Welcome to Retirement News Articles for the week of August 28th::
My favorite articles for the week are:
- Food, Nutrition & Cooking – 6 Healthiest Bread Options
- Recreation and Hobbies for Seniors – 5 Pickleball Tips to Dominate the Game
- Arts, Entertainment & Reading – The Cowboy Folklorist
- Vote for What is the Best Fall Festival for 2023?
Though I am not the author of these Retirement News Articles, I have searched earnestly for quality content that will prove of value and interest to my subscribers. I hope you enjoy these articles and encourage you to comment on not only the content, but with thoughts on what subjects you would like to see in this weekly compilation.
Please note that you can now subscribe to this weekly edition on the upper right-hand portion of my website (or for those viewing this on a smart phone, it should be at the bottom of the page).
I also encourage you to check out my other posts for the week as well:
Thank you
Mike
Bonus Story for Retirement News Articles
The Bonus Story is about Arlo Guthrie’s song, “This Land is Your Land”. Many may be unaware of this, but it was originally written in 1940 as a protest song after Guthrie had traveled across the US listening to stories of poverty during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Two verses have largely gone missing and are the lyrics that contemplated whether America really was for you and me.
The Story Behind America’s Best Known Protest Song
Travel for Seniors
It’s the last week of August and summer is winding down. It’s time to talk about spending time in our national parks. For those of you who are campers, article one will be of special interest. Article 2 provides a guide to visiting the favorite national park of those living in the Eastern US.
The Best Camping Spots in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
A Complete Guide to Visiting Shenandoa National Park
Lifestyle, Health and Welfare for Seniors
Dr. Melina B. Jampolis is quoted in article one “Walking is the number one exercise I recommend to most of my patients because it is very easy to do, requires nothing but a pair of tennis shoes, and has tremendous mental and physical benefits.” Just 30 minutes of walking a day for several days a week can reap huge health benefits for seniors.
Article two discusses the benefits of naps. Interestingly, the nap to avoid is one lasting more than 20 minutes and less than 60 minutes, says Natalie Dautovich, a psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University and an environmental fellow at the National Sleep Foundation. Evidently, the sweet spot is a short cat nap of 20 minutes or a longer nap of 60-90 minutes. The benefits are best felt if you are sleep deprived.
11 Biggest Benefits of Walking to Improve Health
Food, Nutrition & Cooking
Articles one and two are focused upon healthy nutrition, including my current theme of the “healing power of food”.
I admit to being a fan of artisan breads and especially enjoyed the second article, which begins by stressing the benefits of whole grain breads. It specifically cited 6 bread types, which are listed below:
- Whole Grain
- Sprouted Grain
- Seeded
- Rye
- Sourdough
- Gluten Free
I was unfamiliar with sprouted grains breads and decided to purchase my first loaf of this bread at my recent trip to the grocery store. Thus far I have enjoyed it’s nutty texture and flavor (of course that is mostly reflective of the grain and seed ingredients). My father was a fan of rye bread and I admit to inheriting this trait. In my search for genuine rye bread, I have been dismayed to learn how difficult it is to find in its true form.
In articles 3 and 4 I digress a bit, focusing upon more sinful varieties of food. Admittedly, article 3 is at least focused upon finding healthy alternatives to your favorite junk foods. However, the last story is all about a self-indulgent re-creation of a fast-food favorite, Taco Bell’s “Crunchwrap”. For those of us who are retirement age, can we agree that we deserve an indulgence once in a great while?
Food as Medicine – The Healing Power of Nutrition
Healthy Alternatives for Favorite Junk Foods
Recreation & Hobbies for Seniors
Though I haven’t had time to enjoy a foray into pickleball, as a tennis player, it remains on my list of future endeavors. I therefore share these two articles in anticipation of enjoying the game at some point as well as hoping the articles are enjoyed by those of you who are already spending time on the court with friends and family. It appears the game can even be a catalyst for travel adventures.
5 Pickleball Tips to Dominate the Game
Top Pickleball Vacation Destinations
Arts, Entertainment & Reading
I may have shared previously that I am a big music fan, especially for what has grown to be called “Roots Music”, which would include folk, country, bluegrass, blues, etc. Article one delves into a roots genre that combines music, storytelling and poetry, with a much appreciated historical twist as well.
I can’t seem to pen an appropriate introduction to article two, so I am just going to share a quote from the first paragraph;
Greek philosopher Aristotle asked…”What if literature was an invention for making us happier and healthier? The idea made intuitive sense; when people felt bored, or unhappy, or at a loss for meaning, they frequently turned to plays or poetry. And afterwards, they often reported feeling better. But what could be the secret to literature’s feel-better power? What hidden nuts-and-bolts conveyed its psychological benefits?”
And lastly, I had to add article 3 “in the nick of time” as the voting for this contest ends September 4th. So get a move on and share your opinion!
Eight of Literature’s Most Powerful Inventions
What is the Best Fall Festival for 2023?
Financial Management for Seniors
Article 1 provides a list of 10 best retirement books, but a much more varied list than I have seen in the past. One was originally published in 1926, while another is not about investing, but how to minimize Medicare mistakes. Take a look and I am sure you can find one to your liking.
Signed into law Dec. 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) — informally known as the Trump tax cuts, contained a number of changes to individual tax rates that are scheduled to expire January 1, 2026. Most notably, the TCJA increased the standard deduction and exemptions from estate taxes. If the tax cuts are not extended, these could revert to less favorable 2017 levels…and require many of us to itemize on our taxes (ugh!).
The Best Retirement Planning Books for 2023
Trump-Era Tax Cuts Are Expiring: What This Means for Retirees
Published August 28, 2023