…get outside🌄.

And when you get back home, hopefully you’ll be energized to do all of those projects 🛠️🏡🧰 you’ve been avoiding. But don’t worry, Plato promises to help. He has lots of friends at the hardware store😍.

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:

I messed up this week… and learned something worth sharing 😬📆💡

Greetings and may the dog 🐕 days of summer 🌞 find you in robust health, with your Medicare Insurance working properly.

Have questions or 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.

If you have friends turning 65 or are getting ready to leave employer coverage, please let us know and we’ll email a video on how to get started… it’s easy to get lost in the wilderness😕🧭🌲.

We had a full moon Thursday night, a “Buck Moon.” And though I saw no mule deer up on the bluffs behind our home, I did see this little prairie dog raising his head high and calling out to the heavens.

This summer, I’m doing my best not to sweat the small stuff, but as you know, it’s easier said than done.

My appointment scheduling software went rogue last Friday😖, and I was late for an appointment with the same client, TWICE😱. Talk about embarrassing! I’m guessing my German father is rolling over in his grave⚰️🌀. It’s been bothering me all week🤔.

Of course I sent an apology (and a Starbucks card☕), but some things you can’t undo and you just have to learn to let go. That’s part of the reason I write this newsletter…

To share things with you all that I need to learn myself. You know the saying:

“When you point 👉 one finger at someone, three fingers point back at you😬.”

For me, it’s more like three times ten!

It’s way too easy to focus on what’s wrong instead of all the things that are actually right in our lives. Or as Mark Twain wrote:

“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.”

📚 That’s why the book The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky hit home this week. She’s a psychology professor who breaks happiness into three parts:

🧬 50% of our happiness is genetic — the temperament we’re born with.
🎯 40% is based on our choices — what we do and how we think each day.
🌦️ Only 10% comes from life circumstances — things like money, health, or that rogue calendar app 😅.

The good news here: we have control over 40%! That’s no small thing.

So here’s what I’m reminding myself (and maybe you too): there are simple ways to move the needle, focus on the things that are working instead of on the noise and the problems.

Call someone you love 📞👵
Take a walk and look at the sky 🌤️🚶
Be kind to a stranger (or yourself) 💛
Practice letting go of mistakes (like missed appointments 😬)
Write down one thing that went well📝

Plato suggests giving snacks to the animals you love!

So happiness is mostly in our hands, how we choose to respond, how we choose to help others.

I’m pleased to report that, after almost eleven months of blood, sweat, and tears, Quantz has gotten all the paperwork and all of the visas approved so that, starting in August, we will be hosting an orphan from Madagascar to live in our home for a year and to attend high school here in Colorado🎉.

It’s going to be a BIG change in our lives, many adventures, many learning opportunities… we’ll be parents again, for a year. Heaven help us and heaven help Mitia!

Remember to keep asking… what’s the next big thing🤔?

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: