Smart Senior

Senior to Senior: Reading

Reading Are you reading as much as you used to? It’s a fair question. When we were kids “book worms” ruled. A trip to the library was the highlight of the week. Yes, I am talking about the years before television, before cell phones, and before Saturday matinees became mainstream. Reading for pleasure is still one of life’s greatest gifts. Whether you have been a lifelong reader or just someone who thought “maybe someday” you would have time to catch up. Now you have a new reason; researchers say that we need to do something to challenge our brains. Unfortunately, poor health or physical disabilities may stand in your way. Decreased vision, hand issues, medication side effects, pain, and even lack of sleep may make curling up with a good book difficult. Don’t give up. A good book can still be your best friend. Books engage your mind. If you are sad and need to laugh, you can read a book on humor. If you feel your life has gone stale, a book with new ideas or challenges can inspire you to do great things. So, what do you do when age related issues make it difficult to indulge in your favorite pastime? • Talk to your doctor if you feel that medications, sleeplessness or other physical issues make it hard for you to concentrate. • See your eye doctor regularly. Your problems may be explained away with a new pair of glasses. • Prop heavy books on a pillow or use a book holder. • Electronic readers are lightweight, have backlights, and you can turn the page or enlarge print with the tap of a finger. Trouble concentrating? A special quiet reading nook, reading out loud, listening to an audio while following along in a book, or use a bookmark to hold your place as you move down the page. Read for pleasure, read to learn, or read to exercise your brain. Find a book that inspires you, appeals to your sense of adventure, or just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

Senior to Senior: Mindful Knitting

My mother could knit the most beautiful Norwegian ski sweaters you’ve ever seen, me not so much. The last thing I remember knitting was a long green scarf when helping out our Girl Scout leader. I know enough about knitting to know that a real craftswoman can turn out unbelievably even stitches, and without even looking down at her hands, but that isn’t enough. I wasn’t terribly surprised when I read a newspaper article about a major corporation suggesting that their employees take up “mindful knitting” to help them relax. Who knew, maybe our mothers and grandmothers were on to something, besides adding sweaters and mittens to our wardrobes. The focus of knitting used to be to produce sweaters, scarves, booties and blankets, but now knitting is being taught as a way to meditate. Knitting, they say, can lower your blood pressure and improve your mental health. When you doing something by rote whether it be knitting, coloring or scrapbooking, the mind can relax. If they had told me that knitting was the new yoga way back when, I might have looked at it differently. Instead of fuming over dropped stitches I could have viewed the repetitive motion and the soothing click of the needles as a subtle meditative technique. The upside is you don’t have to go to a yoga studio to achieve this inner peace; you can knit any time and any place. Its not about what you make that is important. Paying attention to each stitch and the rhythmic pace of doing the same thing over and over can be soothing. Hobbies that require mindful, solitary activity such as knitting can help break the stress cycle. Knit simply for the sake of knitting. You can be creative but if knitting the same scarf over and over works for you, that is fine too. Go ahead and use different colors and different yarns if variety is important to you, and if one of those pieces becomes a thing of beauty, you can give it as a gift. Don’t roll your eyes if a boss or a friend hints that “mindful knitting” might be good for you.

