Birth month flowers, like stars and gemstones, have symbolic and sentimental meanings. There's the January carnation, the April daisy and the October marigold, for starters. Find your birth month flower and see if its symbolism characterizes you.

What better way to spend a winter day than enjoying exotic orchids? We're in luck. Head over to the Cleveland Botanical Garden and prepare to be surprised by the variety of shapes, colors and fragrances from these delicate-looking flowers.

Let’s try snow painting! All that’s required are a few spray bottles plus some food coloring, and you’re all set. Mother Nature will provide the snow! Both you and your grandkids can experiment with colors in the snow to create a new form of art... maybe even your own colorful outdoor art museum.

Look for the January/February issue of Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond coming to newsstands (Marc's, Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle and others) starting Jan. 21. Of course, Boomer Insider Club members get our print issue mailed directly to their homes. But if you're out and about, look for our next issue featuring winter hikes throughout Northeast Ohio, just for starters. You can also read the issue online at northeastohioboomer.com. You'll find a wide range of topics that will enrich your journey to “Better Living After 50.”

In March 2020, we temporarily closed all of our Social Security Hearing Offices due to the Coronavirus pandemic and are not offering in-person hearings. During the office closures, we are providing two flexible, safe, and secure hearing options: either a telephone hearing or our new option of an online video hearing. Additional information on both of these hearing options is available here: www.ssa.gov/appeals/hearing_options.html

If you have ever uttered the words, "Whenever I take a yoga class, I get injured," I ask that you please read this. First of all, that statement is an anathema to me — in fact, it's like nails on a chalkboard. The FIRST principle of yoga philosophy is Ahimsa - "Do No Harm" and that means, especially, no harm to yourself. And, keeping you safe during a yoga class is absolutely as much a teacher's responsibility as it is yours.