Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota Edition, May 2016

Sarasota/ManateeMay 2016 • Vol. 28

FUN FEST!

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2016 • page 2

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Get Around with

By Teri Pizza

More and more women are adopting a new approach

to beauty - and it’s a rather tasty one. Scaling back on expensive creams and proce-dures that promise to combat cellulite and banish blemishes forever, fans of the Eat Pretty movement are now using their beauty budget to buy blenders and organic vegetables.

Sparked by former beauty editor turned health coach Jolene Hart’s best-seller Eat Pretty, the “beautifying nutrition” trend ap-proaches beauty from the inside out. Hart likens Eat Pretty to a “lifestyle transformation” that views good dietary choices as an alternative to the quick-fix products aimed at symptoms of a stressed body. Balanced, nourishing nutrition, she ar-gues, is actually the very foun-dation of lasting beauty.

“After years of searching,” she shares, “I found changing what I put in my body could liter-ally rebuild my beauty one mol-ecule at a time by providing the most beautiful building blocks to nourish, repair and rejuvenate.”

With impressive science to back up her claims, Eat Pretty is chock full of research and reci-pes supporting the notion that nutrition is a key component to looking and feeling beauti-ful. One fruit highly touted in Hart’s book is the tiny, mighty blueberry. Tender morsels of pure delight, blueberries have been studied in great depth by researchers eager to unlock the power of the nutrient-dense little blue dynamos. Linked to everything from lower blood sugar levels, slowed mouth and neck cancer progression and even decreased heart attack risk, blueberries also have lesser

known benefits - they may hold the key to healthier hair and a clearer complexion. Deemed by dermatologists as one of the top five foods for promot-ing beautiful skin, studies sug-gest the berry can help reverse some of the skin damage caused by aging. The antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain strengthen blood vessels and heal broken capillaries, both of which help the skin appear brighter and more even.

In addition to beautifying your skin, blueberries may even help keep gray hairs at bay. They’re high in vitamin B12, and deficiency of this crucial vitamin has been well-linked to premature graying. Blueberries also contain chemicals known to stimulate hair growth, help-ing you maintain the overall health and thickness of your gorgeous mane.

Selection and storage:• Look for firm, plump, smooth-skinned - and mold-free - deep-blue-hued blueberries.• Store unwashed berries in a plastic bag in your fridge’s high humidity drawer for up to a week.• When ready to eat, remove stems and leaves. Wash in cold water, then place in lukewarm water - returning them to room temp. enriches taste and flavor.• Or, place unwashed berries in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze until firm and then trans-fer to freezer bags. Remember to wash them before using.

Alternative Beauty Uses: • Textiles: the only natural food colored blue, blueberries were used by American Indians to dye stunning textiles & garments.• Homemade beauty products: Why buy when you can make your own? Find recipes at Bus-tle.com and StyleCraze.com for blueberry facial masks, skin toner, and blueberry hair masks. Find more great tips and reci-pes in Teri’s books, Simplic-ity of Fresh Produce, and ENJOY! Recipes for Fresh Produce, available at Amazon.com. Teri resides in Ocala.

Blueberry Beautiful


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Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

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Dear Readers,

“It’s a very ancient saying, but a true and honest thought, that if you become a [writer], by your [readers] you’ll be taught.”

That’s my personal rendition of the spoken lines that open a classic tune from The King and I; and its message introducing “Getting to Know You” is a profound one - often times in trying to engage and impart knowledge on others, we end up receiving just as much in return.

As May marks my sixth published issue as editor of Lifestyles, I feel like I can finally claim the title of “Advocate for Greater Later Living.” Over my first half a year here at Lifestyles I’ve become intimate with my own ignorance of the complexity of the generation born between 1946 and 1964, as I’m now only just beginning to understand the profound impact they’ve had on every aspect of American culture. Most importantly, I’ve come to the conclusion that any attempts to make broad sweeping generalizations about “baby boomers” as a sole entity is futile.

The fascinating and inspiring readers of Lifestyles have served as a perfect microcosm of the vast array of interests, hobbies and beliefs of older Americans - and I’ve learned that applying rigid definitions or uniform qualities to a group of people by examining their age rather than their impact is no more successful with those over 50 than it is for any other generation. It’s not so much about age, I’ve learned, it’s a lot more about...wait for it...lifestyle.

“Getting to know you, putting it my way, but nicely, you are precisely, my cup of tea...”

Anyone at the office will tell you there’s not much I like more than putting it my way; except maybe when you put it yours. Lately, we’ve been receiving an influx of responses and reactions from readers - giving their opinions and lessons from life on topics ranging from the culture of American political campaigns to how pursuing methods aimed at personal transcendence have translated to tangible results in their everyday lives.

The candid, diverse feedback we’ve received lately is so appreciated - and truly fascinating. To know advanced yoga practitioners read our publication right alongside devout Christian mothers tells me we must be doing something right. And when a retired school adminstrator turned author writes to share the incredible personal growth and success he found through local writing classes I know reinvention is real - right along with a second chance at love - thanks to pictures sent in by a longtime widower who now beams with new love.

But it’s not just the intellectually-stimulating stories and feel-good photos we receive that I find delightful - it’s also the way in which we receive it. Cards come in the mail in handwritten cursive with photos

Amanda Smith,Editor

Celebrating Our Coming of Age: A reader-inspired evolution on-and-offline

shot on film attached. Readers type us emails on iPads and I’ve even conducted an interview via text with a 60+ woman. All preconceived notions of the 50+ crowd are officially gone.

Just as this past six months have taught me about an audience that runs the gamut of thought-systems, lifestyles and media consumption - both serious iPhone users and paper purists partial to print - I’ve also learned how much tenderness I have for an age group too often marginalized by a society dead set on stereotyping. The truth is the technologically-savvy 50+ are the

norm, as are those who aren’t so into electronic activity. Some manage their finances through online banking, use smartphone wellness apps and smile at their grandkids on Skype and some spend time outside (what a novel idea!) with a book and not a cell phone ring in earshot. And some do both.

In an effort to serve the undefinable (that’s you)

we’re thrilled to announce an evolution your diversity inspired: the new LifestylesAfter50.com. Made with high functionality in mind, it’s got a sleek design, clear navigation and high usability. Our whole team is excited to share stories using videos, slideshows and audio clips, as well as web-exclusive content that’ll make our site an exciting place to be. So welcome it as a tool to elevate our primary medium, print - because it’s not going anywhere. We expect the web’s ability for us to comment to readers in real time will only enhance our paper. Besides, from a Millennial with an iPhone addiction and a journalism degree, the smell of newspaper ink and the crinkling of a page as you turn it will never get old.

Sincerely, Amanda Smith


Around TownW H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G M A Y 2 0 1 6

ll month long. Alabama Story. In 1959, in Montgomery, Alabama,

the Civil Rights Movement is flowering. A children’s book with hidden messages stirs the passions of a segregationist sen-ator and a no - nonsense state librarian. Inspired by true events.$20 - $50.1241 North Palm Avenue, Downtown Sara-sota, 34236. (941) 366-9000. Gompertz Theatre. Floridastudiotheatre.org for days and time.

7 Food and Wine on Pine. Join us for the 6th Annual Food and Wine

on Pine. A culinary and cultural experi-ence showcasing the very best in food, wine, art and music that our area has to offer.1:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Pine Avenue, Anna Maria, 34216. (941) 778- 8705.

8 Mother’s Day Brunch at the Pow-el Crosley Estate. 10 a.m. - 12:30

p.m. Adults $42.(Children 3 - 10 $24, and under 3 complimentary.) 8374 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34243. (941) 312 - 0000. Go to crosleysupperclub.com/reservations to make reservations.

8 Yesterday. Take a journey back to a time of peace, love and every-

thing in between with songs such as “Let It Be”, “Satisfaction”, and “You Really Got Me Going”.Dine with us prior to your show in the cabaret. Reservations are not required. Playing in the Gold-stein Cabaret.Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota, 34236. Tickets $32 - $36 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (941) 366- 9000 tickets.floridastudiotheatre.org.

9 Balance Movement Class. Strengthen your core muscles and

improve your sense of balance. Reduce your risk of falling, while improving your balance, flexibility, strength and confidence through one of our Balance Movement Classes. 9 - 10 a.m. Rubin Center for Healthy Aging, Sarasota, 34236. Call (941) 556 -3259 for fee.

12 Restorative Yoga Class. Relax and unwind in this all – level

class. Beginners welcome. Please bring a mat or towel. Free. Downtown Cen-tral Library: 1301 Barcarrota Blvd. W. Bradenton, 34205. Please register at (941) 748- 5555.

14 St. Francis Animal Rescue Cat’s Meow Gala. Featuring

dinner, entertainment, music, dancing, raffle & prices, silent auction and more. 6-11 p.m. $45. Plantation Golf and Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd, Ven-ice.Tickets available at the St. Francis Animal Shelter or at (941) 492 – 6200.

16 Ringling by the Bay. Join us on the Bolger Campiello for live

music and dancing. Food and beverage are available for purchase on Bayfront. Outside food/beverage, chairs and cool-ers are not permitted. Limited seating is available. $10/ Free for members. 5 p.m. Bayfront Gardens, Sarasota, 34243. (941) 358 - 3180.

25 The Annual Venice Area Me-morial Day. American Legion

NO-VEL Post 159 will be hosting the ceremony. All the area Veterans Orga-nizations will be participating. Bring a folding chair. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Patriots Park, 800 Venetia Bay Blvd. (941) 486 – 2626.

26 Welcome – Friendship Danc-ing! Fun, friends, dancing, re-

freshments! $5. 10 a.m. -12 p.m. Friend-ship Center Sarasota, 1888 Brother Greenen Ways, Sarasota, 34236. Call (941) 556- 3265 with any inquiries.

SUBMIT AROUND TOWN EVENTS: Please send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; email [email protected] or fax (813) 651-1989 by the 10th of the month prior to the event. (i.e. submit June events by 5/10/16).


A TRIBUTE TO MOTHERHOOD

A book of timeless words from famous faces celebrate mothers’ impact in a gorgeous way.

In need of a last-minute Mother’s Day gift? Check out Jena Pincott’s Mom Candy: 1,000 Quotes of Inspiration for Mothers. Filled with delightfully relatable musings from favorite notable women, the book shares the hilarious and sensitive sides of motherhood. Here’s a peek at a few quotes on pages designed by the publisher:


Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 16

Pickleball - The Unofficial Sport of RVersEver heard of pickle-

ball? If you are re-tired, a baby-boomer or you drive an RV, chanc-es are you have! With over 3,600 locations and 150,000 players, pickleball is one of the fastest grow-ing sports in the U.S. In fact, pickleball is so wildly popular, it has been adopt-ed as the unofficial sport of RVers everywhere.

Pickleball is a rac-quet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Played with an oversized paddle and plastic ball, pickleball is great exer-cise and perfect for every level of athleticism.

Donna Christiansen, President of the Pick-leball Club in the Palm Creek Golf and RV Re-sort in Casa Grande, Ari-zona, boasts the sport as having the largest mem-bership at the Club.

“We have 32 courts and over 800 players. It’s great for seniors,” says Christiansen. “It’s easy to learn and you can instantly play. Plus, it’s very social.”

How did pickleball, the backyard pastime created by two dads to entertain bored children, evolve into a sport with so many passionate fol-lowers and win the hearts of the RV community?

“The rules are simple, and it’s fun for all ages and skill levels. It’s a unique, multigenerational game,” says Rusty Howes of

www.PickleballChannel.com, the sport’s premiere media outlet, dedicated to providing professional online videos and content for pickleball players and organizations nationwide. “I’ve seen 20-year-olds playing with 70-year-olds. How many sports can you say that about?”

Interested in a friendly game with fel-low RVers or participat-ing in a national tourna-ment? Learn more about Pickleball online at www.PickleballChannel.com or www.USAPA.org.

Venice Ranch is a quiet, clean, 55+ manufactured home community in a super location. Here’s what is nearby:

• Shopping ...............................1/2 mile• Hospital ............................ 3-1/2 miles• Restaurants ............................1/4 mile• Banking .................................1/4 mile• Quaint, cultural, and

historic Venice Center ............... 3 miles• Four golf courses ...................1-3 miles• Beaches ................................... 4 miles• Interstate 75 ..........................3/4 mile

BEST OF ALL …• Homes starting at $2,000 and up, on larger

than normal manufactured home lots• New solar heated pool• We have all kinds of clubs and amenities

2496 Sylvia Lane, Venice, FL 34292Office: 941-488-5672

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Aging in a New Light: Lifestyles reader honors friend as a new face of aging

In March, we ran a feature story titled “Aging: the bigger picture” featur-

ing the winners of a British photo con-test - the focus of which was to disprove some of the less enlightened stereotypes about aging. Then, we asked our readers to submit similar images of themselves, or nominate friends and loved ones who depict “aging in a new light.”

