Growing Bolder Digital Digest | GB Insiders April 2022: Awakening

Claire Johnson on

Awakening What Is It We Want to Awaken?

Cutting Edge Memory Care

Top 5 Online Learning Sites for Older Adults

APRIL 2022 GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

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contents.

April 2022

I N E V E RY I S S U E 6

YOUR TAKE

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NOTE FROM THE CEO

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GROWING BOLDER WITH

10 ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES 12 LIFELONG LEARNING

Top 5 Online Learning Sites For Older Adults 14 RECIPE

Savor The Season 36 THE TAKEAWAY

Sheryl Kurland And The Power Of Lipstick F LO R I DA 26 GROWING BOLDER IN THE VILLAGES

A Launchpad To What's Next MASTERS SPORTS 16 JUMPING FOR JOY

Awakening The Athlete Within 24 GROWING BOLDER LIVE AT THE 2022 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Featuring More Than 11,000 Athletes Over The Age Of 50 In Fort Lauderdale H E A LT H 18 WHAT IS IT WE WANT TO AWAKEN?

This Month Waken To Joy, Adventure And Gratitude 28 CUTTING EDGE MEMORY CARE

Creating A New Narrative 38 SIT. STAY. HEAL.

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

How Animals Help Lower Our Stress Levels

NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED.

Head to page 32 to read Claire's story

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YOURTAKE What book changed your perspective on something?

—Marianne H.

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"Classic Logic ! I learned to apply the test of reason, before I made decisions."

—Dick G.

"The Gift of Fear is a worthwhile read.

Trust your instincts!"

"Tuesdays with Morrie. A meaningful true story featuring a man who had an indomitable spirit."

—Candice R.

—Kimberly S.

"7 Habits for Healthy People. 'Seek to understand and then to be understood'."

"The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II."

—Doug M.

—Melba H.

"Susan Wolf's Variety of Values. I learned how to be careful with words and arguments."

"The Great Gatsby. First time I understood the characteristics of an author’s style."

—Amin P.

—Ann W.

"Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glorychanged my understanding of cowardice and courage-found an empathetic view of both."

"The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#$% by Mark Manson. It made me think of and look at things a little different"

—Penelope F.

—Lisa S.

GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

Illustration by danijelala via Getty Images

"Way too many to choose one."

From the CEO This month we’re celebrating awakening. Websters defines awakening as becoming aware of something, a new realization. In a way, Growing Bolder is in the awakening business. We want to awaken people of all ages to the beauty, the opportunity, and the possibility of growing older.

In this issue of the GB Digital Digest, Doro Bush Koch and Patricia Reilly Koch examine how to awaken joy, adventure, and gratitude in our lives. For Arthur Brooks, awakening is helping others out of poverty. For Valerie Bertinelli, it’s about accepting who you are. For Dr. Claire Johnson, it’s rethinking what’s possible. For Sheryl Kurland, it’s helping women find their fabulosity.

The great news is that it’s never too late to have an awakening. A major study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the most productive age in human life is between 60 and 70 years of age. And the second most productive stage is from 70-to-80 years of age. Given what we’ve seen in recent years, it won't be long before 80-to-90 is also one of the most productive stages in human life.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we’re all at our physical best at those ages but in terms of having an impact and doing meaningful work, 60 and older is where the action is.

Here’s to your awakening!

“The great news is that it’s never too late to have an awakening.”

GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

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Catch new episodes now airing across Florida!

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Marc Middleton, What’s Next! features a team of well-known Florida broadcasters and personalities, including Secily Wilson, Amy Sweezey, and Bill Shafer, all shining the spotlight on ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

What’s Next! is a jolt of inspiration that helps audiences of all ages believe that it’s never too late to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities.

New episodes are now airing across Florida!

Check local listings and watch a full episode at

GrowingBolder.com/Whats-Next

GROWING BOLDER WITH

Valerie Bertinelli

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Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff via Getty Images

As we journey through life, we come upon many obstacles ... detours that stop us in our tracks, that force us to find another path, a different way, to rethink. These obstacles often result in an awakening, a shift, a different perspective. Many times, they are the result of traumatic events; a divorce, a diagnosis, a death. Actress Valerie Bertinelli knows this well. She watched her ex-husband and love of her life, rock star Eddie Van Halen, struggle with and eventually die of cancer. It was a terrible jolt, and it changed her, she believes, for the better.

“Do I wish I had done some things different? Absolutely,” she explained. “But regrets are how we learn. They help us change. I regret not hugging Ed more when I could see that he wanted it. I regret not telling certain people how much I absolutely love them because you never know if it will be the last time you see them. Those regrets made me more aware. They are what made me tell Ed, ‘I love you,’ every time we said goodbye, even right before he had his final stroke. I’m so comforted to know that those were the last words he ever heard from me.”

Regrets, Bertinelli learned, can either hold you back or propel you forward. She says she has figured out how to use them to her benefit, where for years they kept her in a terrible state of mind. “I have so many regrets that used to constantly weigh on me and fill my mind,” she told Growing Bolder, “No matter what good happened, all I could ever see for most of my life were my mistakes and my faults.”

Quite often, the way others see us is not the way we see ourselves. Bertinelli was 15 when she starred in the TV series, One Day at a Time. A generation of teens wanted to be like her. She saw something different. “I rarely thought of myself as anything but a failure.” Where others saw talent, success, beauty, and compassion she saw doubt, guilt, imperfection, and shame.

“I have always believed this lie that if I am suffering with grief or fear, or if I gain weight and don’t look my best, that I am unlovable,” she said. “And I finally understand that it is just not true. It is much better to feel vulnerable than to feel the constant sadness, fear, and shame that I've felt for so long.”

It is a struggle she has carried throughout her adult life, and one she does not wish to carry anymore.

“So, I am searching for joy and trying to find ways to be kinder to myself.”

It is why she authored the book, Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today. Bertinelli turns 62 this month and where many dread aging she believes she is excited about the future. “They say age is an opportunity and it’s true,” she said. “It’s a chance to be kinder to one another and to ourselves.”

Her career is also booming. She signed a contract extension with Food Network, and she is developing a comedy series for NBC. The work is something she did not expect. “I am absolutely shocked to have these opportunities," she said. “For me it is all about gratitude.

