How Music Changes the Feeling of a Home, Walking for Healthy Aging, and 6 Steps for Investing in Stocks

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History (Non-Fiction): Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer – This harrowing firsthand account chronicles the deadly 1996 Mount Everest disaster and the decisions, conditions, and human errors that contributed to the tragedy.

Memoir: I Am Ozzy by Ozzy Osbourne – This outrageous memoir recounts a life of rock stardom, addiction, near-death experiences, and decades of chaos both on and off the stage.

Self-Help: Limitless by Jim Kwik – This practical guide offers strategies for improving memory, focus, learning, and mental performance by changing how you approach your mind and habits.

Romance: Love Story by Erich Segal – Two college students from very different backgrounds fall deeply in love, only to face a devastating challenge that tests their life together.

No matter where you are in the process—an idea, an outline, a rough draft, or an almost-finished manuscript—we can help you get your book across the finish line.

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Check a few boxes, and we’ll match you with trusted options and initial consultations—many completely free—across insurance, housing, travel, finances, and more. It takes about five minutes, and you’re not committing to anything—just seeing what can save you time and energy.

When we think of the sense of a house, we commonly think of how it feels—its temperature, its texture, its atmosphere—and how it looks—its colors, its lighting, its decor—but forget the other components that contribute to the feeling of a space. One of those components is how it sounds.

Walk into a quiet house and then imagine the same space with Ella Fitzgerald playing softly in the kitchen, a favorite classical piece filling the living room, or an upbeat Motown album accompanying Saturday chores. Nothing about the room has physically changed, yet somehow the whole house, and our experience of it, transforms.

Music may be one of the simplest ways to change the atmosphere of a home—and it doesn't require redecorating a thing.

Different parts of the day naturally lend themselves to different sounds:

Notably, you don't need carefully curated playlists for each activity. Putting on one favorite album from beginning to end can usually suffice.

Some areas of a home simply don't get used very frequently, and that might make them seem lifeless or drab. Music is one way to make them feel more inviting.

Try turning on music while sorting photographs in a storage closet, working on a project in a spare room, or spending an afternoon cleaning the garage. You may find yourself lingering longer simply because the space feels more pleasant.

Music can also provide comfortable background sound when you're home alone, without demanding your attention the way television does.

Instead of searching for something new, revisit what you already love. Pull out an album you haven't played in a decade. Listen to the music you enjoyed on family road trips, at dances, or during a particular chapter of your life. Then follow that artist to something you've never heard before.

Like all art, music is never static, and your experience of it changes as you do. Familiar music can both bring back memories and lead to new discoveries that keep listening interesting.

A home isn't shaped only by what we see. Just as smell adds to our experience of a place, sound contributes to its atmosphere too. Music can make an ordinary dinner feel warmer, household tasks more enjoyable, or a quiet afternoon more companionable—all with the push of a button.

We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

You don't have to go somewhere new to have a new experience. Try looking at a familiar place differently.

The discount: TCBY

What it gives you: Many locations offer approximately 10% off for customers age 55+

How to claim it: Ask for the senior discount when ordering

“The Summer I Learned to Sail”
From the life overview of Peter H., 78, Annapolis, Maryland. Shared with permission.

In 1973, my friend Bill bought a small sailboat and announced that he was going to teach me how to sail. I had spent my entire life around the Chesapeake Bay, but I had never been on a sailboat.

The boat was twenty-two feet long. However, it looked much smaller once we were actually on the water.

Bill was an excellent sailor but a terrible teacher. He would say things like, “Pull that,” without explaining what “that” was. I spent most of the first afternoon getting yelled at by the wind and by Bill.

A few weeks later, we went out on a Saturday morning. Unlike the first time, the water was unusually calm. Bill handed me the tiller.

“Your boat,” he said.

I was nervous at first. Then the sail caught the wind. The boat leaned over, and we started moving faster than I expected.

Finally, I understood what he had been trying to teach me.