Our impressive readers heeded the call - the images they sent in redefine later life in a modern age and celebrate each other’s accomplishments, like the following kind words and photograph of Martha Dean submitted by her inspired friend and reader Kathy Megyeri. Kathy’s kind words about Martha: Martha Dean, 86, a retired teacher liv-ing in Cypress Cove, in Ft. Myers is the new face of aging. This vital, affable, intellectual, and social octogenarian participates in a book club that numbers almost 150 members, collects supplies for a group that is attempting to halt hu-man trafficking, and counsels and gives respite to other women who need breaks from caring for ailing spouses. She also counsels friends who are attempting to

downsize their possessions as they con-template moving to senior communities. She holds small cocktail parties she calls “Drink and Run” sessions before dinner so newcomers in her community get to know one another. She is current-ly planning a month long trip to Europe this summer to see sights still on her “bucket list.” With her grace, smile and charm, Martha is an inspiration to others who are facing major life changes.Thanks Kathy & Martha! To join us in evolv-ing views on aging, email photos of yourself or others to [email protected].

Martha DeanMartha claims she “can’t live up to all the praise” but her active, engaged life offers much inspiration.

THE SUN’LL COME OUT AT THE PLAYERS IN MAY

On May 21st and 22nd it’s going to be a hard-knock life on The Play-

ers’ main stage as the Performing Arts Studio kids perform Annie Jr.

Since September, these talented kids have been learning and rehears-ing in order to bring you the story of that cheeky little carrot-top urchin you know and love. Based on the popu-lar comic strip and its adaptation as a Tony Award-winning musical, with a renowned score by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, Annie Jr. features everyone’s favorite little red-head in her very first adventure. With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of an orphanage years ago, Annie manages to foil the cruel orphanage director Miss Hanni-gan’s evil machinations before finding a new home and family in billionaire

Oliver Warbucks, his personal secre-tary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Get your tickets online at theplayers.org or call The Players Theatre at (941) 365-2494. Remember - you’re never fully dressed without a smile… and a ticket to Annie Jr!

The Players Theatre is Sarasota’s premier Community Theatre, dedicat-ed to delivering quality productions of mainstage classics everyone can en-joy. Visit www.ThePlayers.org.

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2016 • page 7Lifestyles After 50 • April 2016 • page 5


“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” - George Elliot

The infamous American generation born between

1946 and 1964 aren’t exactly known for maintaining status quo. A product of a bonafide baby boom following the end of World War II, at 76 million-strong, their births presented such an unprecedented popu-lation surge in America that they’ve been altering the cul-tural landscape ever since.

As they first crowded class-rooms and then the workplace, their sheer volume caused inev-itable change to every phase of life they encountered. Life soon revealed there were advantages and challenges to having size on your side. Career advance-ment was met with fierce com-petition, as so many vied for the same job, but some histo-rians credit that very need for an edge in the environment as a catalyst for a time of incredible innovation and prosperity.

While unexpected economic upheaval and the massive im-plications of automation would force boomers to redefine the very nature of work in America, they also altered social norms to an enormous extent. The first generation to grow up with tele-vision as a central part of their lives, they were also the first to be bombarded with advertising - and some say, its subliminal effects. Economic figures re-

port unseen jumps in consumer spending, notions of the family unit began to change, and life in America became almost unrec-ognizable.

It makes sense then, that as their labyrinthine journey con-tinues, and the first wave of the generation greet their 70s, that the traditional idea of retirement would be questioned and rede-fined too.

Generation AgelessEven the names don’t seem to fit - “elder,” “senior citizen,” even “baby boomer” itself seems all wrong. The generation of change-agents reveal themselves as far more interesting and pow-erful than those names suggest. Besides, the changes they’ve cre-ated are really just beginning, as these rebels are predicted to live longer than any generation in our history with many working way past retirement age - by choice, not necessity.

In all actuality, they have the potential to forever change the American perception of ag-ing, suggesting a new name for boomers - the “trail blazers.”

That’s exactly how they’re seen by the Administration for Community Living, as their an-nual leadership of Older Amer-ican’s Month (OAM) in May is celebrated in 2016 with the theme, Blaze a Trail.

Blaze a Trail celebrates the growing and increasingly vital part older Americans play in our country, highlighting their varied and deeply rooted roles in local communities, and their large influence on the nation’s economy, politics, and the arts. From 69-year-old NASA Ad-ministrator Charles Bolden, Jr. to 84-year-old actress Rita Moreno to 83-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who took her seat as a Supreme Court Justice at age 60, older adults are blaz-ing trails in all aspects of Amer-ican life, with some trailblazers rising to the task of unexpected events in life and others rein-venting themselves entirely. Lovingly referred to as Second Acts, personal reinvention and the pursuit of lifelong dreams are being embraced by more trailblazers everyday as they open themselves to new work and new passions, creating a positive impact on the lives of people of all ages.

One trailblazer, Taylor Over-bey, welcomed a new career, a new baby and a new artistic venture rendering delightful success when he least expected it - all after the age of 50. Af-ter owning a successful window

business in California for 16 years while pursuing his art on the side, at age 53 Overbey took a risk, took a job in Michigan that proved a disaster, and not long after discovered his wife was - surprise! - pregnant.

“When I found out Sophia was coming, I was doing odd jobs, and knew I had to find something secure to ensure she was well provided for,” he ex-plains. “Instead of taking any old job I could find, I took a chance and went back to school for my dream degree - a master’s in digi-tal media. As it turns out, I now teach at that very Institute and miraculously, I found my real calling when I took an elective in children’s book illustration. Serendipity got my first book in front of a publisher who signed me and have since agreed to pub-lish my second one.”

Written as a humor-filled fable about the value of shar-ing, Overbey says he wrote the book for his daughter, who was

three at the time and learning the skill herself.

“It’s definitely unexpected that I’m raising a small child as I approach 60,” he admits. “I’ve got a young family when most people my age have grandkids. And starting a new career at the typical retirement age is unbe-lievable also. But it’s my dream job and she’s my dream baby, and they’re two twists of fate I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

See the book trailer for Overbey’s “The I-Wants and the Gimmies” at LifestylesAfter50.com & learn more about his illustration work at Taylor-O-Studios.com. If you’re blazing your own trail, we’d love to hear about it - email your story to [email protected].

BLAZE A TRAIL TO REINVENTIONThe pursuit of new work, new relationships and new discoveries of purpose and

passion are revolutionizing “retirement” as the bold blaze a trail and dare to dream.

The single strike of a match can start a whole new fire...what will you set ablaze?

OPERATION REINVENTION: FOllOw yOuR PAssION, usE yOuR skIlls Pursue a second career offering personal and financial reward. It’s time to pursue your dreams. What were you good at as a child? Why not at least try it?

Embrace the arts to express yourself. Learn to paint, take dance classes, maybe even try stand-up comedy. To become an artist, kiss your comfort zone goodbye.

Keep learning and growing. Learn a language, enroll in a computer class or take that bucket list trip. Challenging yourself keeps you happy, healthy & connected.

Use your vast experience to serve others. Volunteers help keep their local com-munity thriving - and even alive. Find opportunities in your area at Serve.Gov/

Overbey’s first book, published

in his 50s, was

inspired by his young daughter.


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“ALL YOU NEED TO HEAR”

2016

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

VOTED FAVORITEHEARING AIDSPECIALIST

Female fashion fans. Feminists chide them for dressing for men and sustaining cultural vanity, minimalists scold them for perpetuating a wasteful, materialist

world and Tiger Moms ream them for dangerously digressing in development - culti-vating sex appeal rather than self-reliance and intellectual pursuits. But fashion lovers privy to a brand of punishment all their own have long been women over 50 - whose knack for an evolved personal style is often ignored by clothing designs based on ob-solete stereotypes. Lines aimed at 50+ females often consist of flat shoes and baggy, shapeless garments, that play up nothing but their age and greatly limit their fashion options in a way that seems neither fair nor reflective of real world consumers.

As women over 50 gain more social status and purchasing power in the modern world, fashion industry leaders may finally be awakening to their wealthiest potential market, women who do indeed still seek fashion as an expression of their dynamic, vibrant personalities and lifestyles. Women who live longer, travel and stay fit for decades more than ever before, want to do so in clothes that are individual, interest-ing and reasonably priced. While the industry plays catch-up to a shifting cultural dynamic, here’s our take on three timeless trends that serve women of any age - our favorite trusted methods of personal expression that truly never go out of style.

1Statement jewelry. Maybe it’s the wisdom or the life experience, but

50+ women are often refreshingly gen-uine and at ease. Less concerned with others’ opinions and more sure of who they are, self-expression comes naturally - and fashion’s one of many avenues to share it. To express the confident, unique you try out some bright and bold state-ment jewelry. If you’ve worn it before, step out of your comfort zone and select a piece you’d usually consider too bold - then balance it with a neutral solid shirt. With your jewelry’s fun color and shape, you’re sure to feel your brightest you.

2Well-tailored suits (and everything else). Hailed by the Wall Street Jour-

nal as the secret of well-dressed women, tailoring is an art. A good tailor can alter a suit, dress or pair of pants to accentuate your best physical assets as well as your confidence - because no clothing makes you feel as good as a piece that fits per-fectly. Prone to balk at the expense? Con-sider it an application of “quality over quantity” - having a piece tailored may mean you’ll want to wear it all your life.

3Attitude. In spite of fashion’s fail-ures, most of the best-dressed fe-

males on the planet are the more ex-perienced ones. They understand what works for them and what flatters them after decades of experimenting and evolving with their changing shape and their outlook. Because what truly makes a style unique - above and beyond trends - is an attitude of transcendence. A free-dom to laugh and love and live life on your terms - now that’s just plain sexy.

Forever FashionAs fashion hotly pursues long-ignored 50+ women, thanks to increasing social status and purchasing power, let’s not forget a few trusted looks - beyond trends - that never go out of style.


by Amanda Smith

Strong, radiant and oh so peaceful, at 57 Wendy O’Lenic may as well be

the picture of health - and beauty. With glowing skin, a toned and flexible phy-sique, long, thick hair and a pauseworthy sense of poise, Wendy often finds herself fielding countless questions from class attendees at her Wendy Fit Yoga, Pilates & Personal Training Studio in Palm Har-bor. And they all seem to ask the same thing - “How do you do it?”

If you’re looking for tips and tricks that let you cut corners while promising rapid results - Wendy’s wisdom is sure to disappoint. Her secrets to wellness are frustratingly simple and undeniably well-known: drink lots of water, eat a diet of fresh whole foods, participate in some kind of social and physical activity everyday and yes indeed, pray for good luck in the gene department. The closest thing she’s got to a secret, she says, are two four-letter words...“Slow. Down.”

As deceptively simple as her advice may sound, Wendy’s the first to admit that decelerating the pace of modern liv-ing - and the modern mind - is asking one to paddle upstream. At first it feels utter-ly impossible, but with diligent practice, tenacity and just enough madness to be-lieve it’s actually achievable, you begin to make your own current in the world.

“Modern society isn’t exactly con-ducive to wellness,” Wendy laments, “especially for women (and specifically mothers) who have been taught their whole life to put everyone else first. To truly live a life revering slowness, rest and intention you’ve definitely got to go against the grain - but honestly, some-times life doesn’t give you much choice.” Making the mind-body connectionFor as long as Wendy can remember, she’s been involved in dance and fitness. After cheerleading in high school and en-rolling at USF to study psychology, she soon racked up so many credits in dance and fitness she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in dance and a minor

helpful tool to a hurtful one. It was clear to others I was imbalanced, but with so much on my mind, I couldn’t hear their warn-ings or see what was happening to me.”

As the stress piled up and Wendy found herself buying a new business and a new house, getting divorced, and fac-ing single motherhood all at once, her body started to give.

“Our bodies can only take so much,” she warns, “and that period of my life pushed mine to the limit. I was over-exer-cising and underweight, working too hard and too long - and soon enough, my stress level began manifesting itself as internal issues. I had ulcers, skin irritations, and anyone who caught a glimpse of me could feel my chronic stress...looking back on that time, I can’t believe I thought I was ok, but what happened next was the pain-ful wake-up call I desperately needed, it ushered in the best thing that’s ever hap-pened to me in my life.”

The breaking point Wendy’s recalling came in the form of a painful herniated disc in her back that left her debilitated.

“It’s awful, and anyone who’s faced this injury knows the pain it causes,” she says. “But it also caused a real shift in me. It was the injury that brought me within.”

