Boomers Elgin December 2021

Boomers Elgin December 2021

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Celebrating the 55+ Community of Elgin County December 2021 • Issue 27

It Takes a Community to Prevent a Fall by Jillian Maracle, R.Kin., BSc VON SMART Program Coordinator Falls can happen to anyone at any time. The most important thing you can do to prevent falls is to be prepared. Many organizations across Canada offer fall prevention education, tips and resources to older adults’ families and communities. The good news is, falls in older adults are often predictable and preventable. Here are a few tips to help to keep you on your feet: • Get moving! Being sedentary increases your risk of a fall. You could include activities like going for a walk, dancing to your favourite song, or joining an exercise class. • Build a routine that includes weight-bearing activities and resistance training. Muscle strength is important for mobility and balance! • Clear the clutter! Cleaning your home and removing tripping hazards such as loose rugs, boxes, power cords, etc. can help reduce your risk of falls. • Check the weather and be aware of your surroundings. Clear the snow and salt your walkways to prevent slips in the winter. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! • Light the way! Inadequate lighting can contribute to falls. Add night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms for better guidance at night. Ensure proper lighting of pathways and entryways outside, especially as we enter the winter season.

Discover The World’s Best Walk-In Tub Fully Installed Fully Installed ll I ll Fully Installed Interested in attending from the safety of your own home? Call the VON office at 519-659-2273 ex 22267 for more information on how to get signed up for one of our Zoom classes! Fully Installed Need some gift ideas for the holiday season? Here are some suggestions for falls prevention: • Personal emergency response system, e.g. Lifeline • Night lights or battery-operated lamps that will work even when the power goes out • Walking poles •Non-Slip mats • Handy Bar • Long handled ‘reacher’ • Long handled shoe horn • Gift card for foot care • Cup holder for walker • Cane holder for walker • Ice pick for bottom of cane • Tray for walker Have you heard about SMART exercise before?? SMART, which stands for Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together, is an exercise and falls prevention class for adults aged 55+ or for individuals with a disability. The program is focused on improving functional fitness and enabling our participants to maintain the ability to perform daily activates and remain independent. The SMART exercise program is designed to accommodate all levels of physical ability, with high, mid and low mobility classes available in Elgin County, free of charge! Each SMART class includes strengthening, flexibility and balance training, cardio endurance, with a warm up and cool down. Fall prevention education is also provided at each class and covers a variety of topics surrounding falls.

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Page 2 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

The History of the Christmas Tree For many people, Christmas day revolves around three main pillars – their church services, their holiday feast around the dinner table, and the gift exchange with their loved ones by the Christmas tree. But why a tree? How did that become part of our Christmas traditions? The answer goes back thousands of years, even before the first Christmas! Evergreens were used by pagans to celebrate the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year. Many different ancient religions worshiped the sun, and it was believed the sun god got sick in the winter, and the winter solstice was the day the sun god began to recover. Evergreens, used to decorate their homes, symbolized the everlasting triumph of the sun god. Don’t remember a mention of the sun god in your version of O’ Christmas Tree? Well, that is because O’ Christmas Tree was originally O’ Tannenbaum which is German for fir tree, or Christmas tree. Like the original song, the Christmas tree as we know it was a custom of the Germans and northern Europeans. During the 1400s, Germans began bringing small trees into their homes and decorating them with apples and ornaments. It is thought that Martin Luther is responsible for the adding of candles to their trees as this reminded him of walking through the woods with the stars lighting the trees. German settlers brought the tradition of Christmas trees with them to the new world. However, for some time, the Christmas tree was banned, by those who considered it a pagan symbol and who thought Christmas was more of a time of reflection about Christ rather than a celebration. This all changed when Queen Victoria, and her German- born husband, Prince Albert, were sketched in front of their Christmas tree. Like the engagement ring and wedding dress, if it was good enough for Queen Victoria, then everyone else wanted to have one, and by the late 19th Century, ornaments and decorations started coming over from Germany and filling Christmas trees around the world. One of the world’s most famous Christmas trees is the one set up annually at Rockefeller Centre in New York. The first tree arrived in 1931 and was only 20’ tall. It was

decorated with cranberries and garlands of paper. The traditional tree as we now know it started in 1933 with a 50’ tree decorated with lights. Christmas trees have been brought to Rockefeller Center from New York, Connecticut and even Ontario. The tallest was 100’ tall. So, while you are sipping your ‘nog’ and opening your gifts this year, think of the humble beginnings of the Christmas tree and how it has become an everlasting symbol of Christmas. Drawing of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and family around their Christmas tree

2 0 2 2 SUMMER THEATRE SEASON

give the gift of live Theatre Great performances should be shared!

Gift certificates for 2022 are available now.

PortStanleyFestivalTheatre 6-302 Bridge Street, Port Stanley www.psft.ca Box Office 519-782-4353

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

Page 3

Volunteers of the Month Sponsored By Royal Oak Senior Living

The St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank helps those within our community who are struggling with food insecurity. It is a tremendous organization and like most non-profits, its life blood is its volunteers. When I asked the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank if they had someone they would like to nominate as our volunteer of the month they unanimously decided on Paul Dalton. “Every member of our staff and volunteers are awesome and truly dedicated to the needs of the food bank, but if you were to describe the word volunteer in a nutshell – it would be Paul Dalton,” says Karen McDade, GM of the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank. “He is an amazing, dedicated member of our team here at the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank.” Paul retired from PressTran Industries back in 2018 and as he felt like he was climbing the walls at home, almost immediately he began looking for something to do outside of the house. “My sister suggested it,” says Paul. “I did look into other places, and they didn’t appeal to me as much as the food bank. It’s the first place I tried, and I found out it’s a pretty good gig.” Paul often spends his time receiving the donations and then breaking down the larger ones. “It’s good company for me,” says Paul. When Paul is not volunteering with the St. Thomas and Elgin Food Bank, he has a hobby he started with his dad. “I collect scrap metal in my spare time. The prices are pretty good right now. I’ve been doing that for quite a while. My dad used to do it; we kind of started doing it together. We started recycling long before everybody else.” “Paul has been an integral part of our food bank team from when he started his volunteer debut in October 2018,” Karen enthuses. “He is dedicated, loyal, and always reliable! He never says no to anything that we need assistance with. He is very versatile and a great multi-tasker! He always offers words of encouragement when one of us may be having a bad day or if we are

overwhelmingly busy feeding the people in need! Paul is here regularly 2 1/2 days a week and doesn’t mind being the only male in the crowd of females! We spoil him with homemade lunches and celebrate birthdays and Christmas holidays with him always. I do not know how we could have gotten throughCOVIDandamove toanother locationwithout his constant help! We work with a wonderful close-knit group of staff and volunteers and enjoy the camaraderie that we all share on a day-to-day basis.” If you would like to make a donation to the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank, they are now located at 24 John St.

226-210-9508

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Page 4 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • October 2020 Page 5

“Travel” is no Longer a Dirty Word! by Marion Rose, President of Elgin Travel & Cruises TravelPlus And I couldn’t be happier! I trust that you are feeling more comfortable too, about your long-awaited bucket list of travel plans. The waves of disappointment started in March of 2020, when many travel plans had to be cancelled, or rebooked, believing that later in the year, or even into the following year, that these adventures could be re-instated. Here we are, now, heading into 2022 with still some hints of uncertainty of when to secure the experiences that have been on hold, as the planet re-aligns. As vaccination rates have increased and the fear of variants dissipates, I can tell you that travel IS happening and many countries are welcoming Canadians back, with open arms. Our staff have travelled to Europe and Mexico and report that they felt as safe as ever on flights, in airports, at resorts and throughout their vacations. At the time of printing this, the U.S. Border has reopened, after a 20 months-long hiatus of the “world we once knew”, of cross-border shopping, hopping to Florida for a short holiday, or visiting loved ones in neighbouring states. With baited breath, we awaited the acceptance of our Canadian mixed vaccines and finally, releasing the additional requirement of Antigen testing to drive across

the U.S. border. The protocols still exist for flying into the United States, and the Canadian government’s need for a negative PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, within 72 hours of your return for trips over 72 hours. There is a lot of pressure on our government just now, to ease up on these expensive tests, but Canadians have been patient and have done what it takes to allow travel to re-start. Switch Health (https://www.switchhealth.ca/en/travel/) is now one alternative, offering the option to pre-purchase these required Covid tests, and perform them by video in the convenience of your hotel room, avoiding the anxiety of overpriced testing at resorts, or missing timelines for results. The government advisory to “avoid all non-essential travel” has also been lifted, which is more welcome news to ease

Peace on Earth and in your heart!

