Why a rush to judgment is unhelpful and bad for your health The recent announcement by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex that they wish to withdraw from their senior roles in the Royal Family has inevitably provoked a reaction in the press and on social media. I noted (but was not surprised by) how willingly people rushed to voice their opinion about this situation. It caused me to wonder about how many of our thoughts are judgments and opinions
Recently I had an enlightening experience at the hairdressers. While I was waiting as my husband had his hair cut, I was joined by an older woman. She seemed to be in some discomfort, walking with a limp and a little out of breath. I automatically moved over slightly to make space although it was an unnecessary gesture as there was plenty of room. We smiled and I continued to read a magazine. Shortly afterwards she was ushered away
What you eat is important but so is when you eat it We have notions of what healthy eating means, but it all gets very confusing and the advice seems to shift constantly. Sometimes the confusion occurs because there wasn’t any real evidence to support what we have been told by experts and also because new research points us in new directions. Ultimately, any advice, however well-meaning, is only going to help if it fits with our personal preferences
In praise of pottering about and tweaking things One of my favourite things is to spend time pottering about and tweaking things. Usually, I don’t have a plan, I will look around and rearrange things, maybe go into the garden and pick some flowers or seed heads, or have a tidy-up. This may not sound like the most productive undertaking but I assure you when I reflect on my days spent in this way, I always feel a great sense
The importance of social connection across generations What do I mean by the ‘ageing tribe’? The Oxford English Dictionary defines a tribe as ‘a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect’. Recently it has occurred to me that, because of the many conversations that are taking place in social media and more widely in the press, we are forming ‘tribes’ based
Helping Your Skin to Age Well Our faces change constantly and our appearance alters as the years go by, that’s inevitable. But for some of us, the fear of ageing is very much a fear of losing our ‘looks’ and that is not surprising when you think about the ways old people, and women, in particular, are often portrayed. And women do tend to be under a lot more pressure than men to look good. In the fairy tales
Every time I prepare for some exercise, I have to remind myself why I do it. We all know significant changes happen to our bodies as we age, making us more susceptible to aches and pains, but it is also the subtle and gradual changes that I find interesting and motivating. Physical Decline Last year I had my wedding ring resized because it became difficult to remove (for cleaning purposes!) over my thickening knuckle. Nowadays I also struggle to undo
Ageing is a part of life. As a nurse, I’ve cared for the ageing and dying; I’m now assisting my 90+ year-old mother in her final years; and since my recent retirement from a 40-year health care career, I’m learning how to manage my own ageing. But what do we mean by ageing? It is the process of getting older, in which we will face physical, psychological and social changes. Ageing starts almost from the moment we are born,
