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12.30.20 | News

2020: A Year in Review

2020 has been a tumultuous year for the world to say the least. But amidst everything, we’ve been hard at work bringing our vision for Sage Collective to life. This year has been one full of successes and exciting milestones for our organization. So today, we’re taking a look back at the year and sharing our proudest moments:

Launched our website and blog

Sage Collective officially came out to the world with the launch of our brand new website in May. Through the website, we share with our audience who we are, what our story is and what we’re here to do. We’ll also be providing timely updates on Sage Collective programming and residences as each initiative progresses.

The Sage Collective website is also home to our blog, Sage Advice, where we share engaging and enriching original content. Blog topics run the gamut from health + wellness advice to cultural insights for living a more vibrant life. We’ve also interviewed many members from our excellent team, who dispel industry-expert insights into topic s such as advice for older adult caretakers and ways to overcome the challenges of COVID-19.

Kicked off social media

To more directly engage with our community, Sage Collective kicked off its social media identity in the fall. Through our profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we post twice a week to share insights from the Sage Advice blog alongside other updates on our organization’s projects. There, we’re continuing to build online relationships with other industry leaders, health + wellness institutions, cultural organizations and community stakeholders + members in order to create real, collective impact.

Acquired our first properties

In the beginning of the year, we were thrilled to purchase our first two properties: 4108 South King Drive and 4112 South King Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. These beautiful and historic side-by-side buildings will become the first manifestation of our vision for vibrant and affordable housing for older adults. Construction on these projects is slated to begin in early 2021; stay tuned for more updates coming soon.

Continued strengthening our team + vision

We wouldn’t be where we are today without our amazing team. The Sage Collective Board of Directors and Leadership Team regularly convened throughout 2020 to further align our vision and upcoming project plans. Together, we bring a collective wealth of knowledge about older adults, senior housing, health + wellness and more to create forward-thinking, innovative strategies for older adult programming, residences and lifestyles.

The successes of this year are just the beginning. We can’t wait to continue learning, growing and doing in 2021 and beyond — and sharing the journey with you.

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12.28.20 | Sage Advice®

The Importance of Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude is both a way of thinking and a way of doing. By definition, it’s the quality of being thankful, as well as the readiness and willingness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. And by practicing gratitude, we open ourselves up to being more connected, more happy and more healthy.

Finding the Good

According to American psychologist Robert Emmons, there are two parts to gratitude. Firstly, it’s “an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received,” he says. While this doesn’t overwrite challenges or frustrations in our lives, it allows us to look at our lives wholly and to always find balance and goodness. Finding good in the world helps us to feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, deal with adversity and even improve mental and physical health.

Becoming More Connected

Secondly, says Emmons, “we recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves…. We acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.” In this way, Emmons describes gratitude as a “relationship-strengthening emotion, because it requires us to see how we’ve been supported and affirmed by other people.” Therefore, practicing gratitude allows us to feel more connected with our surroundings, whether that be nature, our spirituality or the people in our lives. This in turn leads to stronger, more positive relationships.

Practicing Gratitude

So how do we cultivate and strengthen our practice of gratitude?

First, we must notice our surroundings. What or who makes you feel good? This reflection can happen in-the-moment throughout your daily experiences, or later when you have a private moment to yourself for meditation. Many experts recommend keeping a gratitude journal and regularly listing things you’re grateful for.

Savor and absorb the things for which you’re grateful. Once you acknowledge the good things in your life, make sure you enjoy those experiences to the fullest and treat them with the utmost appreciation.

And finally, express your gratitude. Happiness is best when shared — and everyone likes to feel appreciated. Take the time to write a thank you note or voice your gratitude verbally.

We all experience gratitude, but taking the time to acknowledge the feeling and become more intentional with how we engage with it and share with others will make all the difference in the world.