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Not a Defining Trait “There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you.” –Carol Grace
As another year flies by, I’m reprinting this old article because I still feel the same as I did when I originally wrote it.
A 12-year-old sees the world in a different way than a 21-year-old, who sees the world in a different way than a 40-year-old, and on, and on, and on. Certainly, you have different life experiences and stories to tell when you’re 80 than when you were 50. This focus on age has brought me back to the old cliché that life is a journey, not a destination. A fitting quote by Terri Guillemets: “The sun shines different ways in summer and winter. We shine in different ways in the seasons of our lives.”
We talk about age all the time in my office. When do people start to worry about age? How old is “old”? Generally, my philosophy is to control what I can and ignore the rest. And age itself — the day-to-day process of growing older — is totally outside of my control. There’s an old quote I like, “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.” That said, while I normally see age as just another number, I’m inspired to reflect on it a bit more as I turn another year older this March. Billions of dollars have been spent trying to find the elusive fountain of youth. A quick flip of the TV remote will reveal more makeup, hair, and exercise products than you could use in a lifetime. I can have abs of steel and buns of steel for just a few bucks. Or I can kick, punch, and dance back to my youth. Standing in the checkout line at CVS, I see “10 Natural Ways to Stay Young,” “5 Anti-Aging Tips,” or “4 Foods That Will Help Me Live to 100.” Despite the billions of dollars spent on staying young, the fountain of youth has remained a mystery. The focus on youth won’t stop anytime soon. Why? Because with age comes negative stereotypes — the aches and pains, forgetfulness, and loss of mobility. Who wants that? When we’re teenagers, and in our early 20s, we want to be adults and struggle to prove that we are grown up. When I was 18, my mother would call my brothers and me “kids.” “Time for dinner, kids,” or “Can you kids come help me with this?” Our response? “Mom, we’re not kids. Stop calling us that.” I can’t remember when that stopped, but I miss it. There’s no fine line between young and old. No black and white. No one day where you go to bed young and wake up old. Why is that? It’s because “young” and “old” can’t be defined. Yes, there may be signs that you are growing older, but there’s not a clear-cut cliff you fall off and can never climb back.
One of my favorite songs is “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas. The chorus goes like this:
Our lives are made, in these small hours, These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate, Time falls away, but these small hours, These small hours, still remain.
We each have our own “small hours” that shape us into who we are over the years.
“Time falls away, but these small hours, still remain.” Some hours are so beautiful they fill your heart. Falling in love, walking down the aisle, the birth of a child or grandchild, a special vacation. Or maybe just a kind word from a friend or even a stranger at a critical moment of your life. Some hours are so painful you feel like your heart was ripped from your chest. Losing a loved one, having your heart broken, finding out about an illness. As we age, we collect these small hours. They are our highs and lows, dazzling colors and darkness on an otherwise gray day. They are our journeys. And each of us has our unique small hours and special journeys. So, as I grow another year older this year, I’m inspired to reflect on age. Here’s my conclusion: “Why should I, or anyone else, be the judge of when someone is old?” As John Barrymore puts it, “A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.” Looking at it that way, you have total control over whether or not you are old. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
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Fasting is a popular diet trend at the moment. You can find videos all over the internet about the benefits people have had while engaging in FASTING FOR VITALITY Take Charge of Your Health • It improves heart health by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, decreasing the odds of developing heart disease. • Regular fasting may boost brain function and prevent neurodegenerative disorders. • Fasting helps with weight loss by increasing growth hormone secretion. Types of Fasting Before engaging in any fasting routine, check with your health
fasting. Fortunately, unlike many fad diets, the fasting trend is positive, as research has shown it offers many health benefits. Here’s a look at a few of those. Why should you fast? When the body stops getting calories, you start burning fat reserves in your body. This fat is sent to the liver and converted into acids called ketones. Ketones are used as fuel to run your body and brain like a backup generator when it doesn’t have food. This process is called ketosis and happens when you fast. Besides burning fat, fasting offers other benefits.
practitioner to make sure you are making a choice that aligns with your continued health and wellness. There are many types of fasting, including: • Juice Fasts — You only drink fruit or vegetable juices for the duration of the fast. • Water Fasts — You can only drink water for a regulated period of time. • Intermittent Fasting — This technique restricts food intake, wholly or partially, throughout the day or for part of the week. You can eat as you usually would on the off hours or days. Fasting, a healthy diet, and exercise offer many health benefits and help keep your body and mind spry as you age. Talk to your doctor to see if fasting can be a reasonable part of your life plan.
