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How to get heart healthyHow to get heart healthyHow to get heart healthyAmerican Heart Month

February 2015 • Vol. 13, Issue 3 • A monthly publication of the Bryan-College Station Eagle

Inside...

RomanceDating after 50

Pg. 8

A guide to good living in the Brazos Valley

Mental healthDon’t let guilt steal your life

Pg. 4

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Mental health:Don’t let guilt steal your life 4Physical therapy:Ways to help improve health 5Feature: Tips for getting heart healthy 6

Dating:Dating after 50 8Valentine’s Day:Romantic films to watch 9Calendar: Local events 10

CONTENTS

PUBLISHERCrystal DuPre

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DISPLAY ADVERTISINGMANAGERLinda Brinkman

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR/PUBLICATION DESIGNER

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SPECIAL PROJECTS/MARKETING

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Over the past two decades, the graydivorce rate has doubled for marriedcouples age 50 and older. For couplesolder than 65, the divorce rate has morethan doubled. More than 55 percentof gray divorces involve couplesmarried for more than 20 years. Thisincludes college-educated couples,usually considered to have moresecure marriages. These statisticsare from the 2012 report out of theNational Center for Family & MarriageResearch at BowlingGreen University inOhio, by Susan L.Brown, professor andchair of the SociologyDepartment there.This past October,she updated some ofthe information fromthe 2012 report. Icover some of that inthis article.

Dr. Brown points out that thereare more working women in thisgeneration than in prior generations.These women are more financiallyindependent and more likely to havethe financial resources to leave themarriage. Additionally, studies showthat couples now want more fromtheir marriages than they did yearsago. Individuals currently in their 60swill live into their 80s. With so manymore divorces, there are more singledivorcees around, which means thereis a greater chance of meeting a newpartner. Online dating is surging in

this generation of older divorcees.

Big changes aheadA gray divorce is especially perilous

because the couple is at or near theend of their wealth accumulationstage. Divorce forces an unravelingand reconstructing of retirementassets. Plans can become complexand nerve wracking for spouses goingthrough the emotional turmoil ofdivorce. Money is a highly chargedemotional topic. Individuals willneed to establish new dreams andgoals, which are affected by financialresources available. (The CollaborativeLaw divorce process focuses on helpingthe spouses create and get started ontheir new goals.) As they go throughthe divorce process, they will need to beflexible when considering how to fundtheir changed dreams because theirestimations of post-divorce resourceswill probably change as the couplemoves through their divorce. Meetingwith a levelheaded financial planner isstrongly recommended before, duringand after a divorce.

Each partner will probably endup with a different financial situationthan existed prior to the divorce. If thesavings accounts survive at all, theymay have been significantly tapped topay for the divorce. Each person mayneed to ramp up their savings andretirement contributions to restore asense of financial security. Accordingto Dr. Brown “older adults are unlikely

to recoup financial losses associatedwith divorce, and this is particularlytrue for women who were out of thelabor force for decades … Althoughfor some older adults a gray divorcemay be liberating, for others who areless advantaged, it is a devastatingexperience with long-term negativeconsequences for their own lives andfor society as a whole.”

Learn fastCouples can negotiate and agree

on a division of retirement accounts,or they can let the court do that.Regardless, once the split is settled,they are stuck with their choices exceptin very rare cases. So, make it a goodone. Before making any agreements,couples need to learn about theirretirement assets and their options.

• Know how much money will comeand when, now and in the future.

• Do not use retirement funds to payfor any divorce costs. Beg, borrow orsteal. Well, OK, don’t steal, but you getthe picture. People who borrow fromtheir retirement rarely pay it back.

• When you cash out a chunk of aretirement account, you will have topay income tax. If you are youngerthan 59 ½ you are also looking at a10 percent early withdrawal penalty.(There are some exceptions, but theyprobably won’t fit your flash cashsituation.)

• Understand whether there are

survivor benefits in the pension plan. Ifthere are any, attorneys can negotiatefor them. Getting retirement benefitson a former spouse’s retirement planwhile that former spouse is alive is onething. What happens to that moneystream if he/she dies first?

• Gain an understanding ofQualified Domestic Relations Orders(QDRO). Check my website for blogposts or articles on QDROs at www.TexasDivorce CPA.com. Make certainyou have a qualified professionalpreparing the QDRO. To ensureproper transfer of retirement funds,stay on top of the status of the QDROprocessing. I cannot emphasize enoughhow crucial this is.

The smart people ask for helpAs a banker recently said to me,

“I don’t expect my plumber to do mybanking, and I am not a plumber.”Couples going through divorce shouldseek professional financial advice.Divorce financial planners will seecouples together or individually. Thereare many critical gotchas and detailsin the financial aspect of divorce thatcan have powerful impacts on futurewealth and financial security. Don’tbe penny wise and pound foolish. Seekexpert advice.

Contact Tracy B. Stewart, CPA, PFS,CFF, CDFA, CFP® through her blog atwww.TexasDivorceFinance.com.