Allan, Alexandra and Matt Hughson & Staff

williamsfuneralhomeltd.com 45 Elgin Street, St. Thomas (519) 631-0850

The holidays bring joy to kids of all ages!

To all of our residents, friends and family Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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Page 6 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

If 2022 is in your sights, please do not put off making your travel plans. The inventories are already limited with pent up demand from the past two years of waiting. Don’t wait to get back to living full-out! You deserve it and the world has missed you!

the travel shaming that had been happening. This also means that your travel insurance will protect you, should you be forced to cancel travel plans for unforeseen covered risks. And now, the last few pieces of the travel puzzle will be getting children fully vaccinated and lifting the additional requirement of PCR testing for return to Canada. We understand that these protocols are being discussed now and foresee a world where wearing a mask in public spaces, may be the only requirement in the near future. You have waited long enough, put making family vacation memories on hold, missedMilestone celebrations and yearned to explore other cultures, enjoy amazing cuisine, experience historic settings, and relax on a sun-soaked beach.

Port Stanley Villager December 2021 Cover

Christmas Tree Farm Gingerbread House made by Janet Heil as a submission for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Thomas - Elgin’s Bake for Kids Sake sponsored by

Doug Tarry Homes. Photo by Geoff Rae

We are a little extra this year...

How you can win!

Boomers and Beyond Elgin Magazine has partnered with local businesses to help share the joy of Christmas to local seniors. Search this magazine for this Santa logo, and each time you find him you will see a business who cared to share a smile this Christmas. Each of these Santas represents one or two gifts given to local

Extra thankful this holiday season for our patrons, volunteers, board members, billets, colleagues, family and friends. With much joy we look to the good things to come & wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

519-782-4353 www.psft.ca PortStanleyFestivalTheatre

seniors through the Smiles for Seniors program. This year with the support of our local businesses we were able to donate $2700. If you spot all the Santas, you too have a chance to win. Count the Santas and send an email with your name and phone number to [email protected] with the correct amount of Santas for your chance to win. On December 15th we will randomly draw one name from the correct entries and you could win a $50 Briwood Farm Market Card just in time for Christmas!

May you and your family enjoy the magic of the season! Merry Christmas

oomers B and E YOND B

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

190 Wilson Ave., St. Thomas 519-631-5530 [email protected]

Park Elmdale Memorial

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021 Page 7

Your guide to shopping

Dear Boomers and Beyond,

ST THOMAS & district

2021 edition

Our Favourite Things – Your Guide to Shopping Local features some of our community’s most dynamic leaders and highlights just a small sample of some of the great gifts available right here in St. Thomas, Central Elgin, and Southwold.

Find your copy in the mail, view it online at StThomasChamber.on.ca or on our Facebook page!

Share these great gift ideas with family and friends!

To advertise here contact [email protected]

Page 8 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

Thank you for supporting local!

Proudly Local.

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021 Page 9

Ready • Set • Play at the Joe Thornton Community Centre

Just as the NHL Player, Joe Thornton is in the hearts of those from St. Thomas, the Joe Thornton Community Centre is in the heart of St. Thomas. While many people think the Joe, as it is affectionately called, is for kids’ hockey, the arena offers so much more, especially for those 55+. To start, there is the seniors’ men hockey league (50+) which plays every week. “What sets this league apart from many others is that it is run by the city,” says Martin Run, Booking Co-ordinator for the city. “I've been there for 10 years now. It's been going on ever since. It used to be six teams that went to seven, like three years ago now and now we are at eight. We have 120 players and the city provides the jerseys, the referees and the timekeepers so you just show up and play!” “The league runs from October to April and then they do a redraft every year. This league is for those looking to have a good time; it is not big on keeping individual stats, and doesn’t have any playoffs but what it does have is 120 like-minded players who love the Canadian game! “All these guys know each other. They love this league,” says Martin. Did you know that Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in North America? It is a sport similar to tennis, but instead of the tennis ball you play with a pickleball which is similar to a Wiffle ball. Interested in learning, or already a pro? The Joe has lot of drop-in times for you to get your pickleball game on! Until the end of December, they have Beginners Pickleball

A spirited game with the Couch Potatoes (Blue Team) vs the Pylons (Orange)

COLD WEATHER IS COMING! COLD WE I I ! COLD WEATHER IS COMING! It’s time to have your boiler and hot water heating equipment serviced. We can h lp with all of your service and r placement needs. It’s time to have your boiler and hot water heating equipment serviced. We can help with all of your service and replacement needs. It’s ti e to have your boiler and hot water heating equip ent serviced. e can help with all of your service and replace ent needs. Call us today to book your appointment Call us today to book your appoint ent Call us today to book your appointment

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Page 10 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

on Mon., Tues., and Fri.; Intermediate level on Mon., Thurs., and Fri.; Advanced on Tues., and all-skill level drop ins on Mon., Thurs., and Fri. “Pickleball has become so popular around here,” says Michael Balderston, Program Coordinator at the Joe. “Yesterday, we had like, 40 people here playing pickleball.” For those looking for a gentler pursuit to health, we are happy to report the Reith Fitness Track is back open. “The track is open from is 8am to 8pm,” says Michael. “The track is very popular with our seniors and young mothers during the day.” “The programs at the Joe are open for everyone,” saysMichael, “But since the Pickleball, Badminton and dance classes are offered during the day, they are usually filled with our senior community. The Joe also offers lots of open skate opportunities which are a perfect opportunity to bring out the grandkids! If you are interested in learning more about what programs the Joe offers go to: www.stthomas.ca/living_here/ parks__recreation_and_property_management/drop_in_ programs, or to register or ask questions regarding the senior hockey program, call 519-633-7112.

OPEN 1/8

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021 Page 11

A traditional Christmas Fruitcake Almost since the first Christmas people have been celebrating with a fruit cake (yes, it is approx. 2000 years old). Fruit cakes can very in taste, light/dark, boozie/no booze, nuts/no nuts, glaze/marzipan/plain it can vary as much as peoples love or hate this Christmas tradition. This recipe features a simple approach to the fruit cake, with a quick soak of the fruits, and yet it still yields a moist and nutty cake. You can choose to top with a glaze or serve au natural. 2/3 cup glace cherries 3/4 cup chopped dates 1 cup + 2 tbsp either apple juice (you can also substitute some of the juice for Brandy) Microwave the fruit and juice in a bowl on high for 1 and a half minutes, then let stand for an hour while the fruit soaks up the liquid. Cake ½ cup softened butter 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar ½ cup vegetable oil 3 tbsp molasses ½ tsp salt ½ tsp all spice ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp nutmeg 3 room temp eggs ½ tsp baking powder 1 2/3 cups AP flour ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans Directions • Preheat oven to 320 ℉. Grease and Line a 8-9” (with a about 3” sides) pan with parchment paper. • With an electric mixer beat butter and sugar together until smooth (approx. 1 min) Quick Soaked Fruit 1 ¼ cups of raisins 2/3 cup of diced dried apricots 1/3 cup mixed peel

• Add oil and molasses, and mix until combined • Add spices, salt, and baking powder and mix until incorporated • Add in eggs one at a time, and mix until incorporated • Stir in flour • When it is almost all incorporated mix in fruit mix (including any extra liquid) and nuts • Pour into pan which you will then cover with foil and bake for 2 and a half hours, then remove the foil and bake an additional 45 minutes. • Let cool in pan for 20 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Calling all knitters Together we can bring the warmth of the season to our fellow people!

Theweather is starting to turn, and it is cold outside. Please knit some extra mittens, hats, scarves, blankets, sweaters etc. for those in need. There are many places and people who could use them. If you would like me to pick up your knitting, give me a call at 519-495-7177 or email geoff@villagerpublications. com and I’ll be happy to arrange a pickup. NEW this year we are working with the St. Thomas Cemetery, so if you would prefer to drop off knitting please drop it off with Lesley. Saint Thomas Cemetery Company 67 West Ave, St. Thomas • 519-631-2038

oomers B and E YOND B

Hometown St. Thomas

Port Stanley Villager

Tel: 519-631-9393 | 45 METCALFE ST, ST. THOMAS, ON

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Page 12 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

Christmas Movies!

