A Retirement Lifestyle Blog for Living Your Best Life After 60

I believe that hiking is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing ways to stay healthy and active after age 60, and even through our 70s, 80s, and 90s. Not only is it a great way to get in your cardio, but it can also be great for you mentally, emotionally, and even relationally when you take a friend. However, I also recognize that just one or two unpleasant hiking experiences can discourage some people or even create fear.    As that great philosopher Dirty Harry (AKA Clint E

Have you ever thought to yourself, “ I wonder if my grandkids will remember me ?" The short answer is yes...if you share your stories with them. My prompt this morning from Remento was, “ What kind of toys did you play with as a child?” which started me down memory lane (in my case, memory alley)   Many of my most fun memories are of spending summers at “Maw” and “Paw’s” house in Briceville and playing with my uncle Mike, who was my age. About 30 feet from their back porch

One thing I have learned over the years is that if I am going to walk with God all day, I will need to keep my calendar flexible. I have also learned that if I am going to keep up with Jean and my grandkids, I will need to keep my body flexible. How long has it been since you went through the day without stiff, tight, or hurting joints and muscles? For me, after years of painful joints and muscles, having no stiff or aching muscles and joints is now a rule rather than the exc

I shared a similar post a couple of years back, but this is worth repeating for those maybe missed it. I enjoy, as many of you do, finding a good bargain. Similarly, I enjoy dining out with family and friends. What I have found makes dining out with my family even better is not having to pay for it. This is how we do that Usually on Fridays, sometimes during the week, Kroger offers 4x points on gift cards for most restaurants near us (there are like 50 to choose from within 6

In the United states as much as 20% percent of adults over 65 experience depression, and antidepressants are the most typical treatment method. However,  research  indicates that 10-20 minutes of exercising three times a week, especially cardiovascular exercise, is as effective as antidepressants for some individuals. Not just depression, t here are many other proven benefits to a regular cardio routine, such as reducing fatigue, erasing painful joints and muscles, and even

This past weekend, I traveled back home to Tennessee to celebrate a milestone in our family. It was my mom’s birthday. She loves telling everyone how old she is, but she is not a fan of anyone else telling how old she is. So, with that in mind, she got married at 17, had me 3 years later, and I am 70 years old. If you are not into math, ask one of your grandkids how many candles were on my mom’s birthday cake. In our house, it doesn’t take much to have a celebration, but we h

On our hike along the 3.5-mile Black Branch Trail near Dahlonega, Georgia, we didn’t encounter any breathtaking views, waterfalls, or make any new friends. In fact, outside of doing a balancing act on some stones to cross a creek, there wasn’t anything really worth mentioning. The only other person we spotted from a distance was a man on a trail bike. It was just Jean and me. Most likely, it’s not one of those hikes that we will do again. But it was one that I wouldn’t have

As we reach our retirement years, we spend more time with our spouses. This increased closeness can lead to an unspoken  understanding  of a mutual love and appreciation that can replace necessary expressions of love and appreciation. Deep down, you know your spouse loves you, but at times, you may not “feel” like it. Although the phrase “Yes, dear” is often humorously recommended for a successful marriage, after 50 years of marriage, I realize that love and appreciation go

For me, and I am thinking like most of you, you get up the day after Christmas, and your mind is already looking toward the new year. It is only natural that the New Year starts just after Christmas. After all, the birth of Jesus marked a new covenant—literally a new beginning, a fresh start, a new freedom from sin and the obstacles that hold us back. I think God orchestrated the “New Year” to mark a new beginning, a muligan, if you will, to start being the best version of th

The short answer is yes...90% of the time. According to research ,   5–10% of all  heart disease  and  cancer cases  can be attributed to genetic defects, whereas the remaining 90–95% have their roots in lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol, sun exposure, and smoking cigarettes. In other words, 1 out of 10 times it’s in our DNA, and we can’t change that (yet). However, 9 out of 10 times, cancer and heart disease are attributed to things we do

