Good posture. Standing and sitting up straight. I wish I could say I do it all the time and it’s one of the main reasons I’m vibrant at sixty. Instead, I have to remind myself daily to stand up straight or sit correctly in my chair. I find myself slouching/hunching in the check-out line at the grocery store or Target. While waiting for boxing class to start. On the elliptical or arc trainer at the YMCA. Setting up my segment displays at the television station. Sitting in my office writing, ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #11 Balanced Party Planning
Balanced party planning. Or I could call this post “How a Food-Loving, Practical Dietitian Plans a Party.” Jeff and I are having friends over next weekend for dinner. I have created a fabulous Guinness and Irish-Inspired Menu. I absolutely love entertaining. The funny thing about entertaining, though, is I love the pre-planning creative process just as much as the cooking, baking and socializing. Creativity is part of what keeps me vibrant, along with spending time with close ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #10 Curiosity Part Two: Fashion and Style
My incessant curiosity about fashion helps keep me vibrant. I’ve never been a true fashionista, as I refuse to wear certain clothes and styles just because they’re “in.” I’m more into dressing nicely or whatever you call “put together.” I like to dress for the occasion and I like to buy a few new pieces every season to be “in style.” Just two seasons for me though – fall/winter and spring/summer. Budgetary reasons. Oh, and before I forget, my favorite accessories are belts and neck ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #9 Pausing To Be Thankful.
I just can’t post anything about being vibrant today in light of what’s going on around me. I live in Whitestown, Indiana, which is Boone County. In about 30 minutes, the funeral procession for Boone County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Pickett will pass just one-half mile from my home. Deputy Pickett was killed last Friday by a suspect fleeing from police. Deputy Pickett was only 34 years old and leaves behind a wife and two small boys. I can’t imagine. My grandsons are 3, 5 and 8 years old. I ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #8 Flapper Mentality
My flapper mentality has helped keep me vibrant through the years. Why? Consider this definition from Merriam-Webster. Flapper: a young woman of the period of World War I and the following decade who showed freedom from conventions (as in conduct). So a woman somewhat unconventional. Not being bound by or in accordance with convention -- the typical, customary, usual, generally believed rules of conduct or behavior. Being out of the ordinary. I think that means being Uniquely Me, being ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty. #7 Curiosity Part One: Words
One of the first things I do every morning while drinking that first cup of coffee is get the Word of the Day on my phone. I suppose you could call me a wordie. At least you’d be using a real word. Wordie is now one of the 850 new words Merriam-Webster added to their dictionary Monday. This is exciting news for me. I am intrigued by words. I love learning new words. It’s this curiosity about words that I feel contributes to my vibrancy as I age. I consider words brain-boosting fuel. I ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty: #6 Backup Plan with BVM
Flexibility and always having a backup plan help keep me healthy and vibrant. Less stressed and sane, too. Today was filled with project deadlines, invoices, and prepping for tomorrow's TV segment. And taking a shortened power walk in the cold (23 minutes). Time was tight and my to-do list was long. I knew getting my preferred #6 post up (Curiosity Part 1: Words or Spicy Shoes and Boots Part 1) was probably not going to happen. So at about 4 pm I started creating that backup plan in the back of ...
Nine Necessities in This Dietitian’s Pantry
Of course you’ll find the usual suspects in my pantry – foods you’d expect ANY dietitian to keep on hand. Like canned fruits, vegetables, beans, tuna, salmon, whole-wheat pasta and whole-grain cereal. But are you ready for some eye-opening revelations? Because certain foods are a pantry necessity in my balanced book of eating and enjoyment. They must always be on-hand for fast, easy and healthy meals and snacks. Sloppy Joe Sauce. What could be faster than opening a can of sloppy joe ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty: #5 Three Aging Icons
Frances McDormand won Best Actress last night at the Academy Awards and I am thrilled. She’s my age, sixty. And ever since 1996 when I saw her in “Fargo,” I’ve admired and respected her. She represents everything admirable about aging: strength, power, uniqueness, courage, self-respect, accomplishment, grace and dignity. She embraces getting older rather than dreading it and constantly trying to “look younger.” I’ve read this in numerous online articles about her. Those are all aging ...
31 Reasons I’m Vibrant at Sixty #4: Flour. Sugar. Butter.
Today is National Pound Cake Day. Pound cake is made with three of my all-time favorite food ingredients: Flour. Sugar. Butter. Pound cake is tied with brownies for my #1 favorite dessert. Brownies have flour, sugar and butter, too, plus chocolate. Pound cake is the perfect food for explaining my overriding food philosophy. This philosophy and attitude about food and eating has helped me stay healthy and vibrant. *Nothing is “bad.” As in “Oh, that is so bad for me.” “Sugar is so ...