As I
discussed in my previous article, “Crafting
Opens the Door to Creativity,” there
are many routes to creativity and – contrary to what we were told as children –
no artistic talent is required for most of them.

Whether
you call it thinking outside the box, originality, or dynamic problem-solving,
creativity is simply a way of approaching puzzling situations and coming up with
solutions for them.

To
me, creativity means breaking old thinking patterns. It also means making new
connections. Perhaps a milk bottle used to look like just another milk bottle,
but suddenly you see that with a little paint and decoupage, it could become an
attractive lamp base. And that jar of peanut butter, hmm… what a pencil holder
it could make!

Finally,
creativity means gaining new perspective on old problems. There’s nothing more
satisfying than breaking out of old mental ruts and coming up with a Plan B
when Plan A isn’t working.

As a
graduate student I took a course in problem-solving that has stood me in good
stead all my life. It taught me that solution-oriented thinking is nothing more
than a methodical process that can be learned.

After
years of observation and practice, I have come to believe that creative thinkers
are made – not born. And I have no doubt that you can be one of them, too.

Let
me share a five-step process for creativity that works for me.

Set Out a Pad and Pencil Next to Your Nightstand

If
you keep writing utensils nearby, they will be easy to reach if you get
inspiration in the middle of the night. By morning you may not be able to
retrieve it.

Consciously Articulate What’s on Your Mind

Before
you close your eyes, do a quick review of the issues on which you’d like to get
fresh insight. I have found that the brain works in mysterious ways, and while
you are sleeping it might very well be working on your dilemma du jour.

Dedicate the First Minutes of Each Morning to Creative Thinking

When
morning comes, force yourself to lie still in the dark and let your mind
wander.This is the time of day when your defenses haven’t arisen, and
negativity has not yet set in. By allowing a stream of consciousness to flow,
some seemingly random thought could make the lightbulb go off in your head.

Turn on the Light, Pick Up Your Pencil, and Start Writing

In The Artist’s Way and its sequel, It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond, Julia Cameron recommends that every day you write out three pages of memoir, longhand – her much-heralded “morning pages.”

Memoir
writing offers an opportunity to reflect on – and honor – past experience. This
book guides you through the daunting task of writing an entire memoir, breaking
it down into manageable pieces.

The morning
pages she suggests – private, stream-of-consciousness writing done daily – allow
you to express wishes, fears, delights, resentments, and joys, which in turn,
provide focus and clarity for the day at hand.

I’m
not so doctrinaire about the page count, but I agree with Ms. Cameron that this
morning ritual will unclog your mental and emotional channels and lead to being
happier, more productive, and more creative.

Finishing It Off

After
I’ve gotten my thoughts down on paper, I often like to conclude with action
steps. There’s something satisfying to me in “paying off” my ruminations with
do-able, concrete tasks.

Finally,
you can keep your journal or tear up the pages you’ve just written; I’ve done
both. The purpose of the journaling is not to review your thoughts at some
later date, but to engage in the process in real time.

The more
you practice an organized problem-solving routine such as the one described
here, the better you’ll get at it. You’ll be unlocking your creative juices,
which will start to flow with thrilling speed.

No
longer intimidated by that undefinable and unattainable “something” called
creativity, you’ll find you’ve acquired a wonderful, new tool to help you make
this the most fulfilling time of your life.

How
do you get your best ideas? Do you like to work out the dilemmas of life by
talking to friends, taking long walks, or writing
them down? What issue in your life calls for “creativity” right now? Please
share your thoughts with our community!

There are moments in life when it is
clear we are no longer the person we once were. Some of those moments are
preceded by a gradual reckoning and arrive fairly painlessly; others are
life-wrenching.

When we must move on from the identity
we once had and let go of the comfort of a life that can no longer be, how do
we adapt to the future as a new person?

Get Clarity

A good work of historic fiction has a way of clarifying those moments. In Before We Were Yours, author Lisa Wingate offers up two narrators to teach us how to move on.

