Why It’s Important to Have Fun While Aging

Aging is a universal process. It’s highly personal. But growing older doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun and “act your age.”

You may slow down and rightfully rest more. But don’t put the brakes on living life to the fullest, being joyful and playing.

There are endless benefits to trying new adventures and having fun while aging.

  • Improves mental and emotional health
  • Reduces anxiety and depression
  • Improves muscle strength and stamina
  • Establishes and maintains relationships
  • Improves how the brain works
  • Enhances physical vitality
  • Extends life

Keep a positive attitude. Laugh a lot, even aloud.

When you feel blue or depressed, remember it is always much better to live in the moment than to obsess about the past or worry about the future. NOTE: It is okay to feel blue or depressed temporarily. However, if you stay in this frame of mind, it’s important to look at different things to “spark” your interest.

A good outlook on life leads to lower blood pressure, less heart disease, better weight control and healthier blood sugars.

Pledge to live life to the fullest with adventure and playfulness.

Keep your body and mind active every day by engaging in both physical activity and learning from new experiences. Enjoy a vibrant, exciting time as you age.

The phrase, “Move it or Lose it” is profoundly accurate. If we don’t move our bodies even as we experience little aches and pains, the aches and pains will only worsen.

Without movement, muscles atrophy or keep deteriorating until there is nothing left. The hurt then increases resulting in loss of range of motion which can cause loss of balance and falls.

Remember, our brain is also a muscle. So, keep moving and doing.

Physical Activities

Try something new. It’s not too late to start. If you have health or mobility concerns, consult with your doctor before beginning a new physical activity.

Let go of your fears and social anxiety. Recruit a friend, neighbor or family member to join you on your new adventures and activities.

Imagine the exhilaration after accomplishing a new feat. Be proud of pushing limits and taking on new challenges.

Whatever you do, get moving! Sitting on the couch or resting in bed causes endless health problems.

Go online and search for ways to get involved in local fun events or recreational activities. Check out community centers and senior citizen centers. Ask your medical team for suggestions. Find something to keep yourself engaged and moving.

And guess what? You don’t have to spend a fortune to get physically active. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and start exploring your neighborhood or a nearby park. Not only will you be more physically active and likely feel better, you’ll engage in social interaction, which is also great for one’s mental health.

Consider Trying

  • Bicycling (Regular or Recumbent) NOTE: Investigate a 3-wheel bike to aid in balance and avoid tipping over
  • Walking, Hiking or Pushing your young grandchild or great grandchild in a stroller
  • Table Tennis or Bowling
  • Kayaking, Sailing or Canoeing
  • Pickleball, Tennis, Shuffleboard, Badminton, Corn Hole and Horseshoes
  • Swimming, Water Aerobics or Water Walking, which is great for joints and doesn’t require swimming skills
  • Yoga, Tai Chi or Zumba
  • Golf, Miniature Golf, Bocce Ball, or Croquet
  • Yard Work like Gardening, Raking, Digging and Planting
  • Bird Watching NOTE: Put out an inexpensive bird feeder and watch the feathered friends come. Without realizing it, you will stimulate your mind as you research what type of birds are visiting. You’ll have full body movement by filling bird feeders. Wonderful year-round treat for your mind and body.

“Motion is the Lotion.” Start moving.

Learn from New Experiences

Stay cognitively sharp and alert while learning something new. Break out of old patterns. Light up your brain while stretching out of your comfort zone. New experiences keep us young and vibrant. They help us retain memories and think clearly.

Babies experience the world with awe and a sense of wonderment and play. This can be you as you learn and experience new things.

Be spontaneous and open to new adventures.

For Example:

