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A Child’s Voice Speaks Wonders
The other day, I was sitting on the floor with my 3-year-old grandson, Jack. We had music playing in the background while he worked intently on lining up his toy cars and trucks. Then, out of nowhere, I heard him quietly singing along:
“I see trees of green, red roses too ...”
He was doing his best little-boy version of Louis Armstrong — gravelly voice and all — and I couldn’t help but smile. That moment stayed with me all day. There’s something about hearing a timeless song through the voice of a child that makes you stop and really listen. “What a Wonderful World” isn’t just a classic tune — it’s a simple, stirring reminder to notice the beauty around us and to be grateful for it.
Not things, titles, or bank balances. But peace, connection, and gratitude.
“I see skies of blue and clouds of white, the bright blessed day, the dark sacred night ...”
No, we don’t have it all figured out. We just have to keep showing up, keep listening, noticing, and appreciating. Sometimes we carry more than we let on — worries, memories, and what-ifs. But even in the midst of all that, there’s still room for wonder. Space to sit quietly and listen to a song. Still joy in a child’s raspy voice singing lyrics that have made generations smile. It’s in those small, ordinary moments that we often find the deepest peace. As Eckhart Tolle said, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.”
Sometimes, we get so caught up in the pace of life — meetings, errands, the news cycle, even that ache in our knees — that we forget to pause, to breathe, to see.
But life keeps offering us these beautiful moments.
Little 8-month-old Finn learning to crawl. Like a baby crab making his way across the sand — cautious and a little sideways at first, not quite sure of the path, but with a goofy smile determined to move forward. It’s a quiet reminder that progress doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful. A sunrise out the window. The rumble of waves crashing on the beach. The sound of a familiar laugh. The weight of a child’s drowsy head resting on your shoulder. These are the things that make life feel full. Not flashy. Just full.
That’s how I felt listening to Jack sing.
That’s how I want to feel more often.
And I think that’s how most of us want to feel.
Despite the ups and downs, the challenges and changes ... yes, it is a wonderful world.
“The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, are also on the faces of people going by ...”
It’s no secret that growing older brings change — some of it hard. We say goodbye to loved ones. We face transitions in our health, our homes, and even our identities. But there is a certain clarity that comes with age. We begin to understand what really matters.
Sometimes, all it takes is a child’s voice to help us remember.
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Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and the Art of Speaking Like an Aristocrat There’s a certain charm to old Hollywood movies — glamorous stars, sweeping orchestral scores, and, of course, that oddly posh, vaguely British way of speaking. You know the one. The voice makes Katharine Hepburn sound like she’s perpetually midway through an important luncheon and Cary Grant appear to deliver a one-liner while also sipping afternoon tea. This isn’t just a coincidence; it’s the Transatlantic accent, and for a while, it was the gold standard of sophisticated speech. Hollywood, never one to pass up a trend, adopted this cultivated accent in the early days of talkies. Why? Because it made actors sound polished, articulate, and, quite frankly, fancy. The crisp, clipped tones worked wonders for those speedy, back-and-forth screwball comedy exchanges. Just watch “His Girl Friday” and try not to be dazzled by the machine-gun dialogue between Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell! Why Did Old Hollywood Sound So Fancy?
And then, just as suddenly as it arrived, the Transatlantic accent packed its bags and vanished. By the 1950s, Hollywood started shifting away from aristocratic dramas and high-society stories, opting instead for gritty realism and everyday characters. The era of Marlon Brando and James Dean meant mumbling was in, and sounding like you vacationed on the French Riviera every summer was … well, out. Of course, we can still enjoy the legacy of the Transatlantic accent in classic films. Want to master it yourself? Pick up “Speak With Distinction” by Edith Skinner, the holy grail of old-school elocution training. Soon enough, you’ll drop your R’s, crisp your T’s, and stretch your vowels until “dance” becomes “dahnce.” After all, old Hollywood may be gone, but its impeccable enunciation will never go out of style.
Unlike normal regional dialects, the Transatlantic accent wasn’t something people naturally developed by growing up in a particular area. It was an acquired accent drilled into the minds of upper-crust New Englanders at elite boarding schools and embraced by stage actors who wanted to sound refined. Essentially, it was the linguistic equivalent of wearing a tuxedo at all times.
HUMOR’S REMARKABLE HEALTH BENEFITS
Laughter helps you live.
If you feel better after watching a funny film or hearing an amusing anecdote, you’re likely experiencing the biological gifts of good humor that help our minds and bodies thrive. These surprising scientific facts prove we all should chuckle more consistently. Humor’s Healing Touch In many ways, a good belly laugh is as effective in maintaining our health as a balanced diet. In addition to elevating our blood’s oxygen levels and strengthening our immune system’s ability to fight infections, laughter lowers depression and anxiety by releasing stress- reducing hormones in our bodies. Remarkably, it can even help alleviate symptoms of certain chronic lung conditions by helping us cough up the bad stuff. Additionally, humor has been shown to have a direct link to sustained heart health. Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee found that genuine laughter can lead to a 20% increase in heart rates and an increase in calorie-burning energy. While any form of laughter is good, studies have found that doing it with others substantially affects our social interaction skills and overall mental health.
