There is
so much to life and health at any age. It’s not just about our weight or diet
or exercise routine. We are much more complex and deeper than that. Staying
healthy is broad and deep. Since I am intentionally making my ThirdThird (ages 60–90) the BEST Third of my life, I think about how to stay healthy.

Emotionally Healthy

I see in
google that, “People who are emotionally
healthy are in control of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
They are able to cope with life’s challenges. They can keep problems in
perspective and bounce back from setbacks.”

I think that is not a bad description. In my late 60s, I find
that I am able to put problems in perspective since I lived through a lot of
challenges. Setbacks are not devastating as I’ve made it through plenty of
them. I’ve had lots of practice controlling myself, so that, too, is not a huge
challenge.

But it still needs to be a conscious decision to stay
emotionally healthy. Sharing my burden is healthy… with a trusted and empathetic
friend. Journaling to get my real feelings on paper is cathartic. Going on long
walks alone gives me balance and time to process. Emotional health takes work. It
is worth the effort.

Physically Healthy

No way
around it. To stay fit physically, you have to move. Daily. It takes commitment
and resolve. But it is worth it if staying mobile and independent is a goal.

Finding
the activity that will get done regularly is the biggest hurdle. My husband
runs and I thought that sounded fun… until I tried it. Not for me. Walking is
my preferred pace.

I like
classes like yoga. Lately, I’ve had a partner to work out with. She is younger
and more fit than me. We have fun conversations and keep up on each other’s
lives by meeting three times a week to work on balance and core strength. If
one of us is unable, there is complete grace to miss. The commitment keeps us
regular, even if we miss a day or two.

Mentally/Intellectually Healthy

I have a client
who says her mother is “of an age that she is not good with technology.” Hmmm. The
woman is several years my junior. Her mother retired and now does very little
outside of her own home. From my perspective, she is missing out on so much!

If staying
mentally and intellectually healthy is a goal, it doesn’t have to take much in
terms of time or money. Sure, you can take a class or enroll back in school
(good ideas for many), but it can also be as simple as keeping a crossword
puzzle book in the bathroom or finding a podcast to listen to that will spark
your curiosity.

Jigsaw
puzzles, magazines, blogs, etc. all
can give you something to talk about when you have lunch with your friends. Stay
curious by checking Google.com if you don’t know what something means or how to
find something.

Spiritually Healthy

There is deep,
spiritual, soulful part in each of us. Nourishing that spirit part is the key
to staying healthy in all other realms. I have my own persuasion of spiritual
belief that is solid and gives me peace.

And I have
grown into an understanding that spirituality is personal and has many shades
of color… definitely not as black and white as I was taught for many years. To
continue searching and learning spiritually keeps me emotionally and mentally
healthy as well.

Spiritual
health takes some time. Quiet time. Reading time. Thoughtful time. Alone time. Time
that will have to be intentionally set aside to stay healthy.

Socially Healthy

In virtually every list I have read
or heard on staying fit and active in the ThirdThird
(ages 60-90), having good relationships is right up there in the top three
most important. Lunch connections or coffee dates don’t happen without a bit of
planning since my schedule is less “set” than it once was, so I have to think
about this.

Volunteering is a great way to be
socially healthy, I find. I have met a number of really interesting people over
the past two years as a result of running a Food as Medicine program at a local
community health center. One or two of those people are now friends I seek out
at other times.

Hosting a breeding Mom for Leader Dogs for the Blind is broadening me socially. All of a
sudden, I can talk “dog” and have a new conversation topic.

To be intentional social, I am
planning a few “conversation events.” A few friends, a general topic,
interesting conversation. No big event for entertainment, but hospitality with
a purpose.

Staying healthy is not going to
happen by chance. It will take a decision to make it a priority and then will
take determination to keep it going. It is many-faceted and worth working on.

What are you doing to stay healthy
in all aspects of your person? How do you stay fit and active into your 60s and
beyond? Please share any tips that you have found helpful in your aging well
journey.

Kelsey Weier’s Dress on the Women Tell All

The Bachelor Season 24 Episode 10 Fashion

Considering her occupation is a “professional clothier” (which may just be a fancy word for stylist, we’re still not sure), it’s no surprise that Kelsey Weier has been bringing us some serious housewives-level designer lewks all season long. And she’s definitely not stopping at the Women Tell All by showing up to the stage in this red ruched dress, which we of course tracked down because we take our jobs as professional clothier clothing finders very seriously.* 

Fashionably,

Faryn

* If you want to reward us with a giant bottle of champagne we wouldn’t say no.

Click Here to Shop Her Alice + Olivia Dress

Click Here to Shop Additional Stock

Click Here to Shop it in Black

The Bachelor: The Women Tell All Airs MONDAY, MARCH 2 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EST), on ABC. (ABC/Kelsey McNeal)

Originally posted at: Kelsey Weier’s Dress on the Women Tell All

Many seniors feel overwhelmed with their
financial situation. It could be credit card debt or piled up medical bills. No
matter the source, you are not alone.

In fact, these are the top two reasons
people consider filing bankruptcy. Here is what you need to know about
bankruptcy to decide whether it’s right for you.

State and Federal Exemptions
Protect Your Property in Bankruptcy

There is a misconception that when you
file bankruptcy, your property is seized and sold for the benefit of your
creditors. This is only partially true.

