Letter to the Editor

Editor:

The current advice for seniors is to eat right, exercise, mind our finances and to be socially engaged, especially for those of us, like myself, who are now living alone.

Meeting people and making new friends for the first time is daunting. I am adjusting to being alone at my age, to becoming a party of one. The mandate to make new friends (which I told my kids to do when they started new schools) just isn’t easy for me. And although people see me speaking out on topics at GRF Board meetings, in my private life, I am painfully shy.

So I was delighted recently to read a new concept for social engagement to help with longevity, better health and deterring Alzheimer’s from Dr. Jeremy Noble of Harvard Medical School. His novel approach recognizes the difficulty of meeting new people at our age. Rather than reaching out to people, he recommends joining an activity that interests you. In Leisure World, there are choir, chess, lapidary, dance, exercise, photography, enameling, opera, genealogy, volunteer opportunities, golf, gym, a garden, sculpture, sewing, music and more. Participating in any number of activities you enjoy includes meeting other like-minded participants. Awkward meet-and-greet conversations aren’t the focus. The activity is!

Perhaps reassessing the opportunities provided here will help discover people who share common interests and will help us all achieve the goals of longevity.

Marla Hamblin Mutual 15