  • Plant something new in your garden. Basil, for instance. Nurture its growth and then go online and learn how to freeze it. Or plant flowers and begin making floral arrangements for yourself and/or others. Learn pressed flower art.
  • Begin to sew, embroider, crochet, quilt or knit. Many churches have groups that make items for those with terminal illnesses or newborns.
  • Try painting, sketching, ceramics, pottery, beading, woodworking and/or card or jewelry making. Build and paint bird houses.
  • Plan a trip to a new domestic or foreign location. Travel. Upon return home, document your memories by scrapbooking or creating an online photo album and/or video.
  • Experiment with new foods and recipes. Invite a neighbor you’d like to know better. Enjoy the fellowship and the meal. Consider home brewing with a DIY beer-making kit.
  • Volunteer where your interests lie. Perhaps it’s the zoo or the botanical center or maybe your place of worship or local school.
  • Start a neighborhood board game night. Or work together on a massive jigsaw puzzle. Participate in fantasy sports leagues and work on crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Join a card or chess club. Say “yes” to Trivia Game Nights. Bonus: Stretch the brain while socializing and maybe even making new friends.
  • Research and practice being an improv comedian or storyteller.
  • Write or record your autobiography and family history.
  • Explore participating in local performing arts like dance troupes, karaoke, acting, juggling, magic and choral groups.
  • Learn a foreign language or how to play a musical instrument like the piano or a ukulele.  Upgrade your computer skills.
  • Restore a vintage car and attend classic car meetups. Rebuild an old RV.
Don’t neglect your mental health needs. Allow yourself time to have some real fun.

Remember, you are allowed to have some fun before all of the work is done. Be spontaneous. Accept invitations even if it means putting off the household or yard chores.

Enjoy the small pleasures in life. You’ve earned it!

Final Note

Maybe it’s hard for you to have fun. You’ve worked most of your life and carried a ton of responsibility for the family. Perhaps you’ve lived a scheduled, structured or routine life. Now you’re retired and urged to enjoy life and create new adventures. This may seem weird or stress you out. You may even feel like you don’t know how to begin to “have fun.”

Take a breath. Understand this feeling is normal. Over time, you likely will begin to participate in physical activities and new experiences to enrich your life. You will find meaningful ways to have fun in a way that satisfies you.

Always keep in mind that you are doing yourself a favor by having fun. It’s good for you and everybody loves people who are fun and living life with the maximum amount of joy.

Finally, know it is your right to also just REST. Don’t feel pushed into doing when you need to rest. Avoid shaming yourself for “just being.”

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©September 2022   Craft LifeStyle Management.

All Rights Reserved.

Written for Craft LifeStyle Management by Linda Leier Thomason

2020: A Year End Review Like None Other

5 Lessons Learned in a Pandemic Year

I was hesitant to commit my annual year end review in writing because, well, it’s just been a year like none other that I recall. But as I was recently walking in the December crisp air, I easily clipped off a list of really great things that happened in 2020 despite, or maybe because of, the pandemic.

Most of them are lessons.

Here they are:

1. Real Heroes Celebrated

Even before the pandemic hit I was becoming restless with our nation’s worship of professional athletes and Hollywood actors. It’s true. Most individuals in these groups are immensely talented. Some even significantly give back to their communities with time and money. But, are they heroes? Not often in my way of thinking.

The real heroes in our country were finally, rightfully, spotlighted as the pandemic exploded. You know, the people who silently and routinely make daily life-changing impacts on our lives without recognition. Heroes like teachers, nurses, researchers, doctors, grocery store employees, delivery drivers, etc.

I’m forever grateful for their tireless, ongoing efforts. I hope and pray they will remain in their heroic status long after the pandemic is an afterthought.

2. Eyes Spoke

Much has been said about eyes being the window to one’s soul. This has probably never been truer than in 2020. Masks covered faces most of the year, often distorting or muting words. However, if one really wanted to know what the speaker was saying, (h)she only had to observe the eyes above the mask.

Fear and uncertainty. That is what the eyes often communicated in early 2020. As time wore on, a hint of optimism and even joy could be heard from eyes.

Let’s be honest. On certain days, exhaustion and impatience, and even frustration, shone brightly in our eyes.

Mask or no mask. Pandemic or none. Listen to the eyes of the person near you. Their silence is often screaming.

3. Goodness of Neighbors Shone Through

I’ve said it before. Most people are genuinely good and want to do well. All communities and neighborhoods have bad eggs, including ours. However, I will always remember in early pandemic days the neighbors who texted asking for our grocery list to combine with theirs-saving us a trip to the store that week. Or, the doorbell ringing and neighbors sneaking away after leaving baked treats and other goodies on our front porch. And, the socially distanced chats while each party was out enjoying fresh air on daily walks.

All over our community, state and nation people showed kindness for one another.

It’s a pandemic outcome I wish to be everlasting.

4. Priorities & Values in Order

I’d long ago given up the corporate rat race. Our child is a married working adult. We no longer juggle an action-packed schedule. In other words, we were already conditioned for often being at home together before the pandemic.

But nothing makes one assess priorities and values more than the real threat of a life-ending virus and stay at home orders-lockdown.

