Topics
• Are friendships more important as we age? 
• Friendships offer many health benefits
• Are online friendships as important as in-person relationships?
• My friends share their thoughts
• How to make new friends

Quotes Worth Repeating
“Having close woman friends can actually increase our resilience to what life throws at us.” Sharon Malone MD
“Sisterhood is Medicine” unattributable
“When there’s a crisis we quickly learn who our friends are” J Henry
“There are many people I love spending time with but few who are sisters from another mother.” Catherine
“As I get older, life seems more precious and I don’t want to waste time with people or things that don’t feed my soul.” Tracy
“Trust and respect are essential for me in any relationship.” Lola
“Girlfriends make us feel we’re not alone in an upside down world.” J Henry
“Friendship is born at that moment when someone says to another “What? You, too? I thought I was the only one!” C.S. Lewis

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Grown Woman Talk by Sharon Malone MD
Stitchnbitch.co – A Fiber Arts Meet Up Community
RoadScholar.org
Cool Retired Women (on FaceBook)
The Ethel Group (on FaceBook)
The Ethel Circle (on Facebook)
Meetup.com

Topics
• Don’t let your age stop you from figuring out your purpose
• It doesn’t have to be achievement-based
• What has brought you joy in the past?
• What would you do now if you knew you couldn’t fail?
• Why do you think you’re here?
• What are your gift(s)?
• What lights you up?

Quotes Worth Repeating
“Knowing your purpose can be the difference between surviving…and thriving.” J Henry
 “The purpose of life is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Maya Angelou

Website/App/Book Recommendations
http://www.alexandrafranzen.com/2015/12/30/5-questions-new-years-day
http://www.kickvick.com/find-your-life-purpose/
http://themindunleashed.org/2015/01/reveal-lifes-purpose-asking-15-questions.html
http://thinksimplenow.com/happiness/life-on-purpose-15-questions-to-discover-your-personal-mission/
http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/6-great-questions-to-find-your-purpose-in-life/
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-17638/13-questions-to-help-you-find-your-purpose-in-life.html
She Writes Press

Topics
• The importance of documents that reflect your healthcare treatment choices
• Advanced Directive – spells out your preferred medical care if you are unable to
• Healthcare Surrogate – this person is your voice in a medical situation if you’re incapacitated
• HIPAA Release Form – you are giving permission for specific people to inquire about your healthcare situation
• Do Not Resuscitate Order – A physician’s order that states you don’t want CPR used. Something to consider.
• What to do with all these forms

Quotes Worth Repeating
““I am not offering legal or medical advice of any kind in terms of creating the documents I’ll be discussing.” J Henry
“Having the courage to take the lead on creating these documents will ultimately, bring a sense of comfort and peace of mind to not just you, but the person(s) you trust to be your most important advocate. J Henry
“The Healthcare Surrogate becomes your voice if you’re unable to communicate your medical treatment wishes” J Henry
“Conversations about your healthcare preferences are deeply rooted in your own personal values, beliefs and what is most important to YOU. Not anyone else.” J Henry

Website/App/Book Recommendations
A website for guidance on writing a Living Will
Conversation kits and free guides re: Living Wills & Healthcare Surrogates
One HIPAA Release example
Additional information on DNR’s

Topics
• When you forget a word, when is it time to worry about memory issues
• Two words for always starting a Wordle game
• How can anyone forget “cheesecake”
• What’s considered normal memory loss
• What may be concerning regarding memory loss
• If you have concerns at any time, contact your physician  

Quotes Worth Repeating
“What I'm sharing is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. If you have concerns at any time, contact your physician” J Henry
“Forgetting a casual acquaintance’s name, having to think twice about what day it is when you wake up, or misplacing keys or your cell phone (as long as it’s not someplace odd, like the fridge), is typically considered normal aging.”
“If memory issues are impacting your daily life in ways like getting lost on a route you normally take, not remembering a family member’s name, or trouble following directions or a recipe, this could be cause for concern.” J Henry
“There actually is a name for that “tip of the tongue” feeling when you forget a word. It’s called  “Lethologica.”
“Since we’ve never been our age before, it’s good to have some idea of what might be an issue and what might not.”

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Memory Lapses: Normal or not?
Memory Problems
Age Related Forgetfulness
Is Forgetting Words Normal?

