Photo Credit: Happy Days 365
Can you come up with 5 ways to use a paperclip, other than holding papers together? National Paperclip Day is observed on May 29th. Here are 7 fun ways to use a paper clip.
1. Fix a zipper tab
2. Repair eyeglasses
3. Hang ornaments
4. Keep wrapping paper from unrolling
5. Bookmark - tie a ribbon aound one end and it's ready to use
6. Find the end of the tape
7. Secure chips and cereal bags
Did you know that the first patent for a "bent wire paper clip" was presented to Samuel B. Fay in the
United States in 1867? According to the Early Office Museum, there were nearly 50 other people who received patents for similr designes. Check out more on the history of the paper clip here.
Let's think outside the box (of paper clips). What are creative things you can make using paper clips? Pinterest has ideas for jewelry, bookmarks, office accessories, and other fun stuff. View ideas here.
It's National Paperclip Day, have fun with it.
It's National Senior Health & Fitness Day, celebrated May 26th. The purpose of this day is to encourage seniors to participate in health and wellness events. As a proud member of AARP, we seniors need to have knowledge of resources available, and to keep our bodies moving.
Here are 3 Ways to Celebrate National Senior Health & Fitness Day
1. Participate in a health & wellness event.
2. Walk for fitness.
3. Hula Hoop for fun - that's what I'm doing (see my how-to video below).
For more resources/ideas on how to celebrate health and fitness day, check out this link.
NOTE: I am not affiliated with this site, nor do I receive payment for mentioning this.
What are your suggestions for celebrating National Senior Health & Fitness Day?
Just for
giggles, take this quiz – Is Your Body Ready for Summer? Make a selection below:
A. How long do I have to get my body
ready?
B. Is it summer already?
C. What parts of my body are you
referring to…toes?
D. Other (fill in any other outrageous
answer).
If your
response is similar to any of those mentioned above, it’s time to get to know
your body. Whether you’re light skinned, dark skinned, pale skinned or
wrinkled, own it. I thought I saw wrinkles near my neck, but when I stretched
my neck like an ostrich, they went away.
Now I walk
around with my neck extended. People I pass think I’m walking with confidence.
No matter what you’re going through, stick your neck out, hold your head high,
and walk with confidence.
As you get
to know your body, treat the encounter as you would meeting a new friend. Ask
questions. What type of foods give you energy? What routines are good for
your skin, nails, and hair? What exercises will benefit your overall health?
I am getting
to know my body again. During this pandemic, my body has betrayed me. My
clothes refuse to snap, button, or zip; and my chin hairs are determined to
embarrass me. Let’s get our body summer ready together. It’s never too late.
Here are 3 tips to help with your journey:
1. Have a plan – determine what you want
to accomplish and by when. What are your expectations for yourself in five
weeks, two months?
2. Establish a healthy eating plan –
what does this look like for you? Commit to changing at least one behavior. Put
it in writing as a contract with yourself.
3. Include rest and relaxation – build rest
into your plan. The experts say that people often panic and go to the extreme
with eating and exercising. You need time for rest and recovery.
Summer is
closing in on us, but don’t panic. Take baby steps and remain consistent. Your
overall health is important. Put on your tank top, pull on that bright sun
dress, let your toes breathe in a pair of strappy sandals. Top it off with a
flash smile. Wear your confidence.
Is your body
summer ready? No matter where you are in this journey, love your body. Sun
shiny days are ahead.
My Mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates, you
never know what you’re gonna get.’” Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump’s Mama was right...you never know what you’re
gonna get in life. I didn’t expect what I got as I drove to work the other day.
I must confess…I’m a snacker. I am rarely without a snack of
some kind. It could be an apple...but it could also be something chocolatey.
I tried a new snack – it was dark chocolate, nuts, and sea
salt. About a 4oz bag. I munched on it in the car, chewed slowly savoring each
bite, as the experts say we should do. And I was trying not to eat the whole
bag in one sitting.
I only ate half.
Left the bag on the passenger seat. I didn’t need the car for
a couple days because I worked form home briefly.
