Living Well 60+ November – December 2015 | Page 30

30 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 Ask Don! Your Questions on Aging Answered by Don Hoffman, Staff Writer Donald Hoffman, a former director of the University of Kentucky’s Council on Aging and Donovan Scholars Program and a nationally recognized author and authority on aging, answers your questions about aging. Submit your questions directly to him at: [email protected]. Living in the Past Peter B. asks: I seem to be living in the past and get the feeling that I am boring my family and friends with stories of my past. Is this normal? Don answers: The longer we live, the more memories we collect. Reminiscing is common to all people. Sometimes situations we encounter in the present jog a past memory that seems pertinent to the present. They motivate us to talk about them with others. While some memories are unpleasant, most provide the fodder for constructive reminiscence. Memories held by elders were traditionally an unwritten oral history. Fire making, the creation of tools and weapons, cooking skills, clothing construction, religious beliefs and government were all part of the memories passed from generation to generation. Today, there are many other ways to record history, so the present purpose of our memories becomes somewhat clouded. Obviously, memories serve to guide us through our lives, but some carry important messages and have historic significance. It is not that the people we talk to devalue our memories, but their attention spans have shrunk amazingly to an all-time low. We live in a fast-moving world accelerated by the advent of cell phones, tablets and video. The younger generations have lost the art of conversation and sometimes it seems it is only older folks like us who remember and cherish the art of conversation. My advice to you would be to treat your memories as an important record of your life. We have lived through extraordinary times. Think of it: WW II, the Space Age, good times and bad times, and how we related to these historic happenings created a record of memories – your place in history and that of your family. Write them down or even record them as an oral history or video record. If writing seems to be a daunting task, search out classes and workshops offered within the community. The Carnegie Center, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program at the University of Kentucky and adult education programs through the school system offer classes and opportunities to sharpen Treat your memories as an important record of your life. your writing skills. Instructors will assist as you begin filtering through and structuring your memories. The technology for recording an oral history or video record of your life is also readily available, and learning to record is a simple process. Here again, turn to the programs listed above, your local library or computer club for assistance. Remember, life is a learning experience. No matter how trivial our lives appear, it is a true historic marker of our time, so write it down. You, after all, are closer to it than anyone. Selecting a Security System Sara asks: How do you choose a personal security system? Don answers: Checking online or the Yellow Pages of your telephone book will completely confuse you, for there are a large number and many types of security companies and systems to choose from. Some of these companies have been around for many years, and others are startups with a short business history. So you are bound to be overwhelmed just by the number and variety of possibilities and Kentucky’s Leading Hair Replacement Facility • Genetic Hair Loss • Chemotherapy • Alopecia • Cosmetic Hair Replacement HAIR INSTITUTE, INC. 1795 Alysheba Way Suite 7101 Lexington, Ky 40509 - Laser Light Hair Therapy - Surgical and Non-Surgical Hair Restoration Options - Full Cranial Vacuum Prostheses - Enhancements and Integrations HAIR REPLACEMENT • HAIR RESTORATION • HAIR EXTENSIONS Professional • Confidential • Meticulous AMERICAN HAIR LOSS COUNCIL www.hairinstitutelexington.com 859.263.9811 ®