While on ordered rest, she says, it be-came clear she needed to shift her focus. Wendy reflected, and disciplined her inner world and her thoughts like she had done with her body. As meditation became a way life, her wellness underwent a silent hurricane of transformation.

“That’s how I learned to slow down, to listen, to respect limits. The injury taught me healing the mind is often key to healing the body.”

These days, curious folks wander into her studio and meet this Wise Woman with awe. If her body reflects a dedicated physical practice, her new demeanor re-flects a deep, meditative one.Freedom After 50While Wendy acknowledges that a life-long exercise habit does correlate to high-er bone density, she’s quick to encourage 50+ women without a fitness background to embrace their unique opportunity.

“My 50s are the least stressful time of my life,” she says. “I’ve raised my chil-dren, I’ve fulfilled a lot of traditional du-ties. And so many women my age can relate. A lot of major stress is over, and I want women embarking on their later years to finally start prioritizing their own wellness. I want women to know it’s never too late to bloom,” she says. “And in fact, your bloom is really only just beginning.”All photos by KevinKeliiPhotography.com

Wendy’s top 3 reasons why it’s never too late to start yoga

in exercise physiology. Having paid some of her way through college by teaching fitness classes, Wendy knew she’d found her passion, and although she took a few detours along the way, her heart always remained in fitness. While the unbeliev-able physique she sports as she approach-es 60 definitely owes some of its lasting power to her diehard dedication to fitness for decades, she admits her relationship with exercise wasn’t always healthy.

“During periods of stress I always ex-ercised more; it was my most dependable stress reliever,” she shares. “But as I con-fronted the most stressful time of my life the constant rigorous exercise went from a

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

- Lao Tzu

Eternal Bloom Local yoga legend’s evolution proves the best things often blossom over time

Wendy O’Lenic of WendyFit.com

1Theres no impact with yoga, so it’s perfect for those reintroduc-

ing themselves to exercise or even just starting out. The lack of impact makes yoga a perfect exercise option for any-one sensitive to pain in their joints.

2Speaking of joints, yoga combats arthritic pain. Practicing yoga circu-

lates synovial fluid, an important fluid of the body that keeps joints healthy and strong. Cells then create new connective tissue, which reduces tension and pain.

3The key components of yoga are the breath, and simply showing up.

Even if all you do is sit there with your eyes closed, reintroducing your body to deep breathing, you’re giving your mind a break and relaxing your whole system.

Wendy O’Lenic is wearing yoga attire made by Still Sassy Sister, a locally-owned business exclusively devoted to active women over 40.


www.hearusa.com © 2016 HearUSA, All Rights Reserved.

CELEBRATION!MAY IS BETTER HEARING MONTH

Monday, May 2nd – Friday, May 13th

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(Electroencephalographic data), showed a significant reduction in listening effort for mild to moderate hearing impaired subjects using primax hearing aids in speech-innoise situations applying advanced features such as Narrow Focus and EchoShield.

** Primax has the complete set of premium features and powered by binax. Two clinical studies have shown that binax provides better than normal hearing in certain demanding environments (University of Northern Colorado, 2014; Oldenburg Hörzentrum, 2013): Speech Reception Thresholds (SRT) in cocktail-party situations improved up to 2.9 dB for wearers with mild to moderate hearing loss using Carat

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Brash and brazen, a culture lacking etiquette is the American way

by Kathy Megyeri

I hear many people be-moaning the crassness

they are observing during this current election cycle, but it makes me wonder how selective our memo-ries are. I remember all too well when Tampa’s long serving Congressman Sam Gibbons was temporary Chair-man of the House Ways and Means Committee following the former Chair’s abrupt departure. Gibbons was a gentleman and well respected member of Congress for 20 years and still, in a moment of anger, he grabbed the tie of a colleague and looked as though he was about to hit this fellow Congressman. Onlookers were sure the incident would have escalated without the intervention of security police and Congressional staff members. This event ended Gibbons’ ambition to attain the full Chairmanship of this most powerful Congressional committee.

My point is that with so much at stake during elections and the ambition necessary to try and attain such powerful positions, the worst in humanity surfaces, showcasing people’s anger, duplicity, envy, greed, hate and pettiness. The system can never be mended to mirror ideal values because it is we humans that comprise “the system.” Thus, it is up to each voter to cast his ballot for the candidate whose good values most reflect what we desire all politicians to emulate and then just hope for the best, all the while remembering the “Share Your Story” column’s included quote from Winston Churchill, “No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting of elections.” Like reality television shows, modern music lyrics, and some of our literary best-sellers, the absence of etiquette is all part of life in America, and we are a loud, bold and vibrant democracy because of it.

The Voices of Lifestyles After 50:“Share Your Story” winner Kathy Megyeri

A recent Lifestyles “Share Your Story” challenge asked readers if etiquette’s role in our nation’s election process is devolving. Does the lack of civility demonstrated in the current Presidential race signal an escalation in vulgarity or has election sea-son in America actually always been this way? This month’s winner and big-picture thinker Kathy Megyeri offers her thoughts on the issue, along with a broader perspec-tive on the absence of etiquette as it relates to American culture in general. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope you will continue to “Share Your Story.” - Editor

THE MYTH OF AMERICANETIQUETTE

May Horoscope: Taurus and GeminiTaurus: The Bull(Apr. 23 - May. 20)The first part of May is filled with positive energy and motivation - and

if you use this energy correctly, you’ll get quite a bit done, as you are inspired and more interested than usual - with an amazingly quickened pace. But take care not to overdo things and curb any tendency to exaggerate or promise more than you can deliver. Be sure to burn bright this month, just don’t burnout.

Gemini: The Twins(May 21 - June 21)You are also lightning quick this month - learning and picking up new

skills with ease and observing all. But beware - you’re also high strung and may react in a snappy, irritable manner.Patience won’t be your strong point, but you can take advantage of all this urgent energy by tackling long put off chores that can now be done fast. For more horoscopes visit LifestylesAfter50.com.


Get ready to delight in a life of more joy, contentment and freedom in Encore at FishHawk Ranch! As FishHawk Ranch’s only 55+ lifestyle community, Encore offers lifestyle-driven designs and open, single-level floor plans that make these homes live and feel larger. This adult-only communitiy also features opportunities to engage and inspire with activities scheduled by the Lifestyle Director at The Oasis, a 5,000-square-foot recreation center where you can:

• Hit the gym or the trails where you can stay in prime physical shape

• Host a party in the entertainment room

• Satisfy your competitive side with a spirited game of bocce or pickle ball

• Meet on the great lawn for yoga at daybreak

• Cherish time spent with visiting grand kids at the splash pad

• Enjoy reading while lounging by the sparkling pool

Encore by David Weekley Homes at FishHawk Ranch is an age-restricted community. See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for a copy of the restrictions and other details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2016 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, LLC. Tampa, FL (TAMA76114)

A lifestyle of more fun and possibility awaits… contact 813-422-6175 today!

BE ACTIVE. BE INSPIRED. BE MORE. Encore by David Weekley Homes

NOW SELLING • FROM THE $290s

by David Ebner

According to the Center for Dis-ease Control and Prevention

(CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States even thoughthe death ratehas dropped more than 35 percent since 1990. Simi-larly, the cancer death rate has dropped about 9percent. However, chronic ob-structive pulmonary disease (COPD), has risen from the fifth leading cause of death to the third, and its mortality rate has increased by over 30 percent.

According to the American Lung Association, 11 million Americans have COPD, and an estimated 1 mil-lion are Floridians.

Jim D., whose last name is abbrevi-ated for medical privacy, has been a pa-tient at Lung Institute since 2014. Jim believes COPD “hasn’t seen the news media awareness campaigns needed to stimulate research funding.”

The Lung Institute treats patients with their own stem cells because stem cells act as the body’s healing sys-

tem. The body alerts these cells, and they flow to the area that needs repair. However, stem cells are slow to react, and in someone who is chronically ill, they’re even slower. Realizing this, the physicians at the Lung Institute devel-oped a procedure to help the stem cells do their job more efficiently.

The physicians extract a patient’s stem cells from blood or bone marrow tissue, separate them and return them intravenously. The cells then travel through the heart, straight to the lungs where they are trapped. Once there, the cells can promote healing of the lungs, potentially improving lung function.

The company operates affiliate clin-ics in Tampa, FL; Nashville, TN; Pitts-burgh, PA; Scottsdale, AZ and Dallas, TX. During the past three years, the Lung Institute has treated over 2,000 patients. A recent Lung Institute study indicated that 82% of patients report an increase in quality of life after stem cell treatment, and 60 % of those who took a pulmonary function test report-ed an increase in lung function.

For the 1 million Floridians with COPD, the mortality ranking of COPD isn’t as significant as their struggle to breathe and live their lives. After 25 years of the growing COPD diagnosis rate and little medical advancement, it seems like there is hope on the horizon with clinics like the Lung Institute and stem cell therapy.

While the mortality rates for heart disease and cancer are on the decline, lung disease mortality has seen a sharp increase in the last 20 years.

Stem cells break 25-year stalemate in COPD options for Floridians

The Lung Institute is an innovative leader of regenerative medicine and providing stem cell therapies & other regenerative treatments for lung diseas-es. To learn more about this state-of-the-art facility and its internationally recog-nized physicians, call (855) 313-1150 or visit LungInstitute.com/lifestyles.


Join Us for a Chance to Win a Free Procedure!Over the past three years we’ve helped over 2,000 patients. Now it’s your turn.

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RSVP for our Tampa celebration and learn more about stem cell therapy for lung disease.

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give a homeless man a homemade pack he put together with all the essentials, a bible, a toothbrush, a granola bar and soap. The man smiled widely when our son handed him the special pack, and I could see our son felt the happiness of helping others inside his heart. Him prac-ticing “love thy neighbor” made our day.

To me, this is mind over matter. In spite of living in a time when the news reports nothing but frightening stories of a world gone mad, I refuse to let fear control my days and I choose to focus on the things I can do to live with the heart of a child, and the random acts of kindness we are all capable of, like help-ing the homeless or simply choosing to smile. Life can be so simple really, if we stop and slow down like turtles and stay steady on the path to being good people.

God Bless, Paula TimpsonFor more wise words from Paula, visit her online at paulaspoetryworld.blogspot.com.

By Paula Timpson

Mind over matter is about be-ing at peace daily, in spite of

circumstance. Being a child of God creates and sustains a peace deep within. With innocence and honesty, children know how to live, eat, love, pray and just simply be themselves.

If I decide I will be a child to-day, I am free. At almost 50, my heart stays young as I work at peace daily through prayer and positive thoughts. With a racing creative mind, and the speed of modern culture, life is far too fast. But when I make my mind still, I truly feel and see life as it is - simple.

As a traditional woman, I am the nurturer and the heart of my home. Thanks to my faith in God, I affirm mind over matter daily, knowing I can create a warm and loving home no matter what challenges my family and I face. Each morning I wake up ahead of my family to pray, trusting in God that I will make each day the best I can.

To show my son everyday is worth celebrating, I do special things to bring creativity and wonder to life. Yesterday was a butterfly-themed day, I made all kinds of butterflies. I also make an ef-fort to do good deeds whenever I can, to teach our son to be a giver - not just a taker - in life. I know my prayers are not for naught when I recently saw my son

The Voices of Lifestyles After 50:“Share Your Story” winner Paula Timpson

March’s “Share Your Story” column invited readers to address “mind over matter” - a tran-scendence of physical or situational limitations through the power of the mind. A wom-an of deep religious faith and devotion, poet Paula Timpson offers her passionate point of view below - asserting transcendence is limitless if we maintain the heart of a child. Thanks to all who participated - we hope you will continue to “Share Your Story.” - Editor

Be a child daily, that’s the secret

For Advertising Information Contact:

NINA ROSSMAN941.223.2572 or [email protected]

What’s New In

Hawai’ian 9 Night 4 Island Exploration Oct 6-15, 2016

New Dawn Travels941.786.0223

*Fare is cruise only, per person, based on double occupancy. Guests who cancel and rebook must accept this promotion's Terms and Conditions. Government taxes, fees and port expenses, and discretionary on board service charges are additional. Offers are based on availability, are capacity controlled, and combinability with other offers is subject to change or cancellation at any time per Norwegian Cruise Line's discretion. Other restrictions may apply. IMPORTANT NOTICE: NCL reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $65 per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, NCL will have sole discretion to apply supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $65 per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, NCL will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The fuel supplement charge will not exceed $10.00 per passenger per day. Norwegian is not responsible for typographical errors or omissions. ©2016 NCL Corporation LTD. Ships' Registry: Bahamas and United States of America.