Federal and state “exemptions” apply
in certain dollar amounts, which increase regularly, to keep your property out
of the “bankruptcy estate” and out of the reach of the Trustee.

Exemptions protect a certain amount of
equity in your home and double that amount if you are married filing jointly
and own the home together. Exemptions also protect your car and personal property
up to a certain amount.

Depending on the state in which you
live, some property is not part of the bankruptcy estate at all, such as your
pension. It is rare that the Trustee seizes property because debtors and their
attorneys can plan ahead to avoid that.

Clearing Credit Card and Medical Debt

If your income qualifies you
to file chapter 7, you can have credit card and medical debt discharged in 4-6
months.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a process by
which you disclose your income, expenses, assets, and debt, and your unsecured
debt is “discharged,” meaning, you are no longer personally responsible for
repaying it.

In order to file bankruptcy under
Chapter 7, you must pass the “means test,” which calculates income and certain
expenses, and you must earn under a certain amount in order to pass.

It is common for those who are retired
to be able to pass the means test easily. However, if you earn too much to
qualify to file Chapter 7, you can file Chapter 13.

Pay a Fraction with Chapter 13

If you file Chapter 13, you may be
allowed to pay only a small portion of your debt. So what is Chapter 13?

Chapter 13 is a partial repayment plan
over three or five years tailored for people who earn too much to qualify to
file under Chapter 7. If you are still working yet collecting Social Security, that
may be you.

Chapter 13 is also for those with a
steady income, whether working or collecting Social Security and/or a pension,
who have fallen behind on their mortgage, car loan or lease, or child support
or spousal support because they can catch up on those arrears through their
plan.

How does it work? The amount you must
repay is divided over 36 or 60 months, a small Trustee administration fee is
added, and you pay that amount to the Trustee each month for the duration of
your plan. The Trustee then pays your creditors.

Often those filing Chapter 13 pay none
of their unsecured debt because they are paying attorney’s fees or mortgage or
car loan arrears through their plan, and that’s all they can afford. Chapter 13
bankruptcy allows that.

Cram Down Your Car or Strip Off a
Second Mortgage with Chapter 13

You can employ a powerful and useful
aspect of Chapter 13 if your secured debt exceeds the current market value of
the collateral. This is often the case especially for seniors who have owned
their house quite a long time but refinanced or took out a second mortgage when
the property was worth more than it is now.

Let’s say you bought a new car two or
three years ago. If your car is worth less than the amount you owe on your car
loan, you can “cram down” that car loan to retail value and pay it off in your
Chapter 13 plan.

In figures, if your car is worth
$6,000 but you owe $8,600 on the loan. Your attorney will help you file a plan
that includes a monthly payment to your car lender of $100 a month plus
interest over your five-year plan. When you complete your plan, you own the car
free and clear and have saved $2600!

If your home is worth less than your
first mortgage, and you also have a second mortgage, you can “strip off” that
second mortgage as unsecured and have it discharged. This is done frequently in
a down housing market.

To illustrate, let’s say that a few
years ago your home was worth $295,000, and you took out a second mortgage to
do some repairs and renovations.

Now your home is worth $240,000, and
you owe $252,000 on the first mortgage and $18,000 on the second mortgage. You
can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case and strip off that $18,000 as unsecured.

Chapter 13 is also useful if you own
property worth more than applicable exemptions, such as if you have paid your
mortgage off and own your home. Your attorney will help you calculate the
amount your creditors would have received had the Trustee seized your home and
sold it, and you can repay just that amount through your Chapter 13 plan.

Some Debt Is Not Dischargeable in
Bankruptcy

You should know that certain types of
taxes, back-owed alimony or child support, government fines, and fees are not
dischargeable in bankruptcy. Student loan debt is rarely dischargeable and only
in cases of extreme hardship.

It is natural to want to help family,
but, for the above reason, those aged 60 and over should use caution about
co-signing student loans for children or other young family members.

If the student defaults, you will be
liable for repaying that debt and there is simply no way out of it. Many
seniors have gotten into financial trouble over someone else’s student loan.

Use caution too in co-signing
mortgages or car loans or leases – if you file bankruptcy, that makes your
co-signer solely responsible for paying that debt, and they are then at risk of
losing their home or car. If the co-signer files bankruptcy, you are then
solely responsible for paying that debt.

Whenever making financial decisions,
it’s always wise to think through the repercussions.

What do you know about bankruptcy?
What questions might you have? Please share in the comments below.

Tammy Ly’s Jumpsuit on the Women Tell All

The Bachelor Season 24 Episode 10 Fashion

Tammy Ly’s jumpsuit on The Bachelor’s much anticipated Women Tell All special airing this Monday night is glam AF with it’s shattered mirror detailing, side cutout and one shoulder style. And while we’re not necessarily saying here that we agree with Mykenna that Tammy’s the true “villain” of the season, we definitely think that with this mirrored piece at the Women Tell All she may be convinced that she’s the fairest of them all.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Also Seen on Teresa Giudice in Black:

Click Here to Shop Her Sherri Hill Jumpsuit in Multiple Colours

Photo #2: @BravoWWHL

Originally posted at: Tammy Ly’s Jumpsuit on the Women Tell All