Limitless Life Lifts To gain a greater sense of how helpful a good ha-ha is to our everyday lives, look no further than a recent report by UCLA Health that noted that laughter has the potential to reduce pain levels in cancer patients by half. Some medical experts believe this benefit comes from the release of endorphins — the hormones that help make us happy — and the patients’ improved perception of their situations during funny moments. In general, laughter can also positively affect people’s ability to learn and find greater motivation in fulfilling everyday tasks. With its ability to bring so much to our lives, laughter is the best medicine. Whether you need a quick pick-me-up or ways to ensure ongoing physical or mental health, a great joke or two will go a long way in making your days more delightful.
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Sudoku
It seems like we can’t go anywhere these days without a phone — and social media is one of the big reasons why. Over 5 billion people are signed up for at least one social media platform. For seniors, having an account is a free and convenient way to get news, stay in contact with friends and loved ones, and connect with others with similar interests. Unfortunately, it can also expose users of any age to serious financial risks and damage their peace of mind. Here are two tips for enjoying a safe and stress-free social media experience. Don’t always believe your eyes. You’re scrolling through your Facebook feed and notice an article announcing the death of a beloved celebrity. Before clicking on the link or sharing it with your online friends, verify the legitimacy of this news with a quick internet search. More than a few “news” links on social media are ploys by online scammers to get your personal information, spread viruses, or prompt more traffic to their websites. Paying close attention to the verbiage used in these posts is one way to identify their legitimacy. “You Won’t Believe What Happened When …,” “Fans in Tears as Beloved Star Dies,” or similar text is typically a clear sign of an entity using dramatic words to encourage users to click. Additionally, many images posted on social media are manipulated or generated through artificial intelligence (AI). Before sharing a seemingly unbelievable photo, consider the post’s source and whether you’ve seen the image on reputable news or entertainment websites. Keep your private life private. Unfortunately, the risks of being on social media extend beyond exposure to fake news. Avoid posting content with sensitive personal information — including license plates and home addresses — and get into the habit of only adding people you know to your network. If you receive a message from a celebrity asking for money or a charity soliciting donations after a disaster, you’re likely being targeted by a fraudster. Never give out your Social Security or bank account information to anyone on social media — including someone you know, as many thieves will steal the online identity of a familiar person to trick you into giving them whatever they request. Forewarned is forearmed. Social Media Tips for Seniors Savvy and Secure
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Helpful Resources • Is your estate plan up to date? Ask us about our FREE Estate Planning Checkup. Call our office or email Julie@mtolaw.com. • Don’t miss Glenn on “Senior Law Radio,” WHMI FM 93.5 every Sunday at 8 a.m. You can also listen live (or to previous shows) on WHMI.com. • Questions about your money? Do you need help with your financial goals, investment management, or retirement planning? Glenn has partnered with his personal financial advisor, Brad Jerome, to bring expert financial services to our clients. Brad meets with you right in our office — no cost, no obligation, and no pressure — just an opportunity to discuss your goals with a top-notch financial advisor to see where your path might lead. You can reach Brad directly at 517.301.3070. • Let us be your trusted advisor for all your legal matters. We’ve grown with the referrals we receive from our clients. We want to return the favor by helping you find a great attorney outside of estate planning, elder law, and probate. Our clients often call us in need of an attorney who focuses on personal injury, auto accidents, elder and nursing home abuse, workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, and many other areas. To get the best results, you need an experienced attorney to help. If you want a referral, call our office or email Julie@mtolaw.com. We are glad to help!
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What’s Inside? 1 2 The Power of My Grandson’s Voice Did Old Hollywood Stars Really Talk Like That?
Giggles for Greater Living
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Avoid Online Ordeals
Helpful Resources
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A Fresh Look at a Familiar Bird
If you’ve ever set up a hummingbird feeder in your yard or even seen one zoom through your garden, you know how independent they are. Hummingbirds usually fly solo and fiercely guard their feeding spots and potential mates from each other. However, a recent discovery challenges what we thought we knew about these tiny birds — some may be more social than we assumed. ARE HUMMINGBIRDS ACTUALLY SOLITARY ANIMALS? A Surprising Discovery Ornithologist Gustavo Canas-Valle recently found multiple hummingbird nests grouped together in the same area in Ecuador’s High Andes. Researchers previously attributed this unique behavior, which had never been documented in hummingbirds, to the freezing temperatures at more than 12,000 feet. However, they’ve found several more groups of hummingbirds roosting and nesting together in the surrounding region, suggesting they choose to live together. Despite the observations, other scientists feel it’s too quick to label hummingbirds as social animals. Charles Brown, a University of Tulsa behavioral ecologist, argues that cohesive social groups work together to help each other, which they did not observe in this case.
Canas-Valle admits that more research will determine
whether the birds simply tolerate one another due to environmental conditions or actively cooperate as a group. However, his initial observations suggest group collaboration already exists, and he expects to find other hummingbird species engaged in the same activities.
What This Means for Hummingbird Research
This discovery challenges long-held beliefs about hummingbird behavior. It remains to be seen whether hummingbird nesting habits are
more flexible than we initially thought or if the behavior is unique to particular species or regions. Researchers now have a new avenue to explore, and future studies will hopefully shed additional light on whether hummingbird nesting is a survival strategy or a one-off quirk. Either way, findings like these are a reminder of how surprising nature can be.
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