Blog Posts

Health and Wellness: Hydration vs Dehydration - the liquid gold of life or a killer?

5/8/2020

What is one of the most common ailments related to the over 50 adult? What is responsible for a variety of illnesses and ailments in most adults, but specifically if you are over the age of 50? What is the easiest cause of illness and ailments to remedy? The answer might surprise yo - it's water, dehydration.

Do you know what can happen to your body if you don't drink enough water? Most people don't connect dehydration with these symptoms, illnesses, or ailments. Most people turn to medications to treat the symptoms, never considering the "why".

Well, today I want you to consider the "why" if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Very dry skin
Feeling dizzy
Rapid heartbeat
Rapid breathing
Sunken eyes
Constipation
not peeing or very dark yellow pee
sleepiness
lack of energy
confusion or irritability
headache
dry mouth
inability to lose weight
fever over 101
low blood pressure upon standing
in extreme cases - seizures

(NOTE: Any of the above symptoms can indicate mild or severe dehydration. You need to decide if you think you can self hydrate or if you need medical help. Don't take chances by self treating, if you have severe symptoms. Seek medical help.)

How important is it for the over 50 person to stay hydrated?

Extremely! Why is more dangerous for an older person to become dehydrated? Brain cells will sometimes try to store water to quickly and that can result in damage to cells and even the rupturing of brain cells. This is more likely to happen in someone over the age of 50. I have known several people over 50 who were hospitalized for being dehydrated when they thought they were just really tired.

What are the best drinks if you are deydrated? Here's some suggestions:

Water - this is the best way to stay hydrated
Electrolyte infused water
Gatorade
Coconut water
Pedialyte
Skim and low fat milk
fruits and vegetables
coffee and tea

If you are experiencing severe symptoms of dehydration, see your doctor. You may need IV fluids or special hydration fluids. Don't just reach for the pain reliever or sleep excessively. Try more water first.

The best thing is to not get dehydrated in the first place. Most health professionals agree that you should drink eight 8 ounce glasses of water each day. That would be 64 ounces through the whole day. This seems to be the minimum amount needed. Some medical professionals think we need a little more than 64 ounces.

Drinking water is the liquid gold of life.The bottom line is no matter what age you are, you should drink water, the recommended average is eight-eight ounce glasses per day, but especially important if you are over the age of 50. The benefits of staying hydrated are enormous.

DRINK UP!

How much water do you drink in a day? Do you increase your water consumption if you are active outdoors on a hot summer day? Have you ever been dehydrated? What symptoms did you experience?

XOXO

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Life: If a Friend disagrees with you, are they still your friend?

5/1/2020

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"My best friend is the one who brings out the best
in me."
Henry Ford

Everyone wants a friend that they can depend on to be there for them when no one else is. Someone who will let them be who they are without judgments. A friend who understands you and loves you anyway, even when they know all your faults.

What if that person doesn't always agree with your way of thinking or doesn't always back you up in a dispute or disagrees with some of your decisions and lets you know it, are they still a friend?

The answer to that question depends on what you want from a friend. Do you want someone who let's you know when you are messin' up? When you thinking wrongly? Or do you want someone who is always in your corner, whether you are right or wrong?

I have known some from both sides of that argument. Some people i know like to have a friend who will be honest with them no matter what, but still stands with them no matter if they are right or wrong. Some people I know will not be friends with anyone who disagrees with them or who doesn't see things the same way they do. Everyone has needs and everyone's needs are different. Or are they?

Deep down to the core of what a true friendship means is the same for everyone - trust. We all want that one friend that we can trust with the bad stuff as well as the good stuff about us. They may not always agree with us, but they always support our right to our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. They accept us for who we are with all our weaknesses and all our strengths.

If someone doesn't agree with you, it doesn't mean that they are not a good friend. Just as you most likely won't always agree with your friend all the time, that doesn't mean you are not a good friend to them.

Personally, I would rather have a friend who is honest with me, even if I don't always like what they have to say, but still supports me regardless if we see eye-to-eye, than someone who lets me make mistakes that they may have prevented or wants me to agree with everything they say. I want someone who accepts me, faults and all and I will do the same for them.

"A friend is someone who gives you
total freedom
to be
yourself."
Jim Morrison

Sometimes it takes getting older to realize what is valuable in a friendship. When we are young, most of us just wanted to be accepted. Some of us may have compromised our needs or beliefs in order to find that acceptance. When we were young, we may have had a spat with a friend that lead to more misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Now that we are older, hopefully we know how to handle those differences (spats) and not let them ruin a good friendship.