Visit the Hometown St. Thomas Facebook Page for the Crossword answers.

A cross 1 Arnold needs that toy in ____ All The Way 3 Winslet and Diaz trade countries in The _____ 6 KEVIN! is Home ______ 8 Clark knows how to light up a house in Christmas ______ 11 This reindeer gets lost and found by a little girl 13 Carey Grant in The _____ Wife 15 Ballet turned movie 16 Buddy is in search for his real dad 17 A writer is caught in a lie in Christmas in ______ 19 Many version of this classic A Christmas _____ 21 Bing has us all dreaming of this kind of Christmas

23 He almost shot his eye out in A Christmas _____ 25 Tim Burton had this before Christmas 26 Michael Keaton is trapped in a snowman in Jack ____ Down 2 How he stole Christmas 4 Classic RomCom with a dozen couples Love ______ 5 Jimmy Stewart Classic It’s a _____ Life 7 This train movie stars Tom Hanks Polar _______ 9 One night to save Bill Murray 10 This happend on 34th street 12 A new classic staring Kurt Russell Christmas _______ 14 Billy Bob Thornton is one BAD _______

22 I still say it’s not a Christmas Movie Die _____ 24 Based on Grishams Skipping Christ- mas we get Christmas with the ______

18 Tim Allen needs a good

lawyer in the Santa ______

20 This reindeer stars in a claymation classic

Proudly Printed By:

233 Edward Street, St. Thomas, ON phone: 519-633-1580 fax: 519-633-8531 impressions-printing.com

Give the Gift of Nutrition This Holiday Season!

Respiratory Home Services Respiratory Home Service

Not sure what to buy that special senior on your shopping list? Gift certificates are available for Meals OnWheels for your loved one. A healthy diet is important to help maintain independence and overall health as we age.

We provide: • Home Oxygen Therapy • CPAP / Sleep Apnea Supplies • Respiratory Equipment and Supplies 519.631.2030 x 2410 • www.stegh.on.ca

For More Information or volunteering opportunities Please Contact VON at 519-637-6408 or 1-800-201-0909 www.vonme.ca

Respiratory Home Services

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

Page 13

Book Your Next Adventure at the Local Mall by Terry Carroll Late on a grey Saturday in early November of the second year of COVID, my lovely wife Nancy and I decided on a weekend adventure before we settled in for another streaming movie. Masked, we under- took the five-minute drive to Elgin

My Mind: Occasional Essays . Pieces in that book enticed me to read Zora Neale Hurston’s Their EyesWereWatching God , and to trek through George Eliot’s Middlemarch . In vastly disparate ways, both books serve as archetypes for creating female characters from the inside out and writing what we now read as unconventional sentences. Someone on staff at St. Thomas Public Library must have been a big Zadie Smith fan. Pre-COVID, the library carried a lot of Smith’s fiction and non-fiction, all good to great, except for her sixth novel, Swing Time . Nothing is harder on a good writer than success, largely because editors stop telling them what they need to hear. From the opening paragraph to the closing word, it’s obvious that no editor had the grit to tell Smith: “ Swing Time : is a good idea for a novel, but it needs at least one major rewrite. And neither of your main characters, both female, are believably presented.” A similar trajectory bedevilled the writing career of Jonathon Franzen. In 1996 in Harper’s magazine, he published what is now called “The Harper Essay” about the sad state of the novel [as a literary form] and about Franzen’s faith in reading and writing big social novels as antidotes to that trend (as well as activities good in themselves). He astonished the literary world by making good on the essay’s promise when he published The Corrections in 2001, a smart, funny, multi-charactered, intergenerational, commercially successful book, polished until almost every sentence shines. Franzen’s downward slide began immediately with the publication of his next novel, Freedom , and it bottomed out with Purity . While worth checking out, these two later novels flounder on the same reef as Smith’s misstep: poorly rendered or not fully imagined female characters. On the shelves of Coles in Elgin Centre sat one copy of Franzen’s latest, the 580-page Crossroads . Some critics say this novel puts Franzen back on solid ground. With Smith’s Feel Free already in hand, I convinced Nancy that Crossroads was the perfect gift for my upcoming birthday. The Chinese food was good, the anticipation of starting Crossroads in early December even better, and the idea of comparing it with other literary successes and failures the best of all. Not bad for a “heart of greyness” day in November at the local mall.

