Often our most picturesque season of the year, autumn brings the bounty of our gardens as well as the beauty of the changing landscape colours. It's the time our former colleagues, and our grandchildren, return to their classrooms while we have time for long walks in comfortable temperatures and time to reflect on our summer activities. We have watched the fields turn from green to golden, followed by the dust clouds of the combines hustling to complete each long day in the fields.

One evening as I was returning from Saskatoon, there was a farm where the sun was setting as seven combines combed a field. As the evening progressed, a giant moon appeared on the horizon and I thought of how fortunate we are on the prairie to see nature in its full glory from season to season. How many of you have been in the mountains and, when returning from the foothills, have said, "Wow, I can finally see again!" Rachel Carson wrote, “Those who dwell…among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”

Our Moose Jaw STS chapter has had a great beginning to our year as we celebrated the superannuation of teachers at The Hell With the Breakfast in early September as well as the September luncheon. More than one person said, "It's so good to see everyone again." We get very involved with families and holidays during the summer and we often forget friends who might need a call or a visit. For many, well-being comes with a human connection. Let's remember to re-connect.

“Fall…the time when everything bursts with its last beauty as if nature has been saving up all year for the grand finale.” Lauren DeStefano

• Check out the STS Executive Notes for September 2024 here.

Wellness & Mental Health Part 1 (Part 2 in our next issue)

Mental health and wellness is important to think about. Often, we don’t consider the need to take care of our mental health until there is a problem or a major event that happens to us. Our mental health, like our physical health, must be focused on every day.

When I was asked to write an article on mental health I said yes because I felt it was an important topic for seniors that often isn’t discussed enough. We are supposed to have it easy by this time in our lives, we are in our “Golden Years” after all. Our children are grown, and we no longer go to work every day. In theory, we no longer face stress. We have time to travel, and we get to choose what we want to do and when we want to do it. People forget to tell us that there are new stressors and challenges to cope with. A fixed income, declining health, changed family responsibilities, illness and death of friends & loved ones, social isolation, loss of your social groups, or perhaps the need to sell our family home, to name a few.

Many of us have learned the importance of practicing self-care each day. We may do yoga or exercise, take time to read, visit with friends, learn a new hobby, or find a new daily challenge. Whether we realize it or not, these are things that help us to maintain our mental wellness. Most of them we do and don’t give much thought to. These are the very things that are keeping us healthy and happy. They are also the things we can add to our routine, to get back on track.

Please don’t wait until new challenges catch up to you. Take the time to think about your mental wellness. Perhaps add one thing to your daily routine to show yourself that you care and that you are important. We can enjoy the aging process by accepting where we are, opening up to others, and being happy and content with the life we are fortunate enough to be living. Let’s enjoy and embrace our golden years.

Great Information from: Sunil Pandila STS Executive Member

Sunil is on the Provincial Executive as well as our Moose Jaw Branch. He has a wealth of information to share about our Health and Dental plan. DID YOU KNOW? Effective July 1, 2024 the following enhancements were added to our Group Benefits Plan:

* Increase the Prescription Drug maximum benefit from $2,250 to $2,500 per person per calendar year.
* Create a new Vaccine Benefit with a $500 annual maximum (at 80% coinsurance).
* Create a new paramedical practitioner benefit with a $500 annual maximum (at 80% coinsurance) for Registered Nurse Foot Care Outside the Home.
* Add Psychotherapist to the Psychology/Social Worker/Counsellor practitioner benefit with a $500 combined annual maximum.
* Add Myofascial Release Treatment within the Massage Therapy practitioner at $500 annual maximum.
* Enhance flexibility within the Hearing Aid benefit by increasing from $1,000 every 3 years to $2,000 every 6 years.

Next Stop: Your Inbox — Get Inspired, Learn, and Save on Travel

Hello travel lovers. If you are hungry for travel content, I might have just the anecdote for you. It’s my weekly travel newsletter over at destinationwhatever.com.

Some of us enjoy reading travel content and getting inspired, others are already packed and half way to the airport. No matter how frequently you travel, I have something each week to provide inspiring travel stories, travel education on destinations and opportunities, and of course what we’re hungriest for: travel deals.

Click on any of the image to read these recent editions and if it resonates with you, sign up at destinationwhatever.com/travelnews.

Spoiler alert: In the Corfu edition you can read where my next adventure will be, in just a few weeks! Monday: Greenland - Zoom Presentation - come take 30 minutes out of your day to virtually travel to a place few people get to see.