Living Better In The Later Years

10/30/2025

Know someone who has relapsed?

Relapse doesn’t have to mean starting over — but it does require a plan. Having a clear, proactive strategy can make all the difference in getting rapid help and minimizing the ripple effects on loved ones.

When creating a relapse plan, consider:

- Identifying a trusted “go-to” friend who can be informed right away

- Keeping a treatment facility or support mechanism on speed dial

- Preparing a ready-to-go bag for emergencies

- Setting aside a financial safety net

- Pre-arranging care for elders, children, and pets

- With the help of your trusted friend(s), informing a pre-determined call tree of colleagues, family, and friends

A solid plan in place — whether for yourself or someone you care about — can help reduce harm, ease stress, and protect relationships.

10/27/2025

Triggers are the thoughts, situations, or feelings that spark cravings and can lead to relapse. They often include:

General triggers: being around people who use substances

Specific triggers: certain people, places, or events tied to past use

Emotional triggers: uncomfortable feelings or moods that arise that were once numbed by substances

Learning to identify these patterns is the first step toward building healthier coping strategies and lasting recovery.

10/23/2025

If you are unsure if you are vulnerable to addition, we encourage you to adopt a mindset of moderation, by:

- Avoiding excess.

- Monitoring and managing frequency.

- Testing yourself: if you can’t stop, it may be addiction.

If you can’t step away, it may be time to pause and reflect.

Try a reset: commit to 30 days of abstinence — like Dry January — and see what shifts. Oftentimes, greater freedom comes not from adding more, but from proving to ourselves that we can live with less.

10/20/2025

Sugar is addictive. And the western diet is completely inundated with it.

By the early 19th century, the annual sugar intake of the average westerner was 18 pounds. Today that number is over 62 pounds. This, according to the American Heart Association, is more than three times the recommended amount.

Yes, vulnerability to addictions varies from person to person, but it does not take much looking around to understand the extent of the problem.

Download a free guide to help you with your own 28-Day Break the Sugar Challenge here: https://bit.ly/48U3e1Z

Get healthy (and not hungry) with a plan to break the sugar addiction cycle.

10/16/2025

Therapy is a powerful tool on the journey to recovery.

It helps you cope with difficult emotions and untangle the irrational thoughts that keep you trapped in addiction. Quitting is never easy, but with the right support group and treatment program, change is possible when you’re ready.

Through therapy, you can:

🔹 Discover and understand your personal triggers

🔹 Learn healthier ways to cope with cravings

🔹 Build resilience so you don’t turn to drugs or alcohol when challenges arise

You don’t have to face recovery alone. Support and guidance can make all the difference.

10/13/2025

The way you talk to yourself matters. Often, relapse begins with the quiet justifications we allow in our minds. These can take many forms, such as:

Denial: "It's not a problem."

Minimization: "I have already cut down."

Comparisons: "Pollution is more dangerous." "Uncle Ted drinks far more than I do."

Defiance: "I would rather live a shorter life and be happy than quit and be miserable."

Rationalization: "I've never stolen to finance my habit." "I am way more sociable when I've had a drink."

Lesser of two evils: "Better I do it than be impossible to live with."

Misinformation: "It has medicinal uses, so it's OK." "Chocolate is the only cure for PMS.

Taking behavior out of context: "In some cultures, polygamy is acceptable."

Glorification: "Queen Victoria used to…" "Patriarchs in the Old Testament had many wives." "Jesus drank wine.”

10/09/2025

The hardest part of recovery is that addiction never completely disappears.

Relapse is common, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fight to prevent it. The truth is: personal victory is possible—it just requires a lifetime of vigilance and resilience.

To build resilience in the lifelong fight against addiction, continuously do the following:
🔹 Commit to long-term treatment
🔹 Know your triggers
🔹 Manage (or avoid) stress
🔹 Engage others for help and support
🔹 Stay busy and motivated
🔹 Join a support group
🔹 Keep learning about addiction

When appropriate and while under the supervision of a qualified medical professional, use prescribed medication.

It’s Time For Everyone To Start Living Better. Over the past century, the average person’s number of years after retirement has expanded dramatically. Living better in the later years is a function of living smarter in the early years. Use our collected guidance to live smarter today in preparat...

10/08/2025

This October, our theme is Avoid Addiction, and this month Chris is sharing her personal journey in hopes it will encourage others to check in on their own health.

Christine enjoys wine—so liver health has always been on her radar. While her routine bloodwork looked fine on the surface, she noticed a slow but steady upward trend in a key liver enzyme (ALT). That change prompted her to ask more questions, learn about a second indicator (AST), and retest after making some moderate lifestyle shifts.

The result? Both markers showed positive improvement—a hopeful sign that small, intentional changes really can protect long-term health.

If you’ve never looked closely at your liver numbers, or you haven’t thought much about how moderation plays a role in aging well, this is your gentle nudge to start.

10/06/2025

We all want to feel good, but sometimes unhealthy habits can sneak into our lives. Remember—you’re not alone. Addiction can affect anyone, no matter your background.

Choosing to avoid addiction empowers you to:

➡️ Stay aligned with your personal beliefs, family values, and life principles

➡️ Protect your physical, mental, and emotional well-being

➡️ Build and nurture stronger, healthier relationships

Engage in activities that make you feel good without relying on unhealthy substances or behaviors. Don't let addiction control your life.

10/02/2025

Welcome to October and Key #10: Avoid Addiction. This month, we focus on how to avoid addiction in all its forms and the enabling behaviors behind each that can undermine one's foundation of health and well-being.

Avoiding addiction helps a person make life choices that:

→ Adhere to personal beliefs, family values, and subscribed life principles
→ Preserve physical, mental, and emotional well-being
→ Foster positive personal relationships

If you’re looking for additional resources, make sure to check out the Living Better in the Later Years blog: https://bit.ly/46eqXsi

09/29/2025

In Part 1, Chris walked us through how to use the Cologuard test kit. In Part 2, she’s sharing what not to do.

💡 What you’ll learn:
✔ Why timing matters—don’t wait too long
✔ How to prepare the toilet setup
✔ Why a little planning makes all the difference

Taking care of your health isn’t always glamorous—but it is important. Watch this video, laugh a little, and get your kit done. Prevention is power.

09/26/2025

This cold and flu season, a few small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference in keeping you and those around you healthy.

▪️ Wash your hands and wrists thoroughly and regularly.
▪️ Get an annual flu shot to protect against the most prominent strains of flu.
▪️ Avoid touching your eyes, ears, mouth, and face unless your hands are recently washed and/or sanitized.
▪️ Flush your sinuses regularly with nasal saline.
▪️ Carry a handkerchief.
▪️Wear a mask in high-risk circumstances.
▪️ Go cashless.
▪️ Sanitize public high-risk surfaces, e.g., ATMs.