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OUR FAITHFUL COMPANIONSPet fun facts on our

beloved loyal friends The first week of May rings in Na-

tional Pet Week, a chance to cele-brate our furry, feathered (or just plain fishy) friends. Sponsored by the Ameri-can Medical Veterinary Association, the Week intends to honor the value of pets and all they bring to our human world, including companionship, protection and an infectious happiness, that adds so much joy to their owners’ lives - and may even add years of health as well. Pets can give those who are struggling something to care about, a partner to ex-ercise with, and an unconditional love that helps to heal. In gratitude of all the innumerable smiles they inspire, learn a little bit about your pets with our fun fact graphic, remember to take your pet to the vet regularly, and if you’re con-sidering a new addition to you family, read our reasons why rescuing your next pet does so much good for the world.

Facts & Figures: America’s Favorite PetsNumber of U.S. households that own a pet, by type of animal:

DOG

54.4million

FISH

13.6million

CAT

42.9million

BIRD

6.1million

•67% of dog owners consider pets to be family members•Most popular names: Bella (f) & Charlie (m)

•94 million cats are owned in the U.S., revealing that cat owners are quite fond of having more than 1

•By sheer numbers, fish reign supreme with over 170 mil-lion pet fish owned throughout the U.S.

•If you’re looking for a pet to spend a lifetime with, birds are it: some parrots live 60-100 yrs!

3 REASONS TO RESCUE

7.6 million pets enter shelters every year.

Over 55% of those are never adopted.

By rescuing, you are saving lives!

With over 70 million homeless cats & dogs in the U.S., if you’re considering a pet...


Pickleball - The Unofficial Sport of RVersEver heard of pickle-

ball? If you are re-tired, a baby-boomer or you drive an RV, chanc-es are you have! With over 3,600 locations and 150,000 players, pickleball is one of the fastest grow-ing sports in the U.S. In fact, pickleball is so wildly popular, it has been adopt-ed as the unofficial sport of RVers everywhere.

Pickleball is a rac-quet sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. Played with an oversized paddle and plastic ball, pickleball is great exer-cise and perfect for every level of athleticism.

Donna Christiansen, President of the Pick-leball Club in the Palm Creek Golf and RV Re-sort in Casa Grande, Ari-zona, boasts the sport as having the largest mem-bership at the Club.

“We have 32 courts and over 800 players. It’s great for seniors,” says Christiansen. “It’s easy to learn and you can instantly play. Plus, it’s very social.”

How did pickleball, the backyard pastime created by two dads to entertain bored children, evolve into a sport with so many passionate fol-lowers and win the hearts of the RV community?

“The rules are simple, and it’s fun for all ages and skill levels. It’s a unique, multigenerational game,” says Rusty Howes of

www.PickleballChannel.com, the sport’s premiere media outlet, dedicated to providing professional online videos and content for pickleball players and organizations nationwide. “I’ve seen 20-year-olds playing with 70-year-olds. How many sports can you say that about?”

Interested in a friendly game with fel-low RVers or participat-ing in a national tourna-ment? Learn more about Pickleball online at www.PickleballChannel.com or www.USAPA.org.

Venice Ranch is a quiet, clean, 55+ manufactured home community in a super location. Here’s what is nearby:

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2496 Sylvia Lane, Venice, FL 34292Office: 941-488-5672

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May’s “Share Your Story” Challenge:FASHION BACKLASH

“Women always try to tame themselves as they get older, but the ones who look best are often a bit wilder. Thinking about age all the time is the biggest prison women

can make for themselves.” - Prada

In the information age, humans are inundated with offers of free advice.

Some are immensely valuable; and then there are others, like fashion retailer J.Crew’s age-divided style guide, that are downright anger-inducing. Rage was the overwhelming response to a “dressing age-appropriately” guide full of insinua-tions that left 50+ women appalled.

J.Crew’s “Style at Any Age” guide is a collection of collages for the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50 & up - clothing recommenda-tions that prompted hundreds of scathing comments from offended readers. Some reaction highlights were: “So once I’m 50 I’m sentenced to a trench coat and flats?!?” in response to the “drab and depressing” 50+ selections, “Fashion is temporary, style is forever!” and one woman offered the brand some advice of her own: “You’d think you’d realize being so out of touch with your demographic is

a bad business decision - those of us over 50 are the ones with the credit cards!” So this month, we want to know... Do you feel marginalized by messages from the fashion industry or do you dis-miss them as out of touch? Have your views on personal style evolved over time?

With “Fashion Backlash” as the subject line, email your thoughts to [email protected] for a chance to win free rays baseball tickets and be published in June’s issue! (See J.Crew’s guide and reactions at tinyurl.com/

LOVE AFTER 50: Reader Jack Buettner shares a story of love and reawakening

Afew months ago, we ran a story exploring

a rather sensitive subject - the love lives of wid-ows who, after grieving the loss of their beloved spouse, sought romance once again. Fascinated, we opened up the rich and complex topic to our readers, with a request for opinions, advice and ex-periences of dating later in life. Jack Buettner, a read-er from Venice, sent in a truly heartwarming story of finding love and a pas-sion for life again when he found his sweetheart. Jack writes:Chris and I each lost our spouses of more than 58 years, but life didn’t end there! After periods of grieving, we moved for-ward, met each other, and fell in love. We not only have the same Christian beliefs, we like the same things (well mostly) and we know that life is an adventure best shared with someone you love!

We love the way Jack’s story just brims with joy and inspires all of us to believe in magic at any age. Thank you Jack, for helping us to redefine aging!Did you find love when you least expected it? Does your story offer hope and inspiration to those who long for romance? Email your love story to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in our June issue!

Jack and Chris

What will you find at Water’s Edge?

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At Water’s Edge, your loved one will enjoy life in an idyllic setting with stunning water views. But it’s what’s on the inside that matters most — a sense of belonging, the security of top-notch care, and a warm, nurturing atmosphere.

2016 is the perfect time to move in, because we’re adding 80 luxurious Assisted Living and Memory Care apartments in a brand-new building.

Come explore life at the edge of the water, in the center of a true family.

Call 888-735-3582 to arrange a tour, or learn more at WatersEdgeSeniorLiving.org

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April’s “Share Your Story” Challenge:ETIQUETTE & ELECTION SEASON“No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting

of elections.” - Winston Churchill

Observing the chaos of our current presi-dential race might make the innocence of America’s earliest election - Washington ran unopposed, heroically agreeing to do so only at the people’s insistence - a little hard to believe. Resembling nothing like the unanimous win of the world’s first popularly-elected president, races run by contemporary Chiefs-of-staff have been called everything from a war to a circus. Spending billions of dollars and multiple years on political campaigns character-ized by massive media exposure, intimate personal investigations and negative ad-vertising attacks, presidential candidates’ bids are being increasingly condemned by critics as boundary-less battles birth-ing unchangeable domestic shame and irreversible international embarassment.

But is the absense of etiquette from American presidential campaigns re-ally all that new? Rosemarie Ostler, au-thor of “Slinging Mud...Two Centuries of American Politics,” says contrary to

popular belief, campaigns weren’t more gentlemanly in the past and the 1800 race between John Adams and Thomas Jeffer-son is still one of the dirtiest in history. So this month, we want to know... Has the etiquette of presidential elec-tions devolved in your lifetime, or is mud-slinging the American way? Why? Who is really responsible for fighting dirty - media, PACs, special interest groups or the candidates themselves? How can we mend the system to mirror ideal values?

With “Etiquette & Elections” as the subject line, email an essay or response to [email protected] for a chance to be published in April’s issue!

Florida’s Most Read50+ Publication

Puzzles • HoroscopesGreat Recipes • Comic Strips

Upcoming Events • Feature Stories on Health, Wellness, Finance,

Travel & More!

LifestylesAfter50.com


Get all the latest news on our events, play Trivia Palooza for great prizes and get connected with

your friends atLifestyles After 50!


Tuesdays, April 12 & 26 • 6:00 PM

Visit exotic ports of call with The Players Follies

All Aboard! Come set sail with The Players Follies as they take

you “Cruisin’ ‘Round the World.” This captivating show will make you feel like you’re on vacation without even needing a passport! You’ll feel the warmth of the Caribbean, the charm of European cafes, the passion of South America and the pride of the U.S.A. as you enjoy songs, scenes and danc-es from each exotic port! The show features the Players Flash Tappers, an advanced adult (18+) tap dance group, who bring these songs to life with their infectious energy, precision and tap skills all throughout the evening.

The Players Follies is an active and vibrant, 50+ performing troupe where performers gain support, camaraderie and get to express themselves theat-rically. They represent The Players Theatre at community events, public appearances and main stage perfor-mances at the theatre while also serv-ing as an outreach performing troupe to bring live entertainment to those

who cannot travel to theatres. You can join these fun and fulfilling groups through auditions held at the theatre. For more information, call (941)365-2494 or visit www.theplayers.org.

Come kick back, relax, have a cocktail and join The Players Follies for Cruisin’ ‘Round the World!

The Players Theatre is Sarasota’s premier Community Theatre, dedicat-ed to delivering quality productions of mainstage classics everyone can en-joy. Visit www.ThePlayers.org.

The Players Follies: a vibrant 50+ community performance group

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If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 941-586-3853

Honoring the Extraordinary

At Senior Connection Center’s upcoming Rise and Shine break-

fast and awards event, be prepared to be amazed and inspired by the heart-warming stories of some very special local seniors.

On Wednesday, May 25, at 8:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Tampa – USF, join the Senior Connection Center and some extraordinary older Americans for a celebration in their honor - with the highlight of the Rise and Shine event being the highly an-ticipated ceremony announcing the winners of the 2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards.

With special guest Mark Wilson of Fox 13 News lending his talents as em-cee, the event is sure to be a blast - and a culturally significant one, that coin-cides with Older Americans Month, a national observance created with the intent of recognizing the vast array of contributions made by local seniors in their community. The Salt & Pepper awards were created as a tribute to the

late Honorable Claude Pepper, whose commitment to improving the lives of seniors still continues to serve as a valuable inspiration for so many.

Tickets to attend the event are $25 each with $300 table sponsorships available that include reserved seating and company recognition in the event program. For more information about the Rise and Shine breakfast event and the Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards, call (813) 676-5583 or visit www.SeniorConnectionCenter.org.

Celebrate the seasoned leaders of local service and innovation at the 2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards hosted by Senior Connection Center

2016 Salt & Pepper Outstanding Senior Awards:It’s time to honor the backbones of our communities

Tuesday, May 17 • 6:00 PM



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DAy Trips4/6 Tampa Bay Downs $504/14 Funny Girl $754/17 Jay Leno $1454/20 Boston Lobster $964/28 Dirty Dancing $1305/4 Calypso Queen $755/7 Derby Day $765/8 Funny Girl $755/25 Menopause The Musical $756/7 Naples Cruise $686/13 Ikea $256/18 Florida Aquarium $60

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Around TownW H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 6

- 13. Strawberry Festival. Enjoy all day entertainment at this

classic Florida event with fun photo contests, great shopping and musical performances from your favorite stars. Don't forget to enjoy a strawberry or two! 303 N. Lemon Street, Plant City 33563. For a complete entertainment schedule and to purchase tickets, go online to FLStrawberryFestival.com.

Venice Art Festival. A collection of new work from some of the

most contemporary artists in the area provides a diverse range of artwork for buyers to choose from. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 219 W. Venice Ave, Venice, 34285.

- 7. The Kingston Trio. Concert series with the Grammy-winning

legends of folk music. 3 & 8 p.m. $49. Venice Theatre. 34285. (941)488-1115.

New World Celts Dancers. A "pre" celebration of the luck of

the Irish and St. Patrick's Day, Mixon's Fruit Farms presents the energetic New World Celts Dancers, performing live in the Groveside Café at 12:15 p.m. To learn more, call (941)748-5829 x280.

Ragtime. Set in the early 1900’s, this classic play

weaves together the stories of three families experiencing wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, and hope and despair - as they learn what it means to live in America. $29. Venice Theatre. 140 W. Tampa Ave. Venice, 34285. For tickets, call (941) 488-1115.

Patti Highland. Venice’s favorite county crooner brings

her annual show to the Pinkerton Theatre. $15. 8 p.m. 140 Tampa Ave., Venice, 34285. Call (941) 488-1115.

Reading and Understanding Nautical Charts, A Seminar.

Qualified instructors will lead this comprehensive seminar on nautical charts for inshore navigation. Required equipment: parallel rulers and dividers. $20. 1200 71st St. N.W., Bradenton, 34209. Pre-registration is required. To register, call (941) 792-0394.

