 I just read a disturbing Study Finds article that reported that: “Six in ten Americans said at the beginning of 2019 that this would be the year they finally get in shape, according to a recently survey. Yet two in five respondents now admit they feel “too old” to get back in the gym. In fact, the survey of 2,000 adults found that on average, the age when most in the survey felt too old to work out regularly was just 41 years old.”
Ouch. 41 years old and too tired to go the gym. This is certainly not a good thing. If someone is too old to work out at age 41, what will it be like for them at age 50, 60 or even 80. Yet, I almost always see seasoned citizens at my gym and some of these individuals appear to be in better shape than me. This actually motivates me to stick with my program. One of my best friends is in his mid 70s, a decade older than me, and he is in phenomenal shape. But instead of admiring such a person, why don’t we each resolve to our own best version of such a person? Admittedly, exercise can be a tough habit to acquire and you can always explain your failure to do so. Conversely, once you fully adopt the habit it becomes tough to not work out. Neither of us are particularly athletic people but when my wife and I go a couple of days without some , we grow restless and look for an opportunity to hit the gym. At the least, we go for a brisk walk or quick bike ride. My best advice if you are reluctant to work out is to start slowly and progress from there. Don’t be the guy or gal who goes for months without a work out and then hits the gym like a maniac, only to go home so sore you resolve to never go back. You don’t need to do 45 minutes on the elliptical and five sets on the bench press your first time out. Better to do 15 minutes of cardio (even at a walking speed) and one or two sets of weights to start. You’ll get up to speed soon enough. Also, if you are ashamed to show your out-of-shape body in public, my suggestion is that you get over this fear. Most people frankly are thinking about one person (themselves) and really don’t care about how you look or how out of shape you are. And if this isn’t convincing, there are plenty of ways to catch some exercise at home and avoid other people. You can even benefit greatly by taking a brisk walk as I discuss in this article. You already know the benefits of working out and they apply to you whatever your age – even more so when you are a bit older. These include more energy, better sleep, a strengthened immune system, and the ability to keep up with your friends on the golf course and your grand kids on the playground. And instead of taking away your energy, working out will give you more energy and can even improve your libido. It’s one of the best investments of time you can make. And if these reasons aren’t enough to motivate you, how about a longer life? As reported at Live Science, “Regular, moderate physical activity such as brisk walking can increase life expectancy by several years, even for people who are overweight, a new large study shows. While higher levels of activity were linked to even longer life expectancies, moderate activity was beneficial, according to the study of people ages 40 and older. The benefit of exercise was seen regardless of people’s weight, age, sex and health conditions such as heart disease and cancer.” By the way, in addition to the “I’m too old” excuse, there are several other reasons people give for not working out, including being too busy, too much work to do, or too tired. Regardless of the excuse you are tempted to make, please heed the words of David Joseph Schwartz, “You will find that the more successful the individual, the less inclined he is to make excuses.” This article originally appeared at www.NextPhaseofLife.com and is republished with permission of the author.
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Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday and a federal holiday observed every year on the last Monday in May. It honors those who died serving the United States military. It is also seen as the start of the summer season. Only one holiday honors fallen American veterans, is celebrated at family barbecues and marks the unofficial start of summer. Memorial Day 2020 does just that! All non-essential government offices are closed including schools, people usually have the day off work, and some local businesses may not be open as well.  Memorial Day Quotes: In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. Martin Luther King, Jr. ************ My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” John F. Kennedy ************ I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Nathan Hale ************ Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, it’s honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.” Pete Hegseth ************ “On what rests the hope of the republic? One country, one language, one flag!” Alexander Henry Memorial Day 2020 Poem: © Victor C. Kleinschmit Someone’s child, left long ago, A strange land, Someone’s foe. An unmarked grave, fields of green, Resting quiet, Just eighteen. Winds of freedom, wash us now, Remember him, This I vow. Source….
