Author: kenlassblog.net

One of the most important things to work on as you enter your senior years is balance. Falling is the leading cause of injury in older folks. More than fourteen million people over the age of 65 report falling each year. A fall happens so quickly and, of course, you don’t expect it. It takes you by surprise and you can’t protect yourself.

The only answer is to try your best to keep from falling. There are exercises you can do to improve your balance. Don’t be too proud to use a cane or a walker if you need one. Hang on to the railing when you go up and down stairs. Be aware of pets and small children around your legs. Recognize wet and slippery floors and sidewalks. And for goodness sake, stay off of ladders and stools.

You need to keep moving as you age. Just move smarter and with more caution. Don’t “fall” into careless habits.

I went ahead and got my flu shot and pneumonia shot the other day. There’s so much debate about vaccinations these days. Are they really effective? Can they actually be harmful? Will the shot make you sick? Even folks in the medical field seem to have mixed opinions.

All you can do is read up on all the pros and cons and make your own decision. Most of the authorities I trust in the profession seem to be strongly in favor of immunization, so I am taking their advice. I like to think of it as an informed decision.

Kind of like deciding whether to accept Jesus as Savior. Read up on it in God’s word, then make a choice. It just might be the spiritual shot in the arm that changes your life.

We have a holly tree growing on the outside corner of our house. Every fall it breaks out with those attractive red berries that have become associated with Christmas. But if you try to pluck those berries off the tree to use for decoration, you’re probably going to get pricked by the barbs on the holly leaves.

Sometimes pretty things in our life attract us and tempt us to grab hold of them. But they’re not good for us and they will only lead to pain. Better to keep your distance and admire them from afar.

Let the real beauty in your life come from inside you.

I was stunned to receive the news recently that one of my closest friends had passed away. We have known each other for 42 years. He had been having a few health problems of late but there was no indication he was on the verge of death. His decline happened so fast. It was just months ago he was his old happy, energetic self.

It was a sobering reminder that life is so fragile. That opportunities have an expiration date. That today is the only time on this earth we can be sure of. It’s easy to take time for granted. To put important things off until you find a more convenient moment. Don’t regret that you didn’t tell someone how you feel about them.

My friend knew how much I loved him and treasured our relationship. I will miss him terribly. But I know I will see him again, and that will get me through.

Have you noticed that tribute bands and performers have become all the rage in the entertainment business these days? Of course, impersonators of Elvis and the Beatles have been around forever. But now just about every rock star band from the 1960s and ’70s has tribute bands touring the country. You can find copycats of the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, Abba, Michael Jackson, the Four Seasons, Bread, and many more.

It doesn’t seem to bother audiences that they are not watching the real thing. They just enjoy the music and the memories it brings back from their youth. Nothing wrong with that. But given a choice between seeing a tribute band, or seeing the actual band, everyone would prefer the real thing.

Many things in life can bring you temporary joy. Just be sure you don’t mistake them for the real thing. The source of eternal joy. God is always the ultimate rock star.

I read something fascinating recently. The article said your brain can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination. That’s why children can become so engaged in playing with toys, why dreams can frighten you, why martial arts experts can deny pain. Golfers are trained to visualize the ball going into the cup. In football, field goal kickers try to see the ball going through the uprights before they kick. The article said you can control much of your reality based on what you want to imagine.

I’m not sure about all that, but I do believe that happiness and peace are a choice. If you constantly visualize and dwell on the negative, your mood will be negative. If you visualize a loving and caring and living God watching over you and providing for your needs, it will bring you joy and calm.

Think about that today. Better yet, see it.

Recently our four-year-old grandson cracked us up when he asked “Grandpa and Grandma, did you ever have any children?” We explained that his mama was one of our children. He looked puzzled. “But she’s not a child. She’s a grown-up,” he said. We tried our best to describe how his mommy was once little like him, but grew up, just like he will one day.

He seemed mystified. It’s funny how he couldn’t grasp the concept. Children only know how to live in the moment. They accept things the way they are, and deal with them. They aren’t aware of the past, and don’t really comprehend the future, and they’re just fine with that. They are focused on their circumstances right now.

I think we might all have more peace and joy if we did that too.

We have two birdfeeders and a hummingbird feeder in our backyard. I enjoy all of our feathered visitors, which include robins, mourning doves, bluebirds, blue jays, finches, black birds and even an occasional hawk. I’ve spotted at least two kinds of hummingbirds.

But my favorites are the cardinals and the chickadees. It’s late autumn now and the temperatures are turning cold. Most of our winged guests have left us for warmer climates. But not the cardinals and chickadees. They will hang with us throughout the winter. They nest in our backyard tree and have taken up permanent residence. I’ve come to think of them as more like roommates. We make sure they have plenty of food throughout the chilly months.

True friends will stick with you through good times and bad. They won’t fly off when times get hard. Treat them well.

It’s nice to be missed. For various reasons I had been absent from one of my social activities for a few weeks. A member of the group sent me a text message saying they missed me and hoped all was well, and that they would see me again soon. It gave me a warm feeling inside, if nothing else, just to know that I was thought about for a moment. The note brightened my day. My mood immediately improved.

It also got me thinking about friends and family that I haven’t seen or been in touch with for a while. How simple and easy it is to just grab my phone and type out a few lines letting them know that I was thinking about them and missing them. Maybe reading my message will help them have a better day as well.

That seems well worth the effort.

Ever get a cramp in your leg? Like, in your calf muscle? You can be just walking, or stretching in bed, or bending over, and wham! Cramps can come unexpectedly, and the pain is sharp and severe. There’s not much you can do about it except rub your leg gently and just grit your teeth and endure the agony. The only thing that gets you through is the knowledge that the cramp is temporary. After a minute or two your muscle will relax and feel better.

Life can be like that. You’re cruising along with no major problems when, unexpectedly, adversity hits you. The pain can be sharp and overwhelming. Health problems, relationship troubles, money issues, many other things. You can survive them with faith, knowing the difficulties of this world are temporary.

Things will get better. You’ll get through this. Don’t let today’s suffering cramp your style.