Every day the first thing I say before I open my eyes is ‘thank you.’ Just thank you. Life really is good, and I am learning to love the way I am today.”

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GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING E XTR AORDINARY LIVES®

Arthur Brooks

Photo by Mike Stone / Stringer via Getty Images

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Playing French horn is not an easy way to make a living, but for Arthur Brooks it was his passion. He dropped out of college and moved to Spain to pursue it. Well, more accurately he was pursuing a woman who became his wife, but the French horn, too. As he travelled the world, he had a major awakening and began to study political systems to determine which, if any, are best for individuals in a society.

After a dozen years abroad, Brooks returned to the United States, went back to college, and earned a doctorate in public policy analysis. The musician had reinvented himself into a social scientist, a newspaper columnist, a best-selling author, a Harvard Business School professor, and head of a think tank in the nation’s capital, working to improve public policy for human welfare. The artist was now an intellectual, meeting with presidents, religious leaders, even the Dalai Lama.

He studied economics, poverty, even happiness, but of all the pressing topics of the day, the one he has spent the last decade drawn to is aging. He wondered, what can we do to be happy as we grow old? What he learned surprised him and became his most recent book, From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness & Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. He believes we can all be happy if we begin investing in our own “Happiness 401k.” He believes our wellbeing is like a retirement account — the more and the sooner we invest, the greater our returns will be.

“The most powerful way to find happiness later in life is through purpose, something that is truly meaningful, relevant, and beneficial.”

Brooks, 57, believes that with the right mindset our later years can be our best. “One reason people get depressed with age is they feel irrelevant,” he said. “So, it’s up to us to find ways to be useful and this is true whether you’re 17 or 70."

Brooks says as we age so does our definition of success. “Success at 70 is enjoying your life more than you ever did by serving other people and having more love,” he explained. “We need to migrate our passions from money, power, pleasure and fame, to faith, family, friendship and serving others because this is where deep and enduring satisfaction comes from.”

Not only can individuals be happier as they age, but our country can also become stronger. “Every company in America needs more old people in positions of leadership, on marketing teams, on product teams,” Brooks said. “We have degrees from the school of hard knocks that can keep organizations from making dumb mistakes. Understand...I love the energy of young people, but only when it is mixed with the wisdom of the old.”

Brooks has seen his life evolve from playing the French horn to the study of human dignity. It is not a path he ever expected, nor could he have planned. “The most powerful way to find happiness later in life is through purpose, something that is truly meaningful, relevant, and beneficial. Follow your heart and it will lead you to a profound sense of happiness that will last for the rest of your life."

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LIFELONG LEARNING

Top 5 Online Learning Sites for Older Adults The COVID-19 pandemic has been tragic, disrupting and altering everyday life on a global scale. Beyond the obvious threat to our health and wellbeing, there were countless social, economic and interpersonal challenges that became part of everyday life.

However, one of the biggest silver linings to come out of this unforeseen, once-in-a-lifetime event is the acceleration of access to online learning. With the entire world forced indoors, universities, community colleges and internet-startups alike all had to adapt and construct new methods of e-learning. These platforms have only grown since 2020, and now provide older adults countless opportunities to learn new skills, earn degrees and turn their spare time into useful knowledge.

According to a 2021 article by ThinkImpact, which aggregated e-learning studies done by several different organizations, the rapid growth of online learning is already paying dividends for people of all ages: → → → →

E-learning helped students retain between 25% and 60% more information Nearly half of all students felt online learning was as effective as face-to-face interaction Since 2020, 98% of universities now offer online classes Since 2020, it is believed that 98% of corporate learning will take place online, with 67% of companies offering courses via mobile devices

If you are just looking to dip your toe in the water with e-learning, don’t sleep on the thousands of global instructors on YouTube. What started out as a place for videos focused on entertainment, music and gaming has now become a professional hub for lessons on any topic you can imagine. You can also explore thousands of the free apps available for download to your phone, like Duolingo, PictureThis and Brainly.

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These figures show an encouraging path for older adults who aren’t current students but wish to learn something new. With so many options to choose from, it’s just a matter of figuring out your budget (there are many options that are free of charge), deciding how much time you want to dedicate to e-learning and picking a course! Here are a few of our favorite online learning sites for older adults:

Senior Planet

There are thousands of classes to broaden your horizons on Senior Planet.

They have designed courses specifically in mind for those over the age of 60, focused on five impact areas: social engagement, financial security, health and wellness, civic engagement and advocacy, and creativity. Some examples of their introductory courses include “Digital Storytelling”, “Etsy for Entrepreneurs”, “Ready, Set, Bank” and “Fitness Essentials.” The best part? Live classes are free for anyone to enroll!

GetSetUp

This online community connects users with others to learn new skills and unlock new life experiences. Their content is focused on adults over the age of 55, now reaching four million learners in over 160 countries. They offer live classes taught by peers who are experts in their fields, social hours, and special events with speakers who directly address areas of interest to older adults. Classes range from fitness to healthcare, drawing, foreign language, cooking, music, business and more. They offer a free plan with limited access, or for $19.99 per month you can have access to their entire library and over 500 live interactive classes every week!

Full Sail University

Are you a tech-savvy person, interested in the world of entertainment, videography, media, gaming, visual arts and communications? Check out Full Sail University. One of the world’s leading creative arts schools, Full Sail focuses on creating real-world industry experience and creative problem solving with online degree programs. It’s easy to fit in your course schedule with your existing life, because they offer 24/7 flexibility with your e-learning plan.

Photo by Eugenio Marongiu via Getty Images

One Day University

Founded on the belief that “every day you learn something new is a good day,” One Day University has established a unique angle in the online learning space. They have gathered a group of the most thoughtful and entertaining professors from the country’s most prestigious universities and asked them to provide their single most fascinating lecture. You can listen to live-streamed talks with these professors, access hundreds of these “best-selected lectures” and participate in small group discussions with peers. There is a free limited-trial, but you will eventually have to pay $8.99 per month for access.

Academic Earth

Whether you are looking for a certificate, a bachelor’s degree, or even a doctorate, Academic Earth has the lessons to get you on your path to more knowledge. They’ve been around since 2009, offering free online college courses from the world’s top universities. Explore more than 60 complete courses in art, business, engineering, humanities, medicine, science, math and more!

