Blog Posts

Ways to Show (And Spread!) Kindness to Those Around You

Kindness is like a spiritual boomerang. The more you put out, the more it comes back to you. Just ask Leon Logothetis , host of “The Kindness Diaries” on Netflix. His social experiment out on the road has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that random acts of kindness not only reaffirm our humanity but also inspire us to give back. Even the smallest overture of compassion and caring can have a profound impact on both giver and receiver. Be proactive and take the first step. Any of these basic ways to show kindness can make somebody’s day. Smile “Kindness is like snow- It beautifies everything it covers.” – Kahlil Gibran It’s amazing how powerful a smile can be. Smile when you pass somebody on the street, or in the hallway, or in the grocery store. You will see the light of appreciation in their eyes. You never know when that connection can blossom into a friendship. Be a Supportive Friend “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain If you know a friend is having a tough time, reach out to them. Make yourself available to listen and let them know they are not alone. So often people who are struggling are uncomfortable asking friends for support but so appreciative if it is offered. Stand Up to Bullies Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” – Albert Schweitzer It’s hard to believe that grown up adults can exhibit the same bad behavior as middle school students. Bullying is unattractive at any age, but particularly so at a time of life when offenders have enough life experience to know better. If you witness an incident of bullying, report it immediately to those in charge. Let it be known that you will not tolerate this hurtful conduct and become a role model for kindness and inclusion in your own community.. Use Your Skills A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. ” – Amelia Earhart If you are a great cook, make a casserole for a neighbor. If you are crafty, leave a gift of something you’ve made on a friend’s doorstep. Your random act of kindness may involve offering your time to help a friend or neighbor organize a move, do their taxes, write a resume, decorate their living room or bake cookies for a bake sale. Find out where there is a need that you can fill and offer your services. Unlock the door to your heart and let the kindness flow freely. Your world and that of those around you will be a brighter place.

10 Jobs Perfect for Retired Active Adults

It’s official. Your full-time commitment to your career is over. Surrounded by colleagues and champagne, you celebrated your hard-earned retirement. However, what used to be a definitive ending is now often a new beginning. These days retirement may indeed close one door but leaves you free to open new ones. For some, it’s strictly numbers. Too much month at the end of the money means it is imperative to find a new source of supplemental income. For others, it’s about staying busy, active and involved with other people. Then there are those who can now pursue a passion that simmered for decades on the back burner while practicality dictated a more lucrative career path. So, what does job hunting look like for the over 55 set? Well this time around, there are a few different issues to consider. What kind of work setting would you prefer? After spending 30 years behind a desk, maybe a part-time job outside in the fresh air might be fun. If you have physical limitations, you will want an environment that is comfortable and easy to navigate. Maybe your circumstances require a job that can be done out of a home office. Wherever you work, you don’t want responsibilities that will send you to the chiropractor. Take a look at this list of senior jobs. Maybe one of them will be your next part-time adventure. Tutor Share your expertise and knowledge by tutoring others. With flexible hours, great earning potential and the satisfaction of knowing you are impacting students’ success, tutoring is the senior job that keeps on giving. Athletic Coach If you love sports, how about sharing that enthusiasm with kids? The kids will learn the game and you’ll have a chance to interact with them while staying active. It’s a win/win. Pet Sitter/Dog Walker Attention animal lovers! Get some exercise and enjoy the company of four legged companions as a dog walker. You can take it a step further by offering to pet sit while clients go on vacation. Consultant After decades of working in your chosen field, you have become an expert. Why not share your knowledge and experience by working as a consultant? You might find part-time employment at your old company or other companies who do similar work. Youth Monitor Schools and libraries are often looking for someone to oversee small groups of children. It’s a great way use your grandparent skills and connect with kids. Virtual Assistant Your comfort with technology, writing skills and attention to detail would make you the perfect virtual assistant. It’s an opportunity to work from home and still be an integral part of a team. Retail Selling on the floor or working the cash register facilitates interaction with all kinds of people. Often these jobs come with the perk of great store discounts. Tax Preparer Your accounting background could be your ticket to a part-time tax preparation job. You’ll work long hours through tax season’s crunch time, and have plenty of leisure time the rest of the year. Nanny If your grandkids are miles away, become a part-time nanny and bring your caring and experience to someone else’s little one. Restaurant Host If you are a people person, yours could be the friendly face that meets and greets customers at their favorite restaurant. Find the right senior job and enjoy the best of all worlds: Some extra money and plenty of freedom to enjoy the perks of retirement.

