It All Matters and Nothing Matters

LIFE LESSON

Sometimes, a ghost from your past pops up in your present. Earlier this week, I had a request from someone who was looking for a car for someone they were trying to help escape a precarious position. Based on my own life, this was the lesson I was able to share with them. If you are trying to help someone in a similar situation, these general ideas may help:

? Contact individual board members of organizations who serve communities in crisis or transition — only if they are friends of yours. Ask these people if they have unused cars (kids at college etc) or a source for low-cost purchase.

? If you do not have friends at these orgs, contact the organization(s) directly, explaining your need, stressing the fact that while they may not be able to help, could they make a recommendation?

? Check out mom and pop gas station/repair shops or shade tree mechanics. These are usually puttering people who have networks/access to auctions where cars may be found.

? Ask insurance agents and real estate relocation people you may know (directly). These are people who have networks that focus on transition, or getting people from one place to the other. They may know of an organization, or they may themselves have a car, or they may belong to a religious, professional or fraternal association that can help.

? If you know of funeral directors or estate/probate attorneys, these are also individuals whose industries focus on people in transition. It’s common for decedents to leave behind cars.

P.S. Check with your tax preparer for more information, but as the year draws to a close and you are seeking to maximize any deductions, cars donated to organizations that actually use the car as transportation can claim a higher deduction. If you donate it to a nonprofit that scraps the car, your deduction is usually lower.

The following link may also be a resource for finding a car.

LIFE HACK

November is National Vegan Month, so I'm going to share my recipe for tofu-spinach lasagna. Folks who have followed my writings for some time will know of my reasons for adopting a plant-based diet. It's great for your health, your wallet and the planet. The trifecta! Bonus: it's also delicious.

3 ounces firm tofu

2 tablespoons basil pesto

1 clove garlic, finely diced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon Himalayan salt

9 uncooked lasagna noodles

1 jar commercial marina sauce

1 cup fresh spinach

1/2 cup cottage or risotto cheese

1/2 cup shredded Italian blend cheese

1/4 cup pine nuts

Preheat oven to 350oF (325oF if using a glass pan)

Using a hand-held pastry cutter, crumble the first five ingredients in a bowl, and set aside. Layer the remaining ingredients in a square baking dish in the following order, making three layers:

? noodles

? sauce

? cottage/risotto

? tofu mixture

? spinach

? pine nuts

? shredded cheese

Top with shredded cheese and bake for 40 minutes. Let cool five minutes before cutting. This freezes well and fools omnivores.

TREAT

It's a stressful time. This upcoming Tuesday's election day has many people across the globe a bit nervous. In honor of National Stress Awareness Day (November 6), here are some ways to mitigate your anxiety:

? Do something creative — paint, color, smoosh clay, dance, garden

? Get outside — walk, bike, run, sit under a tree

? Meditate — sit down, close your eyes and pay attention to your breath

? Write — put your swirling thoughts down on paper and then burn them in a safe container

? Listen to music — change up your vibe by streaming tunes designed to calm you down

According to science, this tune helps reduce anxiety by 65%. Take care of yourself, and I'll see you next week!

P.S. Thanks to FutureU Self Care Summit sponsor Conscious Ink! These temporary tattoos are a great way to focus your intentions, introduce mindfulness and shift your perspective. Varieties include: sports, celebrations, health, social good and all sorts of other wellness uses.

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An author, media consultant, life coach and speaker, Molly Cantrell-Kraig has been recognized as one of CNN’s Visionary Women, been profiled by both the Christian Science Monitor and the Shriver Report. Cantrell-Kraig has also been interviewed on the Women’s Media Center and the BBC, speaking on such topics as women, independence, gender roles and life transitions. As a catalytic change-agent, Cantrell-Kraig is a self-described work in progress whose focus is on helping others achieve their goals by sharing her own experiences.