For the rest of the summer, we went out almost every weekend. I began looking forward to our trips. Sometimes we sailed for hours at a time without exchanging more than a few words. We’d pack sandwiches, apples, and two cans of Coke. Then we’d stay out until late afternoon.

Bill passed away several years ago.

I haven’t sailed since then, but whenever I see a small sailboat moving quietly across the Bay, I still find myself watching it until it disappears, remembering those afternoons I spent with my friend.

***

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Framed
Think you can recognize a movie from a single image? Each day's puzzle begins with one frame from a film; guess incorrectly and another frame appears, with six chances to identify the movie. Even when the title completely escapes you, watching the clues gradually become more obvious is part of the fun.

Radiooooo – The Musical Time Machine
Choose a country, pick a decade, and hear music that people were listening to in that place and time. Jump from 1960s France to 1980s Brazil or 1940s Egypt and you'll quickly encounter songs far outside the usual streaming recommendations. It’s an easy way to turn a few spare minutes into a musical trip somewhere unexpected.

Police warn residents about DOJ, U.S. Marshals impersonation scam

This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public.

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones. Some people begin by writing on their own—or even using AI tools—but many eventually decide they’d rather simply talk and have their story shaped into something lasting. That’s where we come in.

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Sea glass already looks like a craft supply created by nature. Years of tumbling in water can leave discarded glass with smooth edges and a frosted surface, and no two pieces are quite alike. If you've collected a jarful on vacations—or simply love coastal colors—there are plenty of ways to turn those pieces into something worth displaying.

Spread your collection on a table and sort the pieces by color, size, or shape. Don't worry about finding perfectly matched pieces. Irregular shapes are part of what makes sea-glass projects interesting.

If you don't have a personal collection, the International Sea Glass Association's directory of artisans and collectors includes members who sell genuine loose sea glass.

One of the easiest projects requires only a picture frame, a sturdy backing, and adhesive. Arrange pieces into flowers, sailboats, birds, trees, or an abstract pattern, then glue them in place once you're happy with the design.

For inspiration, browse the International Sea Glass Association's artisan directory, where you'll find examples of mosaics, ornaments, framed art, jewelry, and other creations made with genuine sea glass.

Sea glass looks especially beautiful when light passes through it. This sea glass lantern video tutorial demonstrates how to turn collected pieces into a decorative lantern.

You can use the same general idea on clear glass candle holders or jars. For anything involving candles, a battery-operated LED candle keeps the project simple.

Save especially interesting pieces for projects with a story behind them. A piece found on a favorite vacation could become a pendant, ornament, framed miniature, or small gift.

Before using a special find, you may want to learn more about it. The International Sea Glass Association's identification resources explain how sea glass forms and offer information about colors, origins, and other characteristics that can make individual pieces especially interesting.

Sometimes the best craft material isn't waiting at the craft store. It's been tumbling around at the edge of the water for years, waiting to be noticed.

A data breach happens when information held by a company or organization is accessed or exposed without authorization. Depending on the breach, that could include email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or other personal information.

If a company notifies you of a breach, determine exactly which information was affected. Instead of clicking a link in an unexpected email or text, visit the company’s website directly or contact it using a phone number you already trust.

If a password was exposed, change it immediately. If you used the same password anywhere else, change it on those accounts too. Turn on two-factor authentication when available.

If payment information was exposed, review your bank or credit card activity carefully and report unfamiliar transactions promptly.

If sensitive identifying information such as your Social Security number was compromised, consider freezing your credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. A credit freeze is free and can make it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.

Finally, be alert for follow-up scams. Criminals may use information from a real breach to make fraudulent emails, calls, and texts seem more convincing.

Today: Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria offers beautiful gardens, waterfront scenery, historic architecture, and a relaxed atmosphere on Vancouver Island. It’s an easy destination via ferry or plane for travelers who enjoy nature and city comforts in equal measure.

Ingrid’s Tip: Give yourself time for more than the world famous nearby Butchart Gardens. An extra day lets you enjoy the harbor, afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, and waterfront at a pace that actually feels like a vacation.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Novelty pets that hatched in water from tiny eggs.

ASE ENOMSKY

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