English County Dancing. Learn the social dancing of the

17th, 18th and 19th centuries. $7. Every Tuesday. 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Venice Community Center, Room F. 326 Nokomis Ave., S., Venice, 34285. For more information, call (857) 342-3253.

Basic Electric Navigation, A Seminar. Qualified instructors

demonstrate how to use a GPS in a generic format. You will learn what a GPS can do and more importantly, what a GPS cannot do. You will also learn how to create an electronic course plot. Cost is $20. 1200 71st St. N.W., Bradenton, 34209. Pre-registration is required, call (941)792-0394.

Welcome Club of Sarasota hosts U.S. Coast Guard

rescuer, retired Captain Tom Morgan. Join Morgan as he recounts a dramatic rescue to airlift hundreds from a luxury ship on fire. Newcomers are welcome to join the club, and enjoy luncheons with interesting speakers, a variety of activities for women and couples and special events and outings. $25. 11:15 a.m. Laurel Oaks Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd, Sarasota, 34240. Call (941)388-8105.

- 20. Quilting by the Gulf XVI. A Festival of Quilts will showcase more than 200 quilts

of all kinds. There will be auctions of gift baskets, and a Tea Room offering breakfast, lunch and snacks. On the 19th, doors open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and on the 20th, hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $8. Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice, 34285.

- 26. The Silver Foxes Back to Broadway. $25. 2 and 8

p.m., Pinkerton Theatre, 140 W. Tampa Ave. Venice, 34285. (941) 488-1115.

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undays. Dogs in the Garden Walk. Bring the family dog with

you to visit the gardens. One dog per adult (no retractable leashes). Wander everywhere but the Children’s Garden. Admission is $9.95; free for members. 9 - 11:30 a.m. at the Naples Botanical Gardens, in Naples, 34112. Call (239) 643-7275 for details and guidelines or go online to www.NaplesGarden.org.

Painting with a Purpose. This creative event will benefit

Centerstone Rape Crisis Services. Help give back to the local community by creating your own work of art. $35. 3 p.m. at Painting with a Twist in Bradenton, 34209. Call (941) 795-7928 or visit www.PaintingwithaTwist.com.

Line Dancing Lessons. $5. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Renaissance on 9th,

Bradenton, 34205. Call (941)749-0100.

Manatee Genealogical Social Meeting. April's presentation is

"Grits, Genealogical Research in the South." 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Manatee County Central Library, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd., Bradenton, 34205. For more information: (941) 748-5555.

- 24. A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to the Forum.

Performances of the musical will be given Tues.-Sat. evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. $28. For tickets, visit VeniceStage.com or call (941)488-1115. Venice Theatre, 34285.

Boat Ride and Bay Biocruise Aboard the Carefree Learner.

Enjoy a boat ride and a hands-on learning experience about sea creatures, from a marine biologist. Adults $20, kids 10 & under $10. 1 p.m. Bayfront Park, Sarasota, 34240. (941) 365-5318.

Venice Veterans Salute. Join us for a Beatles tribute concert with

proceeds benefiting programs and services that assist veterans. All the Beatles' classics and cool activities. 6 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Venice, 34285. Call (941) 488-6726 or visit www.veniceperformingartscenter.com.

& 16. Spring Pottery Sale. The Artist’s Market has

unique and affordable items in all mediums. Free. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ArtCenter Manatee, Bradenton, 34205. For more details, call (941) 746 – 2862.

- 17. Sarasota Multicultural Earth Festival. Featuring

dance, music, food and a focus on eco-consciousness, as well as learning more about international cultures. Tickets at the gate are $8. Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, 34237. For more details, call (941) 365-0818.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes. Walk a mile to help fund

programs serving over 2,000 kids identified as homeless in Manatee County. 4 - 8 p.m. Registration is $20 for individual adults. South Coquina Beach, 1498 Gulf Dr. S. Bradenton, 34217. To register, call (941)778-1541.

Venus in Fur. Pinkerton Theatre, 34285. $29. 2 p.m.

Get tickets at www.VeniceStage.com or call the theatre at (941) 488-1115.

Ringling by the Bay. An outdoor party with music and

dancing on the Bolger Campiello. $10; free for members. 5 p.m. Ca’ d’Zan, Sarasota, 34243. Call (941) 358-3180.

Free Music Friday Night. Bring your chairs & blankets

for Folk Blues. 7 - 9 p.m. Centennial Park, 34236. Call (941) 316-1123.

Snow Queen. Welcome The School of Russian Ballet back

to Venice. 1-3 p.m. Tickets are $27 - $40 for adults. Venice Performing Arts Center, 34285. Call (941) 480-3191 or visit veniceperformingartscenter.com.

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SUBMIT AROUND TOWN EVENTS: Please send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813)651-1989 or email [email protected] by the 10th of the month prior to the event (i.e. submit May events by 4/10/16).

Treasures always welcomes your gently used clothing and household items. This month, drop off your donation and receive 20 percent off any purchase. It’s a great time to get rid of what you don’t need, and save money on what you do need!Not to be combined with any other offer.

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WHO IS YOUR FIDUCIARY?

By David Novak

Last month, the Department of Labor released its long-anticipated final

version of the new fiduciary duty rule - a rule that requires advisers making rec-ommendations on retirement accounts to act in their clients’ best interests. As the financial-services industry works to digest how the Labor Department’s new regulations will change the way they conduct business with their clients, you may also be wondering how the rule will effect your relationship with your investment advisor.

While most all of us are familiar with the term fiduciary, it’s not necessarily easy to establish a single definition for it. Most commonly, a fiduciary is described as an advisor who puts the client interests first - meaning, above his or her own.

Commonly thought of by consum-ers as the norm in the financial services industry, acting with fiduciary responsi-bility is actually the exception. Most ad-visors, operating either as employees or independent contractors of their respec-tive firms, are only held to a suitability standard. This means the advisors are required to make investment recommen-dations to their clients that are “suitable” for their specific situation, but not neces-sarily always in the client’s best interests.

This suitability vs. fiduciary standard is the crux of what the Department of Labor was striving to address - estab-lishing a single fiduciary standard which would govern investment advice to re-tirement assets, such as those in IRA’s and 401(k)’s, which would require advi-sors to avoid payments that create con-flicts of interest. This would also entail making prudent investment recommen-dations without regard to any interests other than those of the customer, charg-ing only reasonable compensation on investment transactions that result from

these recommendations, and making no misrepresentations to customers regard-ing recommended investments.

As always, the devil is in the details. And since the new regulations weigh in at over 1,000 pages, that’s a lot of details!

It’s important to note that one of the reasons it has taken so long to get to this point is the extensive lobbying efforts of the brokerage firms and insurance companies since the preliminary ver-sion of the rule was released last year. The firms’ main argument was that they would no longer be able to serve ac-counts below a minimum asset size due to the increased regulations and costs of compliance, and they should not be re-quired to act in a client’s best interests. Privately, one of the biggest fears of the industry was that it was even possible that commissions could be outlawed in retirement accounts, potentially dam-aging an important revenue stream and hurting profitability.

While the release of the rule is being digested and interpreted, it’s still much too early to determine how the industry as a whole will respond. Some have commented that after an initial reading, the rule wasn’t as bad as feared, and others have noted that for the financial services industry, it will be “business as usual”, with only a few additional dis-closures required.

However, even though it appears the rule has been watered down, possibly the best consequence is the increased focus on transparency and costs for cli-ents. In terms of determining what effect these new regulations may have on your investments, discussing the total invest-ment costs in your entire portfolio with your advisor is a good place to start.David Novak, CFP® is a Certified Financial PlannerTM at Novak & Powell Financial Ser-vices in Pinellas County. For more informa-tion, email him at [email protected].

As the Department of Labor’s new fiduciary rule is made public, the details of the 1,000 page document leave plenty up for debate.


SCENIC VS. ADVENTURE: CHOOSING YOUR CRUISEOur top picks for all kinds of cruisers Many seasoned travelers on a bucket list trip relish in the “cruise” aspect of cruis-ing - relaxing on the deck, their cabin’s private balcony area, and of course the ship’s observation lounges offering spectacular views of scenery passing by. Others with a penchant for a bit more excitement get off the ship at every op-portunity - but still enjoy the moving panorama while taking a breather be-tween wild expeditions. Every cruise in Alaska in scenic of course, but those situated closer to shore offer easily seen and enjoyed wildlife, and the stunning natural beauty that Alaska is revered for. Cruising the Scene: Best Scenic Cruise to AlaskaPrincess Cruises (Fleetwide) and Holland America (Fleetwide)Both fleets feature high levels of comfort, service and personal attention - making them excellent choices for those seeking reliable levels of customer service and traveler accommodation. Just as important as your onboard experience, Princess and Holland America have some major clout in the world of Alaskan National Parks, due to their pioneering efforts to bring Alaskan cruising to the mainstream. These historic connections help them secure coveted permits to enter Glacier Bay Nation-al Park, so a higher percentage of their itineraries include this iconic locale. Truly, everything is Alaska is beautiful, but it doesn’t get much better than Glacier Bay. Unleashing the Adventurer Within: Best Expedition Cruise to AlaskaUn-Cruise Adventures (Fleetwide)For those cruisers craving closer encounters with the wilds of Alaska, this eight-ship, naturalist-led cruise line offers incredibly intimate interactions with gla-ciers and wildlife - including getting you face-to-face with salmon fishing bears - and they manage to do it all with pampering and style. Un-Cruise’s most pop-ular shore excursions are those trips featuring hiking, fishing and canoeing. You’ll get a real taste of Alaska with the onboard cuisine, thanks to almost ex-clusive reliance on locally procured meats and seafood, and the meals are com-munal, quickly promoting a great sense of camaraderie among passengers, natu-ralists and the crew. The fares aren’t cheap, but they are all nearly all-inclusive. To learn more visit: Princess.com, HollandAmerica.com and Un-Cruise.com.

EXPERIENCE ALASKA

INVESTING IN THE ICONICMake the most of this quintessential bucket list trip by valuing its uniqueness With its vastness, daunting winters and landscapes full of intrigue and allure, Alaska exudes a rare majestic quality. For those seeking its special aura and a trip of a lifetime, it doesn’t disappoint - espe-cially if you invest in what makes it spe-cial. When deciding how best to balance a dream trip and a modest budget, here are our picks for those things “uniquely Alaska” that are truly worth every penny. Put stock in a solid wardrobe of layers. Even Alaska’s summer months see tem-peratures drop deeply at night - and rain often appears out of nowhere. Invest in quality, water-resistant layers so the state’s notoriously fickle weather doesn’t com-promise an unforgettable excursion to the base of a towering glacier or a stunning (freezing) sunrise observed with awe.Above all, book a balcony cabin. If there’s ever a time to splurge for a balcony cab-in, it’s Alaska. Nothing’s more magical than opening up the balcony door, still groggy with sleep, to see how the scen-ery changed overnight (photo above taken from Princess cabin balcony). Rolling into a new port early each morning, the balcony scene was hushed and peaceful, offering intimate moments with the land.

An Alaskan cruise remains one of the greatest adventures in American travel. Here’s how to make yours as enchanting as your dreams.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN TO GO In Alaska, it really is all subjectiveOne of (if not the only) drawback of an Alaskan cruise is that you’re always at the mercy of the weather. At the outset, you’re limited to a six month booking window as most lines only cruise Alaska from May to September due to its harsh winters. Even in the summer, excursions like helicopter glacier tours are often cancelled due to heavy rain, so just be prepared to stay flexible.For maximum savings: Budget travellers will find the least expensive rates at the start and end of cruising season when crowds are still too wary of the weather; the chills of which leave less options for wildlife excursions.For most climate comfort: June, July and August are the warmest months, with temperatures in the 50s - 70s, but these months are also quite rainy. Still, sum-mer is your best chance at fishing and wildlife spotting expeditions. For your best chance to catch the lights: Known to be Alaskan waters’ choppi-est month (not recommended for those who get seasick), September offers the best possibility for witnessing the North-ern Lights - Mother Nature’s light show that’s truly once-in-a-lifetime.


April’s “Share Your Story” Challenge:ETIQUETTE & ELECTION SEASON“No part of the education of a politician is more indispensable than the fighting

of elections.” - Winston Churchill

Observing the chaos of our current presi-dential race might make the innocence of America’s earliest election - Washington ran unopposed, heroically agreeing to do so only at the people’s insistence - a little hard to believe. Resembling nothing like the unanimous win of the world’s first popularly-elected president, races run by contemporary Chiefs-of-staff have been called everything from a war to a circus. Spending billions of dollars and multiple years on political campaigns character-ized by massive media exposure, intimate personal investigations and negative ad-vertising attacks, presidential candidates’ bids are being increasingly condemned by critics as boundary-less battles birth-ing unchangeable domestic shame and irreversible international embarassment.

