When I look over the week, my biggest challenge is getting enough protein in my diet and Omega 3 fats (I don’t like fish); I am doing pretty well in the other categories. Occasionally I resolve to start working on my rusty French but that impulse is usually short-lived and I start getting messages that I am ”making Duo sad.” I do the Spelling Bee and Letter Box daily, the crossword, and games on other apps like sudoku and my favorite word search. I also play free cell solitaire several times a day and read, and I do enough volunteer work managing committees and projects that I am satisfied I’m doing as much problem solving as I reasonably can. And yet I am still losing the occasional word or forgetting to put something on the calendar ….. consternation ….. Socially I could probably cut my activity in half and still be in good shape. Between hobbies (painting, choral singing, golf) and volunteering and church and our family I sometimes need to just sit on the porch and turn off my phone and pretend I’m not home. These are all people and activities for which I am very thankful but I believe we need as much alone time as social time. In terms of physical fitness I am still a work in progress 🙄 I walk our dogs daily, go to the gym twice a week for the elliptical, and play golf a couple of times a week. I have been practicing balancing on one foot and then the other, and getting up off the floor using no hands. My arms have more strength than my hands (arthritis) so even though I can carry almost anything necessary I still sometimes need help opening jars! The dentist is a quarterly appointment for me, and I see my GP and an endocrinologist every six months. Dh is making an appointment for me with a neurologist for some baseline testing for cognitive decline; I want some line in the sand established that any further test can be measured against. My mother is starting to slip at almost 93 but ALL her five sisters died with Alzheimer’s, as did DH’s mother. IMHO by the time you fail the annual screening and cannot draw a clock face or remember three words you’ve lost valuable months when you could have been on medication to slow the disease. Thanks to everyone for following along this week. I agree it was not especially interesting and no groundbreaking material was presented. However the reminders and clarifications are helpful and I hope we keep that brain health recipe thread going—thanks again for that Bbstx!

Finally got around to making the French Onion White Bean Soup (see first post in this thread). I despise beans but this soup was delicious. I caramelized the onions and froze them some weeks ago. With that out of the way, the soup came together quite quickly. I used chicken broth instead of veggie broth. It’s what I had on hand. I was in the middle of doing other things and didn’t read carefully enough about the croutons. I ended up making a compound butter, spreading it on a slice of bread, and baking according to the time and temp in the recipe. Towards the end of the baking time, I added the cheese. When it was finished, I cut it into small squares. I halved the recipe since it was just for me for lunch. I’m looking forward to the leftovers!

HU-113737678 I'm not sure what you are looking for but here goes. I mean that I don't stress over things that are beyond my control. I lead a pretty stressful life. DH is basically disabled to the point that just about everything falls on me. All the little things that he used to do falls on me. Now I could sit around feeling sorry for my self or I can just get it done. I burn the candle at both ends. I sleep when I can. Then go to the ranch and work some more. I'm lame myslef right now and go to PT for that. I don't have the time to sit around and worry my life away. I live everyday to it's fullest. My mental health is guided by me and my choices, not the world issues I have no control over. I go through life treating those who treat me well better, and those who don't I now ignore unless it can't be ignored . Then I will treat them worse. When I was younger I was more prickly. Now I trust the universe will adjust it all. My job is to do what needs to get done now, and take care of myself. That's it. The big stuff is what effects my family,those close to me and animals. Anybody comes after them or hurts them I don't let it go. Protesters? I don't care if I agree with your cause or not. I judge people by their actions not their beliefs. You block streets, close down access to people going about their business and throw things you need to go down and I don't much care how it happens. I really don't care and I don't care about how anyone thinks about me not caring. My current horse gave me a beautiful gift today. I was in the outdoor arena riding with a friend. It's in a valley surrounded by rolling hills. My horse suddenly put on the brakes and I could feel her inflate under me. She's spooky so I prepared for the worst but she just stood stock still and turned toward the hills. I spoke to her and one ear turned back to me and she softened. At that moment a beautiful bay appeared and galloped up the tallest hill in the distance. It was like something out of movie. I think it was a mare. She was alone. Tail up high. probably Arabian. Came to the top of the hill and stopped. Looked straight at us and turned and looked all around her. Like a queen watching over her kingdom. Maybe she;'s the boss mare. My horse and I were breathing in unision by then. We watched for about 3 minutes as the other horse slowly walked away and we went back to work. That's the universe speaking, that's god, mother nature, the beauty of just being alive today. That's my mental health support system. Animals and nature. Live in the moment so you don't miss out. Show gratitude for the wonders.

Most herbal cures don't work, anyway. Or they offer some very minor benefit. Well, that's just not true!! Herbs and plants (and naturally occurring fungal organisms) are the basis for many modern medicines and have been used for centuries. You can easily find lists online of plants and herbs that address specific ailments, increase energy and brain focus, relieve joint issues and generally improve the state of one's health. Not at all what are considered "minor" benefits. There is even a name give specifically to these botanical products - phytomedicine. As to books, there are lots that would be useful. Google 'herbal' or 'botanical remedies'. Or 'phytomedicine'. And John Hopkins University and MedlinePlus have detailed websites addressing these products and their use. Rather than igoring or disregarding these botanicals like the previous poster suggested, the more you know about them, the more effective they will be and with the least amount of risk if creating potions of your own.