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Savor the Season Chef Collette Haw

Chef Collette Haw studied at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. After training in some of the country’s most honored restaurants, she became a personal chef for celebrities. She then launched her own business, Collette’s Clean Eats, to provide healthy, prepared meals to busy families. Haw is now a restauranteur, partnering with the Winter Park Health Foundation to operate Nourish Coffee Bar + Kitchen in the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, Florida.

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Photos by Jacob Langston

People think comfort foods and healthy foods are mutually exclusive, but that’s not true! I believe comfort foods are really what make you feel good.

When people think about healthy eating, they think, “Oh, I have to eat a salad for the rest of my life.” But there are so many other nutrient-dense foods people can eat that aren’t raw kale or steamed vegetables.

Take this dish, for example. People usually associate ceviche with seafood, but I made this version using fresh, seasonal ingredients from my local farmer’s market.

Not only is it colorful to look at, thanks to the acid from the limes and grapefruit, it explodes in your mouth with fresh, bright flavors. The best part about a recipe like this is you can customize it to your tastes, or to whatever’s in season. Experiment and enjoy!

Spring Farmers Market “Ceviche” Salad Makes 10 servings

INGREDIENTS

DIREC TIONS

1 ½ cup fresh frozen edamame or fresh

If you’re using fresh, frozen, whole edamame, let the edamame thaw while you’re putting the rest of the recipe together. If you’re using fresh garbanzo or lima beans, remove them from the shell, blanch in boiling, salted water for 6-9 minutes and shock in an ice bath. (Ice bath: Fill mixing bowl with ice, cover ice with water until it’s about 50 percent water.) Combine the lime zest, lime juice and avocado oil in a small mixing bowl. Add the scallions, jalapeno and shallot and let it marinate in the vinaigrette while preparing the rest of the salad. In a separate mixing bowl, add the fresh corn, grapefruit, avocados, bell peppers and cilantro. Lightly toss all those ingredients together, add the vinaigrette with the scallions, jalapeno and shallot to the bowl with the heirloom tomatoes and lightly toss once more. Season to taste, and let the salad marinate in the fridge at least an hour before serving.

garbanzo or lima beans 2 ½ teaspoons lime zest ⅔ cup fresh lime juice ¼ cup avocado oil 2 scallions, thinly sliced 1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced thinly 1 large shallot, thinly sliced 2 cups fresh corn off the cob 2 grapefruit, supreme 3 Hass avocados, cubed 1 large bell pepper, thinly sliced (yellow, red, orange) 3 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced into wedges ¾ cup chopped cilantro Himalayan pink salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

N U T R I T I O N FAC T S ( P E R S E R V I N G ) :

Calories 118, Total fat 3.6g, Saturated fat .4g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 58mg, Carbohydrates 19.9g, Fiber 4.4g, Total Sugar 6.1g, Protein 4.7g GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

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Awakening the Athlete Within Ray Glier

Ray Glier has written for various media for over 40 years, as a contributor to national publications including The New York Times, Vice Sports, USA TODAY, The Miami Herald, The Boston Globe, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Washington Post. The author of five books, Glier has a passion for master sports and seniors athletes, and shares their stories of triumph and joy in his unique, inspiring, and always moving weekly newsletter, Geezer Jock. For more great masters sports content, subscribe to Ray’s free weekly email at geezerjocknewsletter.com.

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Kay Glynn eats broccoli every day, but that is not the most earnest thing she does. Kay pole vaults in sub-freezing temperatures, and there have been days of 0 degrees in the Missouri farm country where she lives.

She is a 68-year old grandmother and has her own indoor training facility, a she-shed she calls it. The 100-foot metal building does not have heat, so this winter if it is 0 outside, it is likely 0 inside, but it blunts the wind coming off the Ozarks and keeps the snow off her runway and landing pad.

There is a story behind this training facility for the woman who once held masters world records indoors and outdoors for the pole vault.

Kay has been married to Mike 47 years and they raised their family in Iowa. When family matters had them live apart for a year — Mike in Missouri, Kay in Iowa — Kay would make the 4½-hour drive to see Mike.

“He said to me one day, ‘If you had a (pole vault) pit down here would you stay longer?’

“I might,” Kay said with a laugh.

“And, lo and behold that Christmas I got a she-shed and it is the ultimate she-shed. I love being there. It is a 100-foot long shed and I learned how to hammer the boards together for the pit and use the drill and do everything inside there.”

Photo by Del Moon

Jumping for Joy

That’s right, fellas. A way to a woman’s heart does not have to be with diamonds or taking out the trash. It can be with a she-shed.

And your belle doesn’t necessarily have to pole vault.

She can do the long jump, high jump, triple jump, acrobatics, or gymnastics, which are all the things Kay Glynn does inside her she-shed of joy.

Kay’s she-shed, not to mention her fitness, resilience, toughness, flexibility, and incorruptible eating habits (the broccoli), helped her to a haul of medals in the USA Masters Track & Field national meet in Ames, IA last summer. She had first place finishes in the pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and pentathlon.

Kay followed that up with a first in the decathlon at the USATF Combined Events meet in Ft. Collins in August 2021.

The delightful part of the Geezer Jock newsletter is listening to people tell their stories on their journey to masters fulfillment and, you betcha, Kay has stories. Here’s another.

Glynn was doing cartwheels and acrobatics as a young child because she had a mentor mom, Mary Bruce, who was a cheerleader. Kay processed that flexibility and joy into track and field. She was a superstar in high school in Iowa.

Her state high school long jump record survived for 30 years, which is remarkable given the evolution of training and footwear.

Glynn is an amalgam of physical and mental gifts, which is why that she-shed doesn’t need to be covered by a metal roof. It needs to be covered by a circus tent. Her business partners are Barnum & Bailey.

It is a venue of stunts and horse play and spirit where she practices and displays audacious skill. Glynn has appeared on national television (David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Oprah, among other stops) and she has one especially impressive trick. Watch this video of her on the Letterman show.

As a 15-year old she stunned the crowd at one of those fun county fairs in Iowa doing this bending-over-backwards stunt to win first prize, which was a yellow Mustang. She wasn’t even old enough to drive it home.