You decide:

1. Do you want a "friend" who always agrees with you even when you are wrong?

2. Do you want a "friend" who will stand with you against others, but then in private tell you where you messed up?

3. Do you want a "friend" who can be trusted with all your faults as well as all your strengths?

4. What kind of a "friend" are you?

"The most I can do for
my friend is simply be his friend."
Henry David Thoreau

No one lives forever and a good friend or two can make getting older a lot easier and happier. Don't let foolish little spats or differences in opinions ruin an otherwise good friendship. People with friends live longer and happier lives than those who are isolated or are always mad at someone.

"Friendship is unnecessary,
like philosophy, like art...
It has no survival value;
rather it is one of those things that give value to survival."
C. S. Lewis

Do you find it easier or harder to make friends as you get older? Do you find that you are more accepting of their faults as you both age? Have you ever lost a good friend over a insignificant difference of opinion or a ridiculous spat? What kind of a friend are you?

XOXO

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Creativity: Now is the time to learn something new - Links to Creative Sites for the Over 50 Adult

4/24/2020

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If you read my blog regularly you know that I believe in staying active physically and mentally. Now with the "order to stay home", this is the perfect time to learn something new and expand your brain cell connectivity for a healthier brain as we age.

It doesn't matter if you have never painted, written anything other than letters and grocery lists, sewn anything, or only speak English, you can learn something new.

Even if you start to learn something new and you find it difficult, don't give up. Stick to it. Everything is hard in the beginning, but as you progress everything gets easier.

The difficult thing for me is choosing what to learn. I have so many things that I want to learn, I have trouble choosing just one to focus on. I hope this is your problem, too.

Here are a few ways art and creativity help our mind and our souls:

A Harvard Women's Health Watch article, dated July 2017, states that anyone can benefit from creating art to control anger, stress, mental decline, depression, and other mental issues. You can read their fascinating article here: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/the-healing-power-of-art

Art from the Streets posted an article, dated August 2017, that provides five ways art benefits mental health. The five benefits they highlight are: art relieves stress, encourages creative thinking, it boosts self esteem and a sense of accomplishment, it encourages brain activity, and it makes for a better quality of life in dementia patients. You can read their short but informative article here: https://artfromthestreets.org/blogs/news/five-great-mental-health-benefits-of-art

Medical News Today has an excellent article about how creative expression, whether it be painting, writing, dancing, playing music, or any creative activity, increases our immunity to diseases and illnesses. It has the potential to speed recovery and encourages healthy healing. The article can be found here, it's worth the read: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320947#Brain-boosting-effects

Now that we know the multitude of health benefits from creating, viewing, or participating in art, where do we begin?
Actually, you can begin right where you are at this very moment.

You can start by any of the following ways and in any other way you can think of:

Start a journal by writing your thoughts down.
Listen to various types of music, include music you rarely listen to or have never listened to. Expand your taste in music.
Start coloring in a coloring book. A child's coloring book or an adult coloring book, whatever you have available.
Put on music and dance...all by yourself.

Here is a brief list of links to sites, videos, podcasts, and vendors that offer a variety of courses or projects that can help you meet any goal you have for yourself. This is a short list, there are many, many more online if you just take time to search for them.

Check these out:

https://www.tipsyartist.com/tipsy-artist-kits The Tipsy Artist - My FAVORITE painting class. I have taken her courses many times and I love them. Anyone can do them and they are inexpensive.

https://thequiltshow.com/
The Quilt Show - A good place to take online classes to earn to quilt. Some are free, some are not. They have a lot of free things to do, like online quilt related jigsaw puzzles and quilt block matching games. You can browse the gallery and see award winning quilts. This site is full of stuff.

https://www.classcentral.com/course/winning-resumes -5477
Class Central - Offers a variety of free courses from resume writing to creative writing. If you want to learn to write better, check this site out for free courses. This link is to their free resume writing course, as an example.

http://audiria.com/index.ph p
Audiria - An excellent podcast and website to learn Spanish. I have used Learn Spanish Con Salsa podcast. This is a podcast only format and is also a good way to learn Spanish while walking. If you go to the APPSTORE (for iphones, ipads, macs, etc.) or to GOOGLE PLAY (Android devices), and search by name or subject matter, you will find these two podcasts and a lot of other ones for every language under the sun.

https://www.skillshare.com/browse/art
Skillshare – this site has tons of online classes that are free for 2 months. If after two months you want more, you can enroll in their Premium service for $15.00 per month, if you want to go month to month, or you can pay $99 per year (which is $8.25 per month). Go to their website at the link above and see what they offer.

https://www.coursera.org/learn/biohacking-your-brains-health?action=enroll
Biohacking Your Brain's Health – Coursera offers courses for free and also for a fee. You will need to enroll, but enrollment is free. Check out this course and also the other ones they offer.

