For a Longer Life, Give Thanks

 

An "attitude of gratitude" may be a cliche, but the truth is, having one can actually lengthen your life. 

Before digging in to the turkey and cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving, many families will pause and share something they’re grateful for. According to scientists, bringing that Thanksgiving spirit and practice into the everyday can help people live longer and healthier lives. Here are some research-backed reasons for cultivating an attitude of gratitude year-round, and how to commit to the practice.

Gratitude Is Powerful

When scientists study the health and longevity benefits of gratitude, they’re usually referring to a practice of focusing on what we have, rather than what we don’t have. In other words, practicing gratitude means emphasizing what is, rather than what is not. Like a mindfulness practice, a gratitude practice is about bringing our attention to what’s around us in a non-judgemental way.

In a recent study of female nurses between 69 and 96 years old, researchers found that those who felt gratitude more often had a 9% lower risk of mortality within three years. That effect emerged after adjusting for other factors like physical and mental health, social connectedness, socioeconomic status, and religion. One of the authors of the study, Tyler VanderWeele, is co-director of the Initiative on Health, Spirituality, and Religion at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

"A 9% reduction in mortality risk is meaningful, but not huge," VanderWeele told Harvard Women’s Health Watch. "But what's remarkable about gratitude is that just about anyone can practice it. Anyone can recognize what's around them and express thanks to others for what's good in their life."

Indeed, for such an accessible intervention, gratitude’s positive effects on health are pretty amazing. Experiencing gratitude on a regular basis has been shown to support cardiovascular health; in one study, people with a gratitude practice experienced an improvement in symptoms like inflammation, and were more likely to stick to treatment goals. In a meta-analysis of 64 clinical trials, researchers found that individuals who practiced gratitude had lower rates of anxiety and depression. 

Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas studies well-being at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is unfair to demand gratitude from anyone if they’re feeling particularly impoverished,” she said in an interview with CNN.  “But it’s not unfair to point out some of the simple and easy immediate factors that are actually a source of goodness. It could be the feeling of warm sun through a window on your shoulder…it’s just a matter of really noticing that there are things around you, even in moments that are difficult.”

How to Cultivate Gratitude Daily

Everyone feels gratitude spontaneously sometimes, but the real health benefits emerge for those who cultivate gratitude with intention. Here are a few ways to practice.

Stopping and Noticing: LIke Dr. Simon-Thomas suggests, pausing to notice the goodness in everyday moments is a form of gratitude practice. Any mindfulness technique will bring the same effect. To remind yourself to stop and look for the good, try connecting this new habit with something you already do everyday. For example, instead of using your morning coffee time to doomscroll or watch the news, use that time consistently to pause and notice the good things your senses are telling you. The smell of coffee, the sound of birdsong, the chill of the autumn air, the comfort of your favorite chair… all these are available for the noticing.

Ask Yourself Three Questions: Pick three questions to ask yourself every day to generate a sense of gratitude. 

What sensations am I grateful for in this moment?

Who has given me something recently–a gift, kindness, their time?

What is bringing me comfort?

What art/book/movie/media gave me happiness today?

What am I looking forward to? 

You might decide to keep a gratitude journal: writing down your answers can help you remember to practice, and re-reading weeks of entries can bring back grateful feelings all over again. It’s also fine to simply write the questions on a post-it note and place it in a spot you’ll see every day. To improve health and well-being, the important thing is consistency, to build up an orientation of gratitude.

Write a Thank-You Note: When a particular person comes to mind during your gratitude reflection, consider letting them know you’re thankful for them by writing a note or email. VaderWeele, one of the recent study authors, says, "I do think writing a thank-you note or gratitude letter gets your mind to dwell on something positive for a longer period, to think more deeply about it, because you have to put it not just in words, but in writing." Plus, "It also deepens the relationship and builds that bond."

Gratitude doesn’t cost a thing, and it makes a real difference. This Thanksgiving season, take a few moments out of the busyness to let that gratitude in. 

Additional Sources:

https://www.ncoa.org/article/the-many-gifts-of-gratitude/ 

https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/gratitude 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/12/health/gratitude-benefits-longer-life-wellness 

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

It's Never Too Late: Two New CSAs Share Their Journeys to Certification

   

Senior Spirit sat down with two freshly-minted CSAs to chat about the experience of gaining the CSA certification in their 80s.

