Healthy habits and ‘historic’ TV highlights

Over the years, I have completed physical therapy sessions for various injuries and conditions: painful knees — I want to avoid surgery at all costs; arthritis in the neck with the associated neck pain and headaches; and now I’m learning exercises to improve my balance to prevent any future falls.

Each time, I faithfully attend all the PT sessions, and at home, I start doing all the exercises I’ve learned. I even document the completed exercises on my MEDBRIDGE GO app to keep track of my progress.

So all is good.

Now here’s my problem. Over time, out of laziness or just the daily random interruptions, I stopped doing the exercises, ignoring that inner coach whispering in my ear in a gentle, encouraging voice, DON’T STOP!

But I do.

I’ve been told my experience is not uncommon. So what can I — or anyone — do to establish a habit of spending time completing the exercises I know will improve my health?

If you’re a slacker like me, here are some simple tips from the book Atomic Habits for building good habits.

1. Make it obvious. Create cues in your environment to remind you to do your new habit.

2. Make it attractive. Try to make the habit something fun or enjoyable.

3. Make it easy. Try to make the habit simple so that you can do it more easily.

4. Make it satisfying. Find a way to reward yourself for doing the habit.

5. Never miss a habit twice in a row. This will keep you on track.

6. Stick to a sustainable pace. That way you won’t burn out.

I’ve also found it helps to join a friend in an activity you want to make a habit of. It could be a book club, a knitting group, or a Strong People class that focuses on strength, flexibility, and balance. Knowing that a friend will be there can give you the extra motivation to keep going.

Good habits can help you improve a little bit each day and lead to big changes over time.

So now, what other problem should I work on? I’d better ask my wife!

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And what better time to use these tips than during October which is Gorge Happiness Month? This month, we are encouraged to make a habit of the three proven actions that can increase happiness and build strong connections in our communities: acts of kindness, gratitude, and moments of silence. With these habits, you can make every month your Happiness Month!

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Brain Tease: A magazine competition invited people to come up with “invented” inventions of the cyber-age. For example, a solar-powered clothes dryer (a rope), and a hand-held word processor (a pencil). Can you guess what this is?

“It is a portable arcade. A hand-held amusement resource with no cartridges or batteries. Access games of speed, dexterity, memory, and cunning. Produce magical effects or construct lofty towers. Some games can increase your income.”

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The novel by John Steinbeck that tells the story of the Joads’ journey from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression is “The Grapes of Wrath.” I received correct answers from Nancy Higgins, Stephen Woolpert, Donna Mollet, Judy Kiser, Julie Hoffman, Bruce Johnson, Eva Summers, Rhonda Spies, Lana Tepfer, Doug Nelson, Rebecca Abrams, and Jay Lyman, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.

And last week, while watching Jack Nicholson fly over a cuckoo’s nest, I missed Rhonda Spies, Kim and Jess Birge, Pat Evenson-Brady, Tina Castanares, and Nancy Higgins.

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As I promised, here are the ten old television series that New York Times writer John McWhorter thinks every kid needs to watch. See if you agree.

“I love Lucy,” “All in the Family,” “The Jeffersons,” “Amos and Andy,” “Golden Girls,” “Cheers,” “Mannix,” “Carol Burnett Show,” and the classic English comedy starring John Cleese of Monty Python fame: “Fawlty Towers.”

That’s nine, and the tenth television series is this week’s “Remember When” question. What was the name of the 1959 to 1964 anthology television series created by Rod Serling, in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with tickets to the Tower of Terror attraction at Disney World.

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Well, it’s been another week focusing on the little steps. Until we meet again, watch out for the black cats crossing your path.

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“To look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”

— Betty Smith

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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.

Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).

For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).