The last time I had a big birthday celebration was when I turned 13. It was my bar mitzvah, and honestly, I didn't enjoy it at all.
Let's be real: a bar mitzvah is more about the parents showing off to their relatives than it is about the kid. I found myself in a situation I never wanted to be in—being the center of attention.
I really dislike being in the spotlight. I've always tried to just "blend in" throughout my life, and honestly, it's been pretty effective for me.
My ex, on the other hand, was all about birthdays. If I had let her, she would have thrown me a party, with dozens of guests, every year we were married. It was all I could do to persuade her not to do it. I had to sit her down and explain how I felt. It took a lot of convincing, but eventually, she agreed to scale it back. We settled on a more intimate gathering—a low-key dinner with just a few close friends. That compromise felt like a relief at the time, but in hindsight, it marked a shift in how I viewed my birthday. After we broke up, I found myself drifting away from the idea of celebrating at all. The joy and excitement that once surrounded my birthday had faded, and I didn’t feel the same urge to commemorate the day. I’ve let it slip by quietly, often treating it like any other day. It’s strange how one person’s enthusiasm can shape your experiences so profoundly, and now, without that influence, my birthdays have become almost non-existent.
Honestly, what exactly are we celebrating? Just making it through another year? I’m just a regular dude who hasn’t really done anything amazing in life. Plus, birthdays mean gifts, and that means I have to reciprocate. It’s not that I don’t like getting presents; I just struggle with picking out gifts for others. Every time I’ve had to give one, I ended up choosing something totally off the mark. So why even bother?
Birthdays are a big deal here at the A.L.F. You can’t go a week without seeing a shiny helium balloon attached to someone’s walker or wheelchair. They also host a big party every month for everyone whose birthday falls in that month. Honestly, I usually pass on those celebrations. Balloons just aren’t my vibe. Maybe next year, when I hit the big eight-zero, I’ll finally join in on the fun. For now, keep the balloons…
Alzheimer’s blood test
catches 90%
of early dementia cases,
study finds
By Sandee LaMotte
A combined blood test for cognitive decline has a 90% accuracy rate in determining whether memory loss is due to Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.
Experiencing gratitude
associated with
greater longevity
among older adults
Experiencing gratitude may help older adults live longer, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
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When is ‘old’ not old?
By Lois A. Bowers
I tend to view the term “older adult” through the lens of someone who reports on senior living providers and the residents they serve, as well as prospective residents they market to.
According to Where You Live Matters, the consumer site by the American Seniors Housing Association, most people move into senior living between age 75 and 84, with the average age of senior living residents being 84 and the “typical assisted living resident” being “an 87-year-old woman who needs help with two or three activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing and medication management.”
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Here's What to Know
About Social Security
If You're Thinking of
Retiring Overseas
By Drew Wood
More and more Americans are retiring abroad due to escalating healthcare costs and the general cost of living in the United States. The strong dollar makes even well-developed countries an attractive destination for cash-strapped retirees. This is a trend that is likely to become even more pronounced as Gen Xers begin retiring in the next few years, as about 40% of them have nothing at all saved for retirement and will try to get by mainly on Social Security payments. You can draw Social Security living overseas in some countries but there are procedures to follow that we’ll tell you about, based on information from the Social Security Administration.
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In Other News: .
11 tips
for adults age 65 and over
to ‘live well’ over time,
according to gerontologists
By Melissa Rudy .
With the number of Americans over age 65 expected to skyrocket by 47% between 2022 and 2050, there is a growing emphasis on living well — not just long — into the senior years.
Two gerontologists from Home Instead, a national in-home senior care provider owned by Honor Company in San Francisco, shared their top tips for how aging adults can stay healthy and energized.
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