Personal Improvement

How many 50- or 60-year-olds still have that sense of adventure that opens new doors, seeks new experiences, meets new people, and reaches new goals? While I can’t answer that question, it’s easy to identify which ones have a youthful perspective and which ones don’t. Those who continue to push their minds, bodies and goals with new challenges manage to stay young, despite their age. ...

Even though we're being encouraged to keep our distance from one another and stay at home longer, we're also being told that going outside for exercise and recreation is a good thing. There are additional encouraging factors at work here — our air is cleaner, our streets are less congested, and people are being much kinder to one another — all great reasons to continue to ride instead of drive. ...

Trouble concentrating? Not sleeping well? Look, we're all restless and getting ground down by not having all that much fun stuff to do, or at least our version of what used to be fun. We're all in this together and, fortunately, there are plenty of healthy ways to cope. ...

Humor is considered to be a very sophisticated psychological defense against tension and threat. Humor is a way to activate good brain chemistry, and actually protect ourselves with better immune function – it is really good medicine. ...

Grab a nature guide and take a walk or a drive in one of Geauga County's 25 county parks. Then tell someone what you saw — all while practicing social distancing, of course. A website makes it easy; good eyes and attention to detail make it rewarding. ...

The Cleveland Institute of Music is digging into its extensive archives to provide free performances during the pandemic. No Facebook account? No problem. Follow the links to get started on some of the institute's best performances. ...

“Take a chill pill” may be the modern equivalent of this ancient maxim. Give it a try. Before returning to hyperdrive, prepare to exercise your right to slow down and even say ‘no.’ It’s a liberating experience to not be dominated by anything. ...

As part of our ongoing series on the region's terrific county park systems, we're taking a trek over to Medina County. While some parks are closed, others are open for leisurely rambles. Go to medinacountyparks.com for the latest updates. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy these links to see what's blooming and moving this spring in Medina's parks. ...