Senior to Senior: Mindful Knitting

My mother could knit the most beautiful Norwegian ski sweaters you’ve ever seen, me not so much. The last thing I remember knitting was a long green scarf when helping out our Girl Scout leader. I know enough about knitting to know that a real craftswoman can turn out unbelievably even stitches, and without even looking down at her hands, but that isn’t enough. I wasn’t terribly surprised when I read a newspaper article about a major corporation suggesting that their employees take up “mindful knitting” to help them relax. Who knew, maybe our mothers and grandmothers were on to something, besides adding sweaters and mittens to our wardrobes. The focus of knitting used to be to produce sweaters, scarves, booties and blankets, but now knitting is being taught as a way to meditate. Knitting, they say, can lower your blood pressure and improve your mental health. When you doing something by rote whether it be knitting, coloring or scrapbooking, the mind can relax. If they had told me that knitting was the new yoga way back when, I might have looked at it differently. Instead of fuming over dropped stitches I could have viewed the repetitive motion and the soothing click of the needles as a subtle meditative technique. The upside is you don’t have to go to a yoga studio to achieve this inner peace; you can knit any time and any place. Its not about what you make that is important. Paying attention to each stitch and the rhythmic pace of doing the same thing over and over can be soothing. Hobbies that require mindful, solitary activity such as knitting can help break the stress cycle. Knit simply for the sake of knitting. You can be creative but if knitting the same scarf over and over works for you, that is fine too. Go ahead and use different colors and different yarns if variety is important to you, and if one of those pieces becomes a thing of beauty, you can give it as a gift. Don’t roll your eyes if a boss or a friend hints that “mindful knitting” might be good for you.

Senior to Senior: Talking to Strangers

Once again, researchers are doing studies on a subject that to us “older folks” is common knowledge. They could have just asked us. We might not have used words like “psychological benefits,” but we’ve always known that talking to strangers is a civilized thing to do. When we grew up, we knew everyone in the neighborhood, and everyone in the neighborhood knew us. The word stranger wasn’t even in our vocabulary, but times have changed. Our children and our children’s children have been cautioned, practically since birth, not to talk to strangers. Not talking to strangers morphed into avoiding contact and being careful not to invade anyone’s “personal space,” and this was before cell phone relationships even existed. Researchers are now studying what this current level of social isolation means. The Wall Street Journal ran an article the other day (Monday, May 13th) by Elizabeth Bernstein. The author talked about importance, and the benefits, of interacting with people outside of your immediate social circle. Our children, at one time or another, have all told us that we embarrassed them when we talked to strangers. I hope you ignored them and went on being your old friendly selves. We don’t need researches to tell us, although that is exactly what they are doing, that talking to strangers improves everyday experiences. Studies show that insignificant interactions, like giving a complement or asking a cashier how there day is going, is good for us. You both get a little jolt of happiness even though you are strangers and may never see one another again. Lifting your head and engaging with the person standing next to you is worth the effort. People are happier when they connect with others. Do a little study on your own. You are surrounded by strangers every time you walk down the street. When you exchange a word, a smile or a compliment, you are reaching out. You are sending a message that says you are recognizing each other’s humanity, without making any demands on their time or yours. Cool huh.

Senior to Senior: Forgiveness and Longevity

Dwelling on past failures, disappointments and perceived slights is bad for your health. Advice columnists field questions about family and work dynamics every day, and most of them deal with wounded feelings, grudges, anger, and perceived slights. Psychologists, pastors, advice columnists, and medical researchers all agree that anger and resent are bad for your health and well-being, and may indeed shorten your life. Anger and resentment are perfectly natural; it is the way humans react to real or perceived injustice. Unfortunately, this fight or flight reaction makes them vulnerable to chronic anxiety, serious depression, general distrust, poor self-esteem, and the sense of hopelessness that makes them miserable. Forgiveness, it seems, is a really big deal. Forgiveness is not always about reconciling or pardoning someone because of a perceived wrong, but about whether or not you are able to let it go. Forgiveness is personal; it is an intellectual decision to give up being angry and moving on. You may be wondering what forgiveness has to do with happiness and longevity, but your body knows. Physiologically speaking, hanging on to anger and resentment triggers stress hormones. Stress, as you already know, increases the chance of heart attacks, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a host of other chronic illnesses. Forgiveness isn’t all that easy. If it were you wouldn’t find so many people seeking professional help. The advice is pretty much the same whether you attend counseling sessions, read self-help books, attend support groups, or write to advice columnists. They all have you start by: • Acknowledging your anger • Deciding you want to forgive the slight. • Changing the way you perceive the situation. • Offering an apology and moving on There be more steps but the ball is in your court. Hostility is not good for you. Forgiveness is essential for healthy living. Allow yourself to be a better person; exchange your anger, bitterness, hatred and depression for joy, peace and freedom.