These are a few of online resources for creative courses, classes, projects. Art kits, etc. Local stores such as Michael's and JoAnn's offer various craft and art kits that you can order online. Amazon is full of kits that you can order and do at home.

You can also check out art project books, craft books, sewing books, how-to art books, at your local library. These can be hard cover, paperback, or audio.

Regardless, if you're in a lockdown situation or life is back to normal, it is healthy for your mind and soul to do creative projects and create art.

Do you have a creative side? Do you spend time in doing creative projects? What benefits have you realized from the creative activities you participate in? Is your life better? Do you feel you are healthier?

XOXO

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Book Review: If He's So Great, Why Do I Feel So Bad? - by Avery Neal

4/17/2020

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This is an excellent book that I recommend every woman read. Yes, every woman. The author clearly lays out the patterns of emotional abusers.

NOTE: This blog is written about a male abuser and a female victim. However, men could benefit from this book also. It could help a man identify himself as abuser, when he may not know he is. It can also help a man identify his abuser because the same tactics can be used by women to abuse men.)

Abuse comes in all forms not just physical. Sometimes emotional abuse is harder to overcome. Emotional abuse is harder to see than the physical bruises or scars. Often the one being abused doesn't even know they are being abused, they just know they are not happy and don't know why.

Emotional abuse can occur in all relationships:

Daughter/Mom or Dad;
Son/Mom or Dad;
Husband/Wife; Boyfriend/Girlfriend;
between two friends;
and any other relationship.

In this book Avery Neal directs it towards the Male/Female relationship (married or boyfriend/girlfriend).

An emotional abuser is someone who uses certain tactics, practices, concepts, etc., to gain control over another person emotionally.

They can be well liked by everyone , friends, co-workers, members of their church, neighbors, other family members, but with the one they live and sleep with is a different story. They can make that person feel horrible, but also bonded to them in such a way that the person will do anything to make them happy.

How does an abuser gain control over their victim?

A concept called Traumatic Bonding.
This is a when the abuser uses kindness and abusiveness intermingled. One minute he is kind and compassionate, the next he is verbally abusing you. You don't give up because he is, after all, a sweet person – sometimes. This is how he controls you and keeps you.

What are some other clues or results of Emotional Abuse?

Tip Toeing is a self-preservation technique that many women can identify with.

At one time you felt comfortable speaking up and saying what was on your mind. At some point, it changes and you realize if you say a certain thing, he will punish you somehow (verbally). You learn what to say, when to say it, how to say it and what not to say. In the end, you may shut down completely.

Another technique an abusive man may use to make you dependent on him is Gaslighting:

Gaslighting is a term taken from the 1944 movie “Gaslight” with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman.

In the movie Charles Boyer (the husband) does things to cause Ingrid Bergman (the wife) doubt her sanity and rely more on him.

This is a form of psychological abuse. It is making subtle and increasing changes in a relationship to make you feel that you are going crazy. It weakens your self confidence. You become depressed.

The abuser's repentance:
He says he is sorry, but he doesn't change the behavior. He is only saying he is sorry to temporarily appease you. He will not change his behavior because in the end, it works for him in controlling you.

After a few times of apologies and then repeating the behavior, you will probably give up and accept that he will never change. At that moment, he has won the battle.

You may learn to deal with the abuser by "cozying" up to them. You agree with them when you really don't agree, you cave in to avoid conflict.

When your self esteem is low, after repeated psychological abuse, you begin to wonder if their statements are true. The crazier the abuser can make you feel, the more power he has over you.

Here is a list of “possible” reactions of the abuser to control you:

When you don't say, do, or react the way they want you to, they lash out at you (sometimes in the form of yelling or insulting).

The abuser gives you the silent treatment. They ignore you. For a period of time, you don't exist.

