The top priority of the day for many
of us in the Sixty and Me community is to stay safe and, from a
distance, ensure our friends and family are safe, too. COVID-19 has changed
life more than we could have known.

We all are striving to best accomplish
being a part of our community from a distance. As a 70-something, the best
thing I can do for family and friends is to stay home and check in by phone or
whatever means possible, but physically stay away from them.

Of course, keeping to our house will
give us the blues, but we can also make sure that we use our time to accomplish
something. What could that be? With some ingenuity and an internet connection,
we have the time to indulge in our passion.

We all have a passion, whether or not we
recognize it as such. My personal passion is physical movement and wellbeing,
primarily running, but any type of movement will do.

Your passions likely differ from mine,
but I’m certain you know exactly what activities keep you going and maintain
your mindset as positive as possible.

Get Outdoors If You Can

If your passion is something you can
participate in alone, this is your time. At this point, I obey the stay-at-home
rule, only venturing out for a run or walk during times of the day when there
are few or no people on the road or trail, and staying at least six feet away from
anyone who is near.

The fresh air, whether a misty day or
tinged with humidity, is a welcome change to the indoors.

When my gym closed, I began doing my
own workouts at home using my body weight (push-ups, anyone?) and a few stretch
bands.

Then, my gym announced they would be
conducting live workouts on Facebook. It’s not 100% as beneficial as being in a
class or working with a trainer, but it beats letting our physical fitness go
by the wayside while we wait out a dangerous virus lurking outside our door.

Silver Sneakers offers online yoga to any member (65 years and older mostly). Some time ago, for whatever reason, I fell out of a yoga practice I really enjoyed. This is my time to return to it. Remember, you can also engage in yoga through Sixty and Me as well.

Increase Your Knowledge Bank

Is there something related to your
passion that you have been meaning to investigate or learn? In my case, I saw
an announcement that one of my hiking groups, in lieu of being on the trails as
a group, is offering an online learning session in map reading.

This is an area where I frequently
rely on other hikers. What a great time to learn this skill! I signed up
through Meetup.com.

Meditation for an Anxious Life

Meditation is a great solo practice,
though some people find the experience is improved for them when they meditate
in a group. If you are one of those, there are many online resources where
guided meditation is offered.

I learned a member of my congregation is offering to guide sessions of Heart Rhythm Meditation over Zoom. I attended one of these this week and was surprised at how well it worked.

Now that our world has changed and we may only see grandchildren or dear friends through Skype or FaceTime, let’s appreciate that technology allows us this connection.

Furthermore, let’s indulge our passion
and perhaps learn some new skills that we might not otherwise have the time or
inclination to learn.

Stay safe and stay home.

What is your passion? Is it art,
gardening, volunteerism, archeology? Check around and see how you can improve
your skillset. Have you found means where you can continue and deepen your
endeavors while staying home? Please share what has worked for you!

Six years ago, during a particularly difficult period
in my life, a period devoid of any sense of accomplishment whatsoever (I was
job hunting at age 57), I decided to learn a second language, Spanish.

Understand, I have absolutely no talent for languages.
In fact, spending my senior year of college in Valencia, Spain, brought my
overall grade point down. I remember trying to answer questions on
written exams in my Spanish class and having no idea what the question
was. 

Instead, I answered a question I made up myself. The professor probably thought I was spending my evenings drinking in Barrio del Carmen. The sadder fact was that I studied and still did poorly. I was that bad at languages even at 21. Once I returned home, I didn’t try to speak a word for over 30 years. 

Hunting for a Sense of Accomplishment Post 55

However, I hung on to the vague recollection that I
had enjoyed trying to speak it, even at a primitive, bisyllabic
level. That faint memory was enough to study a little (about 20 minutes a day
for a month) and attend my first language exchange meetings in my hometown.

Mostly retirees attended this particular group, which
met twice a week at a coffee shop. The oldest (and most charming) member was in
his 80s and suffering from Parkinson’s.

The initial experiences were awkward and humbling (you
always speak better inside your head than when you open your mouth). Underneath
the frustration though, I felt something else: the mental challenge my brain
craved.

For several years, my life had no longer had the daily
problem-solving that was part of a career. I returned home from these club
meetings mentally exhausted – in a good way – from the mental work-out.

Who Knows What It Might Lead to?

Speaking a second language eventually became the
foundation of a whole new life in another country; one I’d never dreamed of,
one infinitely better than I had ever dared hoped for.

If I surveyed the hundreds of people I have met on
this language journey in practices and online, many of them my age or older, I
am certain that each one would say it has enriched their lives immensely, if
not transformed them, whether they traveled or not. 

Saving Your Brain

You have likely read many reasons why you should learn
a second language. I’d like to focus here on perhaps the most important reason
for older adults: It saves your brain. Science has proven it.

Of all the things one can do for the brain, learning a
second language is one of the best, many scientists would say the best,
for improving brain plasticity, cognitive processes, and memory. 