In alternating chapters, Wingate
explores the life of a 21st century woman, Avery, a 30-year-old successful
attorney still in a relationship with her family friend and long-time
sweetheart. Her moment of moving on to a new self, while not painless, is
within her decision making as an adult.

The second narrator, Rill, a pre-teen
who lost most of her family, summons up her young wisdom to let go of her
determination to return to a life that was dear to her and trust in a new
identity.

Wingate’s book is a well-researched
piece of fiction based on a corrupt adoption system where babies and young
children were sometimes kidnapped and spirited away from impoverished families
without the skills and money to fight for their return. Those children were
then ‘adopted’ but basically sold to wealthy families who wanted children.

Although accomplices abounded,
including local policing authorities and doctors, the kingpin, or queen pin in
this case, was Georgia Tann, who after many years of living with the pretense
of respectability, was finally arrested.

Reinvention of Self

But back to our narrators. Rill, the
younger of the two, is actually the great-aunt of the up-and-coming attorney,
Avery. Rill’s history is known only to the generation of sisters who were
kidnapped from their family’s shanty boat as young children.

So, what brings these two women of
different generations to squarely face the decision to accept and develop new
identities?

Avery accomplishes this by facing the
fact that she must disappoint her long-time fiancé, who expects that they as a
couple will continue in the social structure of their parents. But the long
delayed society wedding will not be taking place.

While not breaking from her family,
she sets her course to a slower-paced life with a more low-key partner, moving
from a fast-paced legal position to a professional advocacy role is a
reinvention of self by choice.

Rill becomes a runaway from a wealthy
and talented family and their luxurious home where she and a sister were
adopted. She makes her way back to the river shanty where her family was last
together.

After a tough river journey, she
learns her mother is now dead and her father has become an alcoholic who blows
up their shanty boat before her eyes.

She returns to the adopted family and,
with nothing left of the life she knew on the river, she bravely determines she
must become May Weathers, her adoptive name, and leave Rill Foss and her past
behind.

And What of Your Personal Reinvention?

If you have lived to your 60s and
beyond, there was likely a moment, or perhaps several moments, in your life
when you looked soberly in the mirror and reckoned with the truth that you are
not the person you were, the life you had is no longer right for you – or
perhaps that life is no longer available to you.

When did your need for reinvention
occur?

• Was
  it as a young child when family hardships changed your life?
• Was
  there opportunity or necessity to reinvent yourself as your family moved to a
  new geographic location?
• Was
  it in adulthood when a marriage suddenly ended?
• Was
  it when a financial disaster occurred?
• Was
  it when you learned a family secret that brought a new perspective or changed
  relationships with others?

Most of us will be somewhere between
the soft landing of Avery and the heart-wrenching thud for Rill – who finally
accepts and becomes May to save herself and her sister.

As Wingate’s book makes clear, the art
of change is to know and acknowledge – whether change occurs from within, or
outside forces thrust it upon us – to accept and let go of who we were and
become the person we must be to move forward.

What do you think of self-reinvention?
Have you had to go through one more or more personality changes? Under what
circumstances? How did that go for you? Please share your thoughts with our
community.

Even when you’re younger, it can take weeks or even
months to recover from a serious injury. As we age, our body doesn’t heal
itself like it used to. In fact, many seniors may never recover to 100 percent
due to more brittle bones and pre-existing medical conditions.

This is why falls are so dangerous for seniors. Not
only is a fall one of the major causes of death for seniors, even those who
survive tend to deal with more complications.

With that said, it’s not always impossible to avoid
injuries. Yes, there are many things you can do to decrease the risk, but if
you’re already injured preventative measures won’t really help you in the
moment. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to help along your recovery.

Common Injuries

Sadly, you cannot stop your body from aging, though
you can slow the process. Unfortunately, no matter how well you take care of
your body, it will eventually start breaking down. Muscles, bones, joints, etc.
all start deteriorating, which leads to common injuries such as:

• Slipped discs
• Fractures in the hip, wrist,
  knee, ankle, etc.
• Torn meniscus
• Hematoma
• Torn Achilles tendon
• Shoulder bursitis
• Tennis elbow
• Hamstring strain
• Plantar fasciitis

Not all of these are on the same level of seriousness,
but they can all affect your day-to-day life significantly. So, what can you do
to improve your quality of life?

