Laughter

Laughter is definitely the best medicine, but especially when things are tough. The bad weather of late has been a source of problems and frustration for many people, but some simply took it in stride. A man who, I suppose, did not own warm headgear stepped outside during a cold snap wearing the horse head of a party costume. I wonder how many people gave him a double take wondering for a moment what specie was taking over the world. I’m sure he had a good laugh.

As we add years to our years we face new situations that may make us nervous or uncomfortable. Getting a colonoscopy is certainly one of those, but it helps to have a sense of humor about it all. A physician has claimed that the following are actual comments from male patients while undergoing colonoscopies.

      Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

      You know, in Arkansas, we’re now legally married.

      Now I know how a Muppet feels!

      Hey Doc, let me know if you find my dignity.

      You used to be an executive at Enron, didn’t you?

      Could you write a note for my wife to say that my head is not up there.

      Take it easy, Doc. You’re boldly going where no man has gone before.

It also helps to laugh at other situations we face as we age. One middle-aged man who began to have digestive challenges that resulted in excessive flatulence kept his cool even when others around him made a point of not approaching too closely in case a “bomb” was released. ”So I cut cheese, nothing unusual or lethal about it,” he told a colleague. “Just a burp deciding that travel could be fun.”

Downsizing

According to professionals in the field, January and February are very busy months for selling and buying residential real estate. The reason is simple: people like to move in the spring so they start looking early in the year.

There comes a time in the lives of baby boomers when they consider downsizing to move to a smaller home, a condo unit or an apartment.  It’s a time of life when children are grown and on their own so that continuing to live in a large home is no longer suitable to needs.

Having done it myself, I know that downsizing involves a lot of planning. While living in a smaller place will mean reduced costs such as energy, property taxes, etc., you have to make certain your new abode fills your current needs. That may mean ensuring that you are close to shopping and public transit.

While moving and downsizing is a lot of work, it can be cathartic. Like any other major life change, downsizing can be stressful , but with proper planning it can be very positive. The idea is to take your time so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.

We tend to accumulate so much over the years. As a friend of mine says, the more space you have, the more you fill that space. Downsizing means that you have to reduce years of accumulation. I found that the most time-consuming task was to sort through personal papers and photographs. It’s a good time to throw out papers that are no longer relevant and to clearly identify and file what must be kept. As to years of photographs, it’s the perfect time to have them transferred to a digital format so that children and grandchildren can enjoy them for years to come.

As to furniture and clothing, don’t simply toss them out. What “good stuff” the children don’t want can be sold through antique dealers or auction houses, while good quality clothing that no longer fits can be sold through consignment shops. And don’t discount putting items for sale on Internet sites. For the rest, charitable organizations always welcome donations.

After a move, it takes a bit of time to adjust to a new home, but don’t discount that downsizing is a positive life transition. Free from the demands of a larger house, you will enjoy a new sense of freedom. I know. I no longer have to worry about such things as arranging the mowing of the grass in summer or the shoveling of snow in winter so that I have more time to devote to many more pleasurable interests.

 

Positivity

The polar vortex cold snap that hit the continent in recent weeks had an impact on countless lives. There was ice on tree branches and busted pipes resulted in spilling water becoming ice waterfalls, road conditions were accident-causing disasters, and snow had to be shoveled.

            Reading about all these problems and the people having to face them, it was clear from interviews that some people took it in stride: “We’ll survive, we always do,” to the more negative approach: “Why do have to suffer so much?” It’s clear that the extreme cold was no fun, but I think that the right attitude makes life more pleasant all around. Take my friend Wayne’s remark: “Sure it’s cold, but all we have to do is dress for it. Those living in warmer climates who have to leave their homes and take refuge in another country to escape war or famine are so much more worse off than we are.” Wise words indeed!

            A positive attitude can impact so many areas of our lives. I was reading recently that experiments have proven that being positive can have a beneficial impact on bone health. It appears that bitching and feeling miserable because of things we can’t change makes us produce more cortisol, a stress hormone that can negatively impact our bodies and even contribute to bone loss. Something for boomers to consider as bone health becomes more crucial with age.

            But that’s certainly not the only reason to get into the habit of being more positive. Research has shown that positive people have all sort of advantages over negative people. Here are a few: they are more resilient when facing stress and challenges; they make overall better decisions; in the workplace they get more raises and promotions; positive people have better marriages than negative people; and best of all they live longer.

            Things to think about as we wait for spring.

Another Year Older

It seems that everyone I saw or talked to over the holidays had the same remark to make: Can you believe how fast time flies? 2014 already!

Time does indeed go fast for everyone, but even faster the older you get, it seems to me. And before you know it your life changes. Below is a poem I got in an e-mail which expresses how many people feel as the years go by.

Another year has passed
And we're all a little older.
Last summer felt hotter
And winter seems much colder.
There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'  

 We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were gay.
Now we suffer body aches
And wile the night away.
 We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.
 We used to go to nightclubs
And drink a little booze.
Now we stay home at night
And watch the evening news.
 That, my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.
                            So, enjoy each day and live it up…                            

Before you're too damned old!