Thinking Young

Dr. Patrick Alban and Deane Alban founded the website Brain
Be Fit as a
result of their own struggles with midlife mental decline. They focus on
balanced, evidence-based information about achieving and maintaining brain
health and fitness for a lifetime.

In their research, they found numerous scientific
studies supporting the idea that learning a second language outstrips many
other activities in keeping the brain “thinking young.”

Delaying Dementia

Among one of the most powerful benefits that science
has proven is that learning a second language can delay dementia by an estimated 4.5 years. This is significantly better than the
best Alzheimer’s drugs, which can delay symptoms but only for 6–12 months. 

Brain Plasticity in Older Age

In a study conducted in Sweden, MRI
tests of soldiers learning a second language showed they developed better
connectivity between various regions of their brains.

Another study by Penn State demonstrates these
detectable changes in brain structure can be seen in the elderly as well as
younger students.

This led researchers to conclude that brain plasticity
– the brain’s ability to constantly change and grow
even late in life – is greater than
previously assumed. The benefits are realized regardless of the age of the
language student.

Exercise Your Mental Gears

Anyone who has done it will tell you that you can
almost feel your mental gears groaning when under the load of practicing
a second language. Studies prove that feeling is not in our imagination.

The brain of bilinguals (defined as speaking the
language, not necessarily fluently) is physically different. Learning a foreign
language increases the size of the brain’s language
centers and the hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for forming,
storing, and retrieving memories. 

It’s true that puzzles, learning to play a musical
instrument, and meditation can also improve your brain’s performance and
provide protective benefits (brain training software has yet to show any significant
neurological benefits for older adults).

What these activities lack, and what makes language
learning superior to all of them, is the potential social benefit in addition
to the mental work-out.

I will cover the social benefits in Part 2 of my
series for 60 & Me: How to Learn a Second Language Post 55. I hope you will
follow along.

Have you ever dreamed of speaking a second or new
language for travel or fun? What holds you back? Which language is on your
to-learn list? Why did you choose it? Please share with our community.

In times like these, we must roll
with the changes. While we can’t go out for dinner with friends or sit in a
conference room for a meeting, we are fortunate to live in a digital age where
we can still have face-to-face contact.

There are many free tools out there
that allow you to have video chats with friends, family, and coworkers. It pays
to take the time to learn about them and determine which one(s) might be best
for us in different situations.

Video Conferencing Options

FaceTime

FaceTime is an easy option if all
parties have an Apple device or computer and are signed in with their Apple ID.
It comes preinstalled, so there is no downloading or set-up required.

Open the FaceTime app to get started.
Tap the ＋ symbol in the upper right corner to add a person you want to call.
Keep adding everyone you want to be in your group. FaceTime allows up to 32
people on a call.

Zoom Meetings

Zoom is a popular video conferencing
choice for business. It can be used for personal video chats also. To use Zoom,
you must download the app to your computer, tablet, or phone.

Zoom has been very popular because
you don’t need an account to participate. You only need to create an account if
you want to host meetings.

Using the free option, you can host
up to 100 participants. Beware though. If you have more than two people, you
are limited to 40 minutes. If you want to chat for longer than 40 minutes, you
must upgrade to the paid option or stop and restart the call.

The free option also lets you record
a session and share a screen during the call. Zoom for business users has many
different features, including the ability to set up breakout rooms.

WhatsApp

One of the most popular mobile social
apps in the world is WhatsApp. It is primarily used for instant messaging and
uses end-to-end encryption. Another feature of WhatsApp is its video conference
capabilities.

With WhatsApp you are limited to four
people at a time for video group calling. It works on Apple and Android phones
and Windows (8 and above) and Mac. It requires set-up on the phone first. All
users must be signed up for WhatsApp accounts.

Skype

Skype is one of the original video
chat apps. It allows up to 50 people at a time and the ability to record and
screen share with no fees. Skype works with any type of phone, tablet, or
computer.

To begin with Skype, you have to
sign-up and download the app on every device you want to use. All users must
have Skype accounts to use this app.

Viber

Viber is another fully encrypted
texting app that has applications for your smartphone, tablet, and computer and
can be used across all platforms. Like WhatsApp, you have to set-up your
account on the phone first.

You can only video chat with one
person at a time and everyone must have the app on their device and an account
set up.

Google Hangouts

A popular option for those who have
Google accounts (Gmail) is Hangouts. It’s free and you can have up to 25 people
at once. Everyone needs to have the app on their device and be logged into
their account.

Any of the above apps are good
options to start a video chat. There are many other services or apps, but these
are the most popular. Which one(s) you might use will depend on who you want to
get together with and their level of tech know-how.

A vital element to using video is a
strong connection to high-speed internet. Slow internet speeds or a spotty
connection will be frustrating for everyone, and it won’t allow you to be seen
or to see others.

Video Conferencing Etiquette

Whatever platform you choose, there
is some general etiquette to follow to ensure a pleasant experience for
everyone.