Try These 2019 Fitness Trends to Stay Active as You Age

There is fitness. And then, there is fitness. Chances are the only six-pack you’re carrying these days contains your favorite beverages. But, the fact that you’re strong enough to carry it is more important than those washboard abs. Unlike those younger gym rats who spend hours pumping iron, older adults don’t necessarily live to exercise. Instead, at this stage of the game, it’s more about exercising to thrive. Staying flexible and strong will enhance the quality of life as we age, allowing us continued independence and the freedom to participate in the activities we love. To that end, today’s senior fitness trends are about keeping older adults off the sidelines and active in the game. Functional Fitness Many senior fitness classes focus specifically on enhancing our ability to function in daily life. Hence the term, functional fitness. Trainers are developing programs that pay attention to balance, core strength, endurance and multi-joint flexibility. A body primed to tackle daily tasks like reaching high shelves to put things away, bending to make the bed, or puttering in the garden, requires a more comprehensive approach than a few bicep curls. Yoga With classes tailored for the young at heart, yoga has become the gold standard for senior fitness. Stretches and poses that tone and build muscle, and improve strength, balance and flexibility check all the important boxes. Yogis claim to sleep better, have lower blood pressure and experience less arthritic pain. Swimming Soothing for both body and mind, water-based low impact exercise is still a senior fitness fan favorite. Take the plunge to build strength and balance while you relax your cares away. Tai Chi In the last decade, Tai Chi has moved into the mainstream and is definitely a popular senior fitness choice. This art of moving meditation is a great multi-tasker, building core muscles while reducing stress and tension in the body. Walking Nothing combines function with strength and stamina like walking. The best part about walking is all you need is your own two feet. Walk at your own pace by yourself or join a walking club and stroll or power walk with friends. While smart gyms are integrating functional programs into their seniors’ fitness regimens, those classes are not overcrowded. Based on statistics from the Center for Disease Control, almost a third of all seniors are not prioritizing their physical conditioning. Even when research clearly cites exercise as a major deterrent to disease and depression, many still refuse to answer the call. There’s no time like the present to get off the couch. No matter what activity you choose, as long as you keep moving, you’re headed in the right direction.

How to Find the Best Active Adult Community

What a busy day! Between working out, meeting a neighbor for lunch, and getting elbow deep in dough during your baking class, you had to rush to make it to happy hour on time! Finally, after movie night with the gang, it was back to your lovely, maintenance free, “right-sized” apartment. Does that perfectly describe your day? If so, congratulations! You’ve already found your active adult community . Does that perfectly describe the day you wish you had? If so, it’s time to get serious about finding the best active adult living community for you. Designed to enhance and enrich the lives of older adults, active adult communities provide an environment in which to fully embrace this exciting chapter of life. Keep in mind, active adult living is not an assisted living type of senior housing or a continuing care facility with different levels of services. Active adult living is about joining a community of your peers to develop new and meaningful relationships and create wonderful memories. Though all the best retirement communities for active adults are focused on providing a fun, carefree, resort-worthy lifestyle, specific amenities vary from one property to the next. Some offer sprawling suburban campuses, while others are more urban. Each community has its own highlights, like nearby championship golf, or an active tennis facility or a great clubhouse in which to participate in a long list of activities. Finding the right active adult community is a process. When you’re ready to begin, make sure to consider the following: Location, Location, Location The first step toward becoming part of the best active adult community for you is to decide where you want to live. Will you relocate to a warmer climate? Would you rather stay close to familiar neighborhoods and family? How important is access to the city? Or would you rather live in a more quiet, rural setting? And then there are geographical considerations. Are you a beach person who has always lived near the water? Or would sand and surf be a new experience for you? Maybe you want to be near the mountains or in a drier more desert-like area like Arizona. Once you have zeroed in on your choice of location, you can start to pare down the options. It’s All About You As you peruse brochures, think about how you picture your lifestyle. Do you absolutely need access to golf or tennis? Are you a fitness buff who requires a state-of-art gym and Olympic-sized pool as well as a wide variety of classes that will accommodate your interests and skill level? What types of continuing education classes appeal to you? The right active adult community should afford you the physical, social, and educational opportunities you are looking for. Do the Dollars Make Sense? When researching active adult communities, make sure you are aware of all the costs involved. Read the fine print carefully to ascertain any additional membership fees for activities. It’s also important to consider the cost of living in the area you have chosen and how it compares to your current location. The best active adult community for you is the one that checks all your personal boxes. With a little time and research, you will soon be rightsizing into the community that is just right!