Kay has done Christmas cards for the last 15 years, which included a picture of her folded like a shirt into a pose. She made one card with her hanging upside down over her pole vault pit, which was decorated in the red and green of Christmas.

You cannot be bored in the presence of this woman, who flew on a trapeze at 55.

Here is more of her story. She hung up the track shoes at 18 and was married at 20. Track was in the rear view mirror of that Mustang … for 30 years.

But she stayed connected to the sport through her children who she would take to Iowa track meets where they could carry on the family tradition of running and jumping.

One day, Kay’s daughter tipped over Kay’s box of track memories, in a way only kids can succeed with.

“My daughter pointed out on the track and said, ‘See, Mom. There are old people out there. You can do that’.”

Glynn looked at her daughter and said, “I don’t think so.”

But when she took a closer look, a visceral emotion emerged. Kay saw the “old people” having a blast among themselves, as if they were in high school again.

“They were chattering and having so much fun,” said Glynn, who was 47 at the time. “I said, ‘I’m doing this next year’.”

What is endearing about Glynn is that she is not feeling inadequate at track meets as a certifiable Geezer Jock. She was a high school phenom and I have written before in Geezer Jock that many older athletes cannot look their former athletic selves in the mirror. The explosiveness they had as teenagers is gone, they fear what they might find in its place, so they don’t rejoin the competition.

Glynn rushed right by that question when I asked her if she has to jack herself up after a look back at 1970-1971 when she was an iconic Iowa high school athlete.

Nope. She will not self-sabotage. “I never looked back at anything I did in high school,” she said. “It was a clean slate, a new chapter.

“When I went to my first (masters) meet and did the pole vault for the first time and the shot put and the high jump and hurdles in the heptathlon, I was just so excited to be involved. There was no looking back.”

Glynn’s comeback to sports would not be derailed by arthritis in her hips, either. One representative at a prominent clinic counseled her to “find a new hobby” because of the condition of her hips.

That was unwise advice to a woman who has her own indoor track and field facility.

Glynn’s track friends helped her find a South Carolina doctor who expertly resurfaced her hips, one in 2013, and the other in 2016. She lost none of her flexibility with the two procedures and the spigot is wide open pouring out even more fun.

Glynn does have limits with the pole vaulting in the winter in that she-shed. There was a stretch of four days at 15-below and that was too much and the she-shed had to be an ice box, not an athletic venue. That doesn’t happen often.

Kay is ambitious and that she-shed will have to be remodeled before she puts away the track shoes for good.

“I saw the woman who was 105 (Julia Hawkins) and still competing in masters events, so I want to go that long,” said she with the she-shed.

That’s 37 years from now. Kay’s mom is 98 and spry.

Call Vegas. Get some money down on Kay.

GROWING BOLDER / APRIL 202 2 DIGE S T

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What Is It We Want to Awaken?

Each person hits milestones at different times in their lives and with different emotions, and sometimes with baggage. As we get older, true awakening may not mean looking for something we don’t have but actually becoming present to what is already there.

If you’re feeling stuck, it may be not that you need something new but rather to strip off outdated ideas that are no longer serving.

Our cells regenerate every seven years. Our brain does not need to hold on to old paradigms once they’ve become obsolete.

Sometimes it’s in letting go of stories we’ve made up about what counts that we remember and can come to once again appreciate what truly matters.

Consider this month trying to waken to joy, adventure and gratitude.

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Growing Bolder contributors Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch are sisters-in-law who founded the wellness company BB&R, Bright, Bold and Real over a decade and a half ago with a very clear goal: to share with others what they’ve learned about mindfulness and holistic living with the intention that everyone begin to live their best life. Learn more about their retreats, workshops, courses and popular Health Gig podcast at bbrconsulting.us.

Illustration: nadia_bormotova via Getty Images

Tricia Reilly Koch & Doro Bush Koch

Joy Do what you love and do it with the intention to lose yourself in it. When we get immersed in an act of creativity or a piece of music or playing a game, we fully inhabit our body, mind and spirit at the same time.

Try taking a deep breath before you start in on an activity. Close your eyes and get present to where your body is in the room. Envision a smile on your face. Commit to being open to whatever the experience offers you.

After you’ve participated in something that brought you joy, be sure to thank anyone involved, and thank yourself for trying it! Keep the experience alive by taking a moment before bed to journal about how the experience felt, including notes about all five senses.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Adventure We typically think of adventure as taking risks and overcoming fear. It can indeed be freeing to step outside your comfort zone and discover new activities and places, even books in a different genre. At the same time, adventure is really about attitude. Anything can be exciting and new if you bring an open mind and a commitment to being in the present rather than letting this moment be influenced by the past.

If you have time only for a walk around your neighborhood, try imagining you have just moved to the area from another country. Imagine what details you’d notice — in architecture, plant life, light and shadows.

When you get back, journal about what you saw, as yourself or continuing the persona of a newcomer, maybe writing a letter to an imaginary sibling or friend back home. You’ll be amazed how much role playing can help with awakening!

Gratitude As Brené Brown demonstrates in her new book, Atlas of the Heart, language shapes reality. When we frame a task as an opportunity we “get” to do instead of something we “have” to do, there’s so much more richness available to us.

Research tells us that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can have a positive impact on longevity. People who consciously acknowledge the good in their lives are likely to have lower stress and better sleep, leading to better mental and physical health.

Try saying thank you to people for simple acts or simply for being present with you, to share a meal or even just a conversation. Go on to give thanks for food, for objects of beauty, for nature, out loud or in writing. See how it feels to look for ways to express your gratitude.

Awakening does not mean that suddenly everything comes together in a tremendous sunrise. Rather, awakening is about creating subtle shifts, training ourselves to look for light in unexpected places. A few simple changes over time can make a dramatic difference in our sense of fulfillment and openness to take on even more new endeavors.

“

AU T H O R & J O U R N A L I S T M E LO DY B E AT T I E

Recommended Reading: The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama & Desmond TuTu

Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness

by James Baraz

The Book of Awakening

by Mark Nepo

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“If every day is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing.”

— Gail Sheehy

FOR M ORE DAILY M EME S :

@GrowingBolder

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

DEBBIE, 54

Watch inspirational stories any time of day or night.

Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images

Search for Growing Bolder in the app store and download today.

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YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO SET A NEW GOAL OR TO DREAM A NEW DREAM – C.S. Lewis

Enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

Call 800-704-9412 or visit GrandPad.net VIDEO & VOICE CALLING • EMAIL • PHOTOS • MUSIC • INTERNET • GAMES • AND MORE

“I could retire at any time, but I still enjoy what I do. So, I’m going to keep doing it to some degree for a little while longer.”

— Mike Orr, 70 SIGN PAINTER

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

WATCH/READ MIKES'S STORY

FOR M O RE DAILY MEME S :

@GrowingBolder

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Growing Bolder LIVE at the 2022 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale It’s been more than 1,000 days since the last National Senior Games wrapped up in Albuquerque, New Mexico in the summer of 2019. But after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Growing Bolder is ready-as-ever to bring you expansive storytelling, live action and more from South Florida. Here’s a look at how we’ll be covering it all in May.

Photos by Del Moon

Growing Bolder is excited to produce what may be the most extensive media coverage in the history of masters athletics at the 2022 National Senior Games, May 10-23 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. More than 11,000 athletes over the age of 50 will smash stereotypes, defy expectations, and inspire the world as they compete in more than 25 sports!

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Celebration of Athletes LIVE Event Growing Bolder is excited to participate in the National Senior Games Association’s “Celebration of Athletes” on Monday May 16th at 7 PM ET! Marc Middleton and Bill Shafer will honor the thousands of inspirational athletes as every state gets their chance to shine in a parade at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park. The event will be streamed live to our social and digital platforms so it can be viewed anywhere!

Daily LIVE Streaming Shows to Cover the Action Every Day

Largest Interactive Booth in the Athletes Village

We’ll be LIVE at the end of every day of competition, streaming it to your phone, tablet or computer. Catch Marc Middleton, Bill Shafer and more as they bring you the best moments and stories from that day’s action and showcase athletes in every sport.

You’ll see the moments that records are broken, meet the inspirational athletes through live interviews and demonstrations as they share tips to get in the game yourself! You can watch it all on both the Growing Bolder and NSGA Facebook and YouTube accounts, and even chat with our hosts live during the show.

Join us every day at the brand-new Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center, where Growing Bolder will have the largest interactive Booth in the center of the Athletes Village. We’ll have games, giveaways and contests, live athlete interviews, and more to inspire you to keep making the rest of your life the best of your life! Be sure to come by the booth to get a free copy of Growing Bolder magazine, check out our Team GB merchandise and sign up to win plenty of prizes.

Wall-to-Wall Coverage of Every Sporting Event The Growing Bolder coverage team includes reporters, producers and videographers spread out across the Greater Fort Lauderdale area providing coverage of every sport!

We’ll be sharing the inspirational stories of ordinary people who have overcome setbacks and obstacles of all kinds to pursue their passions and compete on a national stage. All of our storytelling will be featured across our entire media platform, including television, website, social channels, digital and print magazines, radio shows and our Fountain of Youth podcast!

One-Hour Special National TV Show After the athletes pack up and head home on May 23rd, Growing Bolder will continue to dig into the memorable moments, inspirational athletes and the groundbreaking stories that were brought to light in Fort Lauderdale. Be on the lookout for a special one-hour national TV show that wraps up all the action, coming your way in July! For more information on where you can watch this summer, stay tuned to GrowingBolder.com/NSGA.

Expansive Social Engagement and Interaction Follow Growing Bolder on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to join our tribe of more than 1,000,000 people who are committed to living life to the fullest! Our social team will be live on the grounds in South Florida with featured athletes of the day, news alerts and record-breaking moments, the best photos, quotes and clips from across the competition, and inside information you won’t find anywhere G R O W I N Gelse.

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I N T H E VI LLAG ES

A Launchpad to What’s Next

Photo Courtesy of The Villages

Several years ago, Growing Bolder won a national competition to produce a new TV show for PBS stations.

The show, Launchpad to What’s Next, was taped in front of a live audience in The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center in The Villages, Florida and the response was overwhelming. That night sparked a desire to return to The Villages as often as possible. And now, we’ll be there daily.

Growing Bolder is opening its first-ever remote bureau in The Villages, the largest active adult community in the world and the fastest growing metro area in the U.S. Growing Bolder is a mission-based media group dedicated to helping all adults seize and celebrate the opportunity of a new life stage. Nowhere are more people doing that every day than in The Villages where residents have formed over 3,000 special interest clubs

WE'RE HIRING!

underscoring the importance of community and socializing around shared passions.

In many cases our post-retirement years are now longer than the time we spent in our careers. Working full or part-time, volunteering, starting new businesses, going back to school, joining teams, spending time with grandchildren, and traveling are just some of the ways that residents of The Villages offer a real-time look at the changing face of “retirement.” This time is no longer the beginning of the end, but the beginning of what’s next.

In addition to covering stories in The Villages, Growing Bolder will be presenting a series of unique live events featuring nationally known experts and thought leaders in business, science, education, caregiving, sports, technology, travel, and more.

If you live in The Villages and are interested in joining our team, we’re currently hiring staff including content producers, on-camera reporters, and videographers.

For more information contact HR@GrowingBolder.com.

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Cutting Edge Memory Care: Creating a New Narrative We’ve been inundated with the grim numbers and the equally grim picture they paint for our aging loved ones and us. The current dementia narrative, a list of depressing statistics, reads something like this: Over six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. One in three seniors dies with the disease. Women and people of color are disproportionately affected. The personal toll it plays on caregivers is devastating. Our economy is being crippled by related healthcare costs. The number of diagnosed cases will likely climb to over 13 million by 2050. Is it any wonder older 28

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Americans fear getting Alzheimer’s Disease more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined?

As a memory care professional who has worked in the field for over 10 years, I’m tired of the dispiriting narrative.

While I do not challenge the daunting statistics, there is another narrative at play and it rarely makes the headlines.

