Where seniors are CELEBRATED and growing old is APPRECIATED and RESPECTED!
This is my first monthly spotlight where I will share what my students say about exercise! Please read on and let Georgia inspire YOU to find a social senior exercise experience, too! Georgia started as one of my FIRST students in Strength & Balance in Avon Lake. I immediately appreciated her comforting warm smile, as…
Mitch Albom is one of my favorite authors. I recently met him at a local library and was struck by his humble attitude, openness, and sincerity with the many who came to see him speak and get in line for his signature on their newly purchased book titled The Next Person You Meet in Heaven,…
Tara was hit by a drunk driver while she was riding her bike with her husband and children ten years ago. That day changed her life permanently. People of any age can learn from her life-changing accident. I often hear my oldest friends talk about the importance of accepting the limitations of physical changes that…
I’ve heard many times, “I don’t like drinking water” and I totally understand this! Especially in the colder weather, I just really don’t want to drink water. I can look at a glass and feel cold at the thought of drinking it. Understanding WHY it’s important to stay hydrated made a big difference for me….
I was telling a friend about an upcoming meeting that I was anxious about. My meeting was with someone who has bullied and intimidated me in the past with callous insults and interruptions when I have tried to communicate with him. The friend I was talking with is a behavioral health counselor so she gave…
The entire baby boomer generation will be over age 65 in about 12 years! That means that for the first time in U.S. history, our older population is expected to outnumber that of children! By 2030, at least one out of five adults will be of retirement age. So how does that affect our society?…
I’ve certainly learned more from my students than they have from me. I firmly believe that growing old should be appreciated and respected, but I’ve often heard my students from Strength & Balance classes refer to who they “used to be,” as if they lost their value once they grew old or retired. I’ve even…
“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” – Friederich Nietzche, German philosopher and philologist. Do you believe people die after they “give up?” There have been plenty of studies on the will to live in elderly persons, also in the terminally ill, and the findings state that those with…
The possibility of dementia terrifies me! I’ve lost two loved ones to Alzheimer’s and it was awful. If you’ve known someone, and you probably have, your visit with the afflicted person probably included some prayers for them AND some for you. “Dear God, please don’t let ME suffer like this!” Here’s some good news… I…
Bob is a dear friend and a big influence on me in my older years! He has encouraged me to be my best self, yet also to accept that we all have limitations as we continue aging gracefully! Bob works out almost daily and I’ve nicknamed him the “strong man” of The Normandy Breakwater Apartments…
At 59 years old, I think I’m very good with remembering names, but I find it strange, and even interesting, how words evade me at times. And sometimes, I must admit I find it funny and even… amusing! Here’s an example: This past summer, I was enjoying our family reunion with my cousins when the…
Today is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day! On this day, national, state and local partners collaborate on educating the public about fall prevention strategies and the impact of falls. The topic of falls “prevention” reminded me of a conversation with one of my friends… She told me she was about to exit a parking lot…
I’ve had an encouraging surge of new students in my classes as we’re entering the fall season in Ohio. While my Houston friends are hopeful the intense heat will end soon, Ohio friends are already murmuring about the 4-letter word (S N O W) that is inevitably around the corner. In the north, you’ll also…
If you know me, I think you’ll agree I’m generally a happy person. Most of the time, I feel a sense of contentment mixed with gratitude. I have fun often. Yesterday I had a fun lunch with friends. Friends came over on Sunday for a picnic and it was fun. Kayaking on the lake was…
From an early age, we are taught to dress nicely, use good posture, speak clearly, and use our best manners because: first impressions last forever. This would be especially true on the first day of school, going for a job interview, or starting the first day of work. I’ve been working with aging adults for…