How to Celebrate Dad on Father’s Day

To quote baseball legend Wade Boggs, “Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” As a kid, you looked up to him and wanted his approval. As a young adult, you wanted to be like him. Now, as a grown-up, you have the opportunity to honor Dad by planning a fun and memorable Father’s Day celebration. Consider any one of these activities for Father’s Day to let Dad know how much he is loved and appreciated. Take a Walk Find a beautiful park and take a walk together. You’ll enjoy the sunshine and exercise as well as the opportunity for extended conversation. If Dad is not up to a long walk, pull up a bench and do some serious people watching. Take Him Out to the Ballgame If Dad is a baseball fan, get tickets to a game. Nothing creates a bond like sharing junk food and cheering for Dad’s favorite team. If your city does not have a major league team, find the closest minor league venue. Minor league games are more informal and allow you to get up close and personal with the action. Take Him Out to Bowl a Game Though it may not be your jam, bowling is an active adult favorite. If Dad is into it, take the family to the nearest bowling alley and add up the strikes, spares…and gutter balls! Go Fishing. Take out a boat for the day or pull up a chair on the dock and cast away. No matter what you catch—or don’t catch—you’ll be spending quality time with Dad. And who knows? Maybe you’ll snag dinner. Let the Games Begin If your Dad is a homebody, grab some snacks and head over to his place to play cards or dredge up the old board games you used to play together as a kid. Be advised: This time around he won’t let you win as he used to when you were little. Hit the Links 18 holes with Dad is a great way to get some exercise and spend some time outdoors together. Or, if Dad has put away his clubs, take the family to your favorite mini-golf course. It’s all about fun and family. Make it a Museum Day Getting out of the heat may be exactly what this Father’s Day needs. Whether Dad is into history, art, or sports, find an airconditioned museum with an exhibit that supports his interests. Fun at the Brewery Beer has become an art as well as a science. There are local breweries everywhere that offer tours and tastings. Raise a glass to celebrate Dad! Tech Talk Spend time with Dad while bringing him up to speed on his smartphone and other devices. Get him connected to social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so you can easily share family photos with in the future. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Movie Night Find a movie Dad has been dying to see or rent a movie he’s always loved. Make sure to bring his favorite snacks. The list of activities for Father’s Day is unlimited. Take a moment to think about which choice will make your one and only Dad feel special and you’re guaranteed a cherished celebration.

Minimize Stress with These Apartment Decor Tips

Now that you have right-sized into an apartment home, it’s time to transform that square footage into a personalized, stress-free, inviting space that makes coming home an uplifting experience. The right décor can infuse you with optimism and energy. Here are some relaxing room ideas to create a space that truly makes you feel there’s no place like home. Room by Room Every room in your home is important. Try not to turn any one of them into a dumping ground for the stuff you don’t know what to do with. Create harmony by paying attention to every room and celebrating each different space. Control Clutter We all have extraneous stuff that seems to multiply while we sleep. In an apartment, even the smallest amount of clutter can feel overwhelming. Those piles of paper on the dining room table can make you feel tense. Try to find a plan for a permanent solution. The less clutter is invading your apartment the more spacious it will feel. Color Your World The colors we choose for our surroundings profoundly impact our emotional and physiological wellbeing. Different colors will affect your mood and energy levels differently. Patterns and loud colors can make it more difficult to relax. Conversely, simple designs and colors are soothing. Become aware of the colors that bring out the smile in you and add them to your home in your art, throw pillows, bedding and accent pieces. Nature is Nurturing Nothing soothes the soul like an environment that includes natural elements. Flowers and plants add joyful color to any space while cleaning and re-oxygenating indoor air. Other objects inspired by nature, like small fountains, or wood carvings can be relaxing décor that inspires calm. Designated Areas Specifying spaces for work, rest and play help you more effectively switch gears. Carve out an office area for computer tasks and when you are finished, move to an area set up for relaxation. Your body and mind will more peacefully power down as you literally and physically leave work behind. Let There Be Light—But Not Too Much Bright overhead lights are less than optimal for creating a relaxing mood. Experts suggest spotlighting for reading, cooking or highlighting art. Put those overheads on dimmers so you can control the brightness levels. Check out newer light bulbs that give off a more natural light than older options. Smile the Minute You Open the Door Let the happiness begin as soon as you set foot in your home. Choose an object or piece of art that speaks to you and showcase it in the entryway. You will see it the moment you step through the door and it will create a positive emotional response. A happy relaxing environment will impact your mood and outlook on life. With a little effort and some simple relaxing room ideas, your “ home sweet apartment ” will become the sanctuary you can’t wait to come home to.