As I drove to work the following day, I decided to nibble on
the delightful treat. I got ready to open the bag, but it was ripped near the
top. I’m thinking to myself I don’t think I ripped the bag like that.
I squinted, looked more closely at the passenger seat…there
were shredded pieces of the package and the bag held less than a handful of
crumbs.
It’s been said that as we age our memory leaves us a little,
but I know I didn’t eat that entire package.
I called my mother on the car speaker phone and said, “I
think an animal has been in my car, that was parked inside the garage with all
the window up.”
Her response was, “hopefully nothing is still in the car with
you.”
My moms’ comment was less than comforting and filled my mind
with visions animals slithering, flying, or attacking me from the backseat of
my car. As I sat at a red light, I glanced at the passenger seat again. There
were a few tiny black specks, about the size of a broken pencil led.
My body heated up with panic at the realization of what I saw…mouse
poop. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Stuart Little are all cute character
mice, but that critter who devoured my granola and relieved itself, was not
cute.
What made that critter think it was okay to invade my space?
There was no shingle hanging from my hood that said, “Welcome, we’ll leave the
light on for you.”
My mouse
incident wasn’t funny, but I needed to make light of it in order to work
through it. Sometimes we have to lighten up and laugh at the crazy things that
cross our paths. This is when you need a healthy dose of laugher.
E.E.
Cummings said, “the most wasted day of all is one without laughter.”
Think about
a situation that you’ve experienced that was less than ideal. Now think about
something that would make the situation funny.
Life is like
a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.
Go that
extra mile to find humor in life situations.
“It’s not
selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a
priority. It’s necessary.” Mandy Hale
It’s Mental
Health Month, what are you doing to invest in your self-care? The purpose of
May as Mental Health Month is to bring awareness to trauma and “the impact it
can have on physical, emotional and mental well-being of families and
communities (youth.gov).”
Focus on
your well-being by engaging in activities that bring you joy, peace, and relaxation.
Here are 5 Tips for Self-care:
1. Create a list of positive
affirmations.
2. Start a new hobby.
3. Plant a garden.
4. Plan an at home spa day.
5. Catch up with a friend you have
talked to in a while.
These ideas
were adapted from a Mental Health Month Activities calendar.
You deserve to
be happy. Focusing on your mental health doesn’t have to cost you anything, yet
can give you riches – healthy lifestyle, a positive attitude, and joy.
When was the
last time you took a mental health break? A mental health break can be anything
that allows you to relax. It can be a 10-minute break, or a weekend getaway.
Reminiscing on good times can also be a mental break.
My young
adult sons were home over the weekend and took an unplanned trip down memory
lane. It was my fault. I was trying to watch a virtual church service on a big
screen (bigger than my laptop) in a common space – our living room.
As the
pastor began the prayer, my sons began talking loudly to each other and
laughing. I had to shout over them, “Hello, I’m in church AND it’s prayer time.
Can I get a little silence?”
My youngest
son was the first to respond, “I know you’re joking. When we were little, you
used to draw tic-tac-toe grids and slide the paper back and forth to us during
church.”
“I did that
to keep you occupied so I could focus on the church service. If that worked
maybe I need to do it now.”
They looked
at each other and burst out laughing.
After I
glared at my sons, they left the room and took their memories with them. I
continued watching the church service but smiled as I too remembered the things
I had to do to keep them quiet and keep my sanity.
It’s Mental
Health Month, take a mental health break daily. What self-care tips would you
add to the list above?
May is celebrated as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Shake up your fitness routine with something different than you typically do.
Have you ever tried HIIT Yoga? Below is a 15 minute video that I came across recently and found it helpful.
When was the
last time you laughed at the challenges of motherhood? This Mother’s Day take
time to reflect on your motherhood journey and laugh at the things that once
made you want to cry. Perhaps potty training was less than perfect or teaching
a teen to drive was a gripping experience. Throw your head back and laugh.
Happy
Mother’s Day to you, show yourself love, and laugh along the way. Below are
motherhood quotes from celebrities.