Gray divorce: An obstacle to retirement

TraCy STewarTFiNaNcial liTeracy

Whether the music is orchestral,rock, country or jazz, most seniors liketo listen to some kind of music. Musiccan soothe or energize,make us happy or sad,but the kind we like tohear does somethingthat can be positivelyreinforcing or otherwisewe would not listento it. As my 80-year-old jazz trumpeterfriend, Richard Phelps,recently said at hisbirthday party, “Where there is life,there is music. Where there is music,there is life.”

Relatively little research has been

done on the effects of music on brainfunction in older people. But one studyrecently reported the effects in olderadults of background music on brainprocessing speed and two kinds ofmemory (episodic and semantic). Thesubjects were not musicians and hadan average age of 69 years.

The music test conditions were:1) no music control, 2) white noisecontrol, 3) a Mozart recording and 4) aMahler recording. All 65 subjects weretested in counter-balanced order in allfour categories. The music was playedat modest volume as backgroundbefore and during performance of thecognitive tasks, a mental processingspeed task and the two memory

tasks. The episodic memory taskinvolved trying to recall a list of 15words immediately after a two-minutestudy period. The semantic memorytask involved word fluency in whichsubjects wrote as many words as theycould think of beginning with threeletters of the alphabet.

Processing speed performancewas faster while listening to Mozartthan with the Mahler or white noiseconditions. No improvement in theMahler condition was seen over whitenoise or no music.

Episodic memory performance wasbetter when listening to either type ofmusic than while hearing white noiseor no music. No difference was noted

between the two types of music.Semantic memory was better for

both kinds of music than with whitenoise and better with Mozart that withno music.

Recognizing that emotions could bea relevant factor, the experimentersanalyzed a mood questionnairecomparing the two music conditionswith white noise. Mozart generatedhigher happiness indicators thandid Mahler or white noise. Mahlerwas rated more sad than Mozart andcomparable to white noise.

Music effects on cognitive function of the elderly

dr. BILL KLeMMTHe MeMory MeDic

See Memory Medicpage 4

4 | Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 50PLUS THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE

There is a thief among us. Heis smart and sneaky. He gets to usearly, so we’re familiar with him fromchildhood. Over time, his goal is toinfluence us so much we begin to hearhis words in our own voice.

His name is Guilt. He wants to stealyour life.

The first pet I hadgrowing up was a gerbilnamed Ralph. He wasamazing to watch.When awake, he wasin constant motion. Hewas especially fond ofthe wheel in his cage.He would get in it andrun, seemingly forhours at a time. Often Iwould wake in the middle of the nightto the sound of that little wheel goinground and round.

Ralph was energetic andindustrious, but he didn’t accomplishmuch. That’s OK. He wasn’t supposedto. He was a gerbil. He was cute, andthat was enough.

Lately, I’ve thought of Ralph. Iwonder how many of us live smalllives, as if we’re trapped in some kindof cage? We go round in circles, butdon’t seem to get anywhere. I believeGuilt has a lot to do with this.

One dictionary defines guilt as “afeeling of responsibility or remorsefor some offense, crime, wrong, etc.,whether real or imagined.” The twophrases that grab my attention are “afeeling of responsibility” and “whether

real or imagined.”Some of us were raised in an

atmosphere of Guilt. He flexed hismuscles and exerted his power longbefore we were born. We grew up withhim. He became part of the air webreathed.

Kids often feel responsible forthings beyond their control, like death,marital discord, divorce, financialdifficulties, parental hardships oraddictions and physical and sexualabuse. Children assume adults knowwhat they’re doing and are right. Whensomething goes awry, the child thinkshe must have done something wrong.

Guilt seizes these goldenopportunities. He whispers to us andsettles into our hearts. He hungers tobecome the unseen shadow piloting ourlives.

Yes, most of us are very wellacquainted with Guilt.

Of course, some guilt is real andhonest. We mess up. We make mistakes,including some really ugly ones. Wehurt others, both intentionally andinnocently. Some of us carry a greatdeal of angst about what happened,how and why. The weight of regret canbecome stifling.

Guilt smiles. He delights in being inthe driver’s seat.

Then there’s false guilt. We makeourselves responsible, even as children,for what is beyond our control.Everything bad is our fault and we tryto fix it. We can’t, of course, because it

wasn’t our issue to begin with.We get stuck in what-if and if-only.

“What if I had …?” “If only I wouldhave …” Like my gerbil Ralph, we goround and round, getting nowhere. Wedon’t know what to do, so we punishourselves.

Guilt smiles again. He has us rightwhere he wants us.

What can you do to beat the GuiltMonster?

First, know that Guilt is an outsideinvader. He’s not a part of yourheart. He weaseled his way in. He’sa persistent infection and must betreated accordingly.

Learn to say, “No thanks. That’s notmy voice. That’s Guilt talking. I don’thave to listen.”

Second, accept the truth thatGuilt benefits no one. Punishingyourself doesn’t enhance your life orrelationships. Entertaining Guilt keepsyou going in circles and hinders yourability to love others.

