"Appreciate your work in Safety Nets. One of mine is a men's group that has met regularly for 16 years - a great bond."
Cool Free Downloads
What's a "Cool Free Download?" It's cool (and very useful) if it makes you think, helps you plan, provides you with new and unique information, helps assist you with solving problems, or simply makes you smile. We're always looking for worthy, useful and interesting articles, materials, lists, worksheets, and information to put in front of you. You need not have Personal Safety Net expertise or knowledge to enjoy a Download - our aim is to cover the bases of life's challenges.
Most of the Downloads are in PDF format and can be read or printed by you at your convenience. Very rarely will we take you to another site to read a Download - but if we do (as in the case of our story: 8000 Free College Courses) then you'll see: it's worth it!
We try to cover a wide variety of subjects and needs with the Downloads - from planning to send your child to college, to planning for a new roommate, to getting prepared for retirement. We also provide supplemental pages to our book and workbook - for those of you want to keep current on Safety Net trends and knowledge. We're also continually adding new Downloads - so check back from time to time. We also take suggestions, so feel free to write or send us your suggestions.
Dieters Beware: Calorie Counts May Not Be Real
A new study that we follow tells us that prepared foods contain an average of 8% more calories than what their packaging label says. And restaurant meals can contain up to 18% more calories than what the menu claims. And perhaps the worst news is that the Food and Drug Administration says these margins of error are perfectly O.K. Read on for the whole story.
Food Packaging Traps - 5 Nutrition-Savvy Tips
When we walk into a store, emblazoned on nearly everry box, bag and bottle on every shelf is a multitude of nutritional claims - screaming, "Buy me! Buy me!" But remember: claims are marketing ploys, pure and simple! So we've provided some rules to follow to make you a truly savvy shopper.
The Best Foods You Probably Aren't Eating - But Should!
The author of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth gives us a list of eleven foods that are easy to find, but don't always find their way into our shopping carts. Here's an easy list to read and take directly to the grocery store.
Cardiac Rehab - The Gym & Health Benefits for Your Heart
A new study on cardiac rehab tells us that "more is better." Patients who suffered heart attacks, or undergone bypass graft surgery, or been hospitalized for chronic stable angina (chest pain after exertion) lived longer and had fewer subsequent heart attacks when they had more rehab sessions. Check out the research and PSN's take on getting to the gym.
Does Age Affect Attitudes on Hope?
Our Canadian friends in Alberta have been doing their research and provide some telling answers to the question, how do people of different ages view hope?
Attitudes on Health & Hope
Continuing on with their research, we follow the Hope Foundation as it tests if there is even a link between health and hope. And what is the definition of hope as defined by those of differing degrees of health. This is interesting reading.
Giving Hope
How do we help others to see an find hope? It's not all that hard if you have a plan and find a way to get involved. Read about the essential story of having and being part of a Personal Safety Net.
What Good Is Hope?
Follow a simple experiment and learn how to face challenges; see challenges as overwhelming and you're likely to be defeated; attack them with a plan, support and hope, and you'll overcome.
Hope - The Inner Fire
What are the attitudes and behaviors that have helped survivors? Two doctors provide us a description, along with a rationale of why hope is most important from a patient standpoint. Find out why there is not tonic as powerful as the expectation of somethig better tomorrow.
10 Ways for Families to Foster Hope
Here's a simple set of items to help you and your family build very positive skills. You can take one and make it the family activity for the week, or you can provide positive feedback every time your famiy hits on one of these methods. In any case, you'll be better for following along.
Paul, in NY