Physical Therapy

Whether you’re getting over a fracture or tear,
physical therapy can help reduce your pain and restore functionality. A good
physical therapist will gauge your current injury and activity level and create
a routine that is tailored to you.

You’ll most likely meet with a physical therapist a
few times a week, but that doesn’t mean you should only do the exercises during
your scheduled classes.

In order for physical therapy to be effective you need
to do the exercises every day. Otherwise it will take you much longer to heal
up, and you’ll be at greater risk of re-injuring yourself.

Exercise

It might sound counterintuitive but staying active is
essential in the healing process. Yes, your physical therapy classes will help
you manage the specific area of your injury, but general exercise is also
necessary.

Of course, you’ll want to consult with professionals
before you start adding more physical routine into your day, especially if you
have a fracture. With that said, low-impact and low-intensity activities such
as walking or stretching can help get your blood pumping. 

Once you’ve recovered sufficiently, you can start
incorporating more demanding exercises. Luckily, you can do many in the comfort
of your own home. Many exercises just require a chair and a little bit of room.

Just remember not to push yourself too much,
especially in the beginning. Take it slow and build up your stamina and
strength. Listen to your body. While a little discomfort is normal, especially
in the beginning, if you’re feeling sharp pains stop and rest up.

Meditate

Dealing with pain and limited mobility is stressful
for everyone regardless of their age. After all, the activities that used to be
so easy, such as walking or opening a cupboard, can prove challenging. Stress
and pain can do a number on your hormonal balance and body and can cause many
issues such as:

• Lowered immune system
• Heartburn
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• High blood sugar
• High blood pressure
• Increased risk of heart disease

As you would expect, these can exacerbate your health
issues further, which ultimately will lead to more time at the hospital and in
bed. 

One of the best ways to reduce your stress levels is
to meditate. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve your
immune system. There are several different types of meditation:

Concentration

Concentration involves
focusing on a single point. That might mean repeating a single word or mantra,
staring at an object, counting beads, focusing on your breath, etc.

Mindfulness

You’ve probably heard a
lot about mindfulness in the news as it has become one of the more popular
forms of meditation. Here, the goal is to observe your thoughts and feelings
and then let them pass without judgement.

Body Scan

This meditation is often
done at the end of a yoga session where you notice tension in your body and
then release it. In general, this promotes feelings of calmness and relaxation
and is a great exercise to do before bed as it can help you fall asleep.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Food plays an integral part in your recovery. Your
body needs crucial nutrients in order to heal and if you don’t have enough,
chances are it will take you much longer than if you adopted a balanced diet.
Once you’re healed, make sure you continue eating a healthy diet to keep your
body strong. 

Some of the best types of foods to eat while injured
include:

Protein

Protein is an important
building block for many tissues in your body and can help prevent inflammation.
Eat foods high in protein such as fish, tofu, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Fiber

Eating a diet high in
fiber can help manage your weight as it will keep you fuller for longer. Plus,
most fiber-rich foods tend to be fruits and vegetables, which means you’re also
getting a lot of useful vitamins and nutrients.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps produce
collagen, which in turn helps maintain your bones, muscles, skin, and tendons
and reduces inflammation. Luckily, you can get vitamin C from a variety of
fruits and vegetables such as oranges, strawberries, leafy greens, and
broccoli.

Zinc

Zinc is an element that promotes
wound healing, tissue repair, and growth. Studies suggest a diet low in zinc
can delay healing. In order to get more zinc in your diet, eat more shellfish,
seeds, nuts, and whole grains.

Dealing with an injury is never fun and it can often
take longer to recover as a senior. Luckily, these tips can get you back on
your feet quickly so you can go back to living your best life.