• Everyone
  can hear what goes into your mic. As a general practice, it’s an excellent idea
  to MUTE your microphone when you join a session. Any noise in the background
  that you may be unaware of will be picked up, and everyone will be disturbed.
• If
  there are others in your living area, go to a private space that is quiet and
  won’t ruin the video chat for everyone. 
• If
  you are listening to a presentation on Zoom, and the presenter has your
  microphone muted, use the “raise hand” feature to ask a question.
• Video
  is used so that people can connect and feel like they are together. Present
  yourself, at least the portion that is visible, like you would in a regular,
  face-to-face event. Who you are conferencing will determine how much you
  need to dress or be presentable.
• The
  “chat” feature is not to have a side discussion with others. It
  should be used for questions related to the conference only.

Have you been thrust into using video
chat for personal or business needs? How’s it been going? What problems have
you experienced? What video conferencing platforms are your favorite? Let’s
have a discussion!

Paige DeSorbo’s White Maxi Dress at Kyle’s Birthday Party

Season 4 Episode 9 Summer House Fashion

There’s no questioning the fact that Paige DeSorbo looked like a total Greek goddess at Kyle Cooke’s frat-themed birthday party on last night’s episode of Summer House in her white maxi dress (which is actually a swim coverup). And as luck would have it, it’s still in stock at time of writing (and fyi comes in black too) so you better Alpha Gamma get-cha yourself one asap.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Forever 21 Dress in White or Black

Originally posted at: Paige DeSorbo’s White Maxi Dress

There isn’t a night in my apartment where at least one candle isn’t burning. And I’m serious about my candles. For each room, I’ve carefully curated how I want that space to smell because as a connoisseur of scents—totally made-up job title BTW—I need a calming sensorial experience on the daily. As you’d expect, I’m constantly moving candles in and out of rotation, but Diptyque is almost always lit. My only conundrum is that, damn, those candles get expensive if you’re constantly replacing the one you just finished. So for the sake of attempting to start a nest egg like an actual grown-up, I’m starting to burn Diptyque Feu de Bois dupe candles.

For those who have yet to experience this classic scent, it evokes the vibe of a cozy winter night that you’ll want to keep year-round. It is thee classic woodsy candle that inspired and continues to inspire dozens of others who come close but rarely match the popularity of what is now a certified classic.

Diptyque.

Still, at $68 a pop (and $98 for the fancy mouthblown glass jar), it’s not exactly conducive to a frugal shopper who wants the woodfire vibe for their house too. So if your cozy sanctuary is missing the fireplace ambiance of Diptyque’s iconic Feu de Bois, here are some affordable candles—all under $30—that smell almost the same.

Illume.

Illume Woodfire Candle

Illume candles truly bring out my inner diva. Doesn’t the word “Illume” just sound like luxury when you say it? With a total of 50 hours burning time and woodsy notes blended with warm vanilla and slightly sweet patchouli notes, this candle is bound to get you in the mood for an amazing night’s sleep. Say it with me one more time: Illuuuuuuuume.

Buy: Illume Woodfire Candle $19.99

Woodwick.

Woodwick Fireside Candle

I absolutely stan Woodwick candles because the hourglass jars are freaking huge and last forever, thanks to a thick, natural wooden wick that burns nice and slow. The large Woodwick candles are also equipped with a patented “PLUSWICK® innovation technology” that not only quickly fills the room with fragrance but gives off that irresistibly soothing sound of a crackling fire too.

Bath & Body Works.

Bath & Body Works White Barn Mahogany Teakwood Candle

What’s a candle list without at least one Bath & Body Works candle on it? Every time I think I have a favorite, the brand unleashes an army of new ones that grab my attention (and wallet) before I can even finish burning the previous one. However, what I can say is that Mahogany Teakwood is peak classic B&BW. While it certainly evokes the scent of a cozy fire like Diptyque’s, the hint of lavender makes it a favorite that continues to stand the test of time.

Nest Fragrances.

Nest Fragrances Rose Noir & Oud Candle

I understand that a straight-up woodsy scent isn’t everyone’s vibe. If that’s you, this affordable wax candle is definitely for you. Almost immediately after burning, you’ll smell those smoky oud and leather notes but rose de mai and patchouli definitely lend a softness to the overall scent that helps cut back on the heaviness of a traditional woodsy fragrance.

Voluspa.

Voluspa Suede Blanc Candle

Voluspa candles are the epitome of long-game with 80 hours of burn time. In other words, you’re definitely getting more bang (or burn) for your buck here. This brand is also renowned for its hand-poured and pesticide-free manufacturing which always makes me feel good if I’m adding a new scent to my collection. The Suede Blanc candle is a true-blue woodsy scent with leather and cedar notes exclusively.

Boy Smells.

Bonus: Boy Smells Cedar Stack Scented Candle

Okay, so this isn’t exactly under $30, but I just couldn’t leave it out. Nothing looks cuter on a bookshelf or nightstand (that pink label!) and this scent in particular—a blend of cedarwood chips, dried tobacco, bay leaf, and peppercorn—will give you log cabin realness.

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