Lifestyle

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Culture Editor Arlington – New England Entertainment Digest praised Carol O’Shaughnessy as a “powerful singer, brilliant actress and zany comedienne.” A...

Don’t we all know that feeling? Aren’t we all a bundle of contradictions? Don’t we all contain multitudes? Don’t we all surprise ourselves by dealing differently, at different times, with situations that seem to be alike? Don’t we sometimes make a remark that feels outrageous and wonder, “Where did that come from?”

How age-friendly is your community? Age-friendly communities are places where people of all ages and abilities have affordable and accessible housing choices, as well as public buildings, retail and services, parks, and streets that meet their needs to stay safe and comfortable in both their homes and neighborhoods.

Are you looking for a new opportunity? Would you like to explore new ways to connect with your neighbors, and also make new friends? You have a lifetime of experience to offer. If you’re looking to give back to your community and build new relationships, AARP Massachusetts can help you find the perfect fit with our many volunteer opportunities.

Are you an older worker looking for a new job or an opportunity to try something new? Are you concerned that employers won’t be interested in someone 50+? Take heart: An AARP study released in 2015 debunked myths about age 50+ workers, showing that they have productivity advantages that can make them a critical component of a successful business.

Boston Seniors Count, a weekly radio broadcast hosted by staff members of the Massachusetts Commission on Elder Affairs, presents guests and topics of interest to seniors. It is heard each week on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Mondays at 9 a.m., streaming on web-based zumix.org/programs/zumix-radio, and is rebroadcast Sundays at 7:30 a.m. on WJIB 740 AM radio.

Many of these loving, funny, helpful women are gone. Some are still with us. But all their spirits linger in my recipe box, thanks to the long-ago wedding gift of a thoughtful friend. Before my husband and I were married – 48 years ago this month – my friend contacted about 50 of my female friends, relatives, and relatives-to-be, asking them to write their favorite recipes on 3x5 index cards. She collected 150 recipes, most of them handwritten, some typed. She filed them in a yellow plastic recipe box.

It is well-known that as we age, our cognitive functioning begins to deteriorate. We forget names, get distracted more easily, and start to lack concentration. Physical exercise and natural supplements can help. But a new, rising trend has become a fun way to keep your mind sharp: brain-training smartphone apps.

A television ad that has run frequently in past months features “Beatrice,” an older woman who doesn’t quite get the concept of how Facebook works. Beatrice tells her two friends that she “posted” her vacation pictures on her “wall,” the term used when putting items on your personal Facebook page. In reality, she put physical copies of her photos on a wall in her home.

Acton resident Niela Miller, 81, is a multi-talented artist, musician, author, life coach and therapist. As if that wasn’t enough for one life, Miller has embarked upon a new adventure, taking her myriad skills online. In “Second Life,” a virtual 3D program on the Internet, Miller has created a whole new world with her alter-ego or “avatar,” Marly Mirena. She uses all aspects of her creativity - photographs, paintings, music, theater improv and movement - as tools for awareness, problem-solving, community building, spiritual development and building cultural bridges.