If you want to love, you must let goof Guilt. He’s an abuser and a completewaste of mental and emotional energy.

Third, when Guilt is real, apologizeand ask forgiveness. Stop the mentalspinning and take action.

If you’ve hurt or wronged someone,apologize clearly and simply, withoutexcuses or conditions. Come clean.Then ask forgiveness. How the otherperson responds is up to them.

Then, if possible and beneficial,

seek to make amends. It’s often best notto assume what this would be, but askthe other person, “How can I make thisright?”

When you do this, Guilt trembles.Fourth, forgive yourself. This is

often the toughest step.As you forgive yourself, Guilt gets

shoved to the backseat. He’ll makesome noise about this. That’s OK. Youcan learn to tune him out.

Fifth, ask for help. You weren’tmeant to battle Guilt on your own. He’sa nasty enemy. You need some goodallies for this fight.

You may feel guilty or stuck aboutchallenges or decisions you’re facing.Who can help with that? Who hasthe knowledge and skills to assistyou? Seek the help you need to moveforward.

It’s time to get off the gerbil wheeland climb out of the cage Guilt hasconstructed for you. No, he won’t goaway. He’ll still smile when you blowit and try to surface past mistakes anyway he can. He’s a skilled manipulator,and he never shuts up.

Stare him down. Say, “I know you.You don’t belong here.” Watch him wilt.

Now, it’s your turn to smile.

Gary Roe is an author, speaker andchaplain with Hospice Brazos Valley.Visit him at www.garyroe.com orcontact him at 979-821-2266 or groe@hospicebrazosvalley.org.

Common thief: Don’t let guilt steal your life

Gary roeHospice

Thus, happy, but not sad, musiccorrelated with increased processingspeed. The researchers speculated thathappy subjects were more alert.

Surprisingly, both happy andsad music enhanced both kinds ofmemory over the white noise orsilence condition. But it is not clearif this observation is generallyapplicable. The authors did mentionwithout emphasis that both kinds ofmusic were instrumental and lackedloudness or lyrics that could have beendistracting and thus impair memory.I think this point is substantial.When lyrics are present, the brain isdragged into trying to hear the words

and thinking about their meaning.These thought processes would surelyinterfere with trying to memorize newinformation or recall previous learnedmaterial.

A point not considered at all ispersonal preference for certain types ofmusic. There are people who don’t likeclassical music, and the data in thisstudy could have been made “noisy”if enough of the 65 people dislikedclassical music and were actuallydistracted by it.

In other words, the effects noted inthis study might have been magnified ifthe subjects were allowed to hear theirpreferred music.

My take-home lesson was actuallyformed over five decades ago when Ilisted to jazz records while plowing my

way through memorizing a veterinarymedical curriculum. Then, I thoughtthat the benefit was stress reduction(veterinary school IS stressful andhappy jazz certainly reduces stress).Now perhaps I see that frequentlistening to music that was pleasurablefor me might have actually helped mymemory capability. If you still havedoubts you might want to check mylatest blog post, “Happy thoughts canmake you more competent” (http://thankyoubrain.blogspot.com/2015/01/happy-thoughts-can-make-you-more.html).

Anyway, now that I am in theelderly category, I see there is stillreason to listen to the music I like.Music can be therapy for old age.

“People haven’t always been there forme but music always has.”

—Taylor Swift

Source:Bottiroli, Sara et al. (2014). The

cognitive effects of listening tobackground music on older adults:processing speed improves with upbeatmusic, while memory seems to benefitfrom both upbeat and downbeat music.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Oct.15. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00284.

“Memory Medic’s” latest book is“Improve Your Memory for a HealthyBrain. Memory Is the Canary in YourBrain’s Coal Mine.” It is availablein e-book form in all formats atSmashwords.com.

MemoryMedicfrom page 3

THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE 50PLUS Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 | 5

My wife and I are 78 years old andwe are looking for ways to stay healthyand productive. We are both a littleoverweight and not as active as weshould be. We read your articles in TheEagle, and would like to hear youropinion about how we can improve ourhealth through nutrition and exercise.

Thank you for a great question.I think this quote from one of mypatients is applicable, “Getting olderin life is not forsissies.” For theolder population,getting older canmean restrictionsin your lifestyledue to illness,weaknesses andso forth. However,many olderindividuals areliving full lives wellinto their 80s and90s mainly because they have takenmore responsibility for their goodhealth in terms of the choices theymake each and every day. I think it isextraordinary how many people laterin life are staying active, productive

and maintaining their independence.This is what life is really about – livingfully to the very end.

Here are a couple of facts aboutour aging society. By the year 2050, 30percent of the American populationwill be 60 years and older. It is alsoestimated that 3 million people willbe 100 years and older. My point hereis that most of us today will live intoour 80s and 90s, and some will live 100years or longer. With that said, it is soimportant that we stay as healthy aswe can in our later years of life. In myopinion, staying healthy means goodfood choices, regular exercise, stayingsocially and mentally active and havinga sense of purpose.