This is different that when they withdraw emotionally, which can seem like the same thing.

However, withdrawing emotionally means they can be really nice, treat you good, but withhold affection (either verbal or physical). You lose that emotional connection even though he is treating you “good” (on the surface). You keep thinking he will come around and eventually, he does...but at his own convenience when he thinks he has strengthened his control over you.

He may say things that “belittle” you. It may be something about your appearance, the way you talk, your religious beliefs, your political beliefs, anything that is personal to you, he can use to belittle you.
This tears away at your self confidence and BINGO! He has gained more power over you. This is especially true if you genuinely believe these “belittles” are true.

The abuser may play the victim. In this action, he will say or do something to hurt you and then make you feel bad for him.

For example, he says you are not what he really wanted but you are the best he can do, because he isn't handsome enough. He doesn't believe this, he is only saying it to draw you in to him through sympathy. This one works best with a sensitive woman.

The last tactic I want to highlight is the one where the abuser turns the table on you. In other words, he does something hurtful to you BECAUSE of something you did to him. In his view, you caused it and he was only taking up for himself, which isn't the truth.

As you can see, identifying an abuser from someone who is just rebelling can be tricky. If the person does all of the above (and maybe some things that are not mentioned, but are equally controlling), you can probably safely say they are an abuser.

However, if a person only does one of the above or maybe two, it could be they are just immature emotionally and don't know how to deal with certain issues.

If you determine the person is actually an abuser and you are in an abusive relationship, you have three choices:
1. Stay in the relationship the way it is and remain abused;
2) Seek professional help such as therapy;
3) Leave the relationship.

If you have the opportunity to read this book,
I recommend you read it.
No matter what the situation,
the knowledge can help you now and in the future.
If you know someone who can use this information,
refer this book to them.
I got my copy from the library on audio. It was free! Use your library.
If you can't find it at your library, you can purchase it here:
https://amzn.to/2UBJ3hU

Did you identify with any of the above behaviors? Have you come out of an emotionally controlling relationship? If so, how did you break the bond? Do you know someone who is or has been in an emotionally abusive relationship? Please share your thoughts and stories to help others.

XOXO

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SPECIAL: What does an egg, a bunny, a basket, and a grave have in common? Easter!

4/10/2020

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This is Easter weekend - the weekend that Christians observe the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ.
To many this is the most sacred of Christian holidays, to others it's another excuse to eat a special meal, chocolate bunnies, and look for hidden decorated hard boiled eggs.

In America Christian holidays are a mixed bag of activities. These range from the solemn and sacred, such as prayers, songs, gifts, communion, preaching, meditation, etc., to parties with alcoholic beverages, dancing, egg hunts, gift exchanges, special skits and plays, etc.

On this special holiday, remember to pray for the health of our country, both physical health, mental health, and financial health. Please pray for our first responders, nurses, doctors, police, soldiers, firemen, and all other essential personnel, including President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Treat each other with kindness, respect, and Christian love. Don't look down on anyone or up to anyone, we are all the same in God's eyes. We are all worthy and needed. No one is non-essential in God's eyes - no one.

You may not be able to gather together as a family or a congregation, but you can still study the scriptures, celebrate with prayer and thanksgiving, and worship God for giving us his son.

Large Easter egg hunts and picnics may have to wait for another day, but we can still thank God for the food we have.

If you are healthy the number one thing to be thankful for during at this time in our life is our health and the health of our family. We should pray for the healing of those who are not healthy.

Even in the midst of this pandemic, we have so much to be thankful for.

Be thankful and enjoy the Easter Weekend!

xoxo

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SPECIAL: COVID-19 and Staying Social - Whether 6 feet away or 6000 miles away - It can be done

4/3/2020

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With everyone on "lockdown" or "hunkering in-house" or whatever you want to call it during this COVID-19 crisis, it can be lonely if we fail to pay attention.

Attention to physical needs such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, masks, etc., are important - especially food. In the hustle and isolation we sometimes forget that we have wonderful technology available that makes staying in touch possible for almost everyone.

Writing letters and sending physical cards are nice ways to show you are thinking about someone, but with the danger attached to the virus being spread through the mail system, we can't really rely on those old tried and true forms of communication.

We can, however, still pick up the phone an dial the number of a family member or friend that we miss and want to talk to. That still works and almost everyone has a phone.

