“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream”-C.S. Lewis
According to the Gregorian Calendar, the month of May is named after Maia, the goddess of springtime and growth. Historically, the gentle warmth of the month caused flowers to bloom, crops to sprout, and people to dance. Children made garlands from greenery and participated in joyful celebrations on the first day of May. These early May celebrations declined in popularity some two thousand years ago, but the spirit of May time remains to this day. Even as we grieve the loss of our heroes on Memorial Day, we find ways to celebrate the freedom that proves their sacrifices were not in vain. On the second Sunday in May, we celebrate Mother’s Day. Many of us only have memories, but they still remind us of the love we feel for these wonderful women in our lives.
Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month. It’s a time to recognize older Americans’ contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm our commitment to serving older adults. The 2025 theme, Flip the Script on Aging, focuses on transforming how society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. Individuals and communities are encouraged to challenge stereotypes and dispel misconceptions. Let’s all think of one thing we can do to flip our own script on aging. There are many challenges out there, so thinking of one change in our lives cannot be too difficult.
We are all so different, and that’s a wonderful thing. I love the so-called self-help books, and a good friend will not even read the summary of a book if she thinks it falls in this category. One of these books came to mind when thinking about flipping the script on aging. It’s called “Tiny Habits” by B.J. Fogg, Ph.D. Dr. Fogg is the founder of Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab. He speaks about introducing little habits to make significant changes. The first suggestion in the book is to say, “This is going to be a great day” as soon as your feet touch the floor each morning. Of course, this tiny habit will not make us well or solve our everyday problems, but I have learned that my day-to-day happiness depends on my frame of mind, and only I can control this. Try it and see what happens!
The self-help book that I’m reading right now is called “The Big Five” by Dr. Sanjiv Chopra. It caught my eye because the cover features the words in great big letters—Five simple things you can do to live a longer, healthier life. How hard can that be? The five things are probably already part of our routine, but how important are they? You decide. Number 1 is “Coffee: A Cup of Health.” Americans love coffee. We drink about 400 million cups of coffee a day. According to Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, “You haven’t had enough coffee until you can thread a sewing machine while it’s running.” According to Dr. Chopra, coffee is good for us and maybe our healthiest beverage. It can reduce the risk of many diseases common to the elderly. Number 2: Vitamin D, not really a vitamin but disguised as one. Its value is cloaked in mystery. There is really only one thing we know for certain. Everybody needs it, and many require a lot more than they are getting. Number 3: “Run For Your Life! Move! Move!” And keep moving. In a world where it is not uncommon for a drug to generate billions of dollars in a year, it’s rare to find something that does so much good for free. Number 4: “Nuts to You.” They contain all the elements needed in a diet, including protein, fats, and carbohydrates, and are, thus, capable of sustaining life. They do not contain these elements in proper proportion, so they are not suitable for an exclusive diet. They are a powerhouse of nutrition and provide a variety of nutrients. Eat a handful a day! Number 5: “Meditate Once a Day-Twice.” There is a story told about a very learned man who once was asked, “What have you gained from meditation?” The wise man shook his head and said nothing, but let me tell you what I lost….anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and fear of old age and death. Maybe it’s worth a try. None of these suggestions can do us harm, but it’s up to us to decide if they add value to our lives.
Several newscasts this week reported that seniors had been scammed of almost $4.8 billion, with the average loss being $83,000. Reported losses are likely undercounted as not everybody files a report. One gentleman was working on his computer and suddenly received a notice not to shut down his computer and to open his bank accounts immediately. He was scammed of over $1.7 million over three months by giving the scammers access to these accounts. Tech support and personal data scams are most prevalent, with romance scams coming in sixth. People in our age group filed the most claims, with California leading with the highest number of claims, and I’m happy to say Vermont was the state with the least claims. The internet opens the world to us, and there’s nothing better than receiving a text from a grandchild sharing good news. However, we have to be careful and not open anything that is suspicious in any way.
The Little White Church is continuing a tradition held in Killington for many years. They host a community breakfast that honors our road crew and thanks them sincerely for another job well done. We are all invited to break bread with our neighbors and have our chance to say Thank You! Please note that this breakfast will be held on Wednesday, May 14, between 7 and 10 a.m. Meet at the church for pancakes, bacon, sausage, fruit, juices, and coffee.
The Sherburne Library is always there for us, not just for reading a book. Bone Builders is Monday and Thursday at 10 a.m. A movie every Monday at 1 p.m. offers good seats and popcorn. The Book Club meets the last Wednesday of every month at 1 p.m. There are also puzzle challenges scheduled periodically. Everyone is welcome. The summer schedule is available at the library and features activities for both adults and children. The staff and volunteers are working hard to prepare for the grand opening featuring the summer 2025 theme of “Color Your World.” The library will be closed on Thursday, May 5, for staff in-servicing and also closed on Friday, May 6, to prepare for the open house on Saturday, May 7. The unveiling of the summer theme is always exciting!
Did you know that someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds? We hear advice every day, both in the written word and from doctors, to be active, give up hamburgers/french fries, and certainly stop smoking. There are other factors, so do your heart a favor and read on. None of the suggestions need explanation so you can decide for yourself—1. Healthy Weight/Healthy Heart. 2. Watch the Bad Cholesterol. 3. Stay Active. 4. Get Checked for Sleep Apnea. 5. Know Your Numbers…..blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. 6. Prioritize Your Sleep. 7. Take Care of Your Mental Health. 8. Quit Smoking. It all comes back to us. We are in charge of our health.
We have been offered a chance to have yoga classes. They can be once a week, every other week, or anything in between. No time or costs have been decided. At this time, we are just trying to discover interest. If this is something you would be interested in please let me know.
Remember to reach out to each other and always be grateful. Love who you can. Help where you can and give what you can.
-Gerrie