Every food choice you make is a steptoward health or away from health.Think of your choices as the catalystfor good health. Research is provingthat healthy eating reduces the body’sproduction of inflammation that canbe a precursor to chronic diseases suchas heart disease, arthritis, diabetes andstrokes. Inflammation in the body canbe created from possessing too muchadipose tissue (e.g., fat), particularly

the type that is deeperand surrounds theorgans. Toxins are alsostored in the fat, so itcan affect you long afteryou ingested it or camein contact with it. Eatingtoo much processed foodand not enough whole/natural food can also leadto inflammation and poorhealth. Your body doesa great job healing itselfand getting rid of waste,but it needs the rightnutrients and enzymesto do so. You won’t getthis from processedfoods, even those that arefortified. What should weeat? We should eat morewhole foods, the morenatural, the better. Wholefoods are not processedor refined; they have alimited shelf life becausethe nutrients degrade with heat, time,air and light. When I say whole foods,I mean as close to the natural state aspossible and as fresh as possible. How

do you know if it’s fresh or natural?

Ways to help improve health

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BY HOLLI L. KOSTERSpecial to The Eagle

February is American Heart Month – a time the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention urges people to learn about theirrisks for heart disease and stroke and to learn strategies forremaining heart healthy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), cardiovascular disease (CVD) – including heart disease, strokeand high blood pressure – is the No. 1 killer of women and men in theUnited States and a leading cause of disability.

“Cardiovascular disease really is an umbrella term,” said AnneGard, family practice physician with St. Joseph Regional HealthCenter. “Plaque in the arteries causes diminished blood flow, whichcan lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Risk factorsPatients, including seniors, with conditions such as

hypertension, dyslipidemia (elevated “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein combined with low high-density lipoproteinand elevated triglycerides), diabetes, smoking, obesity, asedentary lifestyle and family history of cardiovascular diseasepossess proven risk factors for developing the illness.

Gard said family history involves first-degree relatives withcardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease, she said, oftenaffects men over the age of 55 and women over the age of 65.

Getting healthyThe good news is seniors can control a number of risk factors

for CVD, including diet, physical activity, tobacco use, obesity,high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes.

Gard said the American Health Association recommendsgetting 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise, smokingcessation, maintaining normal blood pressure and blood sugarlevels, maintaining a body mass index of 25 and continuing ahealthy diet.

If a patient has a family history of CVD, Gard said a healthcare team can calculate that person’s risk. Patients with afamily history also are well advised to have cholesterol andblood pressure checked earlier – as well as to keep up with ideallifestyle habits.

Gard said patients with family history, if completely healthy,should begin to have checks by age 35 for men and by age 45 forwomen.

For patients with existing conditions, a medical team canmanage blood pressure or reduce cholesterol with medication.

Still, many risk factors are within patients’ control, saysGard, including smoking cessation.

“A lot of patients don’t know this, but people who quit– just two years out, they significantly reduce their risk of

cardiovascular disease almost to the level of a non-smoker,” saidGard.

The No. 1 killerCVD is the No. 1 killer for men and women – more so than cancer.

Although the number of preventable deaths has declined in peopleaged 65 to 74, it has remained unchanged in people under age 65,according to the CDC. And, men are more than twice as likely aswomen to die from preventable CVD.

Patients who have survived heart attacks or stroke often are left ina disabled condition – many with difficulties speaking or walking.

Healthy diet and exercisePatients looking to reduce weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle

can look to a heart-healthy diet, with low fat (specifically saturatedfat), low sodium and low carbohydrates, said Michelle Dohrman, a

registered dietitian with St. Joseph Regional Health Center.“People don’t want to have big changes, and it’s good to take small

steps,” Dohrman said.For instance, if you’re a big meat eater trying to get down to six

ounces of protein per day, choose loin or round cuts of meat, whichusually have less fat. Try to stay away from red meat because it hasmore saturated fat.

“If you are a person who doesn’t mind eating fish, fish is anexcellent source of protein,” she said. “If you drink whole milk, tryswitching to 2 percent.”

Patients can also look into using measuring cups to measure outfood or smaller plates.

Dohrman recommends patients refer to myplate.gov for guidelineson healthy eating and references on portion sizes – and to watchportion sizes in restaurants.

“Eating out is tough,” she said. “If you’re at a restaurant that ismore of a chain, try to look at the menu ahead of time to make choices

ahead of time.”When food arrives, Dohrman advises

patrons to put half of the food in a to-go boxright away.

Where possible, order something like abroth-type soup as an appetizer. Skip thebread or chip basket. Order salad dressingson the size.

People can use a food diary to effectivelytrack eating and gain an insight onpatterns or trends in their eating. Dohrmanrecommends myfitnesspal.com for a means ofviewing how much saturated fat and sodiumthey are consuming.

St. Joseph offers free monthly nutritionclasses for cardiac rehabilitation and diabetespatients, but Dohrman says the classes areopen to everyone.