What really works well and is almost as good as being face to face in person ( note: I said "almost"), is using computers and smartphones along with available technology to not only talk to a person, but also actually SEE that person or persons.

It is quite possible to have a family reunion of as many as 30 or more family members on the screen at one time to see and talk to each other and share things.

Here are some really cool apps that you can download and use to talk, see, and share screens with one person or with several and most of them are totally free:

Facebook Messenger Video or Audio Only - you can video chat with anyone on your friends list in Facebook easy.
FaceTime – still one of the best options IF your friend or family member has and IOS device (iphone, ipad, Mac, etc.) You can video chat or audio chat.
SKYPE – still available and still an option for those on Android devices. The video has improved over the years, but there are still a few little glitches such as delays and voice is not great (good, but not great).
Zoom – free to use for 40 minutes with as many participants as you would like. Great for family “reunions”, “virtual parties”, etc. They have a few security issues, but it is mostly related to using passwords that are too simple. Use a tight password, you “should” be good. (download Zoom for meetings)
Telephone – a good old phone call is always a great way to communicate. You can keep in touch by calling or texting. Either is better than no contact at all.

It's important to stay socially connected while also socially distancing. Keeping in touch is vital to staying healthy mentally and emotionally. Checking in with each other is not only mentally and emotionally healthy, it is also important.

If someone lives alone, you may their only line to humanity. They may be mentally on the edge and you are the one to bring them back.

This is a tough time to be sequestered, but especially for the elderly, single, or others living alone. Remember, reach out, but do it safely.

Have you ever used FaceTime, SKYPE, Zoom, or Messenger to communicate with friends and family? What is your favorite and why? Do you know of any other available communication outlets that can be used to connect? Share your information and let's help each other get through this scary time.

XOXO

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Life: A March Wrap-Up - We are still On Fire!

3/27/2020

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The COVID-19 virus has changed our lives this month. Last week I wrote a blog post about how we see it, deal with it, and live with it. I hope you learned something useful.

This week I want to close out the month of March with a few thoughts on life today. Life may have changed (temporarily), but we still have it. We are still alive and kicking!

We are still
ON FIRE for our life.

Things I have written about in the past are still true:

We need to move! We must find ways to exercise, even if in our own home. Doing what you can is better than doing nothing. There are many YouTube videos on in-home workouts for the over 50.

There are many Facebook pages with free videos on short in-home workouts. Being stuck indoors or at home is no excuse for not doing something physical to take care of ourselves. Exercising increases our immunities so we can fight off viruses and illnesses better. It also helps keep our attitudes positive which, in turn, increases our chances of surviving an illness.

My Zumba teacher, Dawn and her daughter, Raven, have used an app called Zoom to connect with us and teach Zumba from her home. It's almost like being there.

We need to keep our minds active! Reading, doing creative projects (like painting, sewing, writing, etc), working puzzles of all kinds, FaceTiming with our family and friends, and any other activity that you can participate in safely.

Just keep your mind active and not just with news and virus updates. After a while, that can drag you down.

Stay social! We have SKYPE, FaceTime, Zoom, TicTok, FaceBook, FaceBook messenger, the telephone (yes, an actual phonecall), and many other ways to connect. Some churches are offering online services. There's no reason we should be alone.

Stay positive! It has been proven that someone with an illness is more likely to recover and recover faster, if they maintain a positive attitude. Laughter is the best medicine. Our body produces good and helpful hormones, chemicals, and such that promote good health when we are happy and positive.

March has definitely been a challenging month and it looks as those the next few weeks and months will be the same. However, if we hunker down at home, practice the safety protocols the government has issued, stay active, stay social, keep our brains active, and above all, not panic, worry, or let this take our joy away – Stay positive, we will come out of this stronger, wiser, and better.

“Love your neighbor as thyself.”
Mark 23:31

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Colossians 3:2

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8

Regardless of what others are saying, this is not the end of the world. It may take some things away from us, but it is a temporary situation we are in. We may lose someone we love to this virus and it will hurt, but we must focus on those still living and remember, God is still in control and still hears our prayers.

God bless you all.

XOXO

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SPECIAL: Covid-19 - The Blog I Struggled to Write

3/22/2020

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This week has been a week of conflict.
I had a whole other topic I was going to publish, but in the back of my mind, the COVID-19 virus kept popping into my head. I wanted to deal with it from the perspective of a person over the age of 50, but I also wanted to be sure that I was encouraging, not sensationalizing, and also, truthful.