But is the absense of etiquette from American presidential campaigns re-ally all that new? Rosemarie Ostler, au-thor of “Slinging Mud...Two Centuries of American Politics,” says contrary to

popular belief, campaigns weren’t more gentlemanly in the past and the 1800 race between John Adams and Thomas Jeffer-son is still one of the dirtiest in history. So this month, we want to know... Has the etiquette of presidential elec-tions devolved in your lifetime, or is mud-slinging the American way? Why? Who is really responsible for fighting dirty - media, PACs, special interest groups or the candidates themselves? How can we mend the system to mirror ideal values?

With “Etiquette & Elections” as the subject line, email an essay or response to [email protected] for a chance to be published in April’s issue!


Puzzles • HoroscopesGreat Recipes • Comic Strips

Upcoming Events • Feature Stories on Health, Wellness, Finance,

Travel & More!

LifestylesAfter50.com


Get all the latest news on our events, play Trivia Palooza for great prizes and get connected with

your friends atLifestyles After 50!

2542 17th St. • Sarasota, FL 34234 941.366.2404 • www.catdepot.org

We cannot do it without you!

Volunteersand fosters

needed.

“To be honest, I was always a dog person,” ad-mits Peggy Miller, Michigan careerwoman

and mother turned dedicated Cat Depot volunteer. “It wasn’t until a friend asked me to help with a cat event at the civic center that I realized how much I liked cats and their nature. My love for them really happened in an instant - suddenly I was hooked.”

Peggy may be a self-proclaimed cat enthusiast, but any attempts to stereotype her as a “crazy cat lady” just don’t fit. Her retirement life in Sarasota is a full one, enriched by both a busy schedule and a sense of purpose, derived from volunteering.

“It’s important for people to have a mission,” she says. “To feel they’re making a difference; that they have reason to get out of bed in the morning and aren’t just taking up space.”

Civicmindedness has been a common thread throughout Peggy’s life, serving the public as the As-sistant Attorney General in Michigan before retiring to

Sarasota with her husband so they could enjoy a little more sunshine in their lives. As active as ever, Peggy’s life and location have changed, but not her sense of duty to the community - and its cats.

“When I attended the big adoption fair at the Fair-grounds on Fruitville Rd., there were 200-300 cats from all over Florida. I realized then how many needed homes and wondered if there was anything I could do to help.”

A seasoned seamstress, Peggy offered up her im-pressive sewing skills to Cat Depot, a nonprofit, no kill, free roaming cat rescue, adoption, education and resource center in Sarasota. Cat Depot immediately enlisted Peggy for a project called “Primp Our Pods” - an effort to remodel and color coordinate the ten pods that house cats in need of homes, so they appear more attractive to potential adoptive parents.

“People like to see cats in a home setting,” Peggy ex-plains. “It’s easier to visualize taking them home to their homes if they see them in that environment already.”

To spruce up the pods, Peggy and others decided to hand sew cat bedding in colors that matched the cat adoption pods. Then, Peggy offered to make matching fleece blankets. The first set was 20 of each color for the corresponding ten pods; meaning she created over

200 beautiful and colorful blankets that went over so well, she then made 40 beds by covering litter boxes with fleece. When Cat Depot decided to stop using towels to line their cages, Peggy donated another 170 cage liners of different sizes.

“The fleece is preferred because it washes and dries so quickly, and less time in the dryer lets us spend that saved money on other things,” says Lynn Rasys, Cat Depot’s Director of Communications and Develop-ment. “It’s also soft and comforting for the kitties.”

Lynn says Peggy has been a true saving grace for the cats at the rescue.

“We’ve lost count, but we think Peggy has created and personally donated close to 1,000 blankets and beds,” Lynn shares. “We are so thankful for her count-less hours and endless dedication to the cats and kittens at Cat Depot.”

To learn more about Cat Depot and how you can help Flori-da’s feline popula-tion, please visit www.CatDepot.org.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Cat Depot’s Peggy Miller A lifelong “dog person” finds new meaning as a Floridian,

retiree, avid volunteer and surprisingly, a feline fan.


Rise & Shine IN

SPI

RATIO

NAL BREAKFAST & AWARDS CEREM

ONY

SPONSORED BY

Be prepared to be amazed and inspired by the heart-warming stories of some very special local seniors.

Wednesday, May 25, 20168:30am

Embassy Suites Tampa – USF3705 SPECTRUM BLVD. • TAMPA, FL

Meet the winners of the 2016 Salt & Pepper

Outstanding Senior Awards

Special Guest EmceeMark Wilson of Fox 13 News

Tickets are $25 each$300 for table sponsorships

(Includes reserved seating and company recognition in event program)

Visit: SeniorConnectionCenter.org or call 813-676-5583

Our Web Ad1/8

by Gloria Raskin

When did I cross the line from care-free, secure female to frightened,

insecure, older woman? When did my enthusiasm for life take on an air of caution? When did I start watching my-self walk, so I would not trip and fall? When did fall-ing even come into the picture? When did travel-ing, become an ordeal and not a pleasure? When did I start to re-fuse chances to go away?

When did I start to constantly say “what if”? When did I be-gin monitoring my speech with my adult children so as not to offend and just when did my children begin to pass know-ing glances between themselves after I spoke? When did my children decide I was too “negative?” When did I feel I was out of the loop?

When did I start not wanting to call at-tention to myself and hopefully fade into the background? When did only the fa-miliar become comfortable to me? When did encounters with the sun start only taking place under a hat and sunscreen?

The Voices of Lifestyles After 50:Mother, writer and reader Gloria Raskin gets Vulnerable

A primary focus of Lifestyles After 50 is to promote healthy attitudes towards aging and inspire readers to embrace the gifts of their later years. A most inspiring action is sharing raw honesty, bringing to light those familiar - and uncomfortable - thoughts we’ve learned to keep concealed. In her courageous essay below, Lifestyles reader Gloria Raskin reveals the unspoken, letting us know it’s ok to acknowledge all aspects of getting older. - Editor

VULNERABLE When did the sun become something else to worry about? When did I start tak-ing medications with me every time I left the house? When did I begin to measure all trips in terms of physical discomfort? When did others on buses start offering me their seat? When did I start losing inches off my physical, mental and emo-tional stature? When did sleeping become a struggle? When did trips to the bath-

room become so frequent? When did some days have to be en-dured, instead of enjoyed? When did the gift of a busy day be-come an obstacle course?

When did I become a ner-vous passenger in a car being

driven by someone I loved and trust-ed? When did I start to brace myself for a car accident that fortunately has not happened? When did a low level of anxiety become a constant companion?

When did I cross this invisible line and change the core of my very being? When did my sense of invincibility des-ert me? When did I become...my mother?Gloria Raskin is a retired schoolteacher turned freelance writer. Over 50 of her per-sonal essays have appeared in countless pub-lications including Newsday & Mature Years.

Florida Gardening Guide: Tips & Tasks for MayAll year long, we’re featuring tips and tasks for successful gardening in the Sunshine State - and the month of May is all about the virtue of mainte-nance. For a head start on hurricane sea-

son, sharpen all those pruning tools now - this ensures you’ll have time to chip and compost the prunings before big storms turn them into projectiles. Next up, check the lawn for bad patches, in-dicative of early insect problems. Catch them now and you may be able to nip them in the proverbial bud.

For expanded words of gardening wisdom, visit LifestylesAfter50.com where you can download a free copy of our “Florida Gar-dening Guide” calendar and follow along online for more detailed tips every month.

May in the Garden:To encourage overall growth, prune early - just before the first growth flush.


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by Carlene Cobb

“When you start feeling like you are accom-plished, that’s when you stop accomplishing

anything,” says Kristy Andersen, Emmy-award win-ning filmmaker and president of Bay Bottom News.

Returning to graduate school recently, Andersen says she doesn’t see many other 64-year-old students in her classes at University of South Florida, St. Petersburg (USFSP), but she remains undaunted. She was awarded a graduate assistantship and says the Florida Studies Mas-ter’s program is her perfect match.

“They appreciate my skills, and I appreciate being part of something that helps me feel like my life is ful-filling, instead of diminished,” she shares. “I feel like I am still growing.”

Clearly, Andersen has been growing since graduating from University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism in 1974. She was one of a hand-ful of women operating cameras at ABC Sports, WTVT, WTOG and independent film production companies.

She wanted to create documentaries. So she found-ed Bay Bottom News in 1987 and became a successful grant writer to fund her projects. She built her port-folio with film projects focused on Florida’s environ-ment, literature, culture, history and social issues.

Her 1985 documentary, Bay Bottom Blues, revealed

problems with water quality in Tampa Bay. Andersen re-calls how interviewing scientists and other environmen-tal experts led to “a pulling together of discordant voices. They realized they had common goals and a lot of com-mon ground. We did make a lot of progress in Tampa Bay, and it remains a concern because the ecosystem is so fragile, and the environment is part of Florida’s culture.”

Andersen’s EMMY award-winning documentary, Sea Turtles’ Last Dance, aired nationwide on PBS from 1988 to 1990. As the producer and writer of Zora Neale Hur-ston: Jump at the Sun in 2008, Andersen was awarded a Primetime EMMY for Outstanding Non-fiction Series in PBS’ American Masters. Her work-in-progress film Jack Kerouac: Lonesome Traveler, funded by Florida Divi-sion of Cultural Affairs, was screened before a full house at Studio 620, as part of the Sun Lit Festival in March. Current projects include My Everglades Home, funded by Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and Growing Up Positive, a documentary about HIV funded by USF, US-FSP and Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

Grateful for support from grantors, Andersen also ap-preciates how much digital technology has reduced the cost of independent filmmaking. Today, she uses a digital camera and editing software allowing her to work at home. When technical glitches emerge, she finds ways to resolve them with online resources. Laser-focused on meaningful content, documentaries continue to be her passion.

“It’s what you create that counts,” she says, “so you keep your focus on quality.”

To learn more about Kristy Andersen’s Bay Bottom News, Florida True Life Stories from a documentary filmmaker, visit www.BayBottomNews.com.

Bay Bottom News President Kristy Andersen Captures Florida’s Visions and Voices


WILLPOWERED & SKILLPOWERED: The science of self-improvement that lasts “T his time it’ll be different” - the

infamous first words we declare when setting a new goal of personal im-provement. Unfortunately for most of us, “this time” is rarely different; thanks to unrealistic approaches that quickly leave us burnt out and yet again, discouraged.

In spite of change’s elusiveness, a rare few defy the odds. Some transform (and maintain) healthier habits, and psycholo-gist Al Switzler set out to find out why. His research reveals behavioral change is actually quite formulaic, with the same steps and skills correlating to achieving goals of all kinds. Whether it’s sticking to a budget, losing weight or de-stressing, the ability to achieve and sustain change is not so much magical or purely “will-powered” as it is a science achieved with specific skills and a whole lot of desire.

In an attempt to establish the elements of lasting change, Switzler studied the progress of a group’s attempts at losing weight. Of the 5,000 participants, only 600 (just over 10%) changed behavior, achieved their desired weight-loss and kept it off for over two years. As Swit-

zler’s team dissected why these anoma-lies were able to sustain their changes, he identified four key factors that influence behavior - for better or for worse. Here’s how to use them to achieve your goals.

1Willpower. Unsurprisingly, willpow-er is the first and greatest thing Swit-

zler found to influence changes in behav-ior. As for how to wield more of it, the study revealed the amount of willpower at your disposal was closely tied to the depth of desire you had for the goal you sought. Switzler found the more desire, the stricter the participants’ discipline.Your next step: Willpower starts with purpose. Write down all the reasons you want to make the change to get you more in touch with your desire.

2Knowledge & skills. Switzler found the goal-achievers were more likely

to do extensive research on which weight loss tactics really worked, and track their progress allowing them to make adjust-ments accordingly along the way. Their notes and know-how allowed them to di-rect willpower more effectively.

Your next step: Before spending time and energy on a new plan to save, diet, or exercise, do your due diligence. Only commit to a plan with proven results. Record all progress to keep on track with facts and fig-ures rather than emotions.

3Social Support. Those who main-tained change understood the value

of social support and asked their friends and family to be allies in their quest for self-improvement. They also sought out people with similarly aligned lifestyles who had made the change themselves.Your next step: Communicate your goals and motivations well with your loved ones and ask them for support in helping you to stay committed. To in-crease your odds of success exponen-tially, search your social network for a mentor - find someone who’s “been there before” and is willing to help. They can offer a priceless voice of ex-perience when you hit a tough time.