The cardiac rehab classes, held from 12:15to 1:15 p.m. the third Wednesday of everymonth (except for March) are taught at theSt. Joseph Regional Rehabilitation Center at1600 Joseph Drive in the Quilter’s Cafe. Thediabetes classes are taught the first Mondayand Wednesday (from 9 a.m. to noon) and thethird Tuesday and Thursday (5:30 to 8:30 p.m.)of every month at the St. Joseph ProfessionalBuilding, Room 140 (2700 East 29th St.).

Grocery store tours and seminars are heldthe second Tuesday of every month from 10to 11 a.m.

For more information, contact St. JosephHealthy Communities at 979-731-1231.

Tips and strategies for being heart healthyAmerican Heart Month

Metro Creative Connection

Contrary to popular belief, adopting a healthy lifestyle isnot a difficult undertaking. In certain instances, conveniencemay need to be sacrificed in favor of nutrition, but manypeople find that living healthy is not nearly as difficult as theyassumed it would be when they initially decided to make achange.

When men and women decide they want to start livinghealthier, many mistakenly assume they must abandontheir existing habits entirely and start from scratch. But thefollowing are some easy ways to start living healthier everyday.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. One of the best andeasiest ways to live healthier is to begin eating more fruitsand vegetables. Instead of unhealthy snacks like potato chipsand cookies, snack on a piece of fruit, and never sit down to ameal unless you include some vegetables to go along with themain course. Studies have shown that men and women whosediets are high in fruits and vegetables are less likely to developcertain types of cancers, including cancers of the digestivetract. In addition, the United States Department of Agriculturenotes that people whose diets are rich in fruits and vegetableshave a lower risk for heart disease, including heart attack andstroke.

• Slow down your eating routine. Some people mayalready be eating the right foods, but they may just be eatingtoo much of them. It takes time for your body to let you knowit’s had too much to eat, so eating too fast can increase yourrisk of overeating. While eating, try to limit distractions thatcan take your attention away from howmuch you’re eating. Ifyou’re always watching television or checking emails on yourphone while eating, try a few days of distraction-free, carefuleating, and you may find yourself eating less and feeling moreenergized after a meal.

• Skip the second glass of wine. The much publicizedmedical benefits of wine are somewhat misleading. Accordingto the Mayo Clinic, when consumed in moderation, red winecan help prevent heart disease. That’s because alcohol andantioxidants found in red wine have been shown to increaselevels of high-density lipoprotein, often referred to as “good”cholesterol, and protect against artery damage. But wine alsocontains sugars that can fatten the liver, and a fatty liver cancontribute to a host of serious health problems. If you alreadydrink wine, limit yourself to one glass per day. If you are nota wine drinker, then it’s important to note that many doctorsbelieve the potential benefits of drinking wine do not outweighthe potentially negative consequences associated with alcoholconsumption, which include neurological problems and anincreased risk for heart disease.

• Get more sleep. Inadequate sleep affects the body in avariety of ways. Many people are aware that one poor night’s

sleep is certain to affect their energy levels the followingday, but fewer may know of the link between sleep durationand chronic disease. For example, the Harvard MedicalSchool notes that studies have linked insufficient sleep totype 2 diabetes, as the body’s ability to process glucose canbe compromised by poor sleeping habits. Other medicalconditions that have been linked to insufficient sleep includeobesity, heart disease and mood disorders. While you might beproud of your ability to function on minimal sleep, the long-term effects of insufficient sleep can be dire, so be sure to getat least seven hours of sleep each night.

Choosing to live healthier does not mean you need tocompletely overhaul your existing lifestyle. In fact, you canmake several easy everyday changes to dramatically improveyour overall health.

Including more fruits and vegetables in your diet is aneasy and effective way to improve your overall health.

Easy ways to start living healthier every day

Exercise helps to reduce the risk of heart disease.

8 | Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 50PLUS THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE

Metro Creative Connection

Sweaty palms, heart palpitationsand nervousness are common first datesymptoms. Many people can rememberthe feelings of excitement and fear theyfelt the first time they went out on adate as a teenager. But those who findthemselves back in the dating pool asmature adults quickly learn that datingjitters still may be present even afterall this time.

Recent data from the U.S. CensusBureau finds that those over the age of50 are now divorcing at double the rateof younger people. Loss of a spouse isanother reason the over 50 crowd mayonce again be dabbling in dating.

Recent reports say that 40 percent ofonline daters today are over the age of50. Successfully navigating the watersof matchmaking sites or old-fashionedmeet-and-greets means reacquaintingoneself with a few handy tips.

• Don’t open up with yourextended history. Older daters have

more life experiences and potentially agreater number of past relationships.Recognize that you both may bringformer spouses and even children tothe table, but don’t feel the need todelve into all of your adventures (ormisadventures) on the first date. Earlydates are not for setting the entirecourse of your relationship. They’re forgetting acquainted and seeing if this isa relationship you want to continue.Getting too personal right off the batcan sabotage a relationship before itstarts.

