I love Thanksgiving, even more than Christmas. The reason being, my grandchildren are still young enough that traveling at Christmas is not an option, they have to be home for Santa. I have three adult children and they live in three different states so deciding where to spend the Christmas holiday is difficult. Thanksgiving on the other hand is easy, we pick a place and we all get together. This year it was my oldest daughter Marta’s home in Severna Park, MD. My daughter Lisa, her husband and their three children drove from Chicago, my son and his son flew from the east coast of Florida as did my children’s Father, and I flew from the West Coast. It was a wonderful time! Christmas will of course be wonderful, but I won’t get to see everybody like I do at Thanksgiving.
Traveling a lot, which I do, takes its toll. I find going from a warm climate to a cold one is especially difficult. I take extra precautions to try and make sure I don’t get sick. In addition to my regular vitamins I add Airborne before I depart and again when I’m ready to come home. I believe it helps. I also try to eat as carefully when traveling as when I am home. I cut up an organic apple and sprinkle it with lemon juice, throw in a few carrot sticks and some walnuts and keep that bag in my purse (OK, I also often throw in a few chunks of dark chocolate). That makes it easy to say no thank you to the little bags of peanuts and pretzels offered on the airline as well as the snacks offered in airport shops.
I think it is pretty normal to give more thought to ones health as we approach the holidays and of course, the end of one year and the beginning of another. We vow not to overeat over the holidays and then if we do, we vow to stick to our healthy eating plan for the new year. A healthy eating plan is not a diet, notice I’ve avoided that word. Dieting is not the answer to healthy living or losing weight. By dieting I refer to cutting back on what you eat. If you are overweight and do not have health issues that can effect your weight, chances are you could be eating the wrong foods. Of course I am not a dietician, a nutritionist, nor a doctor – I am not licensed to give advice. What I write you can read in many places from many reputable sources, including this magazine.
I do a lot of reading about food and I am a firm believer that it is the best medicine. I’ve treated my own maladies with food and supplements with great success. I can also say I have a much higher energy level than lots of folks my age which I attibute to what I eat or perhaps more accurately, to what I don’t eat.
There is lots of good advice on healthy living in this magazine, it’s worth reading and taking to heart. As we approach the holidays I plan to enjoy this special time of year to the fullest while keeping myelf as healthy as possible. I know I’ll cheat, it’s very hard to pass up all of the wonderful treats that good friends and family pass my way. I’ll try very hard to enjoy in moderation and I’ll start the new year with a plan to do even better next year. I think that’s pretty doable and realistic. If we make realistic goals, it’s much easier to reach them. But I’m ahead of schedule, enjoy the next few weeks preparing for the holidays, enjoy them to the fullest, and then make some healthy goals for the New Year. That’s my plan…and I’m sticking to it!! Wishing you and your family the happiest of holidays. Share the love in your heart not only with the people closest to you but with someone that may not know the joy of good friends and a loving family.
Sue Ellen Mathers
Licensed Professional Realtor® since 2005
MBA, CNE, SRES, ABR
Prior to moving to Florida in 2005, Sue Ellen Mathers was involved in commercial real estate for over twenty years in New York State. As a Vice President of Marketing and Development she was involved with the day-to-day operations of a variety of businesses including shopping centers, hotels, restaurants and apartment complexes. Sue Ellen, who holds an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s School of Management, successfully assisted a client in turning a fledgling business around through a program that combined exceptional customer service with intelligent cost cutting methodology. Once profitable, she then brokered a deal to sell the business and the real estate.
Working in residential real estate in North Naples and Bonita Springs since 2006, Sue Ellen utilizes her communication and organizational skills coupled with strong financial and negotiating know-how to benefit her clients. A strong believer that knowledge is power, she knows and understands this challenging market and has confidently handled many successful transactions for both sellers and buyers.
Sue Ellen has received numerous letters from clients praising her skills, her caring nature and her above and beyond work ethic. She is proud of the many referrals her clients have sent her.
Sue Ellen is from Saratoga Springs, NY. She has a daughter and two grandchildren in Maryland; a daughter and three grandchildren in Illinois; and a son and grandson in Boca Raton, Florida. She travels often to see her children and their families.
2013, 2014, 2015 Golden Bear Recipient
2013, 2014, 2015 Recipient of the Gulfshore Five Star Award in Real Estate
Royal Shell Real Estate
239-877-2726
Sue Ellen Mathers has been recognized by Gulf Shore Magazine as a Five Star Realtor for the past several years and is a Top Producer for Royal Shell Real Estate. She is very proud of the great reviews her clients write and equally proud of the large number of referrals she receives. You may reach Sue Ellen at 239-877-2726 or email sueellen@royalshellsales.com.