The Ethel
January 12, 2025
The Ethel, a newsletter produced by AARP, is not perfect for everyone (is anything?), but it does speak to the challenges/opportunities we are likely to face as we age.
So, with credit to a recent The Ethel, here are four things that “promise” to make us happier:
- Sit or stand up straight. When I was young, I was unusually tall, at 5’10”, towering over all my girlfriends and most boys. My mother used to whisper in my ear “SB,” her signal to put my shoulders back as I slumped through adolescence. I still hear that voice, and I still have imperfect posture. But if it is going to make me happier…
- Have fresh flowers. I don’t need The Ethel to tell me flowers make me happier. Peter always knew that a bouquet of daisies would cause me to forgive any of his rare transgressions.
- Be near water. Lake, river, ocean—it doesn’t matter—Being near water is my default cure for feeling blue. Does it always work? Nope, but it’s worth a try.
- Clear the clutter. I probably wouldn’t put this in my top four ways to be happy, but I do feel a certain comfort when my “to do” pile on my desk is under control.
How about you?
I knew I had a bit of forward head and rounded shoulders, but didn’t realize how much until a recent photo and computer analysis of my posture as a part of an osteopenia program I’ve begun. The normal 11 lbs of weight of my head had become 30 lbs. No wonder my upper back ached all of the time. I always felt frustrated with minding my posture. It never “held.” But now I level my chin, pull my shoulders back and imagine a string holding me up from the top of my head. I do it all in a gentle, non-frustrating way and I reset and reset all daylong. I now understand the proper weight load on my spine and the proper way my muscles should help me. In 3 weeks my pain has greatly diminished and I am breathing much easier. I am, indeed, much happier!
Posted by: Linlee | January 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM
I hope this isn’t tmi, but I used to slump when using the toilet. Now I practice my sitting posture while using the toilet. It helps me remember to adjust my posture in other sitting situations.
Posted by: Linlee | January 12, 2025 at 01:01 PM
I like looking out my window at the little tree and how it changes with the seasons, even in Los Angeles!
Hope you get back to your place next to the river soon, Judy!
Posted by: Becky in California | January 12, 2025 at 02:16 PM