October 2020 - Boomerbestu.com

Resilience is Key for Positive Aging

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 29, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Less than two weeks ago, I was able to enjoy morning walks wearing sleeveless tank tops. Most afternoons, I could still wear shorts while working in the yard or taking hikes. Early last week, we had our first frost and have had several frosty mornings since then. As much as I wanted to continue basking in the early autumn sun, that season is quickly coming to an end. This morning, I adapted to the cooler weather by wearing a sweatshirt, a heavy coat, and winter gloves. I even put the dog’s coat on him before taking our walk. It felt…

Letting Go, Embracing a New Season

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 21, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Our local weather station reports that temperatures in our area may dip to near freezing tonight. I was still wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts last week. This morning I wore a sweatshirt and long pants when I went for a walk. I plan to put an extra blanket on the bed tonight. Change happens. Seasons Change. Life changes. We can usually manage change when we learn to embrace it. It Was a Season of Freedom About thirty-five years ago, I started running. I was never the fastest person on foot, but I enjoyed participating in “fun” runs and having the…

Is it Possible to Live Life without Regrets?

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 18, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Imagine that you have almost reached the finish line of your life’s journey. You take a moment to consider how far you’ve come and what your life has meant to you and to others. Along with all of the actions that have given you joy or a sense of pride, will you have any regrets? Common End-of-Life Regrets Professor Amy Summerville who studies regret says that it means “feeling bad because things could have been better if we had done something differently in the past.” Bronnie Ware, a nurse who spent years caring for people at the end of their…

Setting Necessary Boundaries During a Pandemic

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 8, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Even though leading health experts advise wearing a mask and keeping socially distanced during the pandemic could save lives, we know that too many people are ignoring this advice. Certainly, some are refusing to take prescribed precautions because of political views. Others choose to ignore these safety recommendations when it is not convenient for them. All of us have both the right and the responsibility to set boundaries for our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others around us. But sometimes other people will unwittingly try to push us beyond the healthy boundaries that we have set for ourselves. Challenges…

Elder Wise: Sharing Wisdom in New Ways

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:October 3, 2020
Post Category:All / Positive Aging Blog
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Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin explains in his book, Successful Aging, that as we get older, it is common to lose some of our sharpness. We may get distracted more easily and can’t recall things as quickly as we once could. But at the same time, Levitin says we gain wisdom with age due to our experiences, our ability to recognize patterns, the connections we can make, and the analogies we can use. Because we may think a bit differently, it is not that hard to understand why younger adults might consider older adults as being “out of touch” or no longer…