Aging Well in the Gorge January 1st 2020

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The new year is knocking at our doors, which like a toddler trying to walk will have many ups and downs – and will eventually knock over everything in the house! And yet we survive, looking forward to another year.  
At the beginning of a new year it is the traditional time to make your New Year’s resolutions. But for us more experienced folks, we may ask “Why do we need New Year’s resolutions? Why would we want to change? I’m happy with my situation, and besides as Doris Day sang, “Que Sera, Sera, Whatever Will Be Will Be”, right?
But consider all the possibilities for this new year. There might be some new habits you want to make or some old ones you want to change. What was the doctor telling you? Enroll in an exercise class – that yoga or Tai Chi class that can improve your balance? Eat better – by preparing healthy recipes found at OSU’s “Food Hero” website? Or get out of the house more – spending time with old friends and making new ones?
There might also be new activities you want to experience: walking unfamiliar trails in the Gorge, taking trips into Portland to watch a NW Senior Theater musical, or building Lego structures with your grandkids.
Yet you may still feel New Year’s resolutions are a great waste of time; and you just want to keep doing the same old same old – and there’s nothing wrong with that. It is familiar and in a world that seems to be constantly changing, the same old same old feels reassuring.
But if you do decide New Year’s resolutions might not be such a bad idea, here are nine simple tips from the Happiness Project’s website, www.happiness-project.com, that could help.
 1. Write your resolution down and be specific. Instead of “make new friends” describe how – such as “start a movie group” or “join an exercise class”.
 2. Review your resolution constantly so you won’t forget.
 3. Hold yourself accountable. Don’t make excuses.
 4. Think big. Make your resolution inspiring and exciting.
 5. Or think small. Something simple and doable.
 6. Separate your resolution, no matter how small, into manageable tasks.
 7. Work on your resolution every day. It is easier to do something consistently than to skip days
8. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The best exercise it the one you will actually do.
 9. As mentioned before, don’t make excuses, but if you keep breaking your resolution, no use constantly beating yourself up. Try a different approach that will get you to the same goal.
New Year’s resolutions are an opportunity to branch out and experience life in ways you may never had considered before. These nine simple tips can help you set and achieve your goals for a new year, whether seeking new experiences or creating new habits, that just might improve your health and help you live a little better and longer. As Carl Bard once said, “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new beginning.”
The name of the 1972 film in which an aged luxury liner on her final voyage is capsized by a giant wave on New Year’s Eve was the Poseidon Adventure. And since last week I was at my niece’s wedding in Chicago (where contrary to what you would think the weather was expected to be warmer than The Dalles), I will announce the quilt raffle ticket winner next week.
Once a month for the next several months I will be focusing on local businesses that have gone and been replaced by a different but similar type of business at the same location. (My apologies to the newcomers who have arrived in The Dalles in the last twenty years.) For this week’s “Remember When” questions, what was the previous name for The Dalles Health and Rehabilitation Center (even before it was called Evergreen); and what was the name of business that was located where Holsteins is today? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a 1979 map of The Dalles.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to be optimistic in a world of cynicism. Until we meet again, some good advice I saw on a poster at The Springs, “Believe something wonderful is going to happen.”

“One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.” John Burroughs

Aging Well in the Gorge December 25th 2019

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During the holiday season you can get caught up in all the hustle and bustle: shopping not for yourself but for your grandkids!; writing Christmas cards to friends and family; and preparing for a family gathering – unless you are fortunate and your children organize it for you.
Or we you could get caught up in your own personal problems whether it is your health, your financial situation – or you are still grieving the loss of a loved one which particularly stings during this time of the year.  
All of this can make it easy to forget to stop and appreciate what you do have. Here are several suggestions to help keep your eyes open to see all there is to be grateful for.
1. Don’t be picky: appreciate everything. Life is too short to get upset about the little things – as I often remind my wife when she has to clean up after me. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for.
2. Find gratitude in your challenges. That’s right. Sometimes a difficult situation can be a blessing in disguise. I’ve been told by several folks how their heart attack has motivated them to be closer to their family and to take better care of themselves.
3. Keep a gratitude journal. Everyday write down what you are grateful for. And don’t forget to include the small blessings you encounter. Then when times are tough, you can pick yourself back up by going to your journal and remembering all that you have been grateful for.
4. Volunteer. There isn’t any better way to appreciate what you have than by helping those who don’t have as much – whether delivering meals, providing shelter during these wintry days, or picking up a church member who no longer drives. In other words: helping others helps you!”
A life well lived is one of gratitude and thankfulness. This season take time to consider all your blessings large and small. But if you can’t think of anything, you can at least be grateful that it isn’t any worse!”
Now that the Center has finished its day trips for the year, I have to give a shout out to Ginny McNary who chooses, organizes and chaperones (It’s a wild bunch!) the Center’s trips. The trips are a wonderful opportunity to travel with your fun loving peers and enjoy incredible sites and fine entertainment – while letting someone else do the driving!
The Center has started its 2020 membership drive. Whether you visit the Center daily, weekly or once a year for special occasions, I hope you consider joining the Center. The Center works to enhance the community by providing opportunities for all generations to “explore, connect and contribute”. The only government funding the Center receives is to operate the SHIBA (Medicare Counseling) Program – which is minimal. A yearly membership is only $35 per person, $60 per couple or to be a SUPER DUPER member it is $50 per person.  
From last week’s questions, Burl Ives was the snowman narrator in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (1964); Boris Karlof was the narrator in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (1966); and in Frosty the Snowman (1969) Jimmy Durante narrated and sang the title song. Those who answered at least one of the three questions correctly are Cheri Brent and Rhonda Spies who remembered Burl Ives; Diane Weston who answered all three questions correctly, and John Huteson this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket who remembered the schnoz himself – Jimmy Durante.
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner when we’ll all be in front of our television sets watching the ball drop in Times Square at midnight. Right? But that wasn’t the case for the characters in this 1972 film. For this week’s “Remember When” question what was the name of the film in which an aged luxury liner on her final voyage is capsized by a giant wave on New Year’s Eve? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-296-4788 or send it with an original poster describing the movie as “Hell, Upside Down”.
Well, it’s been another week, trying to model the behavior I wish to see. Until we meet again, may there be peace on earth and goodwill towards all people.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller