Food For Thought

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

BOOK RECOMMENDED BY A NEIGHBOR…

Chance Developments by Alexander McCall Smith consists of 5 “well-done” short stories. Libraries file it under McCall or Smith. The author fills in the lives of 5 people seen in 5 vintage photographs.

98 YEAR OLD BETTY LINDBERG

In Feb. of 2023, Betty made headlines when she crushed the previous world record for her age group in running the “Publix Atlanta 5K Race.” And this wasn’t the first time. She may be an inspiration to get on our walking shoes...or, get…

MEET SOME OF OUR ART-LOVING VOLUNTEERS

MARIANNE VAN DEN BERGH Marianne van den Bergh, a painter, installation artist, and puppeteer, currently divides her time between New York and her native Amsterdam. She attended The State Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam in the late 1960’s…

SAYING GOODBYE TO RAINY DAY BLUES

"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down" is a line from a 1971 song that seems to touch on something universal -- the sad feelings that bad weather can bring, and scientific studies are backing this up. But, for those who can handle an umbrella,…

THE COMPOSTING STORY from the NYC Dept. of Sanitation

Curbside compost collection is a priority for our city because compostable material, i.e., food wastes, comprises a third of the million pounds of trash that New Yorkers generate each day, Without composting, they release poisonous gasses into…

LIVING ON THE WEST SIDE OF MANHATTAN

Most likely, within a couple of blocks of your apartment, you can go outside just as the streetlights begin to turn on, stand on a corner and look to the west, the nearer the river, the more sky. There, unless a densely cloudy evening, watch…

LiLY Social Events Calendar

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Neighbors coming together.

THINKING ABOUT TREES During April, National Earth Month

Trees are sometimes called the lungs of the earth since, through their leaves, they trap and filter contaminants in the air. As we know, they also absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis; and, a good canopy of tree leaves…

BEATING INSOMNIA

Numerous respected health journalists write about the causes and possible cures for insomnia. These can be relatively simple if caused by some of the issues listed on p.2. But,sleeplessness can also be a sign that we are anxious about something,…

CAN A “SMARTPHONE” SAVE THE DAY?

I-phones, Androids and other phones with internet access are often called “smart phones”. At a recent session with Charla Sarabia, the Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator at Mount Sinai Morningside, we learned just how smart…

THE BEST DRINK OF ALL!

According to the National Council on Aging, hydration is important, especially as we get older...to improve brain performance, affecting memory, mood, concentration, reaction time, and even in combating feelings of anxiety. Research has shown…

IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING (The combined advice of medical experts.)

As we get older, you may likely experience changes in your functioning. Hormone production, bone quality, muscles, joints, nervous system and organs all change to some extent. One surprise with these changes is that, often when a problem emerges,…

THE LOW DOWN ON SLEEP POSITIONS

SLEEP POSITIONS, According to Johns Hopkins Medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Consider the following as you switch off the light:  Back and neck pain: When it comes to alleviating pain, sleeping on your back is a mixed bag. For people with…

WALKING ALONE

With warmer days upon us, I am enjoying more outdoor walks. While I know that some people enjoy walking alone, I know that others can feel lonely stepping out by themselves without a specific errand or destination in mind. If that sounds familiar,…

Don’t Forget to Change Your Clocks!

At 2AM on Sunday, March 12th, Daylight Saving Time will begin–so make sure to move your clocks forward one hour! While we will all lose an hour of sleep, we can also look forward to longer days filled with warm spring light. Though many credit…

WOMEN’s History Month

March is nationally recognized as Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of women all over the world. You might be interested in looking at an on-line exhibit published by the National Women’s History Museum on women…

BOOK RECOMMEDATIONS by Neighbors…

From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks is about finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life. Giants, The Parallel Lives Of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln by John Stauffer.

WALKING TOGETHER

In winter, the tendency is to stay indoors. But, if you have been reading this newsletter, you likely already know that walking outdoors can be a boon to your health. Walkers, canes, and walking sticks are all ways to assist in the effort. There…

HARD TO SCRUB THESE DAYS?

Did you know there are cordless, battery powered scrubbers? To the left, see Rubbermaid’s 18-piece bathroom/kitchen scrub brush set. It costs $29.99 on Amazon and $21.99 at Target. Something to request for your next birthday?

SO, FOR SOME OF US, ICE SKATING IS OUT OF THE QUESTION

Above, see how a local young woman took advantage of a frozen puddle the size of a pond in Riverside Park on an 11 degree (farenheit) morning in December,2022. Last month’s weather makes January, so far, seem as if spring is around the corner.…

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 16th

Stevie Wonder, along with Harry Belafonte, Aretha Franklin, Eartha Kitt, Diana Ross, Sidney Poitier, Marlon Brando and many other influential people attended King’s funeral in 1968 as well as Bob Marley, who was one of the drivers of the idea…

Food For Thought by John Dewey

“The good man is the man who, no matter how morally unworthy he has been, is moving to become better.”

Food For Thought…About Sex

“The only unnatural sex act is the one which you cannot perform.”

YOUR CALL

Aging often includes the loss of connections with relatives and old friends. It’s harder in these days of COVID, or with physical limitations to meet new folks. Others simply faded away. And there are sometimes those that were lost due to…

BOOK RECOMMENDATION BY A NEIGHBOR…

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet: Discovering New Ways of Living when the Old Ways Stop Working by Shauna Niequis When everything we've been clinging to falls apart, how do we know what to keep and what to let go of? I Guess I Haven't Learned…

Living Alone—You Bet!

At the post office, I bumped into A. S., an acquaintance in her Mid-seventies whom I hadn’t seen in almost a year. In talking, she told me that her husband had passed away several months earlier. I began to express my condolences…but she…

YOU DON’T HAVE TO EAT ALL PLANT BASED MEALS…BUT THERE ARE MANY GREAT RECIPES ON THE INTERNET THAT CAN NOURISH!

Health conscious, I am always on the lookout for good recipes that nourish. Well-planned plant-based diets follow healthy eating guidelines, and contain all the nutrients that our bodies need. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics…

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

This time of year the museum’s holiday displays attract many, and maybe that includes you. But other exhibits are also fascinating, like the one that shows us the original colors of Greek artifacts, like that of the lamp-size sphinx above.…

KEEP WALKING IF YOU CAN

All the experts tell us that there are endless benefits to walking--from reducing blood pressure to strengthening our immune systems, muscles, and bones…including elevating our mood. If your doctor gives you the okay, why not start a daily…