What other methods have you used to recover from an
injury? We’d love to hear your ideas! Let’s move the conversation to the
comment section below!

You
may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but that does not mean that
human beings are unable to learn new skills throughout their lifespan.

The Science of Building New Nerve Connections

When
I was younger, I could never understand why employers tended to view people in
their middle years as unsuitable for learning a new job.

Today
we know about Neuroscience, the field that studies the structure and function
of the nervous system. It was about 15 years ago that I started to come across
the research from this new discipline and have been fascinated with it ever
since.  

Apparently,
neural pathways grow throughout the lifespan thanks to both physical activity
and cognitive challenges.

Some of My Challenges

At
the age of 81 I sometimes become frustrated when a new version of my favourite
software comes out. It is indeed a challenge for me to keep up to date with the
necessary changes I need to negotiate in order to manage my own financial
affairs.

And
yes, it is hard work to remain fit enough to play tennis with people less than
half my age. However, I will share with you some of my routines which assist me
in these endeavours.

Physical Fitness

It
is only with hindsight that I realise how an accident on the tennis court 30
years ago has indirectly resulted in my enhanced level of physical fitness
which is unusual for octogenarians!

In
running for a ball, which had some lethal backspin applied by my opponent, I
lunged and fell on my right knee breaking my anterior cruciate ligament. Being
in my early 50s at the time, the doctor was reluctant to offer me surgery.

Strenuous
post-surgical exercise was necessary for the operation to be successful, and
there was some doubt in the surgeon’s mind about my ability to pursue this challenging
route.

Since
that surgery nearly 30 years ago, I have continued to ride the stationary
bicycle at the local gym twice a week.

This
ritual not only ensures that I have free membership of the gym (offered by my
medical aid because of my consistent use of the facility) but my ability to run
around on the tennis court with women far younger than myself.

Cognitive Fitness

About 13 years ago, I met Dana Stenova of the Czech School of Memory Training and Brain Jogging. Amongst other things, she taught me how to remember the digits of pi up to 100 decimal places as well as the 42 U.S. Presidents.

I
followed up this early training with researching various online skills as well
as MOOC’s (Massive Open Online Courses). And,
in order to ensure I exercise my attention span, I have been practicing Mindsparke for the past 10 years.

My
intention is to perform a daily practice of 10 minutes. While this ambitious
schedule is not always fulfilled, I do perform this task on a regular basis
ensuring my nerve paths for concentration and attention are regularly exercised!

Another
lovely exercises are offered on a daily basis by the New York Times and other sources.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Some time ago, the merits of mindfulness and meditation started to appear regularly in the local press. When I heard how the esteemed monk Matthieu Ricard had meditated on compassion whilst being scanned by an MRI machine, I was motivated to study Buddhism and practice mindfulness on a daily basis.

Ricard,
who had thousands of hours of meditation under his belt, allowed himself to be
studied in one of the earliest scientific endeavours to quantify the effects of
meditation on the working of the brain. His compassion was so profound that the
needle recording his activity ran out of space on the paper!

So
now, the first thing I do when I wake in the morning is 20 minutes of meditation.
That is followed by a 10-minute walk with my dogs in the village where I live.

Croquet as a Game for Seniors

I was fortunate to discover the game of Croquet about four years ago, and now this pastime has proved to be a wonderful outlet for my energy and passion for the outdoors.

Not
only does this sport get you out in the open and onto a beautiful green lawn: it
offers gentle physical exercise. In addition, it ensures you learn some mental
strategy to enhance your cognitive skills and gives players an opportunity to
socialise at the same time.

Maybe
you would like to further look into the many ways to enhance your physical and
cognitive well-being. I do believe that my disciplined lifestyle has allowed me
to maintain a level of fitness which would not have been possible without the
effort I make to maintain a health enhancing routine. Most certainly, you can
do it too.

What is your fitness level? What do you do to maintain and enhance
it? How do you work on your mental fitness? Which games/exercises are your
favorite? Please share with our community!