It’s Never Too Late for a Good Life!
3 Ways to Deepen Your Relationships
Robert Waldinger, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, may have cracked the code on what constitutes a “good life.” Yes, he says eating healthy and avoiding cigarettes matter, but what is more important is actually nurturing your relationships with others, especially when aging. And if you think it’s too late for a good life, Waldinger disagrees. According to him, you are never too old to have a good life, and there are many things everyone can do to deepen their relationships and bring joy into their lives. So, if the relationships we have in our life hold the key to happiness, how do we even go about boosting them? Keep in contact. You can’t become closer to someone you never see, so the easiest way to deepen your relationships is to see people more often. If you have a friend you don’t talk to as much as you’d like, ask them to set a standing coffee date every Saturday or even just once a month. By seeing someone more, you’re more likely to form a deeper connection and become closer over time. But what Waldinger emphasizes
is this won’t always happen on its own, so don’t be afraid to ask your friends to meet up more often! Open up. Another way to nourish your relationships is to open yourself up to the other person. You don’t have to share your deepest secrets right off the bat, but try to be vulnerable a little more with the ones you care about. Next time someone asks, “How are you?” when you meet up, don’t lie and say “good” when you’re not. It’s okay to lean on a friend if you’re going through a tough time! This will result in you and your friend wanting to spend more time together because of the support and relief you feel from the relationship. Be present when with your friends. We’ve all been there: A friend is talking to us about something, but we’re miles away, lost in thought. While this happens to everyone and is normal, try not to make it a habit. Waldinger says that by really making an effort to be present with your loved ones, you can make a deeper connection and have a more fulfilling relationship.
Scams and Shams
Protect Yourself From Fraudulent Schemes
Since the dawn of civilization, people have been trying to scam others out of their hard-earned money. As technology has evolved, these scams have become more elaborate, requiring a keen eye to discern them. You must have your guard up when answering a call from an unknown number. If you don’t, you might just find yourself as the newest victim of a determined scammer. Here are a few scams people commonly fall for and how to avoid becoming a victim. Government Impersonator Nobody wants to feel like they’re in trouble with the government, and scammers love to prey on that fear. You may receive a call from someone saying they represent a particular government body, like the IRS, who
says you’ll be in trouble if you don’t follow their directions. They might say you owe money and threaten jail time if you don’t make a wire transfer, or they may ask for personal information that will allow them to commit identity theft. If you get one of these calls and are unsure what to do, just hang up. The IRS does not call and threaten citizens, and you can always call the IRS directly to get reassurance that the previous call was a scam. Sweepstakes Winner Sometimes, a scammer calls an individual and claims they’ve won a prize or a lottery. To claim those winnings, the scammer will ask you to send over some cash or gift cards to cover the taxes associated with the “winnings.” They may also ask for personal information. If you actually
won a prize, you don’t have to send cash to claim it. And if you don’t remember signing up for said drawing or lottery, hang up. The Grandparent Scam Sometimes, scammers will call older adults, claiming to be their grandchild or a friend of their grandchild. They’ll say they’re in trouble and need your help. That help always involves sending money through gift cards or wire transfers. If you receive one of these calls, don’t immediately believe it. Call your grandchild directly or their parents to see if the story has any truth. A scammer is the culprit behind these calls 99.9% of the time.
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