Re-Reading Old Favorites, How Music Therapy Helps, and the New Senior Tax Deduction

You're receiving this because you signed up on our website. Want to unsubscribe? Just reply to this email with the words “no thanks.”

First-time reader? Join {{active_subscriber_count}} other seniors for free.

History (Non-Fiction): The Great Mortality by John Kelly – This vivid history chronicles the Black Death and the staggering human, social, and cultural consequences of the pandemic that devastated medieval Europe.

Memoir: Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci – This warm memoir uses memorable meals and favorite dishes to tell stories of family, travel, acting, love, and an enduring passion for food.

Self-Help: The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest – This collection of daily reflections encourages readers to release old patterns, embrace change, and intentionally move toward the life they want.

Romance: The Deal by Elle Kennedy – A college student agrees to tutor a star hockey player in exchange for help attracting her crush, but their arrangement soon sparks an unexpected romance.

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.

ProofreadingServices.com and MemoirGhostwriting.com (both run by us) offer developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, proofreading, formatting, interior and cover design, ebook formatting, and publishing and marketing support.

Not sure what you need? Get a FREE publishing consultation here. We’ll hop on a call, look at where you are, and help you figure out the best path to a finished book.

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.

Most of us are naturally drawn to new books. There are always more authors to discover, more stories to enjoy, and more recommendations from friends waiting on our reading list.

Yet, every so often, it's worth returning to a book you haven't opened in years. The experience is surprisingly different from reading it the first time. Although the words remain exactly the same, the book often feels new because you are different, bringing a lifetime of additional experiences to its pages.

Sometimes the greatest surprise in returning to an old favorite is discovering how much you've changed.

Opening an old book yields a special kind of pleasure. Since you already know the characters and the ending, there's no need to rush through the chapters to find out what happens next. Instead, you're free to slow down and appreciate the writing, the conversations, and the small details that may have slipped past you the first time.

It's a lot like visiting an old friend after many years apart—rather than devoting your time to getting to know each other, you can skip the small talk and focus on the more meaningful topics.

When you first read a novel, you may have been drawn to its action, romance, or mystery. Years later, your attention may settle on entirely different parts of the story:

Even though the words remain unchanged, life experience changes what resonates with us most.

Occasionally, a book that barely moved you years ago suddenly becomes deeply meaningful. Perhaps certain themes didn't connect because you simply hadn't lived them yet. A story about retirement, family relationships, resilience, or starting over may speak to you in ways it never could have when you were younger.

The timing of a book can be just as important as the story itself. That’s why giving some books a second chance, especially years later, can prove worthwhile.

Re-reading often evokes memories from when you first read the book. You might remember the family vacation you originally read it on, the clerk at the library from which you borrowed it, the birthday you received it as a gift, discussing it with a friend, or the feeling of reading the last word after staying up late to finish it.

Those memories become woven into the experience, making the book feel richer than it did before.

There's no rule that says every book must be finished quickly. Many readers enjoy spending an hour with a familiar novel over morning coffee or reading one chapter each evening before bed. Without the urgency of wanting to discover the ending, reading becomes less about finishing and more about simply enjoying the journey.

The pleasure of returning to a favorite book isn't limited to fiction. Many people enjoy revisiting all kinds of books:

Sometimes opening an old favorite reminds you why you enjoyed it in the first place. Sometimes it gives you something completely new to appreciate.

Re-reading a favorite book shows us that while stories remain the same, readers never do. Every season of life brings new understanding, fresh perspectives, and different questions. Returning to a familiar book is often less about revisiting the past and more about discovering how much you've grown since you first turned its pages.

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 are the family historian now—even if nobody officially gave you the job.

The discount: Hyatt Inclusive Collection

What it gives you: Guests age 62+ can save up to 7% off standard resort-only rates at participating resorts

How to claim it: Book directly using promo code SENIOR and provide proof of age at check-in

Find more information here

“The Dress I Almost Didn't Wear”
From the life overview of Margaret C., 76, St. Paul, Minnesota. Shared with permission.

When I got married in 1972, I almost didn’t wear the dress I wore to my wedding.

I had bought it from a department store in downtown St. Paul. Technically, it wasn’t even a wedding dress: It was a simple ivory dress with long sleeves and a narrow skirt, and it cost $38.

When I brought it home to show my mother, she looked at it and said, “That’s not a wedding dress.”

I told her I knew.

She wanted something more traditional for me. But I knew “traditional” was expensive, and we were paying for the wedding ourselves.

Three days before the ceremony, I changed my mind.

