Today's Transitions

How I Started: I began my fitness journey at age 50. I focused on my appearance first. I was not only overweight, but my body had the appearance and feel of bread dough. I was exhausted. I no longer had the strength, stamina, or balance to perform tasks that at one time were automatic. So I joined a gym and started working out.

It took about 27 minutes for me to fall in love with Maine. On a recent trip there this past spring, my heart was captured in a well-worn lobster cage and thrown overboard. Somewhere in a silent cove lobster boats bob atop me like aquatic pickup trucks. Bald eagles and crows soar overhead through puffy cumulus clouds, grazing the tops of pine trees. Fog and seaspray haze the horizon at dawn and dusk. And after a spring squall, a firework display of crashing waves flashes along the craggy coastline.

If you’re looking for a funny beach read this summer, be sure to pick up Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. Set in 1960s California, this novel will make you chuckle while it also tackles the more weighty issues of feminism at a time when women weren’t allowed to do much. Check it out if there’s a Mrs. Maisel-sized hole in your life that needs to be filled.

After you’ve taken the time and care to declutter your closets, and that small crawl space under your bed, you might find some items too lovely to toss into your garbage bin. What if your stuff can find new life with someone who appreciates their beauty? Taking your unwanted clothing, furniture, or even books to a secondhand shop is a way for beloved objects to go to a good home with someone who’ll love them as much as you have.

My journey into caregiving started at age 15 when I was diagnosed with third stage rhabdomyosarcoma. During my almost four years of treatment, I battled it out with cancer. My family, and especially my mother who was my primary caregiver, along with my church family, my pastor and his wife, all taught me how to care for those who were experiencing their worst days dealing with the issues of life. There were truly times when I felt that life was leaving my body. This experience made me make what I call — a deal with God. I told God, “If you save my life, I will dedicate the rest of my life to You.”

“I love my boat,” Bob Owings begins, “and I can tell you many reasons why it’s so special to me.” As a proud husband and father of three emerging adults, owner of a bustling family business, active church and community volunteer, and avid U.S. and world traveler, Bob’s life is pretty scheduled most of the time. “My boat brings people together and automatically relaxes everyone. That’s a natural gift of being on the water. The boat is its own vessel, separate from everything else that binds me to a structure in my life. It gives me a chance to ‘leave the dock’ in more ways than one.”

The theme for this issue is Intentions. Living life intentionally means living on purpose. Who do you want to be? How do you want to feel? Where do you want to go? In this issue, we hope to highlight, motivate, and inspire by:. Spotlighting how one man finds peace on...

My wife and I recently discovered New Harmony, Indiana, a very spiritual place of retreat near Evansville. In New Harmony there is a statue and garden dedicated to Paul Tillich. Paul Tillich was a highly revered German philosopher and theologian who spent the last 10 years of his life (1956-1965)...

Lunch Plus One is a simple outing to do with a friend or a relative. This summer outing takes you to Southern Indiana for a cool, tasty treat and beautiful views. Nothing complements a warm, summer day like a big ice cream sundae. Located by the Ohio River with a...

As you add another candle to your birthday cake, you might begin to notice that your hearing isn’t as sharp as it once was. It might be brought to your attention by loved ones complaining that the TV or radio is too loud, or you might find it increasingly difficult to follow conversations in noisy rooms or restaurants. Dr. Ingrid Edwards, the audiology team leader at Heuser Hearing Institute, suggests two types of products that can help whether or not you wear a hearing aid. But regardless of your hearing needs, remember to use earplugs or protective ear gear when engaged in any noisy activity, and consult a hearing specialist before inserting any device in your ear.

Refresh your palate this summer with a bright Kale-and-Quinoa Greek Chopped Salad! You’ll find that the dill and lemon flavors bring you a little sunshine with every bite. 1 bundle of organic kale (finely chopped) 1 cup of arugula. ½ English cucumber (diced) ¼ red onion (diced)

When you think about the friendships you developed in the course of your life, where did they begin? Maybe they started in childhood during recess at school or, perhaps, in the lunchroom. Other friendships develop through work relationships. No matter your age, whether you’re 9 or 69, friendships can be tricky to create and maintain. However, the older a person gets, the harder it may be to develop relationships because of a lack of opportunities or age-related issues. If you’re an older adult who wants to increase your socialization and develop friendships, there are steps you can take to help make this an achievable goal.

We are taking you into Trader Joe’s (4600 Shelbyville Road), a small, nationwide grocery store that’s fun to shop in and easy to navigate. Here are some ideas for easy-to-prepare meals using Trader Joe’s potstickers that are perfect for one or two people. Trader Joe’s potstickers are...

Summer is officially here and this means cookouts, picnics, and more time to spend with your grandbabies! Whether you’re hosting a summertime sleepover or sharing an afternoon adventure together, figuring out how to have those fun, memorable moments isn’t always the easiest. So, if you’re hunting for a clever idea that creates good times and deeper connections, why not try a scavenger hunt?

The use of five or more prescription drugs per month among the 60 and older crowd has increased significantly in the past decade. Add in doctor-approved over-the-counter medications, and often patients are looking at a staggering amount of medication information to keep track of on a regular basis. Valerie Early,...

Moving to a senior living community is a significant transition for most seniors. It may mean they have suffered the loss of a spouse or house or lifestyle. But some seniors use their new accommodations and new situation as a new lease on life. They reach out to their neighbors and neighborhood to make an impact. They embrace the opportunity to share gifts or talents with a new group of peers, whether that be a green thumb, an artistic talent, or just the gift of gab.

We may not like to think about it, and we certainly don’t like to talk about it, but maintaining a regular, comfortable bathroom routine is important to our health and well-being. One problem that arises when our bodies don’t work the way they used to is constipation and hard...

For those living in the Ohio River Valley, now is the time when allergies can flare. A possible way to ease symptoms is to try nettle. “Nettle is a natural antihistamine that can help with allergies. It’s gentle enough to give to children with direction from a pediatrician, but may provide seasonal allergy relief in adults, too. You can find it in tincture, capsule, tea, and whole plant forms,” Raegan says. Some people even make their own soup using fresh nettles, but the plant does have hairy fibers on it that can cause skin irritation so be careful if you go this route.

What do you do for and say to people who have a life-limiting illness? I was very fortunate early in my ministry to have a wonderful mentor — Father Jim Hendricks — who was amazing in his care for the sick. I learned from him by following his good example.

The dream of a forever home is that it be used for decades of happy memories. Think about it — holiday dinners featuring smiling children and grandchildren passing the rolls and butter, playsets and pools in the backyard utilized during the warmer months, and glasses of sweet tea shared on the back porch at sunset.