When Simplicity Becomes Sophisticated, How a Sense of Purpose May Protect Against Dementia, and the Average Social Security Check

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History (Non-Fiction): Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer – This investigative history examines a brutal double murder while exploring the origins of Mormonism and the violent extremes of religious fundamentalism.

Memoir: Open Book by Jessica Simpson – This candid memoir looks beyond fame to explore relationships, addiction, body image, motherhood, and the personal struggles hidden behind a public persona.

Self-Help: Ultralearning by Scott H. Young – This practical guide presents strategies for mastering difficult skills faster through focused, self-directed, and intensive learning.

Romance: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell – A headstrong Southern belle pursues love and survival through the upheaval of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Business: The New Market Regime by John R. Pangere – This practical guide examines changing market conditions and offers strategies for adapting investment decisions to a new financial environment.

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.

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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.

Many people experience a time in life when having more feels like the goal: more furniture to fill a room, more square footage for entertaining, more decorations on display, more choices in the closet.

But tastes and goals evolve over time. Eventually, many people begin to notice that the rooms, wardrobes, meals, and even gardens they admire most aren't necessarily elaborate. Instead, what stands out is the care and attention behind them.

Far from reflecting a lack of taste or refinement, simplicity, when intentional, can feel remarkably sophisticated.

Consider a shelf displaying twenty decorative objects compared to one holding just three pieces you genuinely love. Whereas the former are likely to be overlooked, the latter suddenly become more noticeable. The same principle can work throughout a home.

Instead of filling every surface, try displaying a favorite ceramic bowl on its own, placing one beautiful plant on a table, or grouping a few meaningful photographs together rather than spreading them throughout the room.

You don't necessarily need to get rid of anything. Rotating pieces occasionally can give familiar belongings a new impact.

Simplicity can also mean being more selective. One well-made coat that works for almost every occasion may be more useful than five jackets that rarely leave the closet. One dependable kitchen knife can be preferable to a drawer full of gadgets. A simple meal made with excellent ingredients can be more satisfying than an elaborate menu of disparate dishes.

Over time, knowing what works for you makes it easier to focus on the best and skip the rest.

Not every corner needs furniture, not every wall needs artwork, and not every moment needs filling.

A clear kitchen counter makes cooking easier while also giving the kitchen a roomier feel. An uncluttered bedside table creates a calmer space that can make falling asleep and waking up a gentler endeavor. A garden with defined areas and room between plantings allows individual plants to thrive and shine.

Empty space isn't necessarily unfinished space. Sometimes it's the perfect complement to everything around it.

Simplicity isn't about deprivation or following a minimalist trend. It's about becoming more intentional regarding what earns your space, attention, and time. When the things you keep are useful, meaningful, or simply beautiful to you, having fewer competing for attention can make them stand out even more.

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.

Someone in your family may know a story about you that you've never heard. Ask them.

The discount: Hobby Lobby

What it gives you: Some stores offer senior discount days for customers age 55+, though participation varies

How to claim it: Contact your local store to confirm senior discount availability before shopping

“The Suitcase in the Hallway”
From the life overview of Barbara S., 84, Des Moines, Iowa. Shared with permission.

In 1966, my husband and I packed everything we owned into two suitcases and headed to California. We were twenty-four and had big plans for life, so we decided that Iowa was too small for us.

My mother thought it was a terrible idea. She stood in our driveway while we loaded the car and asked me three times if I was sure.

I really wasn’t.

The trip took three days in our old Chevrolet. We stopped at cheap motels and ate sandwiches from a cooler. Somewhere in Nebraska, the car began making a noise that neither of us wanted to acknowledge.

When we finally reached Los Angeles, we rented a tiny apartment. The whole building reeked of cigarettes.

We had no furniture except a mattress, a pair of folding chairs, and a table we found beside a dumpster.

The first night, we sat on the mattress eating cheap hamburgers from a paper bag.

My husband looked around the room and said, “We really did it.”

I remarked, “Unfortunately.”

We stayed in California for eleven years. Eventually, we moved back to the Midwest.

Last year, I found one of our old suitcases in my basement. The handle had snapped off on one side, and the lining was torn.

I opened it out of curiosity.

There was still a luggage tag, now terribly faded, on the side.

I stood there holding it, reminiscing about those two young people who thought they had everything figured out.

Obviously they didn’t. But they were having a wonderful time anyway.

***

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Bonsai may look like a collection of naturally tiny trees, but that's part of the illusion. Bonsai isn't a particular species—it's the practice of growing and shaping ordinary trees in containers so they resemble mature trees in miniature.

It can become a years-long hobby, but getting started doesn't have to be complicated.

Before buying a bonsai, decide where you'll grow it. Most traditional species, including junipers, pines, and maples, belong outdoors because they need natural seasonal changes. Tropical and subtropical species are better choices for indoor growing.

For an indoor first tree, ficus is particularly beginner-friendly. This guide to choosing a bonsai explains what to look for when shopping and suggests suitable beginner species.

One of the first bonsai lessons is to watch the tree rather than follow a rigid schedule. Check the soil regularly and water when it becomes slightly dry. When you do water, soak the root system thoroughly until water drains through the holes in the pot.

This bonsai watering guide explains the technique in detail.

Pruning controls growth and helps develop the tree's shape, while wire can be used to guide branches into new positions. You don't need to tackle everything immediately. The free bonsai beginner's guide walks through cultivation, styling, pruning, wiring, and general care.

A bonsai is never really "finished." Branches grow, leaves appear and fall, and roots eventually fill the container. Periodic repotting keeps the root system healthy; this step-by-step repotting guide explains how to recognize when it's necessary.

That's much of bonsai's appeal. You're not simply displaying a miniature tree—you're shaping and caring for something that can continue developing for years.

Deleting an important text by mistake doesn’t always mean it’s gone permanently. Depending on your phone and how long ago the message was deleted, you may be able to restore it.

On an iPhone, open Messages, tap Edit or Filters in the upper-left corner, then select Show Recently Deleted or Recently Deleted. Choose the conversation or messages you want and tap Recover. Apple generally keeps deleted messages there for about 30 days.

On Samsung Galaxy phones using Samsung Messages, open the app, tap the three-dot menu, and look for Trash or Recycle Bin. Deleted messages are typically kept there temporarily before being permanently erased.

If your Android messaging app doesn’t have a trash folder, recovery may depend on whether your messages were included in a previous phone backup. Check Settings > Google > Backup or your phone manufacturer’s backup service to see what has been saved.

Be cautious with apps and websites promising to recover permanently deleted texts. Some request extensive access to your phone or charge for results they can’t guarantee.

The best time to attempt recovery is soon after deletion, before temporary storage periods expire or newer backups replace older ones.

Today: Sedona, Arizona

Sedona’s red-rock landscape provides a spectacular backdrop for scenic drives, galleries, restaurants, and outdoor experiences. You don’t have to be an avid hiker to appreciate the scenery.

Ingrid’s Tip: Plan outdoor sightseeing for the cooler part of the day and leave your afternoons flexible. Some of Sedona’s best views can be enjoyed from scenic overlooks without a strenuous hike. If you're driving to/from Flagstaff, skip the highway and choose the stunning Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive instead.

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: Stretchy, bouncy modeling material sold in a plastic egg.

ILLYS PTYTU

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