A Classic Pen on Paper Activity 3 Incredible Reasons to Keep a Journal
RECORDS LIFE EXPERIENCES Young teens often record the heartbreaks and woes of youth, but difficult moments don’t become fewer once we become adults. Taking the time to record the difficulties we experience in our lives helps us both mentally and physically. By recording overwhelming thoughts and even traumatic events into a journal, older adults relieve their minds from thinking about them again and again. This, in turn, can reduce stress and improve sleep. IMPROVES MEMORY One of the most beneficial parts of keeping a journal is that it helps the writer remember whatever it is they’re writing down. The physical act of picking up a pen, opening a journal, and writing an entry compels the writer to recall the subject more strongly than if they were to simply think about it. Better still, you can go back through and reread what you’ve written in past entries, which can also help you remember the events that have already happened. Starting a journal is incredibly helpful, fun, and easy to start. All you need to do is pick out a journal, take up your pen, open to the first page, and start writing.
Keeping a journal or diary is something the younger generation is credited for, but it’s not an activity that’s just for them. Many older adults can benefit from writing down their thoughts and feelings into a journal. Here are three reasons why: STRENGTHENS THE HANDS As we grow older, our muscles weaken and our joints become stiff. This makes it harder to do even the simplest tasks, such as picking up a small object or even grasping a drinking glass. Picking up a pen to write each day, even if it’s for a short time, helps keep these muscles and joints active. Writing gives people a chance to strengthen their hands in a fun and creative way.
SUCCESS STORIES
“At the beginning of physical therapy, I had trouble with fast motions across my body. For example, table tennis was hard to play, but now I am able to move my shoulder as fast as I want in any direction, and I can finally resume my favorite sports.”
Weeknight Curried Apple Pork Chops
– Rhys Duncan
Ingredients
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2 tbsp hot curry powder 3 cups diced apples (peeled or not, your choice!)
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2 tbsp coconut oil or ghee
1 cup onion, diced 1 tbsp garlic, crushed
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6 pork chops
1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
Cilantro, roughly chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water or apple juice
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt coconut oil or ghee. 3. Add onions, garlic, ginger, and salt. Sauté for 10 minutes or until onions are soft and mixture is fragrant. 4. Mix in water or apple juice and curry powder. Then add apples, ensuring they get coated in sauce. 5. In an oven-safe dish, arrange pork chops, cover with sauce and apple mixture, and cook for 20 minutes (if using bone-in chops, cook for an additional 10 minutes) or until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 145 F. 6. Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!
“My physical therapy experience was great. I was a little worried about it being a painful experience, but it wasn’t. I first went to the doctor worried I might have pulled my shoulder because I couldn’t use it for carrying my backpack or turning the wheel in my car; it even bothered me just trying to sleep. It took a while and I had lots of exercises that got my shoulder sore and tired, but I could feel and see how much my shoulder had improved. I am thankful for the whole Professional Physical Therapy staff for helping me on the journey to get my shoulder back to normal. Bicep tendinitis scared me, but with their help, I don’t even notice it anymore. I am 100% better and have full range of motion now.”
– William Came
Inspired by The Primal Desire
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
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