Monthly Archives: December 2020

Looking Back, Looking Forward, Offering Hope

In less than one week, 2020 will be behind us. Most all of us will be relieved when the clock strikes midnight and 2021 begins. Yet for those of us who have been around for at least 50, 60, or 70+ years, we know that while we have reason to be hopeful, it will take time for meaningful change to take place.  With our hindsight, an increased ability to see a better future, and our ability to adapt, we have a significant role to play as our country starts a long journey towards healing. Looking back, Looking Forward A Pandemic…

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Poetry: Well-Being, Mental Stimulation & Connection

Some recent studies have suggested that poetry can improve well-being and benefit our memories. “When a person reads or listens to poetry, MRIs have shown that certain regions in the brain’s right hemisphere that are linked to reward and emotion light up” after being activated. Results from other MRI studies have revealed that poetry can help support our memory.As reported in a 2007 Issues in Mental Health Nursing journal from the University of Tennessee, writing poetry as a form of creativity can be particularly beneficial as we age. Based on a study involving older adults, findings suggested that writing poetry…

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Aging and The Beauty of Community

For many of us, the holiday season—typically a time of family and social gatherings—is shaping up as an experience like no other. Some of us in the neighborhood wondered if we even wanted to bother with outside decorations. Due to the pandemic, many of us who are older aren’t planning on having any company. But then just a day after Thanksgiving, some of our neighbors started stringing lights on their homes and setting up deer, snowmen, even a grinch or two on their lawns. Within about a week, our block started looking like Disneyland at night. Why were we all…

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Grab a Coat: Outdoor Exercise Offers Health Benefits

I can’t believe that just a little over a month ago, I was still wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts when taking afternoon walks. For the past week, I’ve been wearing a wool hat, gloves, and a coat when heading outdoors. If it is raining, I also carry an umbrella.  No matter what the weather, I do try to take walks as often as possible because of the added health benefits being outdoors offers. A Mood Enhancer According to a Harvard Medical School article, spending time outside can lighten our mood, help us relax, and decrease depression. Let’s face it, this…

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