After a sleepless night and much daytime thought, I finally decided how to write this blog on the COVID-19 virus that says what I want it to say.

This virus has changed our lives so much in such a short time, but it is temporary. Finally, I narrowed the points I wanted to make and hopefully, I have chosen the right words to use so that you understand my message. The COVID-19 virus topic is a hard one to discuss.

Here are the points and at the end you will find my overall message to everyone over the age of 50:

First - There has been much discussion on the name of this virus. It is not unusual for the United States (and other countries, as well), to refer to a pandemic/epidemic/virus by the name of the country of origin, creature of origin, or area/region of origin. For example:

Hong Kong Flu Pandemic (AKA: Category 2 Influenza) 1968: First case originated in Hong Kong (July 13, 1968) and in only 17 days outbreaks were reported in Singapore and Vietnam, and within three months it had spread to the Philippines, India, Australia, Europe, and the United States. While short lived and resulting in a low mortality rate, it still killed over a million people, including 500,000 residents of Hong Kong which was at that time 15% of it's population.

Asian Flu Pandemic (AKA: Influenza A) 1956-1958: Originated in China and within two years it from it origin of the Chinese Province of Guizhou to Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. The World Health Organization estimates the final death toll at 2 million deaths, with 69,800 of those in the United States.

Asiatic Flu or Russian Flu Pandemic (AKA: Influenza A, subtype of H3N8) 1889-1890: First cases discovered in May 1889 in Central Asia (Turkestan), Northwest Canada, and Greenland. It claimed the lives of over a million people in the short period of its existence.

Ebola Virus 1976: Originated in the Ebola region of Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan). It moved across the globe in such places as England, Zaire, Italy, Uganda, Philippines, and the United States. It is still on-going with the death count at 1676 as of 2018.

As you can see, calling a pandemic/epidemic/virus by the name of origin is nothing new and not meant to insult anyone, only to identify the strain. (In the 16th century, we had the American Plague; and the Philadelphia Yellow Fever Epidemic in 1793; just FYI)

As far as our President driving the name of this virus as the Chinese Virus... yes, he is doing it to irritate the Chinese government - NOT the Chinese people or Chinese Americans. The Chinese government tried to cover this virus up, as they do a lot of things they do, that hurt their own people and people of other countries.

But the history of naming these events by the origin is nothing knew and not meant to be insulting.

Second - With each pandemic, epidemic, and virus, we have learned something new and developed better methods of dealing with each. We still make mistakes while trying to avoid nationwide panic.

No matter how our government handles such events, we can still do better. We learn with each event.

The big thing to remember is this: Everything is temporary. Life is temporary, no matter what we do to delay death, we will all die one day. Sorry, but that's the truth.

It is a fact, however, that people can increase their chances of survival in these events if they stay calm (not panic), stay positive (no doomsday thinking), and devise a plan to stay safe.

Third - As people over the age of 50, we have experienced our share of pandemics, epidemics, viruses, and other such events. We have knowledge, wisdom, and skills. Our age group is better prepared for this type of event because of our experience.

The key is to remember those experiences, remember they are temporary, and remember what we learned from each.

The MESSAGE is this:

Be safe,

listen to the guidance provided by the government and health officials,

stay calm,

stay positive,

remember this is temporary,

remember we have been through similar events before,

and above all remember, God is still in control and he hears our prayers

(lean on your spiritual beliefs,whatever they are)

Don't be taken in by those who make a big deal about the name of COVID-19,
instead concentrate on what you need to do.

Are you fearful of COVID-19? Do you feel helpless or in control? Do you have faith in your God? How has this event affected the way you look at life now and in the future?

XOXO

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Health and Wellness: Bowling is Healthy - No matter what your age or Handicaps!

3/13/2020

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There are so many ways to stay active, even if you are over 50, and even if you have never done something before - like bowling.

Bowling involves all your body. Every muscle, tendon, ligament and even your brain is involved in this activity. I have bowled my whole life. I stopped briefly for a few years, then I went back to it.

While I don't bowl on weekly leagues or compete in tournaments anymore, I still bowl. At some point I would love to bowl on a weekly league and perhaps compete again, but we will see.

