Where seniors are CELEBRATED and growing old is APPRECIATED and RESPECTED!
My dear longtime friend Gail once asked me, “Did you ever think about how unfair it is that we had beauty in our youth when we didn’t have the brains to go with it?” I laughed at her question at that moment, but I’ve thought about it a lot since then. As I reflect back,…
Fran Fisher made a choice to take early retirement so she could have fun, while at the same time giving the best care possible to her grandchildren as a Grandma Nanny! She didn’t have to do this, but she wanted to! In my interview with Fran, she detailed for me how the rewards have outweighed…
One of my favorite couples in this world, Dick and Charline Watts, told me that everyone needs to use their individual talents to give back to this beautiful and amazing world. Dick and Charline have spent their lives selflessly giving and are both humbly determined to never stop as long as they are breathing. My interview with…
I want to celebrate, thank, and congratulate all aging adults for their immeasurable contribution to our world! Did YOU know that Sunday, September 9th is Grandparents Day? Grandparents Day has been celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day since its declaration by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, but after 40 years as a holiday,…
Sam Boggess continues to attend Strength & Balance classes as one of my most regular students. Some seniors are afraid of technology, but Sam definitely isn’t. In fact, knowing he’s electronically adept, I recently asked Sam if he knew how to convert a new CD to a digital file for me. Sam, always willing to…
I didn’t know the symptoms of mold exposure until recently. Do you? A couple weeks ago, I interviewed Nancy Sharber from SafeHouse Solutions and I’ve placed the full episode on my site. Please watch it. I’m hoping everyone will view it. Why? Because you might be getting sick from mold and not even realize it! That’s what was…
I taught Senior Strength & Balance class today, where my senior friends ranged from about 60 to 91. My class format included stretching in our chairs at the beginning, followed by obligatory lunges, and then a mix of cardio, dance, and hand weight exercises, followed by cool down and seated stretches once again. Why do…
I’ve been fortunate enough to know one of my great-grandparents, all my grandparents and both my parents. Next, I parented my own three sons, and now I have four grandchildren to witness growing up. I’ve lived long enough to intimately observe five family generations already! I’ve also had enough conversations with older adults that I realize…
A man recently expressed to me how happy he was when he was asked to drive his grandson to baseball practice. He explained that he felt valued anytime he was asked to help. It was treasured time with his grandson, too. As I inquired further, he said his children and grandchildren are just too busy,…
Aging gracefully as an educator, Dick Boyd continues to give persuasive presentations. I recently saw Dick give an eye-opening presentation on U.S. immigration and how things have changed in some ways, and other ways NOT at all! He showed statistics and facts that couldn’t be denied. Dick’s presentation could potentially change the mind of a hard-headed…
This week, I was honored to enjoy coffee time with Susan Poole, Executive Director of Community Resource Services (CRS). Susan, her staff, and an army of local volunteers are on a mission to reduce the effects of poverty in this area by providing basic needs assistance and referral services. I met with Susan to specifically…
Pat Heinke celebrated her 86th birthday this summer (2018). Pat’s an inspiration to many and she rarely ever misses my Strength & Balance classes! Pat is aging gracefully! I love her stamina, courage, strength, and focus. I caught her by surprise one day and asked her to lead the class for the length of one…
When is the last time you really had fun – where you felt lighthearted, excited, were laughing out loud, and feeling fully alive in the moment? I had THIS kind of fun a few days ago with a group of 12 seniors, ranging in age from 75 to 95, at a bowling and pizza party…
Just as I concluded teaching a lively senior fitness class, one woman asked, “May I share something with everyone?” Let me first tell you that this particular fitness class in Avon Lake is a fun and talkative group of students, aged 50+ to about 85 years, so at hearing this request, the students and I…
People ask often ask me what I do, and I respond, “I’m a Senior Wellness Advocate.” Then I usually hear, “What is that?” Well, that’s pretty general, isn’t it? But, I also love that it’s unlimited – so I can do whatever I want! When I hear about something interesting, or a way that I…