1. < Aging Well
Mentor

Happiness and aging in the US: A study by the Brookings Institution

Posted by Scott, Volunteer Mentor @IndianaScott, Dec 8, 2020

I found this study interesting on happiness and aging in the US. Completed by the well-respected Brookings Institution, others here might find it of interest, especially as they discuss the differences they see in the USA versus other developed countries.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/12/07/happiness-and-aging-in-the-us-why-it-is-different-from-other-places-and-why-it-matters/
Strength, Courage, and Peace to all

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 28, 2020
In reply to @nanette2022 "Yes, I was born in 1941; in France. I love to paint watercolor, I am a..." + (show)
@nanette2022

Yes, I was born in 1941; in France. I love to paint watercolor, I am a published author: poetry, one of my poem was selected for the millennium book of poetry; I love to cook (and I am a gourmet cook) I love to entertain but people do not like to come to my house because they say they could never entertain the way I do... actually a hamburger would do with a glass of wine... I entertain because I need and want friends. That is as simple as that.

Jump to this post

@nannette1941- Good morning. I'm just a few years younger than you are and I have hosted many a dinner party. People are strange that way, thinking that they have to compete. Maybe just make scrambled eggs- plain scrambled eggs the next time? Or have a simple soup and salad party with just a few people at a time?

The last time that I was in Paris it was for three weeks while my husband worked. Paris and all of France feel like my second home. I don't know if I'll ever have a chance to return but my times there have been wonderful. I even returned to my university to learn french, but it's been a while since then. To me, it's the most beautiful language in the world. If I had a french accent I don't think that I would ever shut up! When did you move to the US?

My husband is the author of several books and my drawings are in his books. I have a couple of art rewards for my watercolors. Right now it's pretty difficult to paint out of doors with COVID-19 around. Too many people like to stand around and watch people paint and tell them what they missed or painted incorrectly. lol

I hope that you continue to be safe and take care of yourself. Are you living with your family?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Dec 28, 2020
In reply to @nanette2022 "I just feel useless. I have to beg people to come and eat at my house,..." + (show)
@nanette2022

I just feel useless. I have to beg people to come and eat at my house, I am a good cook... so they do not want to come but I am not invited. Where I come from, on Christmas day/eve an extra plate is put on the table for the unknown guest... but no one comes and I am tired of so much loneliness. They say reach out... well I do but nothing happens. Since I am retired it is just so lonely

Jump to this post

@nannette1941 It's Monday....time to get going. I usually have MFR therapy on Monday at 11 am. So I got up, dressed, and was in the car a few miles down the road and then it hit me. Because of the holidays, my appointment is at 3 pm.

So now I have some time to respond. Let's see if I remember the highlights. Born in France..,, is there a french speaking group where you live now. In my village, there was a "French group that met regularly and only spoke French. They wanted to make sure they didn't lose the language.

You are an artist......painting. Two of the artists in my gallery were from Hawaii. Painters always gathered on Saturday morning at a beautiful park (Kapiolani) to learn and teach, to have social interactions. Is there a painter's group where you live? Wanna start one.?

And then there were the walkers. We went on Inn to Inn walks here in the US and in Canada and Ireland. Do you know of such a group?

I can see that other Connect folks jumped in with great messages for you. Yea Team!

How was the weekend? Anything super special?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

REPLY
1 reply
nanette2022 | @nanette2022 | Dec 28, 2020
In reply to @merpreb "@nannette1941- Good morning. I'm just a few years younger than you are and I have hosted..." + (show)
@merpreb

@nannette1941- Good morning. I'm just a few years younger than you are and I have hosted many a dinner party. People are strange that way, thinking that they have to compete. Maybe just make scrambled eggs- plain scrambled eggs the next time? Or have a simple soup and salad party with just a few people at a time?

The last time that I was in Paris it was for three weeks while my husband worked. Paris and all of France feel like my second home. I don't know if I'll ever have a chance to return but my times there have been wonderful. I even returned to my university to learn french, but it's been a while since then. To me, it's the most beautiful language in the world. If I had a french accent I don't think that I would ever shut up! When did you move to the US?

My husband is the author of several books and my drawings are in his books. I have a couple of art rewards for my watercolors. Right now it's pretty difficult to paint out of doors with COVID-19 around. Too many people like to stand around and watch people paint and tell them what they missed or painted incorrectly. lol

I hope that you continue to be safe and take care of yourself. Are you living with your family?

Jump to this post

What kind of watercolors do you paint? How could I give you my personal email and telephone so that we could share more? What books does your husband write? Could you find out (should you want to) how we - you and - could communicate on a personal level?

REPLY
nanette2022 | @nanette2022 | Dec 28, 2020
In reply to @artscaping "@nannette1941 It's Monday....time to get going. I usually have MFR therapy on Monday at 11 am...." + (show)
@artscaping

@nannette1941 It's Monday....time to get going. I usually have MFR therapy on Monday at 11 am. So I got up, dressed, and was in the car a few miles down the road and then it hit me. Because of the holidays, my appointment is at 3 pm.

So now I have some time to respond. Let's see if I remember the highlights. Born in France..,, is there a french speaking group where you live now. In my village, there was a "French group that met regularly and only spoke French. They wanted to make sure they didn't lose the language.

You are an artist......painting. Two of the artists in my gallery were from Hawaii. Painters always gathered on Saturday morning at a beautiful park (Kapiolani) to learn and teach, to have social interactions. Is there a painter's group where you live? Wanna start one.?

And then there were the walkers. We went on Inn to Inn walks here in the US and in Canada and Ireland. Do you know of such a group?

I can see that other Connect folks jumped in with great messages for you. Yea Team!

How was the weekend? Anything super special?

