Life Lessons After 65, Oral Care for Older Adults, and High-Net-Worth Tax Strategies Explained

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With age comes something rarely seen during younger years: pattern recognition. By your mid-60s and beyond, you’ve lived long enough to look back and see what actually mattered — and what quietly drained your time and energy. These lessons aren’t abstract ideas; they’re practical tools you can still use every day.

Perfectionism often shows up as over-preparing, delaying decisions, or avoiding tasks altogether. Many seniors experience this struggle when dealing with paperwork, health routines, or home projects. However, often, filing the forms imperfectly but on time, walking 15 minutes instead of skipping your daily exercise entirely, or hosting friends without a spotless house, all keep life flowing forward. Progress beats polish.

By this stage of life, energy is a finite resource. Saying no to exhausting social obligations, committee roles you no longer enjoy, or favors for friends and family that create stress isn’t selfish — it’s preventive care. A helpful rule of thumb: if you’ll feel relief after declining, it was the right choice.

Many people find that relationships deepen when they stop correcting details or revisiting old disagreements. Letting a small factual error go, or choosing curiosity instead of debate, often preserves warmth — especially with adult children and long-time friends.

Calm rarely arrives through big changes. It grows when you simplify routines, reduce noise (literal and digital), and leave open space between your commitments. One practical step: limit errands to two per day or keep one morning each week completely unscheduled.

The hard parts of one’s story often help others more than the triumphs. Sharing how you recovered from loss, managed illness, or rebuilt your life after setbacks can be grounding for family, neighbors, or community groups. Wisdom doesn’t always require advice — it often begins with listening and honest sharing.

Reflecting on these lessons isn’t about looking back with regret. It’s about using clarity to make today easier, calmer, and more intentional.

“The Parking Lot Carnival”
From the life overview of Marjorie L., 84, Savannah, GA. Shared with permission.

When I was fifteen, the church on my street hosted a summer carnival in its parking lot every July. There were a handful of rickety rides, a ring-toss booth, and a concession stand that sold the greasiest funnel cakes you can imagine. Looking back, it was nothing more than a scattering of folding tables and a few rides hauled in on trailers. But to us neighborhood kids, it was something much more. It felt like the state fair had rolled right into our laps. I’d save my babysitting money for weeks just to have enough for a few rides and one of those paper cones filled with crushed ice and syrup, the kind that stained my tongue bright red.

One evening, I convinced my older sister, Susan, to go with me. It was no small miracle, since she considered herself far too sophisticated for anything held in a church parking lot. The sun was setting by the time we arrived, turning the sky a dusty pink. Colored bulbs that were strung overhead began to glow faintly. As we stood in line for the tilt-a-whirl, Susan pretended not to be excited, whereas I was practically vibrating with anticipation. The ride jerked and spun so violently that she shrieked and grabbed my arm. When we stumbled off afterward, both of us were breathless with laughter. For a few minutes, the age gap between us simply dissolved.

The carnival lasted only a few summers before the church expanded and paved right over the old lot. But every time I catch the scent of fried dough or hear the creak of a metal ride starting up, I’m carried back to that dusky Savannah evening—the lights, the laughter, and the rare feeling of being perfectly in step with my sister, if only for one brief, spinning, dizzying moment.

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American Philosophical Society Digital Library
A digitized collection of letters, journals, drawings, maps, and notebooks dating back to the 1700s. Many items document everyday observations, early science, travel, and correspondence between working scholars. The material is presented plainly and works well for slow, focused browsing.

American Museum of Natural History Digital Collections
An open archive of photographs, field notes, specimens, and research materials from the museum’s scientific work. The collections include wildlife studies, expeditions, and environmental documentation. Items are clearly labeled and easy to explore without needing scientific training.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Digital Media Library
A public collection of photographs and videos documenting wildlife, habitats, conservation work, and field research across the United States. The images focus on real environments and day-to-day work rather than spectacle. It’s straightforward to search and works well for quiet visual exploration.

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Ordering groceries online can save time, energy, and a few trips through crowded aisles—especially if carrying heavy bags or driving at night has become less appealing. The good news: you don’t need to be “techy” to use these services, and you can go at your own pace.

If you’re new to online grocery ordering, start with a store you already know.

Many major grocery chains offer pickup or delivery directly from their websites:

You’ll need:

After creating an account, you search for items just like using a store flyer. Choose pickup (you drive to the store and they load the car) or delivery (items come to your door). Pickup is usually cheaper and sometimes free.

Tip: Most stores let you save “favorites,” so next time you won’t have to search again.

If you’re comfortable using apps or want more flexibility, these tools can help:

Helpful advanced features:

To avoid surprises:

Online grocery ordering is just another way to shop, and it doesn’t have to replace going to the store. Some people use it occasionally, others rely on it more often. Trying a small pickup or delivery order can help determine whether it’s a practical option for your schedule, mobility, and budget. If it works well, repeat orders are quick to place and easy to adjust over time.

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Unmissable American gem: Hanover, New Hampshire is a charming and accessible Upper Valley destination where seniors can enjoy scenic Connecticut River strolls, the cultural and educational riches of Dartmouth College’s museums and performances, leisurely walks through historic Main Street shops and gardens, and gentle nature trails perfect for relaxed exploration.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object! Be the first to reply with the correct answer, and we’ll send you a free gift in the mail.

Today’s clue: Jazz singer known as the “First Lady of Song.”

LALE GEFITRAZLD

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