The Role of Nature in Memory, Older Adult Activity Explained, and Using a Step-Up in Cost Basis for Wealth Transfer

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.

Have you reviewed our book yet? Please do so here.

Free Downsizing Support
Thinking about moving, downsizing, or decluttering? Get help at no cost to you.
Get Free Downsizing Help

Retirement Circles (Peer Support Groups)
Looking for connection and purpose in retirement? Join small, facilitated peer groups that meet twice monthly online.
Apply to Join a Retirement Circle

Write Your Obituary in Advance
Make things easier on your family by having your obituary thoughtfully written now, so your life is recounted exactly as you wish.
Order Professional Obituary Writing

Long-Term Care Insurance
Thinking about long-term care insurance?
Get Free Expert Guidance

Genealogy & Family History
Curious about your family tree? Get help with small projects or extensive research.
Free Genealogy Consultation

Leave Your Words for Future Generations
Want to leave your children and grandchildren a letter they’ll treasure forever—in your own words?
Have Your Legacy Letter Written

Have You Written Something?
Learn about professional editing, publication options, etc.
Get a Free Publishing Consult

Senior Living (55+, Assisted, Memory)
Looking for assisted living options near you? We can help.
Get Local Options for Free

The Saints of Swallow Hill
by Donna Everhart
Set in the rural South during the Great Depression, this novel follows a young couple seeking refuge in the brutal world of turpentine camps. As they struggle against harsh conditions and hidden dangers, their pasts threaten to catch up with them. Gritty and immersive, it’s a story of survival, endurance, and unexpected connection.

Certain memories don’t arrive on their own — they’re summoned by the natural world. A breeze carries a recognizable scent. Light hits a tree at a familiar angle. Suddenly, you’re somewhere else in time. Nature doesn’t just surround memory. It activates it.

The smell of freshly cut grass might bring back childhood summers. Salt air can recall family trips to the seaside. The sound of cicadas may transport you to evenings spent on porches or backyards long ago. These sensory cues bypass logic and go straight to memory. You don’t think about the past — you feel it.

Many people can point to specific outdoor places tied to life chapters: a park bench where important conversations with your best friend happened, a walking trail used for solitary reflection during a difficult year, a lake visited every summer when the kids were little. Revisiting these places even briefly can bring back entire emotional landscapes — not just images, but moods, voices, decisions, and feelings.

Memory often follows the calendar of nature. Fall leaves may recall school beginnings. Spring blossoms might bring back moments of renewal or major life changes. Winter quiet can surface memories of holidays, loss, or deep rest. Seasons become invisible filing systems for experience.

Walking the same route over years, sitting in the same garden spot, or watching the same tree outside your window builds layered memory. Each visit adds another chapter. Over time, the place becomes a record of who you were at different stages of life.

Unlike photographs or keepsakes, nature doesn’t require effort. You don’t have to search for memories — they rise naturally while you’re walking, sitting, or simply looking out a window. This makes remembering feel gentle rather than intentional.

Nature offers a way to stay connected to your own history without digging through boxes or albums. It holds memory in living form — changing, returning, and quietly reminding you where you’ve been.

The Call I Meant to Return
From the life overview of George H., 91, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Shared with permission.

For a long time, I kept a small habit of jotting down phone messages on random papers nearby. If I wasn’t there when someone called, I’d scribble their name and number on a piece of scrap paper and leave it on the table to remind myself to call back.

Most of the time, I did. The paper served its purpose in the small loop of communication, which often closed without much thought.

But there was one message I set aside and never returned. It was nothing urgent—just an old friend reaching out after some time apart. I remember thinking I’d call him the next day, when I had a little more time for a proper conversation.

The next day turned into the next week. Meanwhile, the paper slipped to the edge of the table, then into a drawer with other notes. Life filled in the space where that call should have gone.

I found the message again years later. The ink had faded but was still legible. But by then, the opportunity had passed in a way that couldn’t be recovered.

I try not to dwell on it, but it does stay with me. It’s a small reminder that time doesn’t always wait for the perfect moment.

These days, when I think of someone I’d like to chat with, I try to reach out before I forget. It’s a simple change that I’ve made, but an important one.

***

Many people consider writing something like this themselves—or even using AI tools to help. Some do. But when it comes to the stories that matter most, many decide they’d rather sit down with someone who can listen, ask the right questions, and shape those memories into something truly lasting.

Do you want to record your beliefs and hopes for future generations?
Have Your Legacy Letter Written

The Getty – Explore the Collection
The Getty’s online collection offers artworks from across centuries, presented with thoughtful descriptions and high-quality images. You can linger with a single piece or move through different styles and periods at your own pace. It’s a calm, enriching way to spend time with visual art.

On Being with Krista Tippett
This podcast features conversations on meaning, ethics, creativity, and the human experience, approached with care and depth. The discussions unfold slowly, allowing ideas to develop without interruption. It’s well suited to quiet listening, especially when you want something reflective rather than fast-moving.

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

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 record your beliefs and hopes for future generations?
Have Your Legacy Letter Written

Your phone likely holds your photos, contacts, messages, and important notes. If it’s lost, damaged, or replaced, a backup ensures you don’t lose everything with it.

If you have an iPhone, use iCloud:

Apple gives you 5GB free. If you need more space, you can upgrade here.

If you have an Android, use Google One (Google Backup):

You can manage storage here.

Once this is set, your phone will back up automatically when it’s plugged in and on Wi-Fi.

It’s smart to have a second copy of your most important items—especially photos.

For photos:

These apps automatically save your pictures in the background, so even if your phone is lost, your photos are safe.

For a full backup to your computer:

A Simple Habit That Helps

Check once a month:

It takes less than a minute, and it’s the difference between “everything’s gone” and “nothing was lost.”

Cruise deal of the day: 3 Nights Mexico Cruise - departing September 21, from $296

Unmissable American gem: Mountain View, Arkansas is a welcoming Ozark town known as the “Folk Music Capital of the World,” where live acoustic music, local crafts, and scenic surroundings create a warm and culturally rich experience.

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: Garden tool used for hauling.

WORRBLEAHEW

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

Interested in advertising with Seniors Magazine? Learn 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.