Wednesday, August 26, 2015

The Aging Mind
Aging is blamed for a lot of things that may have nothing to do with the number of years we have lived. Over the years, a neighbor and I have made a habit of discussing the books we read, trying to keep our choices eclectic as much as possible. Recently, she told me she had decided to stop reading complaining that her aging mind was acting up. Since she is in her early sixties, I thought the characterization a little pejorative, but nevertheless listened to her reasoning. “I can’t concentrate anymore,” she whined. “I have to keep rereading the same page to remember what the book is all about.”
          The more we talked, the more I began to understand that her reading choices of late had not been judicious, and she was finding the subjects dull and boring. No wonder she had to keep on rereading everything.  It had nothing to do with age, but rather all to do with her mind not being fully utilized and therefore unable to avoid wandering. She is reading once again paying more attention to the type of material that can hold her interest.
           Memory is blamed for things that may have nothing to do with aging. “I keep forgetting things,” people say. Or as a friend says: “I have these brain farts!”
            Instead of simply thinking that you’re on your way to dementia, why not try to assess—and correct—why you might be forgetting things. Here are some examples I read about recently:
 -Are you absent-minded because you’re still trying to do ten things at the same time? If so, you might simply be over-loading your thoughts;
 --Are you bored with your life and a little depressed? Why not try to make small changes that will brighten your outlook.
 -Are you preoccupied by a personal problem? If your mind keeps wandering to something that’s upsetting you, it limits your ability to focus on other things.
 -Are you grieving? Grieving the loss of a spouse, a friend, a pet, or facing an empty nest, can play havoc with our ability to remember things. Time and a friendly ear might be needed to accept a new reality.
 -Are you lonely? If your family and friends have scattered you might be wallowing in loneliness which might well affect your memory. Why not try to make new friends by going out more or joining a group to meet people with the same interests.
 -Are you disorganized? Some people think they’ll be able to remember things without jotting anything down. Big mistake. We all need reminders of medical and dental appointments, for example, since many are made weeks in advance and can be forgotten at any age. The use of an agenda to keep track of things that must be done, big things and small things as well, can make life more pleasant.
             Now, what was I suppose to do this afternoon?

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

 

Technological Advances

Some years ago, one of my sons gave me a cell phone as a Christmas gift because he didn’t want me traveling alone without a means of communicating in case of problems.

            It made me feel secure. I have upgraded it a couple of times, but it’s still just a phone which allows me to make calls, send texts and take pictures. That’s all I need at the moment. It certainly is not as smart as my children’s and grandchildren’s devices which keep them connected all the time with apps for anything and everything.

            It seems to me technological innovations have been coming on stream at an amazing pace in the last few years. Faster than at any other time in the past. Those of us who remember when The Beatles took the pop world by storm, have seen many new technologies over the years, but these changes were gradual. Today you turn around and some new gadget is in the offing. You’ve got to upgrade your computer before being completely at ease with your current software or touch-screen capabilities, CDs (marvels that would never wear out) have given way to Blu-ray, etcetera. To say nothing of eyewear that can take pictures and keep you connected to the Internet.

            In the early 80s, a calculator watch made by Casio hit the market and was considered a marvel. BTW it still sells online. Today we can keep in constant touch with the Apple watch and a choice of apps. Personally, I’m not sure that I’d want to use a screen that small. Those of us who make use of reading glasses most certainly prefer using something a little larger.

            And what’s in the future? Now there is talk of apps being developed so they can be applied to clothing. So you’d wear your t-shirt and press one of your apps when you need info or data. As a woman, I’m not sure I’d like that. For example, would there be a guarantee that the apps would not be offensively placed?

            And there is also talk of apps being developed for use in cars. The idea at the moment is that hand gestures would activate their use. I can just imagine what that would look like! Should be fun for other drivers!

            And selfies could take on a whole new meaning with cameras on personal drones. The idea is that you would be able to get a video of yourself as you do things like walk, jog, ski or run with the camera turning around you. I don’t know about you, but I can see a whole new world of problems if everybody gets one!   

And what else? The question right now is whether or not we should be afraid of artificial intelligence which could one day outsmart mankind. I’ve got an idea, why don’t we perfect artificial intelligence to eliminate terrorism. Would that not be great for all of us?

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2015


Summer Wear
As we age, like it or not, our bodies change. We tend to put on a few pounds and may find ourselves with some bulges that were not there just a few years ago. To me, that means that dressing to camouflage accordingly is important if we want to look our best.
            This summer, as I people watched, it became quite clear that not everyone is concerned with dressing to suit their bodily shape. I saw women of a certain age, who should know better, trying to look young by cramping fat hips into leggings better suited for teenagers with perfect shapes, while others were wearing tight tees that emphasized expanding waists. 
            And then I saw men wearing belts that emphasized fat bellies. To me, trying to minimize those bellies under loose shirts would have been a better choice.
            I find that in the summer months, some people seem to care little about the image they project and what people think of their attire no matter their shape. Nobody is perfect, right? Of course, but that doesn’t mean that we need to bring attention to aspects of our bodies that have found a way to expand over the years.
            A friend of mine who has put on a few more pounds than she would have liked, now dresses in flowing tops and skirts. She avoids clingy knits that look great on those with perfect bodies, but have a different effect when worn by less-than-perfect bodies. As a result she is always elegant, no matter the time of day or the occasion.
Of course, we should live and let live, but I say thank God that we can look forward to many cooler months when everyone will need to wear a jacket or a coat, perfect for deemphasizing imperfections.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015


Summer Woes
After a few weeks away from my blog, it’s nice to get back to a routine.
           On a particularly muggy day in July, I remarked that it was hot; my son wisely replied:  Mom, it’s summer!
            It seems to me that no matter how many summers we have seen, we tend to forget that it does get rather warm in July and August in this part of the world. And by the same token, when winter comes around, we are somewhat shocked when the temperature dips to what we consider an indecent level.
            Perhaps it is in our nature to complain about the weather whether in winter or summer. One thing I’m sure of is that the complaints will multiply as climate change becomes more and more pronounced. It has been confirmed that the temperature of our planet has definitely increased in the last year and will no doubt continue to do so.
Can we reverse the trend?
            It all depends who is talking. Some say we are already well on our way to doing so, others have a more negative view of what lies ahead, not only temperature-wise but also climate change-wise i.e. that we’ll be seeing more and more natural disasters.
            One thing I’m certain of, is that the grandparents I know, as well as myself, are worrying about this uncertainty as we watch the young ones grow. What will happen in 30 or 40 years? Will the temperature of our planet affect human life itself? Perhaps not if the current trend of reducing dependency on fossil fuels and increasing our use of solar and wind power continues.
            The new electric cars are certainly a step in the right direction, and the concept is expected to be feasibly adaptable to aircrafts. Wouldn’t that be something? Instead of spewing waste from fossil fuel into the atmosphere as they soar, the countless planes that dirty our air every day would keep it clean for future generations.
            The part of me who believes that this is possible has a positive view of the climatic future. I pray it will become a reality.
             Now, something to make you smile: "Give me a sentence about a public servant," said a teacher. The small boy wrote: "The fireman came down the ladder pregnant." The teacher took the lad aside to correct him. "Don't you know what pregnant means?" she asked. "Sure," said the young boy confidently. “It means carrying a child."