It is a narrative of creativity, innovation, possibility, and hope. Amazing things are happening in the world of memory care. Here are four areas of focus you may not have heard much about:

Illustration by Nadezhda Ivanova via Getty Images

Molly Middleton Meyer

Educated and Impassioned Professionals Providing next level services for people with progressive dementia requires the cooperative services and support of educated and well-trained professionals, people who are not only educated about the disease, but also passionate about providing person-centered care. Ten years ago, after living through the diagnoses, decline, and subsequent deaths of my father and mother to Alzheimer’s, I entered the field to be a changemaker. I didn’t like the status quo so I set out on a personal quest to change it.

While not all of my professional cohorts originally entered the field to make waves, many are now on the forefront of memory care innovation, inspired by fresh ideas and out-of-the-box “what ifs.” They are doctors, nurses, counselors, caregivers, memory care administrators, home health and hospice aides, and people like me who have dedicated themselves to providing purposeful, whole brain programming like poetry and memoir writing, drumming classes, yoga therapy, horticulture and culinary programs, community service opportunities, historical discussion groups, sensory-based activities, dancing, meditation, technology exploration, jewelry making, language learning and so much more.

The new breed of memory care professionals choose an increasingly specialized education and are more informed than ever about optimizing a person’s quality of life at every stage of the illness. They are excited about the contributions they are making as they revolutionize the memory care industry, developing new models of care to better serve patients and their families.

Photo Courtesy of Molly Middleton Meyer

MCI Awareness and Intervention Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a condition that causes noticeable, but generally mild cognitive changes. It primarily affects a person’s short-term memory. A person with MCI may lose track of important information such as appointments, birthdays, and other important dates. They may forget recent conversations or repeat a story. Sometimes MCI affects other cognitive skills such as judgment and spatial perception. Families notice the cognitive changes, but attribute them to normal aging. MCI is not a normal part of aging.

Some people diagnosed with MCI live out their lives with the disease, capable of functioning safely in their home environment while accomplishing the tasks of everyday living. For others, MCI may be the beginning of a progressive form of dementia like Alzheimer’s Disease. Regardless of its disease trajectory, we now understand that an MCI diagnosis warrants immediate intervention. The goal is to diagnose the disease early and develop a plan of action that includes a specialized whole brain fitness program which includes exercise, diet, cognitive activities, and socialization.

The most innovative memory care communities have incorporated researchbased programs and activities especially designed for people with an MCI diagnosis. These residents gather as a group and participate in a variety of all day activities led by specially trained enrichment leaders. Activities include exercise, cooking, gardening, art therapy, music therapy, language lessons, interaction with technology, political and ethical discussions and more. The participants are continually challenged, but not frustrated, the key to an effective program. They are also given cognitive assessments regularly to determine whether there is disease progression.

“As a memory care

professional who has worked in the field for over 10 years, I’m tired of the dispiriting narrative. While I do not challenge the daunting statistics, there is another narrative at play and it rarely makes the headlines. It is a narrative of creativity, innovation, possibility, and hope.”

“

M O L LY M I D D L E TO N MEYER

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Innovative Programming at Every Stage Memory care programming has changed dramatically over the past several years, especially programming designed for people living with mid-to late-stage progressive dementias like Alzheimer’s. What goes on behind the secure doors in innovative memory care communities is not the stuff of nightmares. Visitors are often surprised to discover a loving and joyful community of residents who are nurtured by highly-trained caregivers and engaged by certified activity leaders.

Up until the end stage of the disease, most people are capable of moving their bodies, singing, appreciating music, participating in creative activities, engaging in discussions, solving problems, enjoying sensory activities like hand massages, contributing to the community, socializing, and finding purpose. The best memory care programs provide personalized opportunities for their residents to engage in as many of these activities as possible, not just occasionally, but every day.

Increased Variety of Care Settings To be sure, the cost of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease is daunting.

Most Americans do not have long-term health care insurance to offset the costs.

Without it, professional care and premiere programming is financially out of reach for most people. As new care models emerge, including continuum of care communities that allow residents to age in place regardless of a change in healthcare needs, options are opening up.

Board and care homes, also called residential care facilities or group homes are secure buildings or private homes designed for a maximum of 20 residents.

Rooms can be private or shared by two residents. The memory care residents receive care and meals and are attended to by round-the-clock staff. While a small group environment is often more affordable, and an excellent option for couples facing cognitive challenges, or residents whose behavior is not appropriate for a larger community setting, most do not offer progressive, purposeful programming.

Industry leaders recognize the increased affordability of residential environments and are working to implement quality programming. It’s a work in progress, but one that shows enormous potential.

Perhaps the most innovative (and controversial) memory care living environments are dementia villages. The idea originated in the Netherlands, but has inspired the creation of several dementia villages in the U.S. These small towns are artificially created communities where every resident has dementia.

The towns have realistic stores, theaters, parks, and restaurants. Residents are free to move about the city while being monitored 24 hours a day by cameras and caregivers who dress and act as cashiers, servers, and gardeners.

Advances in memory care are ongoing. As people search for affordable, high-quality care that includes innovative programming, industry leaders will search for ways to meet the need. While the statistics won’t change, the opportunities for a high quality of life certainly will. With change comes a new narrative, one of hope, not fear.

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Molly Middleton Meyer is a certified dementia practitioner, author, and founder of Mind’s Eye Poetry, an innovative creative writing program for people with cognitive impairment. She has dedicated her professional life to destigmatizing dementia by developing cutting edge memory care programs and services.

“The authentic self is the soul made visible.”

— Sarah Ban Breathnach

Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

JEFF, 55

FOR M O RE DAILY MEME S :

@GrowingBolder

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Nevertheless, She Persisted.

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

As a medical doctor, photographer, mother, world traveler and FAA-Certified Drone Pilot, Claire Johnson has many impressive attributes. Intelligence. Persistence.

Determination. But her greatest characteristic might be this: staying open to the possibilities.

That openness is what first led Johnson to medicine. In the last year of college as an undergrad, Johnson became an Indianapolis 500 Festival Princess, advancing all the way to the final pageant court where her sponsor was a prominent Indianapolis OB-GYN. “He said, ‘Have you ever thought about becoming a physician?’”

Johnson remembered. “And I hadn't. I shadowed him for a day in labor and delivery, and saw a birth, and I was sold. I said, ‘Sign me up.’”

The catch? She had to pass the Medical College Admittance Test (MCAT) to get into a medical school and Johnson still needed some science requirements. Instead of waiting another year to take Physics and then pass the MCAT, Johnson taught herself Physics and passed the test first.