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

Jump to this post

Hello Chris, the French people in my church group are too busy (they are still employed ) walking was my favorite but because of surgery in one foot and the need in the other, walking is out of question.

REPLY
nanette2022 | @nanette2022 | Dec 28, 2020
In reply to @ess77 "Good morning, nannette1941! Well, I see you survived the night, as did all my sweet plants!!!!..." + (show)
@ess77

Good morning, nannette1941! Well, I see you survived the night, as did all my sweet plants!!!! They did quite well, even my little 'Vanda' orchid, hanging on the crepe myrtle tree on the deck. I have it on a limb, sheltered frome the cold wind by the fence. I'ts happy this morning and the large bud growing bigger by the moment is getting rreally huge, ready to open soon. I'll send you a pic. when it opens. Where in France were you born? Wish you'd tell me a little about life there....that was during the war? How and when did you get to the states? Sounds like you've had quite an interesting life and accomplished a lot.....poetry I love!! Can you send any info re your book? I'd love to read some of your writing......also, I so jealous that you cook, that you're a gourmet. How wonderful to be able to give to your friends and family through your love of cooking. I wanted to learn more and more, even learned from French Gourmet on tv! But, stopped that journey as I worked long hours in retirement administration and then owned my own shop.....2 very different areas of life's work, but I loved and enjoyed them both. Both had to do with helping others, working with folks to make their lives better, I guess. Think that was something I was supposed to do with my life. Sad I didn't do a better job of it, tho! Oh, well, did my best.. I'm having to work on accetance. Acceptance of where I am right this minute. In life. Acceptance of my age....yes, the number and the consequences! Mostly, acceptance of me, me today, possibility of me tomorrow and my memories of me yesterday. Tough place. But, Not so much of yesterday anymore! Milestone. More now of today and hope for tomorrow. getting there. Again, glad you had a good rest and woke up today with a new vision! Careful not to overdo!!!!! Blessings. Elizabeth

Jump to this post

I was born in Belfort, a small town surrounded by Germany and Switzerland, I was born at the end of WWII. I came to the US (Evanston Illinois) in 1964 to get married. Today, "Acceptance" of my age and the mistakes I made not being to change these, are my greatest challenges and the source of most of my depression. I would love to write to you on a personal basis, is there a way for me to communicate my personal email address?

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Dec 29, 2020
In reply to @nanette2022 "I was born in Belfort, a small town surrounded by Germany and Switzerland, I was born..." + (show)
@nanette2022

I was born in Belfort, a small town surrounded by Germany and Switzerland, I was born at the end of WWII. I came to the US (Evanston Illinois) in 1964 to get married. Today, "Acceptance" of my age and the mistakes I made not being to change these, are my greatest challenges and the source of most of my depression. I would love to write to you on a personal basis, is there a way for me to communicate my personal email address?

Jump to this post

@nannette1941- Thank you for such a nice compliment of wanting to get closer. One of the things that I love about Connect is sharing with everyone and reading all of the various replies and opinions.

I prefer landscape painting. There's just something about being outside to paint. But I haven't been motivated to do so for a while. My husband was a fisherman and fisheries manager commissioner. He wrote about the history and techniques of fishing in both the sport and commercial fisheries. I drew fish and lures! lol.

What do you like to paint? What is delaying your second operation?

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 25, 2021

Hi @nannette1941
I see that you have asked to share personal emails or how to message more personally on this forum. You can send private messages to members. Learn more here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/

However, I like to point out that writing private messages or moving to personal email takes you away from the group conversation around the kitchen table (figuratively speaking). When I see discussions like this one, I like to imagine a kitchen, where we're all sharing a cup of coffee or perhaps we're preparing a meal together. The conversation continues when someone has to leave or new people arrive. Not only that, you can jump into multiple conversations. You're welcome at any of these virtual kitchen tables.

You mention that you are a poet and painter. I think you might like to join this discussion:
- Art for Healing https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/art-for-healing/

Like @merpreb, I'd like to know what you like to paint. What's your favorite subject to capture with watercolors?

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jun 24, 2021

I receive a weekly email from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. This week they had a link to a Canadian articale about Men's Health and aging https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/hitting-the-headlines/detail/hitting-the-headlines/2021/06/22/canadian-men-s-health-month-modifying-your-lifestyle-to-age-well

It seems this would be great for people of all nations, men and women! What do you think?
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 24, 2022
In reply to @gingerw "I receive a weekly email from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. This week they had a link..." + (show)
@gingerw

I receive a weekly email from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. This week they had a link to a Canadian articale about Men's Health and aging https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/hitting-the-headlines/detail/hitting-the-headlines/2021/06/22/canadian-men-s-health-month-modifying-your-lifestyle-to-age-well

It seems this would be great for people of all nations, men and women! What do you think?
Ginger

Jump to this post

@gingerw, I'm also a big fan of the emails from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Saw this one this morning...

Volunteers: Artisans of health and well-being: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2022/03/23/volunteers-artisans-of-health-and-well-being

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Mar 24, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "@gingerw, I'm also a big fan of the emails from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Saw this..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@gingerw, I'm also a big fan of the emails from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Saw this one this morning...

Volunteers: Artisans of health and well-being: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/blog/detail/blog/2022/03/23/volunteers-artisans-of-health-and-well-being

Jump to this post

@johnbishop I agree that volunteering is a great way to spend time! Finding a cause or something that intrigues us, gets those "feel good" vibes going inside of us, and we feel lighter in spirit for it. In our little town, we volunteer to help with the community association that puts on holiday events for the town. I like behind the scenes, while my husband gets right in there with the kids of all ages. Also, I have put in my application to be on the budget committee [openings are few and far between].
Ginger

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.