In case you were wondering...(I know you were), here are a few facts about bowling:

- Bowling burns about 100 calories per hour

- Bowling builds muscle: 134 muscles exhausted in a 4 Step Approach

- Bowling is a weight bearing sport that helps build strong bones

- Bowling helps to sustain Hand and Eye Coordination

- Bowling just 3 games equals 1 mile of walking

- Bowling can promote family and friend bonding as it is fun for all ages

- Bowling is done by handicapped individuals and the elderly as well as children (wheelchair accessible, lane bumpers are available, ball ramps are available, and other aids depending on the bowlers needs.)

- According the Experian Simmons report of 2012: 20 plus million Americans age 17 and under bowl each year and 47 states in the U.S. have established high school bowling programs.

As you can see, there is more to bowling than just throwing a ball down a wooden alley at some wooden pins. Bowling is good not only for your health, but for your social life as well. It's a great place to meet people, especially if you join a league. League bowlers get to know each other and friendships develop.

The other nice thing about bowling is that it is not dependent on the weather. It can be 100 degrees outside or snow on the ground and you can still bowl. It can also be anytime of the day and even into the evening. A lot of bowling alleys have Friday and Saturday night specials and stay open later.

If you are over 50 and have a hard time meeting new people, try bowling. If you are over 50 and you need exercise, but the gym is not for you, try bowling. If you are over 50 and physically challenged, give bowling a chance. It's a great sport that almost anyone can do.

Do you bowl? Have you ever bowled? Would you consider giving bowling a try now that you see all the benefits? If you have an interesting story about bowling or tips or anything about this great sport, please make a comment below. Share!

XOXO

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Health and Wellness: 7 Health Benefits of Music! Younger, Smarter, Healthier!

3/6/2020

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A couple of years ago I was visiting family in Oklahoma and we went to a Johnny Rivers concert at a local casino. The music was amazing but what was really amazing is how good Johnny Rivers looked and moved for a man in his seventies. He was aging well, very, very well.

Music is one of those pleasures in life that can do many things to our souls, our minds, and our hearts.

Here are a few of those many benefits that music brings to our lives:

A song can remind us of a past event or a certain past time in our lives.
These memories can be happy, sad, or just memories. (Weddings, births, deaths, our first dance, our first date, etc.)
Certain songs can create peace during a non-peaceful time in our lives. Songs that are relaxing and easy to listen to.
Some music can bring us closer to our spiritual self.
It doesn't matter what religious doctrine you follow, each religion has it's own music – chants, hymns, In my case, it is Christian hymns. When I sing or hear a Christian hymn, my mind goes to God, my blessings, my beliefs, and the scriptures.
Music is good for the health of your brain.
Music lessons and listening to classical music has been researched and found to improve IQ. Yes, your IQ can be improved by listening to classical music. Other types of music have not been proven to have as good results. Taking lessons in music, whether an instrument or vocal, forces your brain to learn to think on multiple levels. For example, playing the piano requires independent movements from each hand. Improves hand and eye coordination also.
Music is good for managing pain:
Music is used by pain management therapists to help patients relax. It can help patients use less pain medication. Music can help improve breathing (respiration), blood pressure, heart rate, and can even help muscles to relax. Patients that are given music therapy have an improve quality of life and a more peaceful state of mind.
Music can give your gym or home workout a real boost:
There's a reason that Zumba classes are so popular. The workout is dancing, but also a strenuous, cardio workout. The music can make a difference in the intensity of the workout. Softer music is good for warm ups, faster music is good for raising heart rate, and the middle is good for building stamina. Here's a link to an interesting study point for music and workouts: https://bit.ly/2vNkOVt
Music can make you a better person:There has been some research into the affects of music on our personalities. While some songs can bring out the “wild child” in us and sometimes cause us to lose good judgement (drink more alcohol, get into fights, drive too fast, etc.) some can make us more compassionate and empathetic. Here is a link to information on a study done on young children and compassion: https://bit.ly/2uZxyrz
There are many other ways that music improves our lives. Music has always been around in various forms.
Music also varies depending on the region of the United States and regions in other countries. There is a distinct difference in music from various countries and it is all beautiful. Even when you may not know the language of a country or people, music is a universally understood language.

Here are a few samples of music from other countries:

Next time you hear a song or go to a concert,
remember you are not only doing something enjoyable,
but also good for your health and improving your life.

Enrich your life with music from multiple cultures and countries.

What is your favorite song? What is your favorite genre of music? Have you considered learning to sing or play an instrument? How does music affect you? Do you have any interesting stories about certain songs or music experiences to share?

XOXO

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