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Living Long, Living Well: Lessons from Japan

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:September 15, 2020
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Japan’s centenarian population just passed 80,000 for the first time ever. The Blue Zones research that looked at longevity hot spots throughout the world included Okinawa in Japan.One of the longevity practices the Blue Zones project identified among Okinawans was strong social connections—some of these connections were life-long. Physical activity and diet were also identified as keys to healthy, longer lives.One of the individuals credited with helping people in his country to live longer and better was Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, the author of Living Long, Living Good. Dr. Hinohara passed in 2017 at the age of 105. At the time,…

Challenges & Unexpected Growth Opportunities

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:September 7, 2020
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I'll admit, I've become accustomed to my routines, even ones that didn't make sense. In some ways; I had become like the proverbial hamster running around on the wheel. Yes, I'm technically 'retired' from being on the treadmill of working full-time, but I still enjoy and need a certain amount of structure, as do all of us. Sometimes I need a few unexpected challenges to pay attention to the small stuff and make appropriate corrections. I think such challenges also offer new growth opportunities --not a bad thing. No Time to Ignore a Flood When I got our water bill…

Election Could Profoundly Affect Older Adults

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:September 6, 2020
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For all of us who are fifty and older, the 2020 elections – at the national, state, and local levels could profoundly affect our lives. All of us need to know where candidates stand on specific issues such as the protection of Social Security and Medicare, health care and drug costs, COVID-19, racial inequality, the economy, social issues, immigration, crime, taxes, and climate change, among others. It is important for us to look beyond the promises any candidate makes. We’ve got to closely examine not only what a candidate claims but their credibility, their history, the evidence they use for…

Listen More to Live Your Best Life

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:September 2, 2020
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Today, I remembered to Listen! Before it got too hot, I took a brisk walk around a local pond and then up a hill. At first, I didn’t pay much attention to anything at first, but then I focused on the natural symphony all around me. I noticed the sound of ducks splashing in the water, the whirl of insect swarms near patches of blackberries, the crunch of dried grass under my feet, and the rapid tapping of a woodpecker near an oak grove. To enjoy all that was around me, I had to intentionally focus outward so that I…

Adults 50+ Must Carefully Analyze Political Promises

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 31, 2020
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For all of us who are fifty and older, the 2020 elections – at the national, state, and local levels could profoundly affect our lives. All of us need to know where candidates stand on specific issues such as the protection of Social Security and Medicare, health care and drug costs, COVID-19, racial inequality, the economy, social issues, immigration, crime, taxes, and climate change, among others. It is important for us to look beyond the promises any candidate makes. We’ve got to closely examine not only what a candidate claims but their credibility, their history, the evidence they use for…

Living Life with Purpose in the 7th Stage

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 27, 2020
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Each spring I plant three or four tomato plants. I eagerly wait until about early July and then I start picking fresh, ripe fruit. What joy! At the end of the season, I pull up all my old, baron plants and start preparing for another season. I planted three tomato plants this year. Each plant produced fresh, attractive, and fleshy fruit. When I started harvesting, I noticed that I had several other plants in my garden that were also producing a variety of tomatoes. These ‘volunteer’ plants as some call them came from some of last year’s tomatoes that I…

COVID-19 Precautions for Older Workers

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 23, 2020
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You may think you have read or heard all you ever want to know about COVID-19. However, if you are still in the workplace, you will likely find this guest post informative and practical. What Could Happen with You or Your Job If You or a Member of Your Household Tests Positive for COVID-19? By Patrick Bailey The COVID-19 pandemic has turned just about everyone's lives upside down. The way that we live has changed dramatically since the epidemic began. Rather than spending the summer hosting barbecues, attending concerts, and going to other events, people are staying home. Certain…

Keeping Up with Technology as We Age is Essential

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 21, 2020
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I love what neuroscientist Danial Leviton shared about how we often gain wisdom as we age—we have more experiences, we have the ability to make more associations in our thinking, we can recognize patterns, and get better at using analogies. However, our ability to quickly learn and retain new information might not be as easy as we age. Nonetheless, because we are living in a rapidly evolving technology-dependent environment, we have to patiently learn what we need to know. I am not afraid of technology. I started teaching online in 1998 and continued to teach some of my courses online…

Is Social Security a Sinking Ship?

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 17, 2020
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Social Security Realities, Risks, and RecommendationsAs it is often referred to as “an entitlement,” it is easy to get the impression that Social Security is a government give-away program. The reality is that Social Security is primarily funded by payroll taxes (FICA). Employees and employers both contribute 6.2 percent “up to the taxable maximum of $137,700.” If you work long enough, you could be eligible to start drawing on Social Security as early as your sixty-second birthday (if you are willing to accept reduced benefits).Social Security’s Role in RetirementSocial Security helps keep older adults financially afloat—though for some, not by…

Inspiration for Positive Aging: Sharing Our Stories

Post Author:Paula Usrey
Post published:August 14, 2020
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On May 15, 2019, I published our first monthly Boomer Best U Newsletter. My purpose in doing so was to provide information and encouragement for those who wanted to live their best lives beyond fifty. When launching this project, I decided to include a regular feature story about an individual who was an example of positive aging. I just completed my seventeenth feature story for the August 15th issue of our newsletter. The feedback we’ve received about these stories has suggested that they have encouraged and inspired others. After interviewing women and men from a wide range of backgrounds…