·
“When
my kids became wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe play pen. When they’re
finished, I come out.” -Erma Bombeck
·
“When
your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so someone in the
house is happy to see you.” -Nora Ephron
·
“Be
nice to your children, for they will chose your rest home.” -Phyllis Diller
Motherhood
Jokes (adapted from CountryLiving)
·
“Why
was the house so neat on Mother’s Day? Because mom spent all day Saturday
cleaning it.”
·
“Please
excuse the mess, my kids ae making memories, of me yelling at them to clean up
the mess.”
·
“A
police recruit was asked during the exam, ‘What would you do if you had to
arrest your own mother?, ‘Call for backup.’”
Check out
the videos below for mother related funnies.
What is one
funny memory you have about motherhood?
Archie, Betty & Veronica, and Jughead, were some of the
characters in my favorite Archie comic book series as a child. As an
adult my love for comics remained but shifted to comic strips. Grabbing a copy
of the Sunday newspaper from the store once home I’d find a comfy spot and search
out the comic section.
Do you have a favorite comic strip or cartoon that you’ve
enjoyed? May 5th is celebrated as National Cartoonist Day and was
established in 1990. Celebrate by watching a cartoon, reading a comic strip,
and giving a shout out to your favorite cartoonist.
There is something relaxing about reading and tuning out
everything around you, temporarily. Here are some of my favorite comic strips
(not a complete list):
For Better or For Worse
Beetle Bailey
The Family Circus
The Lockhorns
Hi and Lois
Marmaduke
Kudos to those creative cartoonists who bring joy to many
through your work.
List some of your favorite comic strips.
Photo Credit: AARP
I have been
betrayed. There has been a violation of trust. The acts of deception went
unnoticed as I eased into my 50’s – 51, 52, 53…nothing. Then, during the
pandemic everything slowed down…including my metabolism. The ultimate betrayal.
During the
slower pace of the pandemic, I had more time to spend with my thoughts, my
home, and my aging body. Here are 3 things I’ve learned about betrayal and aging:
1. Your clothes will betray you –
hopefully, it hasn’t happened to you, but my clothes have betrayed me. They
refuse to button, snap, or zip. All because I packed on a few (plus a few more)
pounds.
2. Your eyesight will betray you – I’m
blaming the pandemic for this one. I visited a new optometrist because I liked
the style of glasses they offered. After checking my eyes, the Dr. said, “well
your prescription has changed a little.”
Translation – my lenses were going to be thicker. It was probably all
the screen time, Zoom meetings, and working from home during the pandemic that
strained my eyes. I had a feeling my eyesight may have changed. When I entered
the small exam room, the doctor turned her back and I got a peek at the eye
chart on the wall. I tried to quickly memorize the letters on the last row.
AECFG or was it AFOEC. Who was I kidding? My eyes were aging.
3. Your metabolism will betray you – I’m
not friends with my new metabolism, the one that moved in after I passed 50
years old. I give it fuel, but it acts like it’s trying to conserve energy and
therefore, I pack on pounds. One of my favorite action movies is titled Hard
to Kill (with Steven Segal). It’s the same title I use describe my
appetite. I know my appetite alone is not the culprit for the roadblocks with
my weight loss. It goes back to that sneaky metabolism. I know this because I
exercise regularly, I don’t overeat (often).
If you feel
like you’re being betrayed by your aging body, have no fear, there is hope. Don’t
give up, fight back. Here are 3 ways to help you feel better about the aging process:
1. Don’t be so hard on yourself – aim for
being healthy, but don’t beat yourself up when setbacks happen.
2. Love yourself – make a list of things
you like or love about yourself. Keep the list easily accessible. When there’s
a day you’re not feeling your best…refer to your love list.
3. Keep a sense of humor – give yourself
permission to laugh. Sometimes you have to lighten up and laugh at yourself.
Get past the
betrayal, forgive your metabolism, and glow through each stage of the aging
process.
What tips do
you have for aging gracefully?
