A single father who had been laid off from his job was watching expenses closely for months while applying for every job he could find in his field. Months earlier, he’d made a promise to his two sons—twins—that he’d take them to a nearby amusement park to celebrate their 10th birthday.

When their birthday arrived, the father withdrew money from his savings account. Explaining that the walk to the amusement park was good for them, he skipped the parking fee by parking blocks away, knowing he’d need the extra cash to pay for lunch. At the front gate was a sign with two prices listed—one for general admission and one for children under 10. The father realized he could have spent half as much if he’d come just one day sooner. With a sigh, he led the boys to the ticket window and said, “Three general admission tickets, please.”

The woman in the booth looked at them and smiled. “How old are you, boys?”

“Today is my birthday, I just turned 10,” said one boy.

“So am I,” said the other. “We’re twins!”

The woman leaned forward. “You know,” she whispered, “you could have asked for two ‘Under 10’ tickets, and I never would have known.”

“Yeah,” said the father, “but they would have.”

Imagine a world where your small acts of kindness warm your heart, improve your health, strengthen your community bonds and even extend your lifespan.

This is not a utopian dream; it’s the reality for everyday philanthropists—individuals who discover that giving, regardless of the size of their bank accounts, creates a ripple effect of positivity in their lives and the lives of others.

Although we usually correlate philanthropy with wealthy people, anybody, regardless of their income, can enjoy the benefits of giving. Here's a case that proves anyone can be a philanthropist within their means:

While serving in the Navy during World War II, Thomas Cannon survived several accidents that killed more than 300 of his shipmates. Cannon credits his escape from these accidents as the reason for his philanthropy. "Such escapes made me believe that I was being preserved for something,” he says.

Cannon, who began donating money in 1972, frequently chose people whom he heard about in the news. Throughout 33 years, Cannon gifted more than $156,000, often by mailing $1,000 checks to the staff of the local newspaper, with instructions about who should receive the money. His charity helped support a local group that volunteered in the elementary school, a woman who started a youth center in her low-income neighborhood and an orphaned teen who was active in his community.

Cannon managed these donations on a $20,000-a-year postal worker salary. In time, he was forced to quit his job and become a full-time caretaker for his wife. That's when much of his philanthropy came back to him, as the community came together to provide him and his wife with a house and medical care.

Before he died, Cannon suggested the best way to honor his memory would be for others to just “Help somebody.”

Gino Pezzani

RE/MAX Heights Realty

www.vanhomesales.com

604-418-9366

1 medium-sized butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

4 cups vegetable broth

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil

Optional toppings: roasted pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of cream, or fresh herbs.

Use an immersion blender or transfer the soup to a blender in batches, and blend until smooth and creamy.

Return the soup to the pot and reheat gently, if needed. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve the butternut squash soup hot, garnished with the optional toppings.

Enjoy this delicious and warming butternut squash soup during the cozy October weather!

Regular exercise can enhance cardiovascular health, even without significant weight loss. Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital studies found up to a 41% reduction in cardiovascular risk from moderate exercise.

This benefit isn't solely attributed to weight changes; only 10% was due to body mass index shifts. Blood biomarkers, blood pressure, and cholesterol improvements accounted for the majority of the risk reduction.

Notably, even light activity that burns 200–599 calories weekly decreased cardiovascular risk by 27%. The study shows that the heart benefits from exercise, which extend beyond the numbers on the scale.

It's great to write to you again. Every October, I'm immediately wrapped up in that cozy autumn vibe - the early sunsets, and the buzz of upcoming holidays. I can practically taste the Thanksgiving turkey!

I love this time of year because it’s the start of what I like to call the “slow, cooler days,” with the changing of the leaves and, for some of us, the whispers of snow. It’s the time when the environment gets rougher and life gets just a smidge more simple. It’s the time for family, close friends, quality time, and hearty food.

Embrace “the slow,” because we know it moves quicker than we think it will. Every year seems to get faster and faster, and this precious time of stillness is an opportunity to lean in, slow down, and just be.

Enjoy the start of the holiday season and enjoy the company of friends and family.

Sincerely,

Gino Pezzani

Your Real Estate Consultant