• Take it slow. There’s no need torush anything along. Biological clocksor perceived societal notions no longermay be causing pressing relationshipdeadlines. Take the first date and anyother subsequent dates at a pace that’smutually agreed upon. It may takeseveral months to years before all of

Dating after 50

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Ask your grocer or the producer (e.g.,farmer). If you eat organic/natural,you know it is not bathed in chemicals;it isn’t genetically modified; and it’sgrown with sustainable practices,which means fewer chemicals andmore nutrients in the food. If youcan’t afford to eat all organic, at leastavoid the “dirty dozen” (www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php). Don’tshy away from local produce if it isproduced using organic methods; freshis the best for nutrient content. Just getto know the producer and find out whathe/she uses on the produce. Try to eatnatural meats, fish, milk and eggs, aswell.

It is becoming clear that we havetoo many chemicals in the productswe eat and use daily. Try to go “backto nature” as much as possible. Thisincludes growing some of your ownfoods. This is a great deal easierthan you might think, and there

are Master Gardeners in the areawho can help. Eat a variety of foods;try different grains (quinoa, farro,amaranth); try different legumes,nuts and seeds; try different spices(turmeric, fenugreek). Healthy eatingalso includes healthy forms of fat suchas olive oil (extra virgin), nuts, seedsand so on. Remember to vary the colorof your fruits, berries and vegetablesbecause different colors hold valuableantioxidants to fight toxins andinflammation within the body.

Regarding exercise, try to stayactive a little every day. All the thingsyou’ve heard are true - park a littlefarther away; get up and move aroundduring commercials; get a pedometerand try to increase the number ofsteps you take daily. Start slowly, butbuild; the point is to do something,don’t stress about what and how. Asa physical therapist, I recommendyou increase your flexibility, as well.Stretching, yoga and tai chi are allways to do this. Good flexibility helpsensure good blood flow, good balanceand less pain. Again, start slowly and

build; the point is to do something. TheAmerican Academy of Sports Medicineadvocates that everyone spend four tofive days a week exercising for a halfhour each day. The exercises shouldbe in the form of stretching, aerobicactivity and resistance training. Ifyou need more coaxing, here are threemajor reasons why you should exerciseweekly: 1) maintain a healthy weight,2) feel a sense of accomplishment andlastly, 3) prevent falls. Exercising in our80s and 90s is important to preventingfalls by maintaining good leg strengthand balance. Talk to your familyphysician or internist about starting anexercise program. If you suffer frompain (back, shoulders, hip or knees)that prevents you from exercising,consider talking to a physical therapistto determine the cause of your pain,how to reduce it and the best way tostart an exercise program so you won’tinjure yourself.

Finally, staying active socially andmentally is important. Many peopleas they age may experience their lifeshrinking in dimension as they stay

home more often, visit friends andfamily less often, stop engaging in theirfavorite hobbies and activities and inessence, lose their sense of purpose.We all need a purpose for living. Thereare many things we can do to give ourlives purpose: volunteering, meetingfriends for coffee, staying active in ourold profession, writing our memoirs tobenefit the younger generation, joininga social group, sharing important lifelessons with the young and so on.

As I mentioned before, we have totake responsibility for our good healthand that starts with personal choices.Every day, you make choices that moveyou forward or hold you back. Youare in control. Start small and buildthe life you want to have regardlessof your age now - choose whole foods,physical activity and social and mentalengagement.

Leon Bradway is a doctor of physicaltherapy and director of the Sports, Backand Pain Management Clinic. See www.bvphysicaltherapy.com.

Bradwayfrom page 5

Metro Creative Connection

Couples celebrate Valentine’s Dayin many different ways. For some theidea of dinner out followed by a strollarm-in-arm seems the epitome ofromance, while others may want togo out dancing or engage in a favoritehobby.

Valentine’s Day also can bea romantic endeavor if a couplechooses to spend time at one witheach other watching a romanticmovie. The following are a handful oflove-inspired movies that can add aspecial something to Valentine’s Dayfestivities.

• The Notebook: Author NicholasSparks has a way of taking theeveryday experiences in a person’slife and making them relatable andheartbreaking in a pluck-at-your-heartstrings sort of way. His novel“The Notebook” won the heartsof many and seemed a natural tobe adapted to film. Starring RyanGosling and Rachel McAdams, themovie illustrates how love can lastthrough the years and even survive anAlzheimer’s diagnosis.

• The Proposal: In order to remainin the country, a demanding New York-based book editor (Sandra Bullock)asks her brow-beaten assistant(Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. Their

tumultuous relationship involves a tripto Alaska to meet his family.

• An Affair to Remember:Romantic melodramatic master CaryGrant falls in love with Deborah Kerraboard a cruise ship while they aretraveling with other people. They agreeto meet at the top of the Empire StateBuilding in six months if they haveended their relationships and are readyto commit to each other. Grant makes itto the rendezvous spot, but an injuredKerr never shows as Grant assumesshe has rejected the proposal.

• Say Anything: In pursuit of awoman he believes is out of his socialleague, Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack)creates hope for the underdog in us all.The movie inspired teens to raise theirboom box radios over their heads andblast romantic tunes to illustrate theirlove.