• It promotes blood sugar control by lowering insulin sensitivity — so fasting decreases the chances of getting Type 2 diabetes. • Fasting reduces acute inflammation and improves chronic inflammation, which has serious consequences for heart disease, cancer, and other serious conditions.
3 Local Events This March
Hazel Park Senior Outreach Hazel Park Memorial District Library Cost: Free! Get in touch with your local community at noon on March 7, at the Hazel Park Library! The library is a great resource, and you can congregate here for the book club, knitting, quilting, collaging, and many other activities. For those who are fans of knitting or sewing, the monthly stitch and knit circle happens in the same space at 4 p.m. This outreach event recurs monthly, so you can return in April and beyond if you enjoy the March session! Red Carpet Film Scores Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Orchestra Hall Cost: $24 Buy Tickets: Tickets.dso.org This musical performance will be a ball for the film buffs in your life. It’s a celebration of cinema, a pop-up that lets you “experience some of the most memorable scores in cinema by
Spring invites us to get out a bit more, and we wanted to provide some local events where you can enjoy the warmer weather. Whether it’s a date night, an opportunity to meet new friends, or just treating yourself to a self-care day, here are three events you can attend this March! Detroit Symphony Orchestra Macomb Center for the Performing Arts, Orchestra Hall Cost: $19 Buy Tickets: DSO.org/events-and-tickets The matinee concert occurs on Friday, March 1, at 10:45 a.m. It’s rare to see the orchestra this early in the day. The show will have finished by early afternoon, leaving you time to have lunch with some friends and enjoy the sunshine. This particular showing, titled “Classical Roots,” will be led by saxophonist Steven Banks, who has been called “one of the transformational musicians of the 21st century.” He’ll play a new concerto written by Grammy Award-winner Billy Childs. Dress up and go with friends and family, or treat just yourself to beautiful music in the morning!
Academy Award-winning composers through the unforgettable sound of the DSO.” The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is famous for its gifted conductors and musicians, so this is an absolute treat. You can attend this event at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, March 8, or 8 p.m. the same day. There are date night opportunities here, as you can bring your partner after a dinner date. You can also make it the start of your Friday and continue your plans for the rest of the day. Whatever you choose, we’re sure it’ll bring a new spring to your step.
MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
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While the year is well underway, it’s always a good idea to remind you of changes that may have affected your Social Security benefits this year. These changes started being implemented on Jan.1 and will continue until next year. Maximum Benefits If you’ve noticed a change in your payments, don’t worry; this is the expected cost of living percentage increase. While most people don’t question any extra money, it’s useful to know that this increase has been implemented for the third year to alleviate some of the costs of inflation. It is a smaller percentage than years prior as well. For those who retire at 70, you receive a maximum of $4,873. Those retiring early at 62 will receive a maximum of $2,710. For those retiring at the retirement age of 65, your benefit will be maxed at $3,822. We’re sure you’ve seen changes, so we hope this explains them well. Medicare Premiums If you have Medicare Part B, your premiums have also been raised. Your bill has risen by $9.80 to $174.70 every month. It’s not a huge difference; it barely builds to $117 annually at the minimum without an appeal to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) showing a significant change in your income due to any major life event. Major life events can include divorce, the death of a spouse, retirement, and loss of pension. As always, IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amounts) will automatically adjust to your income to ensure you’re paying in accordance with what you can afford. These are the two biggest differences enacted this year, and while it’s great to receive some more money, it’s just as important to know why you’re receiving it. We welcome any questions; feel free to call the office today. Revolutionizing Social Security: 2024 Payment Overhaul Unveiled Make Sure You’re Informed
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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!
MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
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MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150 915 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 6 Howell, Michigan 48843
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What’s Inside? 1 2 Rethinking the Label of Age
Enjoy Better Health With Fasting
Spring Sounds: Local Music Events This March
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Changes to Social Security and Medicare May Affect Your Benefits
Helpful Resources
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2 Underappreciated Historic Events
Grab your time travel hats! We’re traveling back to stories you won’t find in the history books! TIME TRAVEL WITH US Right Place, Right Time Imagine a Parisian street filled with life. A photographer is there, about to take the first known photograph of a person. But the only person still enough to photograph was a man getting his shoes shined! The shoe-shining duo became unexpected celebrities in history as the first known photograph of humans in 1838. The Big Short In the summer of 1937, something extraordinary happened on the streets of Toronto that changed fashion forever. Two daring women went out in public wearing shorts. The sight was so unusual that it drew overwhelming attention and even caused a car wreck! While the moment caused quite a stir, it wasn’t until after World War II that shorts gained popularity.
Offices: Howell | Clinton Township
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