Ken, my husband, a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, has been working downstairs for over half of the year. Never before did I think our experience of owning and working in multiple businesses together for over two decades would serve a purpose later in our lives. After selling the businesses, we thought that chapter was closed. Wrong.

I’m grateful we didn’t have to learn how to work and live together like so many couples and families did, and are still doing. We seemed to ease right into familiar routines, allowing both of us to be productive professionals and compatible mates.

We did put the business part of our lives in order. Our wills and other legal papers were updated. Over and over news stories reported families devastated by not only the loss of a loved one but the stress and strife of managing legal issues post death.

Supporting small businesses and craftsmen remained a top priority for us. Our dining out dollars and other funds were devoted to businesses we knew needed our money most.

I’ve always believed small businesses are the engines that run the community.

Keeping them afloat is always a priority, more so now than ever.

5. Not all Screen Time is Bad

I’m guilty. Raising our son, I preached, “Watching too much TV will pollute your mind,” or “TV dumbs you down.” I encouraged reading, creating and getting outdoors. You know, the old-fashioned way of raising a child.

However, I will admit, during this pandemic, I’ve engaged in a fair amount of screen time.

Today, the choices are endless.

Yes, I obliged my husband and binge watched “The Sopranos”. I can’t believe I hadn’t watched this outstanding series before. The writing, acting and production were each remarkable and deserving of every accolade ever received.

I also watched a ton of documentaries, biographies and other educational programming.

Okay, according to Ken, I’ve overwatched Hallmark movies near the end of this year. But, again, the choices are endless.

I’ve had a mind shift. I no longer think TV dumbs one down or pollutes one’s mind. It can, if done in excess, I guess. Like anything, choosing well matters and so does balancing screen time with other activities like actual conversation, outdoor activities, and yes, book reading too.

So, while 2020 was sadly a remarkable year for loss and fear, it also taught some tremendous lessons.

I trust as I continue to reflect on this year, other lessons will come to me.

Share Your Learning from This Year

What has 2020 taught you? Share in the comment section below.

2021

Ken and I wish you a hopeful 2021 filled with wonder, joy and peace.

©December 2020. Linda Leier Thomason All Rights Reserved.

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Linda Leier Thomason writes freelance business and travel stories along with feature articles. Her work experience includes a Fortune 500 corporation, federal government, entrepreneurship and small business. Read more about her background and qualifications by clicking on the “Meet Linda” tab above.

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Waiting For the Other Shoe To Drop

Omaha June 2015 House Hunting 047Less than 12 hours after watching my hard-working husband Ken sign a purchase agreement on a house in our new home city-Omaha, Nebraska-it dawned on me that my family has been living a life of “waiting for the other shoe to drop.” We need to change that. Rather than battle life, the Thomason trio needs to begin enjoying life, starting today.

It’s true. Since moving to the Midwest in 2009, we’ve had our share of challenges on many fronts: employment, health, housing and family. Yet, through it all, we’ve endured and remained intact as a family unit. As a parent, what matters most to me is that Alex, our 20-year-old son, sees us navigate these hurdles with willpower and grace. Knowing one can overcome challenges instills confidence and fearlessness; both attributes will guide him through his own life journey.

Last night while waiting for our outstanding real estate agent to arrive with the paperwork, the three of us walked around the house, checked out the landscaping and discussed immediate home improvements.  Omaha June 2015 House Hunting 009Then Megan arrived with pep in her step and asks, “Are you all excited?” No one responded. I jumped in and explained we are not an excitable trio; we’re pretty flatlined folks. It’s not that we don’t experience pleasure or delight, rather it’s that we are not demonstrative about it. Yet, during the remainder of our time there, I did wonder about the lack of excitement. Had the challenges worn us completely down and stripped all the joy from us individually, and as a unit? I hope not!

Omaha June 2015 House Hunting 006
Alex checking out view from back porch.

It’s my mission to pitch the idea of new beginnings to the number crunching men in my trio. To instill the need to celebrate and to feel and experience joy while bidding farewell to “waiting for the other shoe to drop” approach to each day.

Omaha June 2015 House Hunting 034
Megan’s upright shoes at new house.

It starts tonight.

We’re heading to the final game of the College World Series-a battle on the playing field, not in our lives.

It’s a new beginning and we’re celebrating!

And, gosh darn it, we’re going to be joyous about it.

Copyright. June 2015. Linda Leier Thomason.