We had our “Living Proof” small group Christmas party on Thursday evening. The food was great, the conversation was a blast, and we had some fun games and even a little dancing. Can you believe we partied for over three hours, going full throttle right up to 9:30? 😂 Over the years, I’ve realized that since turning 60, my social life has become critically important to my overall health. I am convinced, and research shows , that it not only serves as a powerful buffer against

Yesterday, my 4-year-old grandson and I got to spend the afternoon together, just the two of us, while Nanna and his older brother went shopping for Christmas gifts. We wrestled, we screamed, we ate peanut butter and apples. Then we jumped from one piece of furniture to the next... hey, I just found out there are alligators in the water between the ottoman and sofa. We Danced. Yes, I can dance... stop laughing. I can dance, but this kid has got the "Moves Like Jagger" ( check

A few months ago at Planet Fitness, I observed a middle-aged woman overseeing a young man, likely in his late twenties or early thirties, as he lay on a bench performing dumbbell chest flys. She was giving him instructions on technique and repetitions in a rather firm voice. After the young man completed his set, she walked over, lifted a 25-pound dumbbell with almost effortless ease, returned to him, handed it over, and offered more guidance. A few minutes later, I observed

Quick Survey: Would you classify yourself as a “Superager”? Or what I call a “SuperLifer”? Superagers are celebrated for their memory skills. Superlifers are distinguished by how they live their lives. I enjoy pickleball, take 2- to 4-mile hikes regularly, work out in the gym 3-4 times a week, and write regularly on this site. I play a fierce game of “Hands and Foot,” and don’t even get me started on Mexican Train Dominoes. I am also consistently involved in family events and

After struggling for years with sleepless nights, I am now enjoying 7, 8, and sometimes even 9 hours of restful sleep. No, I am not personally friends with Governor Huckaby, and this is not an advertisement for Relaxim. But I do want to share a few simple  tips that might help you get a better night’s sleep. Even after retirement, most of us put a lot of effort into preparing for a “good day.” We set the alarm, get up, shower, shave, or put on makeup. It looks like it’s going

“We are going to a Christmas parade and I am sure Santa will be there.” Malachi: “Papaw, we are going to a Christmas parade?” “Yes, and you will need a bag to bring home all the candy you will get”. A few minutes later, Malachi comes back with one of Nana’s tote bags around his neck, almost touching the floor, and says, “This is for all the candy I will get at the parade!” “Yep, I think that will do.” This might not be the best part of being a papaw, but it sure ranks near t

A few weeks ago, I told a friend how blessed I feel to still have my mom with us. I visit her in Tennessee about once a month; we spend two or three days together and have a lot of fun. My friend then shared that he also visits a family member. He goes on to say that when this person starts telling the same story for the third time in as many hours, it’s time to leave. We all know a friend or family member who repeats the same story several times, sometimes even more than onc

“To the ones who served, a pledge we make, Gratitude in our hearts, for freedom’s sake. In the footsteps of heroes, we strive to partake, A commitment to honor, no words can fake.” With all of my heart, I am praising God this morning for all of you men and women who served or are serving our great nation, so that I have the freedom to post this with pride and without fear. Today, we can go beyond the words “Thank you for your service.” Let’s fly our nation’s flag, visit a vet

As I navigate the challenges and blessings of getting older, I’ve come to understand that in this stage of life, we can — and should — serve and help those our age, and, just as important, serve as a catalyst to not only teach but exemplify how to live the best possible lives for the generations following us.. However, for our own well-being, it’s crucial to recognize that just because we can be a source of inspiration for others, it doesn’t mean we should allow ourselves to

A friend of mine had knee surgery, but instead of using a walker and gradually transitioning to a cane, she chose to use a wheelchair. Ten years later, she was still in that wheelchair. Mentally, physically, or relationally, when you intentionally stop doing something, it won’t be long before you can’t do it anymore. I went to the gym this past Wednesday after missing six days to spend some time with Mom in Tennessee. In just those six days, it was difficult to complete my ro