While in medical school Johnson got married and had a daughter. Her second child, a son, was born in her

second year of residency. After practicing as an OB-GYN in Orlando, FL, she began re-thinking what might be possible in medicine, combining her love of travel, her medical training and a desire to give back internationally.

Soon she had assignments with international relief organizations that took her around the world.

That led Johnson to the middle of a Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. After a stint as strictly a medical doctor, she was back as both a photographer and a physician. And she was connecting with the kids in the camp by taking their photos and giving them instant prints. It was then an older gentleman, maybe in his 80s, walked up. He wanted a photo, too.

And he had something to give Johnson.

“We know what we look like all the time. We go to the bathroom and look in the mirror,” Johnson said. “But they don't have this concept of what they look like, because they don't see

themselves often. But when he walked up to me, and it was like, ‘Me, photo.

Give me a photo.’ I took it, and then you have to wait those two minutes of magic before it appears on there, like, ‘Oh, wait. It's coming.’

“And he looked at that photo, and the smile that he had on his face, I realized, it's so universal…Innately, we are the same. We have the same joys.

And it's something that when you can travel, you have something in common that you can share with another individual anywhere.

“I really feel like I was able to give more smiles through my photography than medicine.

Medicine, of course, can be lifesaving, and you're helping injuries, but the smiles that I saw from photography and people being able to see themselves, it's such just universal human experience that just really reinforced doing international photography.”

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From there Johnson’s love of photography became more than a hobby.

Through a camera lens she saw beautiful people she wanted to share with the world and once again she re-thought what was possible. Her medical career evolved to include non-clinical settings, and her children left home for college, enabling Johnson to work remotely full-time. To date she has visited 100 countries around the globe and witnessed all Seven Wonders of the World.

As her photography skills grew, so did Johnson’s desire to add to them.

Watching a documentary on Netflix she was impressed by the different perspectives and angles drone cameras were able to capture. Impressed and determined to learn how to how to fly them. Johnson was even more determined when she learned that at the time — 2018 — of all the FAA-certifed drone pilots only 4% were women. And approximately just five were women of color.

“Those were the things where I tell myself, ‘Okay, I'm up for the challenge. I want to take this test,’” said Johnson. “To see such a fraction of drone pilots that are women, and especially women of color, I was even more motivated to represent.”

Not only did Johnson become an FAA-certified drone pilot, but she also went on to learn geographic information system (GIS) mapping technology, enabling her to secure contracts under NASA as a subject matter expert and under the Bezos Earth Fund.

Johnson credits her belief in her ability to learn whatever it takes to accomplish her goals back to her upbringing. As an only child, both her parents worked. As a result,

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“Those were the things where I tell myself, ‘Okay, I'm up for the challenge.

I want to take this test.

To see such a fraction of drone pilots that are women, and especially women of color, I was even more motivated to represent.”

“

CL AIRE JOHNSON

Photos Courtesy of Claire Johnson

Claire has traveled to all 50 United States, 100 countries and the seven wonders of the world and documents it all through her camera lens.

Share in her continued experiences through her Instagram account: @daisyamongroses.

she became very independent. Whatever needed to be done, she would figure out a way.

“Even with my children I have always emphasized to them, ‘Come to me with anything. We'll figure it out. We'll find a way,’” Johnson said. “When I had to learn physics or GIS mapping ... there were times where I thought, 'Oh my God. How do I do this?' But I just kept persisting."

What’s next for the medical doctor turned photographer turned drone pilot and eternal adventurer? Johnson’s mother died in early 2022 and her death gave Johnson, now 50, pause to reflect on her own life and rethink once again.

“It's reinforced who I am,” Johnson said. “My mother was a very, very loving woman but we were very different. I am extremely active with hiking and experiences around the world, and a lot of solo travel to third world countries.

But my mom was a homebody, and so it's really enforced to me that I just want to keep on living... I mean, this is it, you know? It's one life, and I really just want to keep on living and experiencing and connecting with others, because for my mom, on this earth, it's now over.”

Johnson’s next challenge will be closer to her Indiana roots, so she can easily reach her father if he needs her. After recently watching the documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible about mountaineer Nimsdai Purja’s quest to summit all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in seven months and hearing one of the climbers was 82 years old, she had a target.

“I'd like to do several 14,000 feet summits per year,” Johnson said. “Even

if I'm in the Midwest and I don't have the hills, I can put on weights. I can rock climb. I can hike parking garages. And then I can go out to Colorado, acclimate a little bit, and do some 14ers.”

The key Johnson says is to set the goal, have a plan, and begin.

“I think it's like what I do with medicine, what I did even with drone work, you just commit.

One of my friends always says, ‘Someday is not a day of the week.’

Just commit, and make the plan, and do it. Signing up for races, trying a new career. You just have to commit, and then go ahead and move forward.

But we contemplate and we hem and haw about it, then we look back years later and say, ‘I should have, I could have.’ I would say, just jump in.”

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THE TAKEAWAY

Sheryl Kurland

64 “If there's something you want to do and you feel it in your heart, but you feel overwhelmed and you feel like it might be a little foolish or it might be a little outrageous, that means you need to do it.

That's what I would say to everyone who is Growing Bolder.”

S H E RY L K U R L A N D

Sheryl Kurland had just finished a bi-weekly workshop at SafeHouse, a domestic violence shelter in Seminole County, FL. Her training as a certified domestic violence advocate had given her the skills she needed to help the women take steps to move forward in their lives. Still, she wanted to do more. She wanted them to feel like the beautiful women she saw them as. To see themselves differently.

It was her mother’s voice she heard: “Sheryl, if you want to feel better, go put on a little lipstick.” Sheryl knew it was true — that little bit of color and self-care always perked her up. So, before her next workshop she went and bought enough new lipsticks to pass out to all the attendees. The result was beyond her imagination.

“It was like I took a magic wand to the room,” Kurland explained. “The women cheered up, they were laughing. There was joy. The pain was gone. The stress was gone and they sat there and they helped each other pick the right color.

And then they sat there and they started having normal conversation. And I absolutely could not believe what I was seeing.”

