Staying Close to Family Who Live Far Away, 8 Habits That May Help You Live Longer, and Estate Planning Talks to Have With Your Adult Children

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History (Non-Fiction): The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard – This firsthand account chronicles the hardships, disasters, and extraordinary endurance of the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica.

Memoir: Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull – This candid autobiography recounts a turbulent life at the center of 1960s rock culture, along with addiction, reinvention, and an enduring musical career.

Self-Help: Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal – This practical guide argues that productivity doesn’t have to feel miserable, offering strategies for using enjoyment and positive emotions to accomplish what matters.

Romance: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë – A fierce and destructive bond between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff drives a Gothic story of love, obsession, revenge, and heartbreak.

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Many families are spread across different cities, states, or even countries. While living apart can make it harder to share everyday moments, distance doesn't have to weaken relationships. Staying connected frequently comes down to creating simple, consistent ways to be part of each other's lives.

You don't have to wait for birthdays or holidays to reach out. A quick phone call, a handwritten note, or a message to say, "I was thinking about you today," can mean more than you realize.

Regular routines also help. Consider setting a standing phone or video call once a week or once a month. Knowing you'll catch up on the first Sunday of each month or every Wednesday evening gives everyone something to look forward to without having to coordinate schedules each time.

When you do talk, try asking about the everyday things, not just the major events. Ask what they cooked for dinner, what book they're reading, how the garden is growing, or what they've been looking forward to lately. These conversations help you stay connected to each other's daily lives, not just the headlines.

Photos are another wonderful way to bridge the distance. Sharing pictures of a walk, a favorite meal, a beautiful sunset, or a home project gives family members a glimpse into your world—and invites them to share theirs in return.

If visits are possible, focus on spending time together rather than trying to fill every minute with activities. While a brunch out, trip to the zoo, and an evening concert might sound like a fun-filled day, a day packed to the brim can quickly devolve into stress around travel, scheduling, parking, crowds, and a dozen other small headaches. Conversely, a walk around the neighborhood, cooking a meal together, or enjoying an afternoon on the porch often creates stronger memories and deeper bonds than a packed itinerary.

Most importantly, remember that close relationships are built through consistency, not perfection. Small, regular moments of connection typically strengthen relationships far more than occasional grand gestures.

Distance may change how often you see one another, but it doesn't have to change how connected you feel. A few thoughtful habits can help keep relationships strong, no matter how many miles separate you.

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 have permission to spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing productive. You've earned a few.

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“The First Christmas After Dad Died”
From the life overview of William R., 83, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Shared with permission.

My father died in October 1987, exactly two months before Christmas.

He had been sick for a while, so his death wasn’t unexpected. Even so, the house felt different without him. My mother kept saying she was fine. But I knew she wasn’t.

On Christmas Eve, my brothers and I went to her house to put up the tree for her. However, my father had always done the lights, and none of us knew exactly how he had arranged them.

Well, we tried anyway.

The lights tangled, and one string didn’t work. My brother blamed me. I blamed him right back.

Eventually, my mother came into the room carrying a box. Inside was my father’s old extension cord.

She said, “He always used this one.”

We plugged it in, and the lights came on.

There was a long pause. Then my youngest brother said, “Well, I guess Dad knew what he was doing.”

My mother laughed.

When we finished decorating the tree, it wasn’t particularly attractive. The lights were uneven, and one section sagged badly on the left. But at least it was ours.

We had Christmas dinner the next day at my mother’s house. Of course, it wasn’t the same without my father there.

We talked about him, argued over politics, ate too much pie, and washed the dishes together.

It was a difficult Christmas. But it was also the first one where we realized we could make it through without him.

***

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This enormous visual encyclopedia lets you explore art by artist, movement, genre, country, or century, with works ranging from household names to painters you've probably never encountered. Following the links between styles and artists makes it particularly good for wandering rather than studying. Start with something familiar and see how far away you end up.

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Write a letter to your future self, choose when you'd like to receive it, and FutureMe will deliver it to your email months or years from now. You might record what life looks like today, make a prediction, write down something you're grateful for, or leave your future self a question. It takes only a few minutes now—and creates a surprisingly meaningful message to discover later.

Retiree loses life savings in gold-bar scam

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A box of dominoes contains far more possibilities than simply matching dots until someone runs out of tiles. Domino games range from easygoing two-player matches to partnership games that involve strategy, scoring, and a surprising amount of planning.

If you haven't played in years—or only remember the basics—one inexpensive set can open up an entire family of games.

A standard double-six set contains 28 tiles. In a basic game, players take turns adding dominoes whose numbers match an open end of the layout. If you can't play, you draw from the remaining tiles.

This collection of domino game rules is an excellent reference, with instructions for dozens of games and information about different types of domino sets.

Once ordinary matching feels familiar, try All Fives. Instead of scoring only when the hand ends, players can earn points during play whenever the open ends of the domino layout total a multiple of five. The game works with two to four players and adds another layer of decision-making to every move.

Another popular choice is Mexican Train, which is particularly convenient for a larger group. Each player builds a "train" of dominoes while also watching for opportunities to play elsewhere.

Traditional dominoes use arrangements of dots, or pips, to represent numbers. If you'd prefer quicker identification during play, large-print or color-coded dominoes are widely available.

A domino rack can also keep a larger hand organized and prevent other players from seeing your tiles.

Dominoes work particularly well for recurring game nights because rounds are easy to replay and you can change games without buying new equipment. Keep a notebook with scores, try a tournament among friends, or learn a new variation every few weeks.

And don't underestimate the strategy hiding inside those little rectangles. After a few games, you'll start remembering which numbers have already appeared, anticipating what other players may be holding, and realizing that the perfect tile isn't always the obvious one.

Hear a song in a store, restaurant, or TV show and can’t place it? Your phone can often identify the song in seconds just by listening.

On an iPhone, activate Siri and ask, “What song is this?” Let the song play for several seconds while Siri listens. Your iPhone uses Shazam’s music-recognition technology to identify the title and artist.

On Android, ask Google, “What song is this?” On supported devices, Google can listen to music playing nearby and suggest a match. Some Android phones also offer song-identification features directly from the lock screen or Quick Settings.

For either method, you’ll get better results when the music is clear and there isn’t too much background noise.

The free Shazam app is another option for both iPhone and Android. Open it and tap the large Shazam button while the song is playing.

Shazam keeps a history of songs you’ve identified, which is handy if you want to find one again later. It can also provide links for listening to the full song through compatible music services.

Today: Vienna, Austria

Vienna combines grand architecture and world-class museums with cafés, gardens, music, and an excellent public transportation system. Despite its cultural riches, it’s a city that rewards a slower style of travel.

Ingrid’s Tip: Schedule just one major museum or attraction per day. Leave room for a long Viennese coffee break sampling a delicous sachertorte or an afternoon concert—those quieter moments can become some of your favorite memories.

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: Strategy game where players try to line up four colored discs.

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