• The Wedding Singer: This quirkymovie about a wedding singer who fallsfor a banquet waitress highlights theimportance of loving each other forwhat makes you unique.

• Once: Attraction between themain characters comes by way ofcreative musical collaboration.Music proves to be an aphrodisiac,making the film and the song “FallingSlowly” from its score so popular. Thisromantic tale helped take the film

from the big screen to theBroadway stage.

• West Side Story:“West Side Story” isyet another homage to“Romeo and Juliet.”But the film madeShakespeare’s tragiclove story relatable toaudiences of the 1960s.

• My Best Friend’sWedding: Julianne(Julia Roberts) is calledon to be the “best man”for her friend’s (DermotMulroney) wedding.Only when the weddingplanning is underway doesJulianne realize she is inlove with her friend andneeds to get him to fall forher instead.

• Never Been Kissed: Areporter goes undercoverat a high school to discoversomething controversial and ends upbeing the subject of her story when shefalls in love with her English teacher.

• Harold and Maude: Aman inhis twenties and a much older womanbegin a romantic relationship andchallenge social norms along the way.

• Annie Hall:Winner of four

Academy Awards, “Annie Hall” followsa comedian who is trying to maintainhis relationship with a woman.

• Bridget Jones’ Diary: Amodernadaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,”the movie tells the tale of a self-

Cuddle up with someone you love, cue thestreaming video service and enjoy a romanticfilm for Valentine’s Day.

Romantic films to watch together this Valentine’s Day

See Moviespage 11

10 | Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 50PLUS THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE

CALENDAROngoing

Sit and Fit Chair Exercises - Get a workoutwhile sitting in a chair. Seniors meet at SouthwoodCommunity Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Roadin College Station, every Monday, Tuesdayand Thursday, from noon to 1 p.m. For moredetails, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 ormrodgers@cstx.gov.

Line Dancing - Southwood CommunityCenter, 1520RockPrairieRoad inCollegeStation,holds line dancing for seniors on Tuesdays from1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and on Fridays from 10:30 to11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bluegrass Jam Session – BluegrassJam Session is held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. onTuesdays at Southwood Community Center,1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Alllevels welcome. Bring string instruments and afriend. For more details, contact 979-764-6351,979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Friday Bridge - Southwood CommunityCenter, 1520 Rock Prairie Road in CollegeStation, offers bridge for seniors every Fridayfrom 9 to 11:30 a.m. For more, contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Learn how to play 42 dominoes - Learn thepopular game of 42 every Wednesday from 9:30to 11:30 a.m. at Southwood Community Center,1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station.Contact Southwood CommunityCenter at 979-764-6351 or emailmrodgers@cstx.gov for moreinformation.

42 dominoes - Seniorsmeet every Thursday to play42 at Southwood CommunityCenter, 1520 Rock PrairieRoad in College Station, from9:30 to 11:30 a.m. New playerswelcome. For more details,contact 979-764-6351, 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Bible study – Bible studyis held for seniors at 9:15 a.m.every Thursday at LincolnCenter, 1000 Eleanor St. inCollege Station. Contact AnnieWilliams at 979-764-3779 orawilliams@cstx.gov for moreinformation.

Feb. 4ComputerClubforSeniors:

“How to Use Microsoft Excel” -The Computer Club is open toall seniors interested in learning

more about the computer world. Themeetings areheld at the Waste Water Facility Training Room,2200 North Forest Parkway in College Station, at9:30 a.m. No pre-registration needed. For moreinformation contact College Station Parks andRecreation Department, Senior Services at 979-764-6371 or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Portrait Drawing Class - Learn to drawportraits. Class meets Feb. 4 to March 11, onWednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at SouthwoodCommunity Center. Cost is $45. Basic drawingsupplies required. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov, or call 979-764-3486 for more details.

Acrylic Painting - Learn basic techniques ofpainting. Supply list at sign up. Class meets Feb.4 to March 11, on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. tonoon at Southwood Community Center. Cost ofthe class is $45. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov,or call 979-764-3486 for more information.

Feb. 9Beginning Computer Class – Meets from 9

to 10:30 a.m. on Mondays andWednesdays, fromFeb. 9 to 18. Start with the basics and progress tosoftware, email, creating and saving files, editingand printing. Held at Southwood CommunityCenter. Cost of the class is $45. To register visitrectrac.cstx.gov, or call for more information, 979-764-3486.

Intermediate Computer Class - Acontinuation for the students of Computers 101or the already seasoned beginner. Class meets

from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Mondays andWednesdays, Feb. 9 to 18. Cost of the class is$45. To register visit rectrac.cstx.gov or call formore information, 979-764-3486.

AARP Driver Safety Course - Refresh yourdriving skills. Learn defensive driving techniques,proven safety strategies and new traffic laws andrules of the road. Class meets at SouthwoodCommunity Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road from9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with a break for lunch.Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Pay at the door. To register call 979-764-6371 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Feb. 12Sweetheart Dance - Dance will be held from

7 to 9 p.m. at Southwood Community Center,1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Doorprizes and light refreshments served from 7 to 9p.m. For more information, call 764-6351 or emailmrodgers @cstx.gov.