After months of study, this summer, Robert Clark, 85, and Richard J. Young, 81, each earned their certifications to become members of the CSA class of 2025. If you weren’t lucky enough to take the class with them (or if you were!) read on to learn about the troves of professional and personal experience that Bob and Rick bring to their roles as CSAs.

Rick, a Michigan native, worked in sales and marketing at Ford for 23 years. Then he got into the retail automobile business, working for several Ford dealers in various positions before starting a leasing business of his own. As they were nearing traditional retirement age, Rick’s late wife, whose career involved supporting the developmentally disabled community, shared with him a conviction she had: that there was something they could do with their talents and abilities that would enable them to give back and really help people. 

“We wanted to give back, and that was our major driving force to go into this business,” Rick said. “We saw a real need.” As they researched the options, they decided that a CarePatrol franchise would be a great fit for them. CarePatrol helps people determine their needs and move into safe, care-appropriate and affordable care communities. The process is highly relationship-driven, and there’s no cost to the families. 

“At first it was a little bit difficult for me, because I had come from an automobile sales position, and this is not a sales position,” Rick said. “This is a care position.” He strives to learn everything he possibly can about each client in order to offer them the best placement options–work he finds to be challenging but highly rewarding. “There's a great deal of self satisfaction when…I can look at a client, and say, let me take that burden off your shoulders, let me carry it for you. We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and we want to carry your issues and your problems.” Rick and his wife ran the business together until she passed away a few years ago. Today, Rick works with a stellar employee who lives in a neighboring Michigan county.

As for Bob, a native of Southern California, he started his career with a stint on a mountain rescue team and then moved into insurance sales. Bob joined Toastmasters International to strengthen his skills in sales and found that the experience helped him connect with people at every level; he’s now been an active member for over 55 years.

Bob started a career in financial planning when it was still called “coordination of assets” and built a successful practice. In the 90s, he served as an in-house analyst for an insurance litigation firm. Volunteer service has always been important to him, too; Bob was a hospice volunteer for Scripps hospital, an ombudsman for San Diego County, and a facilitator for an international men’s organization. These days, in Las Vegas, he works mostly with seniors, providing education through the Socratic method; that is, asking questions to drill down to the essence of what the person really needs. 

Becoming a CSA

Bob is a consummate lifelong learner. With an eclectic home library of over 2,000 books, “There’s not too much that I'm not interested in,” he says. “I don’t have to be an expert in it, but I want to have a pretty good understanding and be able to have an intelligent conversation.” Over the course of his career, he’s earned a number of certifications, including Certified Life Coach, Certified Long-Term Care Professional, and Certified Mediator. This summer marks the second time Bob completed the CSA course: the first time was back in the early days of SCSA, and his certification lapsed around 2008. 

While preparing for the CSA certification this time around, Bob committed to studying from 6:30am to 3:30pm, six days a week for three months. He also noticed something new about the course content on older adults. “When I started the CSA program,” he said, “it was like, they’re talking about me. They’re taking this information to deal with the people out there. I’m one of the people out there.” 

As CSAs in their 80s, Bob and Rick are serving and advising their generational peers. Bob described the advantage this gives as the difference between sympathy, or feeling for someone, and empathy, or feeling with someone, through experience. “People in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, sometimes even 60s, are looking into a fog bank when it comes to the aging process,” Bob said. “Unless you’re actually living it, you can’t totally understand it.” 

As a CarePatrol owner-operator, Rick made a commitment to the company to become a CSA. “It had been 58 years since I graduated from college, and that’s a lot of years,” he said, “when you're trying to acclimate yourself to the studying and retention.” Rick put in many hours studying for the exam; he read the books twice and took piles of notes. “There was a ton of material–good material, I found out, well written articles by professionals in each area–but it took a lot.” He created a space in his home where he would be comfortable studying for hours, surrounded by pictures of his wife and family. “It took me a great deal of time and discipline, perseverance.”

Rick hesitated to schedule a date for the test. When he finally walked into the exam room this past June, he noticed immediately that there was no one else his age taking the test. In that moment, he only felt more motivated to prove that he could pass–and he did. “It was the greatest high for me. Some people couldn’t believe that I did it at my age. I guess I learned, too, that you’re never too old to learn. If you keep your mind active, I firmly believe, it actually improves not only your lifestyle, but it improves your longevity.”

