Ah,
the holidays. A time to enjoy family, tell stories and eat too much. But it can
also be a time of worries and stress: how long are my children and grandchildren
going to stay; what presents do my grandkids want; and what do I talk about that
won’t offend anyone?
Reducing
the stress in your life whether during the holidays or for the rest of the
year, can be described as “Down Shifting”, the third lesson from the Blue Zones
- the name given to the five “longevity hotspots” discovered by Dan Buettner. If
you recall, the first two lessons for living longer, healthier, and happier
lives are to “move naturally” and have a “purpose”.
Reducing
stress is important because stress leads to chronic inflammation, associated
with every major age-related disease. To cope with everyday stress, the
inhabitants of the Blue Zones have built into their daily routines ways to
reduce stress: praying, enjoying happy hour, or my favorite - taking a short “power”
nap.
Here
are some additional tips that can help manage stress particularly during the
holidays.
1. Reach
out. If you need help, ask for it. Friends can provide support and companionship
during stressful times. 2. Be realistic. The holidays don't have to be perfect.
At our age who are we trying to impress? And I always figure someone has to
lower the bar, so others can raise it later. 3. Set aside differences. Holidays
are a time to come together - not to be pulled apart. If you hear irritating opinions,
just listen this time. You will be better prepared for when you can tell them later
how nuts they are. 4. Plan ahead. To avoid the last-minute panic, plan your shopping,
cooking and visiting. It can give you a feeling of control – even though
control may just be an illusion.
5. Take
care of yourself. Learn to say no. Eat well, get enough sleep, and keep moving.
The
holidays are to be enjoyed - not a time to worry. Benjamin Franklin had the
right attitude when he said “Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may
never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”
The
Center still has a few seats available for the matinee performance of the Singing Christmas Tree in Portland on
Sunday, November 26th. The cost is only $75 which includes transportation. Call
the Center to purchase your tickets.
The
Holiday Bazaar season has started and this Saturday, you can shop for your
Christmas gifts at the St. Peter’s 39th Annual Holiday Bazaar at St.
Mary’s Academy and across 10th street at the Center’s Annual Holiday
Bazaar. I can almost guarantee you will find something you like.
It
is exciting to hear that the first phase of the Civic Auditorium’s theater
renovation has been completed including updating the ceiling and walls,
installing the HVAC systems, and re-installing seating for approximately 400
people.
The
next phase is restoring the lobby. Towards that end, the Civic has received a significant
pledge from an anonymous donor but is looking for donations to match it. This
season consider giving to the Civic Auditorium - the place “Where It Happens”.
And
speaking of happenings, the Trail Band will be returning to the Civic
Auditorium for their annual Christmas concert on Monday, December 11th.
Tickets are $25 which can be purchased at Klindt’s Booksellers, the Civic or
online at www.thedallescivicauditorium.org.
The
name of the television spy series starring Robert Vaughan as Napoleon Solo and
David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin was the Man
from U.N.C.L.E. (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement). (I
received correct answers from Diana Weston, Jerry Phillips, Jim Ayers, Sandy
Haechrel, Don McAllister and this week’s winner of a free quilt raffle ticket
Tiiu Vahtel.)
Throughout
the history of pop music there have been “novelty” songs - from Ray Steven’s “Gitarzan”
to
Weird
Al" Yankovic’s “Eat It”. This week’s “Remember When” question is about a 1958
novelty song. When a young man couldn’t get a woman to return his love for her,
who taught him to say the magic words “Ooo eee, ooo ah ah, ting tang, walla
walla bang bang”? Email your answer to www.mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a
message at 541-296-4788 or drop it off with a recording by the Chipmunks.
Well,
it’s been another week, preparing for the coming holidays. Until we meet again,
as Helen Lynch recently told me, “Keep your feet and mind going”.
“If
people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a
shortage of fishing poles.” Doug Larson
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