When a Weekly Activity Becomes Part of Your Identity, Whey Protein and Muscle Strength in Older Adults, and an Unexpected Top State for Retirement in 2026

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Self-Help: Four personality types reveal why people respond differently to expectations and how to harness those differences for lasting change.

Romance: A fake marriage between a professional athlete and his assistant unexpectedly blossoms into a slow-burn romance.

History (Non-Fiction): A powerful history chronicles the systematic displacement and suffering of Native Americans in the American West.

Memoir: A young boy navigates an unstable childhood marked by poverty, reinvention, and a difficult relationship with his stepfather.

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Some activities begin as simple ways to fill time or try something new. But after enough repetition, they become more than appointments on a calendar. A weekly walk, volunteer shift, choir rehearsal, card game, or community class can gradually become part of how you think about yourself — and how others think about you too.

At first, attending something weekly may feel casual or tentative. You’re trying it out, learning the rhythm, figuring out where you fit. But after a few months, the activity starts becoming part of your normal week. Other plans begin organizing around it:

The activity stops feeling optional and starts feeling woven into your routine.

Over time, people naturally connect you with the activity itself. You become “the person from the walking group” or “the one who helps organize the monthly dinner.” Even if your role is small, repeated participation creates recognition. You’re no longer just attending — you’re part of the structure that others expect to see there.

A regular activity often creates anticipation before it happens and a lingering feeling afterward. A Tuesday evening gathering may give shape to the entire week around it. You may find yourself thinking ahead to conversations, projects, or people you’ll see there. This kind of rhythm creates continuity that extends beyond the activity itself.

Doing something regularly changes how comfortable you feel within it. You stop wondering where things are, how things work, or whether you belong. Familiarity replaces uncertainty. Eventually, you may find yourself helping newcomers settle in because the environment now feels natural to you.

Identity rarely changes through one dramatic moment. More often, it develops through repeated participation in things that feel meaningful or engaging. Someone who joins a gardening club may eventually begin thinking of themselves as “a gardener,” not because of expertise, but because the activity has become a consistent part of their life.

Weekly activities often become anchors — not just in the calendar, but in a person’s sense of connection and identity. They create continuity, familiarity, and a place where participation feels natural over time.

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Retirement is often the beginning of a remarkable new chapter of life.

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.

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Letting the Ice Melt a Little First
From the life overview of George M., 85, St. Paul, Minnesota. Shared with permission.

If my drink contained ice, I used to deal with it immediately. The moment a glass was poured, I would start drinking. It felt like any delay was wasteful, and coldness itself was a resource that had to be consumed before it diminished.

Over time, I began to notice that the first sip was always sharper than it needed to be. It wasn’t exactly unpleasant, just slightly more forceful than the rest of the drink that followed. The second sip was always better.

At some point, without making any formal decision, I started waiting.

I’d take maybe a minute or two, just long enough for the ice to soften the initial intensity, letting the temperature settle into something more forgiving. The drink did not suffer for this delay. If anything, it improved.

This small change led me to notice other places where I’d been rushing into things that benefited from a brief pause. For example, conversations became clearer if I didn’t respond instantly. Decisions made more sense after a moment of quiet. Even simple pleasures revealed themselves more fully when not consumed at maximum speed.

None of this is profound. It’s only a tempo adjustment.

I now find that I enjoy things more when I allow them to arrive at their own pace, even something as ordinary as a glass of water.

***

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These digital resources explore American military history through articles, photographs, interactive materials, and primary sources drawn from the museum’s collections. The content emphasizes both major historical events and the personal experiences of the soldiers who lived through them. It’s a thoughtful way to spend time with history that is both informative and deeply human.

From the Roach Motel to the Ivory Tower: Confessions of an Amorous Professor
In this powerful memoir, Dr. Gail Finney shares her journey from a childhood marked by poverty, instability, abuse, and devastating family tragedy to a life of academic distinction and personal fulfillment. Moving frequently and enduring profound loss—including the murder-suicide that claimed her mother and half brother—Gail refused to let her past define her. Finding purpose in scholarship, she graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, earned her doctorate from University of California, Berkeley, and built a distinguished career as a professor at University of California, Davis. Her story is one of resilience, transformation, and gratitude—proof that it is possible to rise from hardship to a life of meaning and joy.

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When something goes wrong with your phone, computer, or tablet, your first instinct might be to search online. Unfortunately, scammers know this and often create fake support websites and phone numbers.

A good rule is simple: if someone contacts you unexpectedly and says your device has a virus, your account has been hacked, or you need to pay immediately for tech support, be skeptical. The Federal Trade Commission has an excellent guide on spotting tech support scams here.

Make a short list of people and companies you trust before you have a problem. Include:

You can bookmark support pages like Apple Support, Microsoft Support, and the Google Help Center so you always know you're getting help from a legitimate source.

Keep these phone numbers and websites on a piece of paper near your computer. Having a trusted list can prevent rushed decisions when something goes wrong.

If someone asks to remotely access your computer, stop and ask yourself: Did I contact them first? If the answer is no, don't proceed.

Before downloading software or calling a support number, go directly to the company's official website rather than clicking a link from an email or search result. Bookmark the support pages you use most often.

If you'd like to improve your technology skills, AARP offers free technology articles and tutorials, and many public libraries provide free technology assistance and classes. You can find your nearest library here.

Remember: real tech support never minds if you take a few minutes to verify who they are. Scammers, on the other hand, often try to create urgency and pressure you into acting immediately.

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