An August, 2022 article in American Heart Association News, suggests that adults over 50 who have more positive attitudes about aging have a 43% lower risk of dying from any cause over a four-year period than those who are less positive.

The study also found that optimistic agers tend to be at lower risk for many health conditions, have better cognitive function, and a greater sense of purpose. Optimists were also less lonely.

So how do we develop a more positive attitude about aging? Here are some of their suggestions:

1. Find projects that align with your values.
2. Reject the idea that poor health for the elderly is a given
3. Find your community and get involved

Easier said than done.

My father (who was born in1895!) used to tell my brother Don and me that he remembered when a hamburger cost 5 cents.  I checked, and White Castle hamburgers were exactly that until 1949.  In 1970, a McDonald’s hamburger was only “18-20 cents.”

Today a McDonald’s hamburger is somewhere between $2.49 and $2.99.  Not sure how much of that is inflation and how much is the cost of raising cows.

Of course, like everyone else, I am noticing the higher prices of everything, especially in the supermarket.  But I was astonished to read in a recent New York Times magazine article that the author paid $14 for a frozen yogurt with three toppings.

What would Dad have to say about that?!!

“When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying “You are too this, or I’m too this.” That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.”

Loved this and had to share…

When the formidable woman who edited many of my articles in The Boston Globe invited me to a retreat of female journalists at her New Hampshire home in the shadow of Mt. Monadnock, I was delighted. I was also intimidated because, unlike the other women there, I am not a bona fide journalist.

There was an agenda—an ice breaker, a session of exercise in a big barn, swimming in a nearby lake and lots of conversation.    There was cooking in the huge farm kitchen and fabulous meals in a screened porch looking out on the mountain.  There was a lot of laughter as well as some tears.  It was magical.

And I have eight new friends.

The other day I was at the library picking up some books I had reserved.  As I was leaving a woman approached me. She asked me if I was Judy (I forget if she used my last name.)

Turns out the woman whose name is Ginny recognized me from a picture on this blog.  She was delighted to meet me, and I was delighted that she spoke to me.  We chatted briefly, and then wishing each other well, we went on our way.

I smiled all the way home.

Sometimes I write down a few thoughts that I hope to become part of a blog post. Often, when I see those scribbles, I can’t remember what I was thinking and/or I don’t know where those thoughts came from.  So it was with the following disturbing snippets:

1. Three of five young people say their lives lack meaning and purpose.
2. Anxiety and depression have tripled among the young.
3. Some are living an AI* version of real life.

As Linda Loman says in the classic Death of a Salesman…

“Attention must be paid!”

*artificial intelligence

Had some difficulty with the post that was scheduled for yesterday. Please stay tuned. Back to normal on Sunday the 28th!

Some say that Father’s Day (like Mother’s Day) was invented to sell greeting cards (and neckties).  Nonetheless, I think it is important to remember and honor those who make us mothers.

The father of my children had a difficult childhood, having been born in Berlin in 1930.  That may be partly why he was grateful for our fifty-six years together.  And he was a great dad—from his coaching of boys’ soccer to sleeping in a bunk with snoring other dads at Father’s weekend at the “Y” camp our boys attended.

Now, one of his sons is the father of two sons and the other is expecting his first son.

He would be thrilled.

80-something (or maybe 70-something) has covered ice cream in my life before.  (And will again!)  So, of course, when an ice cream tasting appeared on the daily schedule of the CCRC where I live, I put it on my agenda.

Apparently, some different ice cream flavors were being tested for possible addition to the regular offerings.  The new flavors included butter pecan, mint chocolate chip, Bing cherry and something with gluten (which I had to skip).

I believe butter pecan was the winner.  It doesn’t matter to me. 

I’ll continue to stick with coffee.

Reading the newspaper with my morning coffee is my habit of decades.  Therefore, I see an overwhelming amount of bad news.  (It is said that good news doesn’t sell newspapers, but who knows?)

Lately, there has been a lot of reporting on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on workers—and it is not hopeful news. Many are convinced that advanced A.I. will soon surpass human capabilities, and many jobs will disappear.  I do not know if this is true, but even though 80-something can’t do anything about this,

I still can worry about it.