oomers oomers B and E YOND B Geoffrey Rae Managing Editor / Sales [email protected] 519-495-7177 Copy Editor Peter Bloch-Hansen Publisher Barb Botten [email protected] Graphic Artist – Cathy Wood Photos, community events and article suggestions welcome. Please email [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you. The second was Coles, where I was drawn to Zadie Smith’s Feel Free , a collection of her essays from 2010 to 2017, on sale for $8. Unlike Smith, I have a poor memory. I don’t remember who or what led me to first encounter her writing, but I recall much of her first essay collection which I borrowed from the St. Thomas Public Library: Changing Centre where we trudged the mall from food court to drugstore and back before entering a social-distancing lineup for Chinese takeout. Why journey up the Yangtze, the Nile or the Amazon into the heart of darkness when you can spend an hour at the local mall? We lingered longest at two stores. The Facebook page for the first one, 916 Galleria: Elgin Artisans & Crafters, describes it as follows: “At 916 Galleria every item is a unique piece, created and crafted with passion. Every piece reflects a spirit, a state of mind and an individual experience of creation.” That may be a tad exuberant, but is not completely inaccurate.

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Page 14 Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

BADDA BOOM! by Frances Kennedy

To all of our friends, have a safe and Merry Christmas

Nostalgia is kind of like Brylcreem… a little dab’ll do ya. It doesn’t take much, but these days inspire a need to refresh our spirits and remind us that all will be well. Some psychologists don’t consider it a good thing. Staying “stuck in the past” was often

May you and your loved ones have a very Merry Christmas! 225 Chestnut Street, St.Thomas 519-633-2850 [email protected]

associated with being unable to adjust to new realities. Really? Does adjusting to an entire worldwide ever-evolving “new normal” rank as challenging enough? Not that long ago, some considered nostalgia to be a mental illness, akin to melancholy, which could lead to anxiety and depression. There’s no doubt about it; a global pandemic has made us aware that mental health is a foremost concern for all ages and demographics. More recent findings on nostalgia suggest it can actually improve our well-being. Well, hell’s bells; there’s no time like the holidays to test all the reasons why nostalgia is a good thing! Here are some ways that it benefits us: Recalling important people in our lives, people who cared about us and made us feel like we belonged helps us feel socially connected. Recently, I took my own trip down memory lane. My sweet sister SheShe came down from Muskoka for the first time in two years. Recalling our antics as parents trying to maintain the myth of reindeer on rooftops was howlingly hilarious. It surely was good for us and most certainly boosted my emotional resilience for yet another quiet Christmas. When I said, “A little nostalgia is like a spritz of eau de cologne from yesteryear,” she said, “Remember you getting Muguet des Bois when you turned twelve?” Well, how’s that for a dose of solely sisterly connection and simple silliness? When researchers compared nostalgia to two seemingly unrelated ways of viewing one’s life, focusing on a nostalgic event led more people to feel their lives had meaning compared to imagining a desired future. That said, here’s what I know from decades of working in career transition; recalling the past builds our belief in ourselves to embrace the future by increasing our well-being and feeling connected. There’s a worthy way to approach the New Year with optimism and resilience. Happy New Year! Nostalgia seems to come on strong when weathering life’s storms or longing for traditions, which pretty much describes the 2021 holidays. Why not take a trip down memory lane with someone with whom you shared time and place? It’s a gift idea that doesn’t require any kind of passport. Nostalgia can be more a blessing than a curse, and a winning strategy for navigating the holidays. So, why not tune into nostalgia now and then? It may just help you meet the challenges of the moment -- which will be someone’s good old days in fifty years, so let’s act accordingly. As Albert Einstein once opined, “When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change.” Badda Bing!

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Boomers and Beyond – Elgin • December 2021

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