Both men would recommend the CSA course to others. “It’s a very comprehensive course, and it will expand your mind and your thinking and broaden your awareness about life’s daily challenges for seniors,” said Bob, who emphasized that rather than making you an expert, the course heightens awareness. “It gives you a kind of understanding so you can learn to identify problem situations, and then you bring in the experts.” Bob cited the Leaders Network as an example of how CSAs leverage the expertise of fellow CSAs. 

Bob distinguishes between networking and netweaving: between chasing after connections, and positioning yourself as a resource so that people come to you. With his CSA certification, he hopes he can become “a valued resource for people, not just seniors. Hopefully I can help them get through the fog bank a little bit easier.”

Still Learning

Now that they’ve passed the test and officially gained the CSA designation, both Bob and Rick are moving on to new endeavors. Bob shared that he’s preparing to embark on another certification process starting this January; he preferred not to share which one, but he expects it will take him about six months of intensive study. Ask him about his progress when you see him at the SCSA Conference in Denver this coming August. 

Rick is putting his focus back into growing his business while he starts to think about a succession plan. He’s researching the process of creating a sturdy agreement that would allow his employee, Katie Rivest, to buy into the business and eventually buy him out. 

By studying and earning their CSA certifications in their 80s, both Bob and Rick decided it wasn’t too late to learn to provide even more skillful support to the people they serve. “Don’t ever back away and consider yourself, once you hit your 60s or 70s or even your 80s, that your life is over,” Rick said. “There’s a whole lot of life to live.”

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us

Famous & 65

   

Look who's turning 65 this month

Find out which celebrities are turning 65 this month!

November 4

This fiery redheaded comedian made her name with a sharp tongue and an unapologetic take on Hollywood culture. She broke out in the 1990s as part of the ensemble on the sitcom Suddenly Susan, but truly came to fame with her Emmy-winning reality show My Life on the D-List, which chronicled the ups and downs of her career in hilarious fashion. A two-time Emmy winner and Grammy Award recipient for Best Comedy Album, she became known for her stand-up specials and her willingness to skewer celebrities, politics, and herself. Beyond comedy, she’s been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and free speech. 

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 5

This chameleon-like performer is celebrated for her fearless approach to acting, from avant-garde art films and mainstream blockbusters. Audiences know her for ethereal, otherworldly performances in films like Orlando, Doctor Strange, and Suspiria, as well as her Academy Award-winning role in Michael Clayton. She’s equally at home playing androgynous icons (like Bob Dylan in I’m Not There), supernatural beings (like the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia), or eccentric villains (in 2023’s Problemista). Born in Scotland, she’s also known for her presence on the fashion scene.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 11

This acclaimed character actor has built a career on stealing scenes across film, television, and stage. He earned multiple awards for co-writing, co-directing, and starring in Big Night, a celebration of Italian food and family that became a modern classic. He’s known for playing the protagonist’s stylish mentor in both The Devil Wears Prada and The Hunger Games series, and for his roles in the dramas Spotlight and Supernova. With Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards to his name, as well as an Oscar nomination, he’s basically the quintessential character actor. He’s also a major foodie: he hosted a CNN culinary travel show where he ate his way across Italy, and last year published a book called What I Ate in One Year.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 17

Icon…mogul…queen. Known for both his sharp humor and uplifting catchphrases, this San Diego native rose to prominence in the 1990s with the dance hit Supermodel (You Better Work) and a VH1 talk show. He later created and hosted a reality competition series that became a cultural juggernaut and won dozens of Emmy Awards. With charisma and talent to spare, he continues to champion queer visibility and recently shared his story with the world in an intimate and well-received self-titled memoir.  He’ll be remembered for transforming drag from an underground art into a global phenomenon.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

November 25

This singer-songwriter became one of the first artists to successfully bridge contemporary Christian music and mainstream pop, earning her the nickname “The Queen of Christian Pop.” After rising to fame in the 1980s with faith-based hits, she later crossed over to the Billboard charts with best-selling albums like Heart in Motion, featuring the smash single “Baby Baby.” Over her decades-long career, she’s sold millions of records, won six Grammy Awards, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Her Christmas albums and tours have become seasonal staples beloved by generations of fans.

Answer: Who is…. (click here to reveal)?

Source:

Wikipedia

Blog posting provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors

www.csa.us