All images courtesy of posted website links or wikipedia.com
Travel Related Post: Colorado Museums Enjoy going back in time by visiting these Colorado ruins!  We have gathered together resources for older adults during this COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the resources are local to the Colorado Springs area while others are on a national level. Let us know in the "Comments" section of additional resources you would like added to this list. Pikes Peak Library District https://ppld.org/ Next Phase of Life https://nextphaseoflife.com/ Tech Enhanced Life https://www.techenhancedlife.com/ Internet Basics for Seniors https://www.allconnect.com/blog/internet-basics-for-seniors Senior Resource Council seniorresourcecouncil.org/ Seniors Blue Book www.seniorsbluebook.com/senior-resources/coloradosprings Colorado Springs Senior Center www.csseniorcenter.com Silver Key Senior Services https://www.silverkey.org/ Innovations in Aging https://innovationsinaging.org/covid-19/ Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments/Aging http://www.ppacg.org/aging/ NAMI Colorado Springs https://www.namicoloradosprings.org/blog/ The Senior List www.theseniorlist.com/ Silver Sneakers https://tools.silversneakers.com/ Put camping in Colorado on your activity list this summer! There are thousands of campsites in Colorado ready to help visitors experience the beauty of the state’s wilderness areas. Colorado has thousands of campsites, so it’s easy to find a tranquil spot to get back to basics and enjoy the simplicity of nature.  Basic Info to Know About Summer Camping in Colorado: 1) Colorado State Parks administers forty-two parks throughout the state. This system alone has more than 4,000 campsites. 2) In addition, the US Forest Service manages 14 million acres of land in the state’s 11 National Forests and two National Grasslands. 3) The Bureau of Land Management oversees an additional 8.4 million acres. 4) Both of the above agencies have campsites that range from developed areas with restrooms, fire rings, water and other amenities to remote areas. They have no amenities and are reached only by horse, mountain bike or backpacking. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. 5) There are many privately owned campsites in Colorado which have perks you may not find on public lands. These include playgrounds, hot tubs, laundry facilities and Wi-Fi. 6) One caveat for camping in Colorado is that the weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. It’s best to wear layered clothing. 7) You may be required to purchase a pass or permit depending on your location. Plan ahead by visiting the website listed below and the information posted at campground entrances.  Packing Essentials for Summer Camping in Colorado: (Courtesy of Camping in Colorado: The Basics) • Tent with a rain cover • Down sleeping bag (even in summer, it can get below freezing in Colorado’s higher altitudes) • Pillow and sleeping pad (keeps you warmer than just sleepin’ on the ground) • Camp stove and/or matches to use your campsite’s fire pit • Plenty of drinking water and food • Can opener, aluminum foil, paper plates, cups/mugs, utensils, multipurpose knife, trash bags, paper towels • Layers of clothing, including water-resistant coat, wool socks and long underwear • Flashlights/headlamps/lanterns • Sunscreen, bug spray, first-aid kit, toilet paper Camping in Colorado…A Camper’s Paradise! Mothers Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed throughout the world. The American origin of Mothers Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. While dates and celebrations vary, Mother’s Day most commonly falls on the second Sunday in May. It traditionally involves presenting mothers with flowers, cards and other gifts.  Anna Jarvis also began the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother’s Day. A colored carnation if your mother is living and white if she’s not. It was intended to be a simple, inexpensive symbol of love and respect for the person who loved you before you even knew how to spell the word. Unfortunately, the story of Anna Jarvis has a bittersweet ending. At first, people observed Mother’s Day by attending church, writing letters to their mothers, and spending time together. As the years passed though, more people began buying cards, presents, and flowers. Anna felt that Mother’s Day became much too commercialized. She was outraged when the price of carnations rose significantly and attacked florists as “profiteers.” Jarvis filed a lawsuit to stop a 1923 Mother’s Day festival. She was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a war mothers’ convention where women were selling carnations to raise money. Said Anna: “This is not what I intended. I wanted a day of sentiment, not profit.” Thank You, Mother
Once upon a memory Someone wiped away a tear Held me close and loved me, Thank you, Mother dear. ~ Anon Happy Mothers Day from Colorado Springs Over 50! Have you checked on these retirement expenses lately? What we’re talking about is the annual cost of a private room in a nursing home or even home health aide services. The amount for a private room in a nursing home has cracked the six-figure mark ~ $102,200! The amount for home health services averages $23 per hour These amounts are according to Genworth Financial in their 2019 Cost of Care Study. This rising cost of care has outpaced inflation. Where you live in the U.S. makes quite a difference. You can calculate the cost of care by state here: Cost of Care A growing number of older adults need specialized care. However, there is a shortage of skilled workers — both of which raise care expenses.  Look at these numbers of growth between the years 2018 and 2019:
It’s Time to Plan Ahead by Identifying How You’d Like to Receive Care: Planning for your care as you get older is very important and can be daunting. You might want to work with an advisor to lay out a plan of where and how you would like to receive care. Some retirees may spend money on the more moderate cost of receiving home care. There’s the possibility of having a home health aide come to visit. However, circumstances can change quickly which could lead to an assisted living facility or nursing home. Long-term care insurance might be an option but becomes more expensive the longer you wait. Select trusted individuals to oversee your medical care decision making. This may include family members as well as other expects in the field of financial planning and medical care. A Huge Financial Decision for this Retirement Expense!
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