Q A friend said she wants no one wearing black at her funeral. Is it realistic to direct one’s own funeral?   A Short Answer:  Why not? You won’t be there to know if anyone follows your direction, but why not try to make a memorial something meaningful to the deceased Memorial Day each May asks Americans to pause and […]

When we think about mindfulness, it is often to encourage our readers to focus on inner qualities, self-talk, or private thoughts during quiet moments. What about the mindfulness you bring to the lives of others? You cannot be inside their minds, but they can be “on” yours. Indeed, one of the challenges of living a mindful life is that it feels somewhat uncomfortable […]

Q I find I get up earlier than I ever did when I was younger. Is it true we need less sleep as we get older?   A According to the National Sleep Foundation, that is a myth. Older adults continue to need 7-9 hours of sleep each night. The problem many have is the poor […]

New dietary guidelines from the U.S.D.A. were announced this year, and they place  a lot of emphasis on cutting down on sugar. If you are someone who sweetens their coffee, or has dessert after every meal, this may sound scary, even impossible Let’s start with this: Your body needs sugar in the blood (glucose) to live. But processed, refined sugars, are sugars that […]