Reflective and supportive essays about adapting to life’s shifts, routines, and aging experiences.
The other night, our visiting kids asked how to prepare for old age. I paused and thought about what I might share—not as advice, but as the lessons we’ve learned over the years. Preparing While YoungIn our experience, the seeds of aging well are sown early. Many young people today already have it right: bucket…
How old is too old to drive safely? Have you ever pulled up behind a slow, elderly driver and promised yourself you’d give up driving long before you reached that age? I have. And now, here I am — that age. I once thought my mid-70s would be the moment I’d hand over my keys….
There was a time when falling wasn’t something I thought about at all. Walking through the house, stepping into the yard, carrying a tray of dishes—these were simple, unremarkable acts. The body moved without requiring much attention. That assumption lasted longer than I realized. A close friend fell in her home just before her ninetieth…
I used to think I was pretty resistant to phone scams. I knew not to give out personal information to anyone who called me — no Social Security number, no Medicare number, no account details — no matter how official they sounded. I assumed that was enough. What I didn’t fully understand until later was…
Over the years, I noticed how my skin marked the seasons and the passing of time. Morning air carried a crispness in autumn, a heaviness in summer, and a dryness in winter. These sensations showed first in my hands and forearms, then along my face. Radiators, drafts through windows, and shifting light left their traces….
Some sayings have a way of following us through life. “A stitch in time saves nine.” “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” At first, they seem quaint, almost like reminders from another era, yet over time they reveal lessons about patience, attention, and care that remain surprisingly relevant. What once sounded old-fashioned or…
It’s never been easier to reach out and touch someone, yet I notice how quiet life can feel as the years go by. Connections that once seemed effortless now require intention. Growing up, society seemed to guide our interactions. Family, schoolmates, and neighbors provided a rhythm of friendship and responsibility. Saturdays meant shopping trips with…
I never really thought about water much when I was younger.
Updated Coffee Tables for Today’s TV Rooms Are coffee tables out of style? With all the talk of downsizing, decluttering, and minimizing, it sure seems that way. But coffee tables aren’t disappearing—they just might need a rethink. After decades of entertaining over our massive coffee table, we realized it had become less a centerpiece and…
Living With Less Energy: How I Keep Going There came a time when physical discomfort started shaping my days, not as interruptions, but as the rhythm of how I scheduled, worked, and rested. It didn’t happen all at once. Tasks took longer. I paused sooner. Things I once did without thinking — gardening, cooking, household…