Kurland brought the lipsticks to every workshop after that. The results were the same. Sheryl knew she was onto something and she decided it was something that needed to grow.

As one thing happened after another, Sheryl had an awakening. This was hers to do. And so, she set forth. Not exactly sure how but determined to do it. She followed the steps and in less than a year founded a 501 3c, Find Your Fabulosity.

Kurland, 64, recruited her girlfriends to join the board of directors. Other volunteers are women she’s met out giving talks about the effort. Women who related to the power of a lipstick. They come together to sort, pack and ship lipsticks to domestic violence shelters. They all want to make a difference in another woman’s life.

Her first goal was 60 lipsticks. Then it was 100. And 1,000. Then 15,000. To date Sheryl has distributed over 75,000 lipsticks to over 300 domestic violence shelters in all 50 of the United States.

The lipsticks come from women’s groups, Rotary Clubs, and businesses.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheryl expanded her list to include make-up manufacturers and beauty bloggers. The list of shelters started small as well, with Sheryl reaching out and asking, “Can we send you free lipsticks?” Little by little the idea circulated and now shelters apply online to be added to the distribution list to receive multiple boxes throughout the year.

Those same shelters send feedback about what the lipsticks mean to the women they serve. One woman wrote to say, “When I put on some lipstick, it makes me feel like I am actually free and like I can do or be anyone. And it makes me feel a little out of place but, at the same time, alive…it makes me feel like a brand-new person."

Along the way there have been challenges, like a pandemic where everyone is wearing masks and not buying lipstick. But determination to make that difference keeps Sheryl going. “I've learned through time and experience and the wisdom I've gained, that rejection leads you to a better opportunity, and I always keep that in mind. There aren't any big obstacles that we can't overcome. There's always a way.”

Helping other women remember their beauty has become Sheryl Kurland’s passion, her purpose, her mission. And that is something she believes we can all awaken to.

“If there's something you want to do and you feel it in your heart, but you feel overwhelmed and you feel like it might be a little foolish or it might be a little outrageous, that means you need to do it. That's what I would say to everyone who is Growing Bolder.”

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Sit. Stay. Heal.

How Animals Help Lower Our Stress Levels Do you have one of those friends?

You know, the one that sends you crazy cat videos? Or maybe photos of their dog in its latest holiday costume? While the video shares may get old, chances are the friend is less stressed than you are, unless you’re a pet parent as well. Turns out man and woman’s furry best friends are a great stress reliever.

Type “stress management” in an online search window and you’ll find over one billion entries to choose from. It’s clearly on the minds, and fingertips, of most of the population, with good reason.

Chronic stress is the gateway to multiple mental and physical health issues. Having a pet can help.

meQuilibrium is an independent company contracted by Florida Blue to provide health services.

Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or gender. For more information visit floridablue.com/ndnotice. © 2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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The GB Tribe includes furry folks as well!

These cute faces help lower the stress and elevate the joy of our Growing Bolder staff every day.

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It’s also associated with empathy, trust and relationship-building.

Pets help our mental wellness, too. And it’s not just from laughing at all the funny gifs or videos online (4.9 billion cat and 12.8 billion dog videos), although laughter is a great stress reliever.

A survey of pet owners 65 and older by the Journal of Aging & Mental Health found the benefits of pet ownership include “providing companionship, giving a sense of purpose and meaning, reducing loneliness and increasing socialization.” That’s especially vital for older adults who may live alone — and especially during times of forced isolation like the pandemic. Knowing you have to get up and let a dog out, feed a cat, or clean a birdcage gives you a purposeful start to the day.

April 11th is National Pet Day — a day to celebrate all the many ways our pets bring joy to our lives. Here are some of our favorites from the Growing Bolder tribe. Share a photo of yours on our Facebook page to celebrate. And treats for everyone!

Photography by Circle Creative Studio via Getty Images

Most dogs require daily walks, and that exercise is good for both owner and animal.

But you don’t even need to have your own animal to see the benefits. Research by Washington State University indicates as little as 10 minutes of petting a cat or dog reduces a person’s cortisol levels. Volunteer at a shelter, play with a neighbor’s cat or dog or pet sit a “granddog” or “grandcat” and reap the rewards from a good deed that gives back.

Why are reduced cortisol levels important?

It’s your body’s main stress hormone. When your body is on constant alert, aka chronic stress, too much adrenaline and cortisol are produced which can alter the body’s normal processes and put you at risk for a myriad of health problems from depression and memory impairment to heart disease and digestive issues.

Other studies show that both dogs and owners receive a surge of oxytocin after positive interactions. Oxytocin is a hormone and neurotransmitter that creates the bond between a mother and baby after childbirth.

New Mental-Well-being Tool Helps Florida Blue Medicare Members Florida Blue Medicare members now have a new mental well-being solution to help them manage stress and build resilience — the ability to adapt well and recover quickly from stress. This tool, called meQuilibrium, offers simple techniques to reduce stress, calm worry and anxiety and stay connected to others.

It is available to Florida Blue Medicare Advantage members at no extra cost.

“We can’t make today’s challenges disappear, but we can take control of our responses,” explains Dr. Nick Dewan, M.D., Florida Blue’s vice president of behavioral health. “meQuilibrium can help build your confidence, be more mindful and boost your resiliance to help you live your best life.”

Ready to Get Started?

Look for meQuilibrium in the Find and Get Care section of your member account. Click the Mental Well-Being tab and scroll to meQuilibrium to get started.

Don’t have a member account? Sign up today at floridabluemedicare.com.

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GROWING BOLDER AND NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION PRESENT

Fountain of Youth will change everything you thought you knew about aging. It’s the jolt of inspiration you need to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

WITH

MARC MIDDLETON

We’re all told the same debilitating lie that aging is an inevitable decline into disease and disability.

Fountain of Youth®, a new podcast from Growing Bolder in partnership with the National Senior Games Association, smashes the negative stereotypes of aging and delivers life-transforming lessons for us all.

Hosted by masters athlete, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the inspiring stories of men and women of all ages, sizes, and abilities who are redefining what’s possible and living active, engaged lives into their 80s 90s, and 100s.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and learn the secrets to active aging! podcasts.apple.com/us open.spotify.com/show audible.com/pd

Or Your Favorite Podcast Listening Platform