No Tricks, Only Treats! Happy October 🎃

Oh, my ghourdness - October has arrived! As we enter the last quarter of the year, you may already be preparing for the busy holiday season ahead or reflecting on the memories made this past year. But you should take time to embrace the present as well. The concept of presence centers on bringing mindfulness to our daily activities. When we get wrapped up in the same routine day-to-day, week-to-week, our minds often go on autopilot, causing time to feel like it's flying by. Practicing presence through simple acts of mindfulness can help life slow down.  One way you can feel present this month is to indulge in some fall activities. "Leaf peeping," or taking in the beauty of the changing leaves in autumn, is a great way to feel presence. Check out this map to see when the fall foliage is expected to peak across the U.S.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to show support for those who've been impacted by breast cancer and emphasize the importance of routine screenings. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. This year alone, approximately 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. Early detection is critical to ensuring a positive outcome – the five-year survival rate of localized (early-stage) breast cancer is 99%.Though breast cancer primarily affects women, men can be diagnosed with it as well. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing your health and scheduling regular check-ups.

Halloween is fast approaching, and for many, that means decking out their homes with spooktacular décor. In an attempt to match last year’s record $12.2 billion that U.S. consumers spent on Halloween, theme parks and retailers are rolling out their spine-chilling events and products earlier than ever. In recent years, towering animatronic skeletons have been the hot item gracing yards. However, if a 12-foot skeleton isn't your style, have no fear – there are many other on-trend décor ideas that may suit your taste. From bright retro floral prints to dramatic taper candles to Beetlejuice-inspired décor (thanks to the recently released sequel), there are plenty of ways you can add a unique twist to your Halloween display.

What's scarier than ghosts, ghouls, and goblins? Discovering your digital information has been compromised. It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month, and though we may not have the perfect potion to keep your personal information safe, here are some tips to help you protect yourself:

• Use multi-factor authentication to access important accounts such as your email. This gives you an extra layer of protection should your account be hacked.
• Create strong passwords that are unique for each account/site and use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
• Don't delay software updates on your devices, as they may include important security fixes that can help keep you safe. Consider setting up automatic updates to minimize your risk.
• Avoid falling for phishing schemes through email, text, and social media by taking an extra moment to evaluate if a message is legit before clicking on links or downloading attachments.
• Back up important documents regularly on an external hard drive in case you need to restore corrupted, lost, or stolen data due to computer viruses or damage.

Protecting your information is a priority for us. We take proactive and intentional steps to safeguard your information against cybersecurity threats. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions or concerns regarding online security, your finances, or anything else that may be on your mind. Wishing you and your loved ones a boo-tiful October!