Senior Living: Kindness and Longevity

Diet, exercise and socialization pave the way to a long and healthy life, but researchers are now saying that “happiness” plays an equally important role, and it is a lot more fun. Last week we touched on the importance of goal setting; why people are happiest when they have a reason to get up every morning, but is that enough? Keeping busy (having a goal) is important, but you aren’t off the hook yet. Your assignment for this week is to practice being kind, both to yourself and to others. Being kind isn’t all that hard, but you may need to give it a little thought. Don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to be faster than a speeding bullet or able to leap tall buildings in a single bound to show that you care. What does this have to do with longevity? Researchers assure us that engaging in little acts of kindness actually make you “feel good,” and all without costing you a thing. If “feeling good” isn’t scientific enough for you we can talk about how the body releases dopamine, a natural mood elevator, and endorphins, which contribute to a natural sense of well-being. With dopamine and endorphins on board you are ready to focus on the rest of your life. Squelch feelings such as fear, anxiety, sadness, depression, anger and hostility and do something nice. An act of kindness can go so far as to reduce stresses, lift emotions, and decreases negative feelings. Simple acts of kindness: • Let someone go ahead of you in line • Hold the door for someone, and smile. • Let a car merge ahead. • Pick up trash at a park or playground. • Send a card or e-mail just to say hello. • Volunteer time or goods to local charities. Yes, the verdict is in; being kind is good for everyone involved. Extending the holiday spirit throughout the year may well be the easiest way to improve your health. Living a long and happy life is indeed a bonus.

Senior Living: Happiness and Longevity

Longevity is in the news again, but what does it all mean. You’ve probably discovered by now that old age is catching up with you, even if you have played by all the rules. A healthy diet, exercise, plenty of rest, and social engagements have stood you in good stead, but researchers now tell us that it is not enough. The real key to longevity, they say, is “happiness.” That sounds easy enough, but is it? What if you are not a “feel good” happy kind of person. Does that mean that you can’t have a few more good years? Is it possible to learn how to be happy? Psychologist say that the odds are in our favor. Odds sounds a lot like math, but then numbers are something that we can all understand. Researchers suggest that 50% of our ability to be happy is genetically determined, 10% is governed by what is going on in our lives, and the rest is up to us. We are gifted with a 40% chance of making significant changes in our lives. Happy people enjoy the company of others and they enjoy setting “happiness goals.” Happiness is thought to encompass one’s ability to be grateful, forgiving, kind, optimistic and resilient. Big words that sound a lot like work, but we have time. Start by setting some goals. Think of goal setting as making a big to-do list. Goal setting, after all, is the best way to come up with a plan. A plan for today, a plan for the week, for the month, for the year and for a lifetime. You may think that you are too old to have goals, but give it some thought: • Goals setting is a sign that you have control over your life. • Goal setting gives structure and meaning to your life. • Goal setting stimulates your mind. Having goals serves as a reminder that you can still learn, contribute, and share. It is never too late to be a better and a happier person. Consider it a plus if it helps you live longer.

