You could become your grandparent. Growing up I spent lots of time in a multi-generational household. Both of my grandmothers were widowed, one in […]
Category: Weekly
Something new will happen to each of us every day. Not everything is earth shaking or even worth mentioning, but some are. In this section we will offer something new and worth sharing.
Is a Storage Unit Something for You?
One family’s story of life with a storage unit. I rented a storage unit three days ago. No, I rented two! The first […]
On Poetry
Awaken your muse? COVID-19 has provided more than ample time for reflection and writing; especially for seniors who live in residential communities and may […]
Old Dogs, New Tricks
Covid-19 and virtual meetings. This is about how modern technology kept a long-standing group together. But how did we get here? In 1970, a […]
Not a Talent Scout
Dad got this one wrong. In November of 1976 I was invited to a professional meeting in New York. I would be working during the […]
Anything Worth Watching?
Recommending entertainment options for others can be a dicey proposition. Most wisely skirt this issue. Excuse me for the audacity of taking it head-on. […]
The Ninth Grade, ugh!!
I bet I am not the only one who had a terrible year at school. Here is one I remember. I spent eight […]
Working at Home
It is happening now. What are the affects and how long will it last? Seated in my room with the door ajar I hear […]
The Roadtrip
Going there can be better than getting there. In these long days of COVID-19, there are times when a person needs a break from the […]
Charlie and Warren
Sometimes a picture tells it all. About fifteen years ago I got a call from my friend Al Ueltschi, the founder of Flight Safety […]
The “Mighty Mac” Replaces the Ferry
Recollections of the past and a look at today. The Straits of Mackinac bridge, also called “The Mighty Mac” is a magnificent structure connecting […]
A Gift Too Good to Use
Sometimes the thought is bigger than the gift. Sometimes a gift is so precious it is too good to be used. Maybe this makes […]
Follow the Rules
Bureaucracy (bu-reauc-ra-cy): A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials. I believe in following the rules […]
Traditional Country Music
For those of you who want to enjoy some entertainment as a break from “all day news”, try some classic country music. Traditional country […]
Remembering the Birthday Party that Wasn’t
It is easy to take an event for granted until… For the past 35 years I have spent summers in northern Michigan. Since I […]
The Altered World We Live In
We face a unique health risk and how it affects us can depend on us. Yesterday I observed a festive occasion on an […]
Do You Have a Real ID?
Real ID is not a national identification card. It does not create a federal database of driver’s license information…the purpose of Real ID is to […]
Professor Arthur Louis Dunham
We never know when a seemingly small event can have a life changing effect. In October 1952 I was a 17-year-old freshman at the […]
Aunt Peg
In your memories some things stick out and you wonder why. Here is one of mine. Did you have an Aunt Peg ? […]
Arrested at Marshall Field’s
The start of a lively family discussion. In mid-November, while attending a convention in Chicago, Barbara and I decided to do some Christmas […]
Tennis with Renee
Some things that happen on the spur of the moment become lifetime memories The place was Puerto Rico. It was 1984. The event was […]
A New Way to Visit Your Doctor
This new way to see your doctor could be just the thing for you. After more than 30 years working with Telemedicine, including supervising […]
One Hundred Years Old and Still Going Strong!
Not everything loses viability after a century. The past 50 years have witnessed unprecedented change; especially in communication, transportation, and technology. Computers and […]
Is it OK to Share Your Email Address?
Are there risks when you give someone your email address? Email is a wonderful way to connect with friends and family. The immediacy […]
Is Community College for You?
An alternative to the traditional four-year college experience is available. These days, much is said about higher education, with a lot of emphasis […]
Time of Birth and Luck
In his acclaimed book, The Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell illustrated how time of birth can predict a life of good luck and success. This is an […]
Revealing Our Inner Self
Stress can summon feelings that find refuge in words. COVID-19 came a-calling COVID-19 came a-callingDr. Fauci called the score’U S Mailman wouldn’t enterTwo staff members […]
You Have a Camera in Your Hand
Ever wish you could snap a picture of that memorable sight? If you have a smart phone you can. You may have noticed that Your […]
National Coronavirus Response
The only action we can take now to lessen the effect of the COVID–19 pandemic is to practice social distancing and personal hygiene. Life […]
Fighting an Unseen Enemy
We are dealing with a disease new to all of us and it is affecting not just us but the world’s population. The following is […]
What Can We Do?
When things get tough, we can all pitch in. This is one of those times. I was dressed at seven. It was time […]
An Unprecedented Time
Our world, yes, our world! Is experiencing an unprecedented crisis – a pandemic. It is caused by COVID-19 a new virus more virulent than […]
Journaling with Haiku
Your Good Life has a Poets’ Corner and Recollections for memoirs and journaling. This week’s blog combines these two so we are putting it […]
What Are We Called?
Our age can be described with a label. What should ours be? The required age for entering a retirement community, especially one that […]
Cabin Fever Anyone?
We haven’t seen the sun in days so…? It’s winter. It’s depressing. A lot of gray skies and very little sunshine. We stay indoors enduring […]
Telling It Like It Is
We love to hear from readers and here is a great example. Last December 20th, Your Good Life began sending email notifications to 150 people. […]
The Silent Generation
There are six generations in our society represented by those from 95 to 6 years old: Greatest, Silent, Boomers, X, Millennials, and Z If you […]
Going in Circles?
