Summer should be a fun time. Its light outside longer than it’s dark. The weather is warm. It means ice cream, beach days and summer camp. To celebrate summer, we encourage you get out and do something fun each week. Research shows that when the adult brain is engaged, it is reinforcing cognitive abilities. Furthermore, when adults maintain social contacts, it helps keep […]

Q A friend said she wants no one wearing black at her funeral. Is it realistic to direct one’s own funeral?   A Short Answer:  Why not? You won’t be there to know if anyone follows your direction, but why not try to make a memorial something meaningful to the deceased Memorial Day each May asks Americans to pause and […]

When we think about mindfulness, it is often to encourage our readers to focus on inner qualities, self-talk, or private thoughts during quiet moments. What about the mindfulness you bring to the lives of others? You cannot be inside their minds, but they can be “on” yours. Indeed, one of the challenges of living a mindful life is that it feels somewhat uncomfortable […]

Q I find I get up earlier than I ever did when I was younger. Is it true we need less sleep as we get older?   A According to the National Sleep Foundation, that is a myth. Older adults continue to need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The problem many have is the poor […]