Senior Living: Smile

Electronic gadgets have made it easier to communicate, but they have robbed us of what I like to call the “human touch.” Somewhere along the line we have lost the ability to make contact with real flesh and blood people. When was the last time you smiled at a stranger? We can’t blame seniors for this, but they aren’t as helpful as they could be. Seniors are hardly ever portrayed as happy smiling individuals, which could be the reason why movies like Grumpy Old Men are so popular. When did people start losing touch? Did it happen all at once or did it happen gradually? When did being self-absorbed and aloof become the norm? Is it that people are too busy or too preoccupied to make the effort, or are they afraid that their smile won’t be returned? It could just be that they are just shy, or that a rebuff might remind them of what they have lost; small-town friendliness. Think of a smile as paying your good cheer forward. Put a smile on your face when you wake up, and keep on smiling throughout the day. Think about it; you might make a new friend or cheer up a sad soul. Experiment a little. Smile at the first 10 people you meet today and see what happens. It doesn’t have to be a big toothy smile, just a little upward curve of your lips will do. Don’t be afraid. What’s the worst that could happen? If they don’t smile back or if they give you a weird look, that’s their problem not yours. Why anyone want to walk around with an unpleasant negative frown when, with a little bit of effort, they could look pleasant and approachable. Who is the weird one now? A smile is universal. It costs nothing and it takes only a few minutes. Say hello to people that you pass on the street, in the hall at work, or to the neighbor working in his yard. Be a role model; teach your grandkids the importance of a smile.

Senior Living: Celebrate Winter

The holidays are over. The company has gone home, the tree is out at the curb, and the decorations have put away; you may be feeling a little lonely. Know that you are not alone. The long drab days of winter give most of us the heebie-jeebies. Researchers tell us that the winter blues aren’t as prevalent as once feared, but it is fine if you beg to differ. Winter can be, should be, a time to indulge your “inner child” and carve out time for yourself. Make your own sunshine. Decorating for the holidays was great fun but don’t stop there. Instead of dreading winter, decide to celebrate it. Winter is the time for homemade apple pie, chicken noodle soup, and cinnamon rolls made from scratch. The kitchen is a friendly place; try some new recipes. Do something different. Beat the “winter blues” by re-decorating your house; create a “feel good” zone. Rearrange your furniture to showcase the fireplace or the picture window in the living room. Go shopping; buy pretty table runners, tons of pillows, a new bedspread, pictures, flowers, and anything you can think of to lighten up and brighten up your home. Connect with friends. Catch up on e-mails, letter writing and phone calls. If you are stuck at home and feeling lonely, chances are your friends are too. Stop listening to the news and play soothing music instead. Make yourself a cup of tea and settle into a routine. Keep busy. Now is the time to accomplish tasks you have been putting off, or start on new or to be continued hobbies. Sign up for classes if you feel a need to get out of the house. Now is the time to take care of yourself. Exercise and make appointments for routine physical and dental examinations. Give each season its due. Winter is the time to renew your body and your spirit.

Senior Living: Dealing With Holiday Blues

If binge-watching warm fuzzy movies doesn’t do the trick, you might need to think of other “feel good” pursuits to help you navigate the holidays. You are not alone if you have mixed feeling about the holidays, but at least give yourself a chance. People smile more, give more, and interact with others more often during the holidays, and we all need that. Don’t let the holiday doldrums keep you from spreading a little joy. It’s true, family activities and community expectations can be overwhelming, but take a deep breath and take it all in. Decide if it worse to feel pressured because you have “too much” to do, or to be depressed because you are all alone and don’t have enough to do? You too can get through the holidays with your sanity intact: • Plan ahead. Be realistic about what you want to accomplish before the holidays arrive. Those hit the hardest are the classic last-minute shoppers and those who volunteer to do too much. • Take care of yourself. It isn’t good to isolate yourself but don’t shop or party until you drop either. Indulge yourself. Treat yourself to a massage or have one of those delicious hot steamed apple cider drinks only available this time of year. • Don’t over extend yourself. Parcel out your moments when it comes to how much time you can spend on decorating, shopping, baking, PTA responsibilities, sending cards or attending or hosting parties. • Take advantage of social opportunities even if you don’t feel like it. If partying isn’t your cup of tea, and it isn’t everyone’s, invite others to come to you. If you live alone volunteer to help out at your church or community center. Recognize that it may be time to let some holiday responsibilities go. You want to stay in the loop, but be realistic about what you can or cannot do. Give yourself time to smile more, give more and interact with others more.