I went back to the store and tried on a much fancier dress. It had lace, a long train, and so many buttons that I needed an assistant to help me with them. When I stood in front of the mirror, it felt like I was wearing somebody else’s clothes.

Then I decided to return home and put on that $38 dress again.

My mother looked at me for a moment. Then she sighed.

“All right,” she said. “At least you’ll look like yourself.”

That seemed like the nicest thing she could have said about the dress.

I wore it for six hours on my wedding day. Forty-nine years later, my daughter wore it for a photograph session when she got engaged.

It fit her better than it ever fit me.

***

Want to preserve for future generations the stories, experiences, and wisdom that have shaped your life?
Have Your Life Overview Written

Internet Movie Cars Database
Ever spotted a great old car in a movie and wondered exactly what it was? This enormous online database identifies cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles appearing on screen, with entries covering everything from classic Hollywood films to modern television. Search a favorite movie or a particular model and see where your curiosity takes you.

NPR – Tiny Desk Concerts
These intimate performances put musicians in a small office rather than a stadium, creating concerts that feel remarkably personal. The online library spans jazz, country, folk, classical, blues, rock, soul, and music from around the world, with performances generally short enough to sample on a whim. It’s an excellent way to discover an artist—or hear a familiar one completely differently.

A mother out thousands after scammers use AI to mimic daughter's voice in fake kidnapping

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.

Do you want to ensure your story, values, and family history aren't lost?

History becomes much more interesting when you stop treating it as a list of dates and start investigating the questions that genuinely intrigue you. You might become fascinated by your town during the 1920s, everyday life during World War II, an ancestor's military service, or what travelers wrote about America 150 years ago.

You don't need to be a scholar to start digging.

Instead of deciding to "learn about the Civil War," choose something narrower: What did soldiers eat? What happened in my state? How did families communicate with soldiers away from home?

The National Archives' research collections are an excellent starting point for exploring original government records by subject. If military history interests you, its military records resources cover conflicts from the Revolutionary War through more recent periods.

Primary sources let you encounter history through the materials people actually left behind. Letters, diaries, photographs, maps, newspapers, advertisements, and government records can reveal details that a general history book may barely mention.

The Digital Public Library of America brings together digitized materials from libraries, archives, and museums across the country and includes curated historical collections and primary-source sets.

The Smithsonian's history collections are another rabbit hole worth exploring, with digitized objects, photographs, stories, and archival material spanning American and world history.

Research the history of your house, neighborhood, hometown, former workplace, or a place you've traveled. If a relative served in the military, the National Archives' genealogy resources can help you understand which census, immigration, naturalization, land, and military records may exist.

Keep a notebook or digital document of discoveries, unanswered questions, useful sources, and interesting names. One answer will inevitably produce three more questions.

That's what makes history such a satisfying hobby: there's no point when you've "finished." You simply keep following whichever trail makes you curious enough to turn the next page.

Phones, tablets, and computers need some unused storage space to work properly. When that space becomes very limited, you may notice problems even before the device is completely full.

A device that is running out of storage may:

Your existing photos and files normally aren’t automatically deleted just because storage is full. The problem is that there’s little or no room for anything new.

Check the device’s storage settings to see what is using the most space. Photos, videos, downloaded files, unused apps, and old message attachments are common culprits.

Before deleting important files, make sure anything you want to keep is backed up. You can then remove unnecessary downloads and apps or transfer photos and videos to cloud storage, a computer, or an external drive. Keeping some storage free can also help your device continue running smoothly.

Today: Madeira, Portugal

This Portuguese island is known for dramatic coastal scenery, lush gardens, mountain views, and the welcoming city of Funchal. Its mild climate makes it appealing well beyond the traditional summer travel season.

Ingrid’s Tip: Madeira is mountainous, so think carefully about where you stay if steep hills or lots of walking are a concern. A well-located hotel and prearranged transportation can make the trip much more comfortable. And no trip to Portugal is complete without a trip to a bakery for a delicious Portuguese pasteis de nata.

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: Wooden building toy designed to look like miniature logs.

NNIOLCL OSLG

Help a life story get told, earn thousands: Refer someone to MemoirGhostwriting.com and earn 12% of what they spend, or a 16% donation to your favorite nonprofit. Find out more here.

Explore flexible sales opportunities: CommissionOnly.com gives you access to flexible part-time, work-from-home commission-only roles you can apply to. Find out more here.

Disclaimer: Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Seniors Magazine may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The content of the newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial, legal, or health advice. We may also share polling responses with advertisers to help keep this newsletter free.