Some new things are good, but only if you learn how to use them. A modern roundabout in the U.S. is a circular intersection where […]
Come Fly with Me
Recently we attempted to put a spin on prevailing negative attitudes about a hospital experience. It was possible to counter with a list of things […]
The Interview
An interview can be a terrifying experience. A poor performance can overshadow a stellar academic record, lay waste significant accomplishments, and derail a promising career. […]
The 21st Century
The new electronic wonders we encounter today are like the gift that keeps on giving. There seems to be no end. The drive with […]
Raising Humidity Without Getting Soaked?
Two important things about a portable humidifier and you purchasing one are, do I need one and if so, what kind should I get? I […]
The Rise of Skywalker
Movies continue to play an important part in the lives of many and few films have had a bigger impact than Star Wars. I had […]
What Is This Game?
We are all familiar with comfort food. How about a comfort game? It takes a table about 42 inches square and 30 inches high. There […]
Your Good Life
The Your Good Life team, after more than a year in preparation, held its final meeting Saturday before the official kickoff. On Monday morning approximately […]
Introducing Your Good Life
More than a year in preparation, the team responsible for Your Good life is proud to invite you to make this site a regular on […]
Black Friday
How often do we use a term or describe an act and wonder why? Black Friday is just four days away. This day officially […]
Overcoming Computer Fear
Have you purchased or ridden in a new car lately? If so, you may have heard about or experienced sticker shock. But that is not […]
So, You’re Going to the Hospital
People 65 years and older represent nearly 40 percent of hospitalized adults and are said to account for nearly half of all health care […]
The Online Book Club
After a little over a year, it is time to take stock of our online book club and invite readers to join us as an […]
Do You Like it There?
People have lots of questions about retirement communities and I get my share. Now past my 84th birthday, alone for the past year and a […]
The Good Hart Store
There are things in life that you derive pleasure from, or maybe better said, admire as an example of what things ought to be. Each […]
Becoming an Ice Boat Dealer
People can do strange things in their lives making them ask the question, “did I do that?” Around 1971, the Indianapolis Sailing Club hosted […]
The Lift Chair
Most of us spend time, or wish we could, in a comfortable chair to read, watch TV, or simply visit with another person. There are […]
Did I really do that?
Heads up fellas. This is mostly for you. If you ever think you did something stupid making you the biggest dumb head on the […]
Downsizing? Why not Resizing?
The word downsize is heard a lot in families when we approach the seventh decade or come close to it. Don’t be alarmed by […]
Do You Like It There?
People have lots of questions about retirement communities and I get my share. Now past my 84th birthday, alone for the past year and […]
A Readily Accessible Retentive Memory
Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a thoroughly enjoyable event. It was scheduled by the talented and hardworking activities department at our retirement facility. […]
The Pants
Where there’s a will there’s a way. Jack had the will and found the way. I received an email with a picture from a friend […]
To be or not to be…Not necessarily
Most readers I have met have a strong opinion about which is best, an e-book or a traditional print book. This usually results in […]
Water
Some health tips are simple others are important. Here is one that is both. “Be sure you are drinking enough water.” Trekking across the hot […]
Being There
There are things we can’t explain. These can have so much meaning it is hard to believe they are only imagined and without a […]
She Died of Thirst
Katie Watson, from Duke University, provided a thoughtful analysis of how it is possible to communicate with gallows humor as it relates to medicine: […]
A Tribute to Betty Olsen on Her Centennial
In life there are noteworthy accomplishments we all recognize that only a special few achieve. How about pitching a no hitter, winning an academy award, […]
She Would Have Loved It
I didn’t wait long, but that’s what Barbara would have wanted. Barbara died May 29, two weeks short of our 59th wedding anniversary. On […]
“My Dog”
A 93 year-old woman in a moment of intense grieving reveals her choice between her dog and her husband. It was noon and the […]
Too Early or Too Late?
A question that lingers but is seldom confronted I have some advice for answering the question “when is the best time to move into a […]
My Favorite Exercise Machine
Choosing the right fitness equipment can be a challenge. In this case, one size fits all does not apply. I have tried every training […]
Who Does She Rescue?
My wife and I kept a boat at Harbor Springs for more than twenty years. We spent much of our time cruising, mostly in […]
Before You Start an Exercise Program
Exercise is one of the pillars supporting good health. What you can do and how you do it should be decided with the help […]
Chief Medical Examiner
People are wired differently. “The things that make us who we are should not be what we expect in others.” My job after being […]
Music Lessons
Practice doesn’t always make perfect when it comes to becoming the next Mozart, a new study suggests. Researchers compared pairs of identical twins and found […]
Should I use a walker?
There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question. When it arises all the pertinent factors should be considered, and a decision […]
Your Stories Are Worth Sharing
All too often we seniors miss the opportunity to share important facts about our lives. These include many things our children and grandchildren would […]
Overcoming Computer Fear
Have you purchased or ridden in a new car lately? If so, you may have heard about or experienced sticker shock. But that is […]
Not the Enemy
There are 46 million seniors in the United States today, 15% of the population and the number is growing. According to the Pew Research […]
The Bag
Communication is important or more accurately, clear communication is essential. A message that is misunderstood can be comical, concerning, disruptive, hurtful, annoying, and even […]
Senior Stripes
A ten-minute walk in the parking lot of a senior residence revealed an interesting finding. The cars were clean, older but not ancient and […]