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Senior News: It is never too late for us to live our best life

NIAGARA, Wis. — “Between life and death there is a library,” she said. “And within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try on another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choice ... Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?” That very intriguing question is asked in a book I recently read for my book club. Titled “The Midnight Library” and written by Matt Haig, it asks and helps answer that question as we experience a very unusual library along with the ...

How SS protects from misleading advertising and communications

Social Security works with the Office of the Inspector General to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications. For example, the OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who: — Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or authorized by Social Security. — Operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look like it belongs to or is authorized by Social ...

Senior News: Easter traditions practiced at home and abroad

NIAGARA, Wis. — The season of Lent has officially begun, which means the celebration of Easter is right around the corner, along with the official start of spring. We are all familiar with our own Easter traditions but probably are not aware of those that are observed in other areas of the world. So today I want to do a little globe hopping to learn how this holiday is celebrated in foreign lands. The celebration of Easter in Great Britain begins on Good Friday and is the most important celebration in the Christian church year. Like us, the Brits tell stories about the Easter ...

Senior News: Some thoughts on the search for perfection

NIAGARA, Wis. — Last week I shared with you some stories from my years of playing in the band throughout junior high and high school and how participation in musical endeavors is a good preparation for life. This week I want to share my childhood experiences — as a first-born perfectionist — in art class. And I want to provide some guidelines on how to manage perfectionism if you find yourself, or a loved one, within its grasp. Like many of you reading this column, part of the grade-school curriculum in our growing-up years was art class. I attended Roosevelt School back when ...

Senior News: We all have a part to play in the orchestra of life

NIAGARA, Wis. — Most of us can say we like music. And those of us who enjoy music usually have a favorite type or specific kinds we enjoy most when played on certain occasions. And some of us have even had the opportunity to learn to play an instrument and may have been a member of a band or an orchestra at some time in our lives. It strikes me that we can learn a lot about getting along in life when we compare our world to one big band or orchestra. I was fortunate to have been exposed to symphony music when I was young. My mother worked many years for a college in our home town, ...

Senior News: It is possible to create meaningful change in our world

NIAGARA, Wis. — Each week throughout this month I have been writing about the start of a new year, change, and making resolutions. The focus has been on the possibility of doing things differently in our individual lives. In this final column this month, and the last one on this topic, I want to entertain the question as to our ability to create change in our broader world. Can we, as one individual, bring about change that will positively affect humanity? It seems to be an appropriate time to take a look at what our individual impact could be. How do we make a difference? It is ...