Sugar Blues Workshop – Free workshop at1:30 p.m. will teach how to permanently change aperson’s relationship with sugar cravings. Held atSouthwood Community Center, 1520 Rock PrairieRoad in College Station. For more information,call 764-6351 or email mrodgers @cstx.gov.

Feb. 13Valentine’s Day Tea and Bingo - Seniors are

invited to enjoy a cup of tea and finger foods at1:30 p.m. at Southwood Community Center, 1520Rock Prairie Road in College Station. Bingo willbe played with prizes. A reservation is necessary.To make a reservation, call 979-764-6351 oremail mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Feb. 18Exploring History Luncheon - The College

Station Historic Preservation Committee and theCollege Station Parks andRecreation Departmentpresent monthly lectures with lunch on the historyof the community. Anne Black will present thehistory of OPAS. The luncheon will be held atAldersgate Church, 2201 Earl Rudder FreewayS. A reservation is necessary for lunch by theFriday before; the cost is $5. Lunch is served at11:30 a.m. Speaker will begin at noon. Reserveby calling 979-764-6351 or emailing mrodgers@cstx.gov.

See Calendarpage 11

S E R V I C E S• Light Housekeeping

Errands, Shopping• Incidental Transportation• Laundry• Recreation, Crafts• Grooming, Dressing• Personal Care Services

244 Southwest Pkwy E.College Station, TX 77840

979-764-3076Individually owned and operated.

Comfort Keepers provides thekind of non-medical in-home careservices that help people maintainfull and independent lives, all in thecomfort and familiar surroundingsof their own home. We would behappy to arrange a free in-homevisit to help you learn more.

• Personal Care Services• Personal Care Services

THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE 50PLUS Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 | 11

Genealogy Computer User Group:“Ancestry.com: The place to find and keepeverything”- The group shares an interest incomputer genealogical information and meets onthe third Wednesday of the month at Carter CreekTraining Room, 2200 N. Forest Parkway from 9:30to 11:30 a.m. No registration required. For moreinformation, call 764-6371 or email mrodgers @cstx.gov.

Feb. 19A Matter of Balance Class - This free, eight-

week class held on Thursdays starting Feb. 19is designed to reduce fear of falling and improveindividual activity levels. Class is held from 1:30 to

3:30 pm at Southwood Community Center, 1520Rock Prairie Road in College Station. To register,call 979-764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Movie & Popcorn: “The Express” - Seniorsare invited to enjoy a free movie and popcorn atSouthwood Community Center. Movie starts at1 p.m. Contact Southwood Community Center at979-764-6351 or email mrodgers@cstx.gov formore information.

Feb. 27Bingo & Birthday Celebration - Seniors

are invited on the last Friday of each month tocelebrate birthdays for that month with cakeand bingo. Join the fun at 1 p.m. at SouthwoodCommunity Center, 1520 Rock Prairie Road.Contact Southwood Community Center at 979-764-6351 for more information or mrodgers@cstx.gov.

Calendarfrom page 10

conscious woman who finds lovein a man that seems to be her polaropposite.

• Ten Things I Hate About You:Filmmakers reinvented “The Tamingof the Shrew” in this teen comedystarring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger.

• Casablanca: No romantic movielist would be complete without thiswartime drama. Humphrey Bogart andIngrid Bergman are in top form in thismovie of chance meetings.

• The Princess Bride: Girl meetsboy, girl detests boy, girl truly lovesboy, and then girl loses boy. This fairytale shares the purity of true love andhappily ever after.

Moviesfrom page 9

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1 2 | Feb rua ry 3 , 20 15 50PLUS THE BRYAN-COLLEGE STAT ION EAGLE

your truths come out, but for nowfocus on having fun until you’re bothready to share more.

• Look for the positives. Beforeyou decide a person is not for you,make a note of all of his or her positive

attributes. What do you like most abouthim or her? Initial negativity or doubtsmay stem from your fear of rejection.Be open to others who may not fit yourtype.

• Don’t get discouraged. Theperson you first meet may not be theright fit. Don’t let this turn you off ofdating. The right person may be thenext one around the corner.

• Meet in publicplaces. Many datesbegin with onlineconversations with theintention to meet fora physical date lateron. Always keep safetyin mind when settinga rendezvous withsomeone you don’t knowwell. Choose a publicmeeting spot, such as abusy restaurant. Ask afriend to check in on youvia phone call. Considera double-date if you’reweary. Take your owncar and meet at the datelocation rather thanbeing picked up at home.

• Wait forintimacy. It may takea while before you feelcomfortable gettingintimate with someonenew. This person shouldrespect your feelingsand not pressure youinto a physical relationship until youare both ready. Also, give the otherperson time to grow comfortable withintimacy.

Dating after 50 means takingchances, going slow and exploring newrelationship possibilities that makeyou feel comfortable.

Positivesfrom page 8

Comeplaywithsomeoneyourown

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