Life has been busy and hard. Prayer and reflection get me through, along with being surrounded by loving and caring people. I was reflecting and wanted to share what is on my heart. I’ve spent a lot of time over the past decade with older adults. I’ve worked along side neurologists, representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, and those dear to me who have been ill. I have been a good librarian and have done my fair share of research. I’ve been missing having time to write and time to enjoy the simple things. But I have been busy soaking in the love and joy of those most precious to me, helping them while they have been in recovery. With a renewed spirit to do the things I need for me, I am picking up my keyboard and writing. And, in the famous words of Maya Angelou, this much I know…
Here are my five top tips to continue living a full life, that I share with anyone who is willing to listen to my voice.
#1 What you put in your mouth matters. Eat healthy, nutritious foods. Each of our bodies is different; and therefore, what our body can tolerate and what our body needs is different for each of us. Work with your doctor on what you need to balance your nutrition. Also, don’t forget to hydrate. Dehydration is one of the most common complications of those ill and the elderly. Learning what food and drink dehydrates us and hydrates helps. To read more about how to stay hydrated, here’s a great article from Mayo Clinic How to Stay Hydrated Over the Summer. Above all, enjoy your food. Find what you like. Play with your food to discover what you want and not always what you need. Have your snacks and whatever you want. Just practice moderation. Life is too short to not have the ice cream.
#2 Keep Moving. Though I wrote an article about this topic already, Keep Moving, it’s definitely one of the top five things we all need to do. If you don’t use it, you lose it – is such a true phrase. I have witnessed many people slowly lose the ability to lift their arms, climb stairs, go for a walk, and more. When was the last time you went for a walk, sat on the floor, climbed a staircase, painted a ceiling, or other movements you think you can still do? When? Try what movements you think you can do and assess if you can and how easily you can. Does the reality of what you think you can do match what you thought you could? Chances are, not with everything. It’s so easy for time to slip past us quickly, especially with movement. Also, learn how to balance being in a state of pain verses pushing past the pain. If you have arthritis, an autoimmune disease, or any other mobility-affecting problem – this tip (keep it moving) is especially important for you. The pain can always be worse and movement is one thing you can do to help yourself. Read on for tips on how to keep moving in this article How to keep moving with arthritis. Try it. Get moving.
#3 Socialize. Having quiet, peaceful moments are as important as being with people. We needed the help of our parents to enter the world and were instantly surrounded by family and strangers. So it makes sense to me that this is a necessary basic need. Every medical association and doctor will tell you the benefits of being and keeping social. The CDC: Social Connection outlines how socialization makes us feel, how it is important for our health, and the protective health benefits we receive. Go out for a cup of tea. Meet up for brunch. Invite your neighbor over for a piece of cake. Bring someone flowers. Go to a library event. Find out what’s going on at the park district and go with a group. Call whoever is on your mind. We need people. Reach out.
#4 Embrace change and new things. Any change helps your brain. It can be as simple as using a different hand to brush your teeth. Or wake up at a different time. Challenge yourself to read or listen to a different author or a new book. Put together a puzzle. Do a crossword, sudoku, or word search puzzle. Take a trip. Try a new restaurant, try new food. Learn something new – a language, an instrument, take a class, or create art (paint, draw, color). The important thing to note is doing something that is out of your comfort zone or something you don’t typically do, will help your brain. Challenge yourself and have fun with it. Do it with a friend. Do it by yourself.
#5 Keep a positive spirit. If you think positive, it will help you and those around you. Being positive helps your mind and body, your overall health. We all have bad days, bad moments. My recommendation always is “it’s okay, just don’t live there” whenever you are having a harder time. How? Look to your higher power. Take some time for yourself. Do something you love. Spend time with those you love. Help someone else. Or, just keep putting one foot in front of the other. As my inspiration, Marcus, always says “never give up and never give in because, with the grace of God, there will be a tomorrow”.
Life can get away from us – either by being busy or being in a rut. It doesn’t matter what age you are – there are struggles along the way, never enough time, and never enough money. Wake up each day grateful for another day. Do what you can. Before you know it, you are praying for better days and missing people. Life is hard. Life is short. Do the best you can and think of how your choices will affect your life and those around you. If you live for the moment without consideration of consequences, you need a new path. Help those you come in contact with because there’s a reason we cross one another’s paths. Embrace moments, make memories. Breathe them in. Do what you love. Do what you can. Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Share what you know. Celebrate life. Celebrate love. Celebrate yourself.
With love and joy in my heart, especially for those taking the time to hear me. May you find your path, your joy, and your calm in this chaotic place.
~I’m here to help
Tina
Articles to read:
CDC. May 2024. Social Connection. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/about/index.html
Mayo Clinic. 2025. How to Stay Hydrated Over the Summer Retrieved from: https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/how-to-stay-hydrated-over-the-summer/
Mayo Clinic Health System. January 2020. How to keep moving with arthritis. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/how-to-keep-moving-with-arthritis#:~:text=Things%20like%20pool%20exercises%2C%20bicycle,and%20yoga%2C%20are%20good%20choices.