Topics
• You learn a lot by the time you’re seventy one
• We're all getting older, but the Universe will still bend over backwards to work its magic
• Use the "L" word with someone in addition to your spouse, partner, kids or pets   
• Try doing something nice for a stranger
• Don’t give your power away
• Put down your To Do list, step away from the cell phone
• There’s no use pretending that we haven’t made mistakes in our loves
• Email me your own hard won wisdom c/o [email protected]

Quotes Worth Repeating
”Get quiet. Go deep. Release the things that no longer serve you and open yourself up to possibility.” J Henry
”Forgiveness is something we can offer to others, and it's also something we can give to ourselves.” J Henry
”Resilience can also come  from accepting that love and loss are intertwined and there can't be one without the other. “ J Henry
”Honoring your creativity is one of the most restorative forms of self-care you can give yourself.” J Henry

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Send me your own hard-won wisdom
The Gift of a Long Life - The Birren Collection

Topics
• Relearning how to say “No”
• Listening to your inner voice when something doesn’t feel right
• Taking your power back, particularly in medical situations
•Asking questions of medical personnel
• Stand up for yourself

Quotes Worth Repeating
“Saying “no” to one thing allows you to say “yes” to something else” J Henry
“Take your power back.“ J Henry
“You have the right to ask questions of medical personnel and get answers.” J Henry
“You’re entitled to be treated in a respectful fashion.” J Henry
”They (medical personnel) are working for you. Not the other way around.” J Henry
”Let go of others’ expectations of you and focus more on what you want and need. You have earned that right, dear one.” J Henry
“Your doctor should make you feel: confident in their intellect and abilities; safe in their presence; respected; seen and heard.” Dr Sharon Malone
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Alice Walker

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Questions to ask during a check-up
Other questions to ask your doctor
The Dutiful Daughter’s Guide To Caregiving
Grown Woman Talk by Sharon Malone, MD

Topics
• The serious health impacts of hearing loss
• People’s impressions of hearing aids
• Types of hearing aids
• Basis for choosing a hearing aid
• My experience with wearing hearing aids
• Hearing muffled after removing aids? Here's why.

Quotes Worth Repeating
“Time to move past the stigma of hearing aids.” – J Henry
“I refuse to feel less able just because I need some help.” J Henry
“I'd expect your hearing to be muffled (after removing the hearing aids) because your brain has gotten used to hearing through the aids.” Audiologist
“Knowing when to ask for assistance is a sign of maturity and strength, not weakness.” J Henry

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Hearing aid costs in 2024
Hearing Loss, Alzheimers, and other cognitive issues
Types of hearing aids
Why get hearing aids?

Topics
• Like mother, like daughter: how I began to paint
• The health benefits of creating with your head, heart, and hands
• Beginning a creative practice: The right mindset, choosing a project, getting in a creative groove

Quotes Worth Repeating
“You are worthy of every moment you spend honoring your creativity.” J Henry
“You are a creative being, and giving yourself permission to explore, to play, and to experiment without fear will give new meaning to the words “self-care.” J Henry

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Carla Sonheim Presents    
Jeanne Oliver  
Art for Self-Care by Jessica Swift

Topics
• Health benefits of writing/journaling
• How writing can help in all kinds of situations
• A few suggested prompts
• How to get started with a writing practice

Quotes Worth Repeating
“Writing became the loyal companion I could always count on.” J Henry
“The mental and emotional benefits of writing are many.” J Henry
“Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” Gloria Steinem
“If you feel you’ll get too upset addressing a certain topic, then consider putting it aside for another time.” – James Pennebaker

Website/App/Book Recommendations
The Great Book of Journaling by Eric Maisel and Lynda Monk
Just For You: A daily self-care journal by Elizabeth Miller
A Year of Self Love Journal by Jamila White
OMM 365 One Minute Meditations for Older Women by Jennifer Westrom
The Five Minute Journal
Family Tree Magazine: Writing Your Life Story
Her Lifestyle Pursuit: Journaling Prompts for Women
Create Write Now: Journaling for the health of it
Twenty Seven Powers: Writing True Life

Topics
• The benefits of outdoor walking
• Tips for starting a walking practice
• Things to be aware of while walking outdoors
• Options if walking doesn't work for you
• Walking as a mental and spiritual boost

Quotes Worth Repeating
“I’ve solved many of my own problems, not to mention the world’s, while walking.” J Henry
“In the dark days of Covid, I think walking saved me.” J Henry“
The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors, friends, and family, in one's own backyard.”   Abraham Maslow

Website/App/Book Recommendations
Comfortable walking shoes
“The Artist's Way” by Julia Cameron