4Set yourself up for success. Goal-achievers incentivise. They rewarded

desired behaviors and created structural obstacles to prevent negative ones. Your next step: Link creative (and fun!)rewards to milestones of progress. Put some money wherever you kept ciga-rettes before you quit. When you hit 30 days without smoking treat yourself to a new bicycle to match your new lungs! To obstruct bad habits, rid your home of un-healthy food to be less tempted and more inclined to do the right thing.

While Switzler’s research shows willpower as key to goal achievement, it also reveals others factors you can use to your advantage...and perhaps this time really will be different!

YOSEMITE IN BLOOM “Now is the birth-time of leaves; the pines are retassled, and the oaks are

sprayed with young purple.” - John Muir on spring in Yosemite

As thawing snow fills the park’s streams and replenishes waterfalls

so they may regain their stunning power, spring in Yosemite is nothing short of ma-jestic. All signs point to the reawakening of the park in April, but visiting Yosemite in early May, often around Mother’s Day, offers a special surprise - the blooming of the Pacific dogwood trees.

The Pacific dogwoods found in Yo-semite make their home in wet, mild habitats anywhere from British Colum-bia to southern California and are only found in one color - white. Classified as a wildflower, the Pacific dogwood may not be as bold as some of its color-ful counterparts, but it still knows how to create a striking scene. In May, Yo-semite welcomes these gleaming white dogwood blossoms as they emerge from thick, dark tree trunks to create a visual vibrance and contrast that stops park visitors in their tracks. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a view of the blossoms in their most spectacular surroundings, set against a background of one of Yosem-ite’s many gushing waterfalls with little rainbows sparkling in their mighty flow.

When admired up close, the dog-wood adds a splash of life to the darker surrounding forest. But viewed from afar, the plant that has come to symbol-ize the peak of spring in Yosemite ac-tually resembles a flurry of giant snow-flakes floating in the forest air.

Often found beneath Yosemite’s gi-

ant conifers, dogwood blooms are no-toriously hard to photograph. If you’re looking for a little guidance on how to shoot these spring gems, you’re in luck - dogwoods are a primary focus of Yo-semite’s Camera Walks, free two-hour tours provided by the National Park Service. The tours begin annually in mid-April and are led by local profes-sional photographers who share secrets on how to capture the various treasures found in Yosemite National Park. If you’re a Yosemite newbie, the Camera

Walks are especially valuable, as they guide you to prime park locations that are off-the-beaten path, and may just provide the perfect opportunity to take a photograph you will never forget.

To check the current status of dogwood blooms in Yosemite, as well as learn more about NPS Camera Walks at Yo-semite, visit www.nps.gov/yose. Do you have a favorite National Park? Memo-ries of a special visit? Please email your story to [email protected].

Celebrating the Centennial

100 years ago, the United States cre-ated the National Park Service,

a federal agency designed to preserve the breathtaking beauty of the American landscape. Visit LifestylesAfter50.com for our Celebrate the Centennial series as we highlight our favorite parks all year long.

Yosemite National Park, California - Mother Earth births the dogwood blossoms in early May.


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Last Month’s Answers

C H E T S P R A T E T A LL A L A L E A V E M A N EO I L S E A T E N B L O TD R E S S E R R E M A I N S

E L K A S T E RS A L L Y A B E A G A T EA L A S P R Y S N O R E SL A G E A R S H O T E N SA M E N D S M O W C A S ED O R I S R A G R I S E N

B E T E L T A NC H A B L I S D A N C I N GL U L L T A C I T H O E RU R G E L L A M A E I E IE T A S E E L E R D I R T

ANSWER TO #5086

Last Month’s Winner is Robin WaterfallCongratulations!

CROSSWORD PUZZLE #5087

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ACROSS 1. Bit of sooty residue 4. Rosters 9. Bustle13. Dull thud15. In the know16. Sinister17. Sightseeing trip18. Female animals19. Item on a

birth certificate20. Groups of descendants22. Pub orders23. Breathe heavily24. Suffix for Christ or Brazil26. Preacher’s spot29. Cable TV station34. Whirling35. Cell __36. __ de plume37. Gritty particles38. Walter,

Donna and Rex39. Part of a ticket40. __-pitch softball41. Northern Europeans42. Pronoun43. Emerson or Lamb45. More impoverished46. Eisenhower or

Schwarzkopf: abbr.47. Go bad48. Refuge51. Dedicated56. “Merrye __ England”57. Spreads sold in the

dairy case58. College town60. River in Africa61. Identical62. Scarce63. The Bee __64. Biblical weeds65. Regulation

DOWN 1. Fitting 2. Make a mess 3. Little hand’s indication 4. Mourn 5. Greedy child’s words 6. Eastern garb 7. Magnolia, for one 8. Meetings 9. Rent payer10. Rink shape11. Place for FDR’s image12. Bullring shouts14. __ up; supported21. Actor Max25. Reverent fear26. Old hat27. Mount Narodnaya’s

range28. Jay and family29. Bed item30. Coal scuttles31. Bury32. Quiet one33. Glowing piece35. Animal enclosures38. Mac39. Like February

(compared with any other month)

41. Color transformer42. Recommend highly44. Concurs45. Balances47. __ detector48. Pine49. Tell __; prevaricate50. Lounging around52. Large-mouthed jar53. Late Israeli

prime minister54. And others: abbr.55. Explorer of TV59. Original CROSSWORD PUZZLE #5087

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prime minister54. And others: abbr.55. Explorer of TV59. Original

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prime minister54. And others: abbr.55. Explorer of TV59. Original

power puzzle


a toast of remembrance

Often associated with barbecues, blockbusters and a three-day

weekend at the beach, Memorial Day has long been the end of May’s beloved holiday, celebrated with food, drink and fun ushering in a summertime state of mind. While we all love a day off of work and a good block party, the origins of such a significant national holiday - one honoring those fallen soldiers who died serving in the military - can be eas-ily overlooked. This year, infuse some extra meaning and gratitude into your Memorial Day get-together by serving a patriotic tonic well able to inspire a toast of remembrance. Here’s a recipe and a little history to make your Memo-rial Day celebration both delicious and decidedly honorable.

Memorial Day Patriotic Tonic • 4 Fever Tree tonic water ice cubes*• 3 oz. 92 Bluecoat American Dry Gin (American-made gin, distilled in Philadelphia, PA)• 4 oz. Fever Tree tonic water• 3 strawberries, quartered• 8 blueberries• 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice• a sprig of mint • festive straws

Prepare the ice cubes: Fill an empty ice cube tray with tonic water and let the cubes freeze. It will take just a few hours. Covered well, the cubes will re-main fresh-tasting in the freezer for at least a few weeks.

Prepare the cocktail: Alternate placing pieces of fruit and ice cubes in a narrow glass. Add the gin, then the tonic water, then the lime juice. Stirring well, but carefully to not damage the fruit. Gar-nish with a sprig of mint and fun straws. Serve immediately.

Prepare the toast: The Day’s begin-nings date all the way back to May of 1868, when Union General John A. Lo-gan declared a “Decoration Day” to dec-orate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Its name was changed to “Memorial Day” 20 years later and in 1950 its meaning was expounded upon by Congress when they passed a resolution requesting the President issue a proclamation asking Americans to observe Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in

prayer. 21 years later, President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday and occasion to honor the men and women who died in all wars, and in 2000, a “National Moment of Remem-brance” resolution was passed, asking all Americans (at 3 p.m. local time) to voluntarily and in their own way observe a Moment of remembrance and respect. Rightfully honoring such a serious sub-ject need not be always be somber, in-stead try coming together to offer a toast of gratitude for the fallens’ service and hope for a peaceful future.

This patriotic tonic reminds Americans Memorial Day is so much more than the first sign of summer

Get Tech Savvy: 2016 Guide to Technology

A classic milestone in American com-ing of age is that highly-anticipated

moment of victory when the training wheels come off your first bicycle. For many children, racing down the street at incalculable speed soon becomes one of life’s greatest joys, and now that they’re all grown up, it’s one of their fondest child-hood memories. The nostalgia accompa-nying a bike ride makes it one of the more feel-good ways to get some exercise, lead-ing many adults to embrace life on two wheels once again. As you find modern cycling is a more technological task than in years past, remember there’s still plenty to smile about, as some of these advance-ments make our rides safer and more sophisticated. Innovative cycling apps have actually revolutionized the sport, allowing cyclists to easily plan routes, record rides, track training progress and much more. So whether you’re a week-end cruiser or hardcore roadbiker here are our picks for cycling with confidence.

Helping cyclists play the social wayStrava, from Strava LabsSwedish for strive, Strava is the social network for cycling enthusiasts. Since its launch in 2008, millions of cyclists across the world have turned to Strava to track routes via GPS, share photos and videos with fellow users, conquer infamous local Strava Challenges and best of all, compete against themselves. By tracking all your ride stats, Strava helps you see how your latest ride mea-sures up against your rides over time. Free on iOS and Android, Strava’s so popular it’s now a familiar term in the cycling world; its impressive function-ality making it the industry standard.

Save maintenance money and ride with peace of mind. Bike Doctor, by Lock Stock SportsTo keep your bicycle in perfect condition, download the Bike Doctor - it’s like hav-ing a little bike mechanic in your pocket ready to spring to action whenever your need a repair! Whether you’re a novice or training for the Tour de France, Bike Doc-tor takes the guess work out of the daunt-ing task of proper maintenance and repair. When a bike problem arises, open the app, tap the applicable part of your bike on the screen, and follow detailed steps and images tested for usability on begin-ners before ever making the cut for the app. Before spending a fortune on main-tenance and repair costs, make a $5 Bike Doctor purchase for some serious ROI.

The future of cyclingCyclemeter by AbvioFor cyclists seeking the most advanced smartphone app ever designed, Cyclem-eter takes technologically tracking your training to another level. Built from the ground up for iPhone, iPad, and iCloud, it transforms your iPhone into a full-fea-tured “cycle-computer” that tracks, maps and records your rides, then compiles all your data into impressive graphs and tables offering complex progress status and advice. Simply turn on Cyclemeter when you gear up, and it takes care of the rest, plotting your route and offering speed and distance information in real time if mounted on your handlebars.

MAY: Cycle with Confidence


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Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

SUDOKU

Sudoku #261

Solution #261

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Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

SUDOKU

Sudoku #262

Solution #262

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Last Month’s Answers April Sudoku Elinor C. Noble

is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

May Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic

skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in

any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include

all digits 1 through 9 as well. Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the

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Elizabeth Weigand from Seffner is last month’s winner!The answer was: 1970

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May’s Word Search

# 263

Today's Category: Beverages

WORD SEARCH

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10. ____________________11. ____________________12. ____________________13. ____________________14. ____________________15. ____________________16. ____________________17. ____________________18. ____________________19. ____________________20. ____________________

In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions -- forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

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example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to:

LIFESTYLES AFTER 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on May 20 will win.

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

(Puzzles must be received by the 20th of the month)

Mystery Prize!

Mystery Prize!

# 262Word Search Solution:

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WordSearch

Answers to April’s seArch

Barbara Baker is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

# 262Word Search Solution:

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Seniors Getting Together4530 - WF, LATE 60s. Enjoys movies, dinners, sunsets, cruising and weekends away. Honest, caring, attractive, fun loving with SOH. ISO gentleman, similar interests.Late 60’s early 70’s.NS, SD, NDrg. FF but ultimately LTR. South Fort Myers.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN4499 THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. ISO LTR, non judgmental, SOH, free spirit, literate, enjoys water, kayak, canoe, sailing, swimming. Likes to walk, ride bicycle, explore the inner and outer worlds, toned, yoga, into foreign films, theatre, concert, art, ballet, someone to talk to, organic, non GMO, gluten free.

4452 MAN, 71, NS, SD Likes music, movies, books, plants, animals, evening classes. ISO woman, 55 – 72, NS, NDrg, SD for FF, who looks good in shorts or a skirt, likes bicycle riding, kissing, touching, hugging, going out to a pub for a bite & light social drinking. Port Charlotte area.

4532 MAN, NS, SD. Active 91, too healthy to qualify for assisted living community. Living alone in a big house.Seeking lady, NS, SD, 65 – 75 to live rent and board free in return for cooking and housekeeping.Private BR, bath, den

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN. Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with PhD in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.

4559 YOUNG, SLIM, W, W, 80 YO. Still working part-time in health care. Seeking possible LTR in Ft. Myers with a WNS.

4521 W, WIDOW, 5’5”, 132 LBS., LATE 70s. Wants to meet W, widower, late 70s - early 80’s. I am R, P, intelligent, yes attractive, great SOH, NS, SD. Enjoy music, sports, reading, walking. Please respond with telephone number.

4520 H, F, LOOKING TO START A GOLDEN GIRLS HOUSE IN CApE CORAL. I am 65, still working full time but would like the company. Must like pets. Please NS, SD, SOH, females only.

