Aging Well May 13th 2014

I don’t think any of us need to be reminded about the importance of physical activity and exercise - which is the focus for the month of May in your Passport to Happiness Calendar. But for many folks the challenge is how do you get going, keep going and know how your “going” is doing? A great place to start is the website Go4Life at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life. It is created by the National Institute on Aging and offers simple everyday fitness ideas on staying physically active at any age: how to get started; setting goals and a sample of exercises focusing on endurance, strength, balance and flexibility.

But the site also suggests to get the most out of your exercise it needs to be a basic part of your life.  But how?

Start by making it a priority. You might want to take a walk first thing in the morning. Or in my case, every morning I practice my balance and flexibility - by trying to put on my pants, standing up, one leg at a time. And sometimes it’s not a pretty picture.

Make it easy. That may seem counter intuitive, but throw away the athletes’ axiom “No Pain No Gain”. Start simple and slow.  And then try pushing yourself, but know your limits. Remember you are exercising the body you have - not the one you once had.

Make it social. Do you have an exercise buddy? Someone to walk and talk with. Or a dancing partner? Consider joining an exercise group with a friend.

Make it fun. Because the best activity is the one you enjoy doing. If you enjoy the outdoors, try biking or hiking. Listen to music while you walk; read Zombie books while on the treadmill.

And make it happen. There are many places and ways to be active. If you can, take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or when you go shopping, park a little further away; and when inside, walk every aisle in the store (although that might be expensive - finding items you hadn’t thought of buying!) 

Decide to make physical activity a daily part of your life by making it a priority, easy, social and fun. It is never too late to start doing something – which is always better than nothing.

It’s back to the Center’s regular Saturday breakfast schedule: third Saturdays from 8:00 – 9:30. This coming Saturday’s production is sponsored by Green Home Construction and stars foxy French Toast with a supporting cast of screamingly scrumptious scrambled eggs, and buffo bacon, as well as fruit and beverage. The cost is $5.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children 12 and under. All ages are welcome.  

Are you getting the hang of reading the Center’s music announcement backwards? Let’s work the grey cells for another week before a break.  

Ta eht Retnec no Yadseut, Yam ht02, "Rof Eht Doog Semit" lliw eb gniyalp rof ruoy gnicnad dna gninetsil tnemyojne. Ereht lliw eb eip dna Eci maerc rof elas; dna a noitanod nac lliw eb tes tuo rof eht dnab. Cisum strats ta 7:00, sdne yb 9:00 dna enoyna ohw sliame em lliw eviecer eerht eerf tliuq elffar stekcit.

The answer to last week’s “Remember When” question is Hedda Hopper: gossip columnist who wrote Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood for the Los Angeles Times starting in 1938. (And the winner of five quilt tickets is Terri Dean.)

While attending the Wasco County Pioneers Annual gathering, I was reminiscing with Del Hendrickson about a product he remembered in the 50’s marketed as a vitamin supplement that would give you “Pep, Strength and Energy of Buoyant Health” - although the 12% alcohol content labeled as a “preservative” may have had something to do with it.  It was heavily marketed including traveling medicine shows through the south featuring such celebrities as Hank Williams, Bob Hope, and James Cagney. And when Dudley LaBlanc, the entrepreneur who made millions selling this elixir, was asked how he came up with a name for the product he answered "Well, I hadda call it something." What was the name of this cure-all?  E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a bottle of Min-So-Late made by the Happy Day Company.

Well, it has been another week trying to pick up the pieces before they fall through the cracks. Until we meet again, if you find the front door locked, climb in through the bathroom window.  

“You gotta try your luck at least once a day, because you could be going around lucky all day and not even know it.”  Jimmy Dean