4531 UpBEAT, INTELLIGENT, COMpASSIONATE, ASIAN. Enjoys travel, outdoors, sports, theatre and dining etc. 60s.Seeks NS man with similar interests for relationship.Naples area.

4557 CHESS pROMOTER. Needs more sets. I go to Private, Public, Parochial, Charter schools and give sets and provide expertise on how to start a program. Google: Benefits of Chess in Education. Fort Myers.

4558 MAN, NS, SD, W, 83YO, ISO ASIAN F, 50 - 72, NS, ND. Widower. Likes music, sports, dining out, gardening, theatre, being active. ISO lady, FF, kissing, touching. Someone to enjoy life with. Sarasota County.

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Arches National Park in Utah:Prepare to be astounded

Driving through Arches National Park in Utah is nothing short

of surreal. With the highest density of natural stone arches in the world (more than 2,000 of them) you’ll feel almost as if you’ve landed on another planet - especially when compared to the Florida landscape. The park is named for its sandstone arches that awe visitors, frame horizons and cast precious shade in the summer months, all while nobly withstand-ing the withering forces of nature and time. Arches is our pick for the best

park to visit in April because you’ll just beat the start of the busy sea-son, and the arches look even wild-er when surrounded by nothing but natural expanse. Temperatures are a delightfully mild 60 degrees and if you missed a snow sighting this past winter, the La Sal Mountains in Utah are still snow-capped. A staple of any nature photographer’s bucket list, Arches is a camera lover’s dream and spring can deliver some pretty startling photographs as the orange sandstone arches pop against a back-drop of white-kissed La Sal peaks.

If you’re more of the adventure type, Arches is conveniently situated next to the small town of Moab, lov-ingly known as Utah’s “adventure capital.” Moab is a great base from which to explore by foot, and the town also offers rentals on anything from a bicycle, to a balloon, to a wa-tercraft - even a four-wheeler. In fact, we encourage you to satisfy your urge for excitement in Moab so you may

better experience the natural peace and serenity available at the arches.

Speaking of natural beauty, one of our favorite activities in Arches won’t cost you a dime - the tru-ly world-class stargazing in Utah, thanks to minimal light pollution. Just remember to bundle up for your evening of astronomy; temperatures steadily drop as the sun goes down.

If you still need a little convinc-ing, keep in mind Arches really won’t be around forever - at least not as it

stands today, anyway. Nicknamed “Treasures Hanging in the Bal-ance,” Landscape Arch and Balanced Rock are two stone formations that look like they might topple tomor-row, and they could! The water and wind-carved natural formations of the park erode and evolve constant-ly, offering all of Arches visitors a unique and unforgettable adventure.

Do you have a favorite National Park? Memories of a special visit? Email your story to [email protected].

Celebrating the Centennial

100 years ago, the United States cre-ated the National Park Service,

a federal agency designed to preserve the breathtaking beauty of the American landscape. Visit LifestylesAfter50.com for our Celebrate the Centennial series as we highlight our favorite parks all year long.

Arches National Park, Utah - Home to over 2,000 water and wind-carved sandstone formations.

Florida Gardening Guide: Tips & Tasks for AprilLast month’s issue featured a cal-

endar devoted to gardening in the Sunshine State, complete with Florida-specific tips and unique monthly tasks to keep your garden growing all year

long. April invites you to start seeds of warm season plants (papaya, spinach & okra) now, and order fall garden vege-table seeds so you’re prepared for later. For expanded advice on April’s tips and more words of gardening wisdom, visit LifestylesAfter50.com where you can download a free copy of our “Florida Gardening Guide” calendar and follow along online for more detailed tips every month. Have you grown a great garden with tips worth sharing? Email a photo to [email protected].

April in the Garden:Start warm-season plants, like papaya (pictured), and order seeds for fall

Aging in a New Light: Interview with Lifestyles After 50 reader Linda MooreIn March, we ran a fea-

ture story titled “Ag-ing: the bigger picture” featuring winners from a British photo contest that asked participants to disprove some of the less enlightened stereotypes about aging. We asked our own readers to submit similar images, to help the world see “aging in a new light.”

Our readers heeded the call and we received wonderful photos that help to redefine retire-ment and growing older in a modern age. Here’s a photo submitted by 61-year-old Lifestyles reader Linda Moore ad-miring a rare wild azalea while kayaking on the Little River in Colquitt County, GA, along with a few of her thoughts on a new kind of aging.

Q: What inspired you to submit a photo to help redefine aging?

I was told when you reach retirement age all you’ll want to do is sit on the couch. In reality, we love retirement and we’re so active with camping, bike rides and enjoying our seven grandchildren.

Q: What’s the best part about growing older? You’re more empathetic and experienced, which allows you to really help others by sharing the wis-dom you’ve gained.Thanks Linda! Help evolve views on aging by emailing your photo to [email protected].

Linda Moore


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By Amanda Smith

The days of dismissing senior travel as nothing more than a trip to the

grandkids’ house, the casino, or the golf course are over. Health-conscious, highly educated and culturally-curious, modern-day seniors can now be found embarking on exotic adventures - with an element of intense physical challenge - thanks to “active senior travel,” the ex-plosive travelling trend they inspired.

Now accounting for over 50% of the Western world’s discretionary income, seniors (ages 50-80) cite “travel” as the number one way to spend their extra cash, giving them plenty of purchasing power to redefine “the older traveler.”

And travel companies are taking note. Besides responding to their clear desire for trips of substance (50% of se-nior travelers surveyed said they won’t even consider a trip that’s not “a mean-ingful, stimulating holiday”), travel companies are also responding to the impressive physical condition this gen-

eration of seniors have maintained. Aimed at those well-educated, fitness-

focused, energetic baby boomers respon-sible for cultural catch-phrases like “60 is the new 40,” active senior travel provides off-the-beaten-path small group cultural immersions to those seniors with a taste for adventure and a body that can keep up. Instead of bus rides to historical land-marks or booze-cruises to the Caribbean, active senior travel trips include exciting expeditions by icebreakers to Antarctica or active hiking treks through the Hima-layas..* For those seeking a tamer trip without the international price tag, there’s a great six day bike through California wine country or a six day walking tour featuring a visit to a ghost ranch as you conquer New Mexico’s Taos and Santa Fe.** With so many different difficulty levels, international and domestic desti-nations, and plenty of price points - de-ciphering your best bet for trying active senior travel quickly becomes an adven-ture all its own. Here are two companies we’ve deemed safe bets to consider.

VBT Bicycling and Walking VacationsWith award-winning vacations and glow-ing reviews, VBT is a great way to dip your toe in the world of active travel. They specialize in walk-ing and biking tours, and their website offers a comprehen-sive overview of what to expect from their truly all-inclusive packages. Their prices are some of the best in the busi-ness - one reviewer writes, “VBT could honestly stand for ‘Value Bicycling Tours’...they give you that much bang for your buck.” Other perks: Guides tend to be local; there’s usually a cooking lesson and a language lesson on the trip. - and they’re got solid bikes, good direc-tions and a strong emphasis on safety. Elder Treks One of the earliest 50+ active travel-specialists, Elder Treks boasts a senior-centered adventure model with trips to

over 100 countries, and over 25 years of succcess. Evidence of their success is the list of clients who’ve completed over 30 trips, and an impressive repeat customer rate of 75%. President Gary Murtagh says he’s definitely seen a shift in senior travel. “When we started, 50 was old. Today, our adventurers are 60, 70 - even 80 - and they go just about anywhere we offer.” Elder Trek trips include strong el-ements of sustainability, wildlife conser-vation and charitable efforts, delivering that sense of meaning boomers long for. So, who’s ready for an adventure? *Elder Trek trips. Visit ElderTreks.com. **VBT tours. Learn more at VBT.com.

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime with active senior travel.

The active senior travel movement reveals a legion of athletes, trailblazers and explorers unencumbered by age.

The new adventure seekers



The secret habit of the happiest couples

There’s always some new relation-ship advice out there, but this one

might take the cake. A married pair of re-lationship experts just put out a new book called The Heart of the Fight, because, according to co-author Dr. Judith Wright, “Arguing is the most powerful tool that a couple has for growing stronger. Only when a couple masters the art of produc-tive fighting can they reach the highest levels of intimacy and closeness.”

Much like mine, if your eyebrows raised at this premise, Dr. Wright elabo-rates: “Happy couples are happy because they’re willing to fight! It’s actually how you fight that really matters.”

Her new book is not so much about fighting advocacy as it is about how to turn ugly fights into golden opportuni-ties for greater intimacy. Here’s a brief rundown of The Heart of the Fight’s “Seven Rules for Fighting Fair.”1. Reduce negativity. Avoid destructive tactics (blaming, sarcasm, etc.) No fight is perfect but low blows get you nowhere.

2. Promote positivity. Pair each complaint with a way your partner matters to you. 3. Never take or give over 50% of the blame. It’s not easy, but if you can stick to this rule, you’ll be amazed how much more productive your fight will be. 4. Be 100% responsible for your own happiness. It’s your job. If you need help, a partner is not a mind reader. Be direct. 5. Express & agree with the truth, al-ways. Fights reveal a lot of truth, but we don’t admit it. If you were wrong, fess up. 6. Fight for, not against. Identify your desired outcome and go towards that.7. Assume goodwill. Extend the benefit of the doubt by keeping in mind your love.

A pair of relationship experts claim a willingness to fight - fairly - may be the key to unlocking relationship bliss.

quite stringent in my area of practice. I had little more than two weeks to study for an exam while working full-time on an Air Force base, in the process of sell-ing our home and caring for our three children while my husband is getting his doctorate. I had scarcely been able to spend more than an hour preparing in the two weeks prior to the test. The morning of the test I woke up around 4 a.m. as usual. Rather than study I performed my routine and prior to meditation I asked my higher self to draw on all the knowl-edge that had ever been imparted to me and was accessible.

I envisioned myself passing the exam and obtaining licensure with ease. When I got to the exam I wrote “You Passed” on the pad next to the computer station and I proceeded to take the test without stress or nervousness. At one point dur-ing the test I noticed how fun it actually was. When I was finished I obtained my printout and I had indeed passed the exam that “3 out of 10 professionals failed.” I believe the study of yoga and the mind-fulness practices that I employ daily were hugely responsible for this achievement and many others. Most importantly, em-bracing yoga as a way of life continues to improve my outlook and my overall existence in ways I never imagined, mak-ing me happier, more confident and more able to retain my peace of mind.

by Jaime Nicole Graham

A mom of three and an aquarian with great zeal for all aspects of life, I can

come off a bit scattered at times. Then, a few years ago I was drawn to a yoga teacher training at a beautiful studio on the Emerald Coast. Straight away I began preparing, dedicating my early mornings to the practice of contemplation, physi-cal asana, breath work, and meditation. I’ve continued this practice for over three years, working closely with two local monks who lovingly offer their gentle guidance at an Ashram nestled between a Chili’s and Dunkin’ Doughnuts.

I’ve often contemplated the differ-ences that have revealed themselves in my life since beginning my practice and at times even longed for more visible im-provements. What is clearly verifiable (and admittedly a bit embarrassing) is that I have not lost my phone or wallet in over three years. I’ve had no speeding tickets nor car accidents since delving into the study of yoga. I no longer require biweekly chiropractic appointments and hardly get migraines anymore either. I recover from life’s bumps much more quickly and can identify the lessons em-bedded in the struggle more readily now.

I am able to calm my breath, body and mind in times of stress rendering me able to teach these skills to my children, friend, family members, and clients from an au-thentic place. Possibly most importantly, I now exude a sense of unshakable self confidence that I hadn’t possessed prior to dedicating my time to this practice.This personal evolution has been remark-able and most recently came to a pivotal moment when I was faced with the di-lemma of having to take a state licensing exam with little time to study. Having been licensed to practice counseling for children and adults in Colorado for over a decade I hadn’t believed I would be required to retest yet Florida’s rules are

The Voices of Lifestyles After 50:“Share Your Story” winner Jaime Nicole Graham

A recent Lifestyles “Share Your Story” challenge asked readers for thoughts on “mind over matter” - a transcendence of physical or situational limitations through the power of the mind. In April, we published a response from a devout Christian whose strong faith offered her transcendence, and May’s perspective below telling of finding health, happiness and success through devotion to the ancient practice of yoga. The complexity of our readership continues to reveal a rich depth of diversity in belief sys-tems, opinions and experience. But one thing ties them all together: they all give the gift of outlook and idea expansion by graciously sharing their heart’s truth. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope you will continue to “Share Your Story.” - Editor

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Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota Edition, May 2016