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Toby Keith was inspired to write this song by Clint Eastwood who was about to turn 88. Toby Keith wanted to know what Clint Eastwood was going to do for his birthday and Clint said he was starting to make his new movie “The Mule” that next week.

Amazed Toby wrote about keeping that “Old Man” at bay. As the song says, “How old would you be if you didn’t know the day you were born?”

We all say “I don’t feel as old as I am” which is so true. There are times we are shocked when we look in the mirror because we have forgotten the number of years that have passed by. If we do not think about it, we can do what we have always done regardless of our age.

And as we move into this new year it is time to think and decide how we want to live. How we do not want to let that old man in. How we want to live, do what we love and expand what we are doing.

It is time to make our Bucket List for 2021 and 2022. What do you want your 2021 and 2022 to look like? What is your next act? If we do not plan for our future that old man just might seek in when we are not looking!

It does not have to be just huge things. What are the little things…?

Maybe… Enjoy the sunset more. Visit with family and friends more. Make 2 new friends. Read a good book. Maybe join a book club. Garden. Grow your own salad. Take a walk. Go someplace new each month. Redo a room in your house. Paint the walls and rearrange the furniture. Clean out the garage or the shed or both. Make a scrapbook of past vacations. Plan new vacations. Take an online class. Learn how to do 3 new things on your computer or smart phone. Do something kind for someone you hardly know.

For bigger things it might be take that road trip. Volunteer weekly at a school, hospital, or Senior Center. Do a makeover – you, the backyard, or your wardrobe. Brew your own beer. Learn a craft – maybe counted cross-stitch, carving, knitting. Reread your favorite book. Learn to meditate, then meditate daily for a month. Eat healthy and learn to cook new recipes. Redo your budget so you free up money to do the things you are always talking about doing! Book your next big trip!!

And as you make your Bucket List include another list of all the things you want to do as places open back up!! What have you missed the most? What was it you were planning for 2020 you never got to do?

And remember you are never ever “TOO OLD” to do anything!! Get out there and live. “Don’t let the old man in”

The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine has been announced and unfortunately scammers will use this as an opportunity to take advantage of people eager to get the vaccine. We don’t know what the scam will look like but it’s important people are aware that scammers are eager to knock on your door, call your phones, send you emails and pretty much contact you any way possible. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) will release specific information on known scams as they happen, but in the meantime remember these tips to help you avoid vaccine scams.

• You cannot pay to put your name on a list to get the vaccine.
• You cannot pay to get early access to the vaccine.
• No one from Medicare or the Health Department with contact you.
• No one from a vaccine distribution site or health care payer, like a private insurance company, will call you asking for your Social Security number, or your credit card or bank account information to sign you up to get the vaccine.
• Beware of providers offering other products, treatments, or medicines to prevent the virus. Check with your health care provider before paying for or receiving any COVID-19-related treatment.
• If you get a call, text, email — or even someone knocking on your door — claiming they can get you early access to the vaccine, STOP. That’s a scam.
• Be wary of where you get your information on the vaccine. Avoid unsolicited communication. For reliable information:
• You can check out the State of Connecticut COVID-19 Response Website or
• You can read the latest Press Release from Governor Lamont on how the Vaccine will be released.
• See attached Public Service Announcement from the FBI, Office of Inspector General and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

How Can Your Senior Medicare Patrol Help?
Your local SMP is ready to provide you with the information you need to PROTECT yourself from Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse; DETECT potential fraud, errors, and abuse; and REPORT your concerns. SMPs and their trained team members help educate and empower Medicare beneficiaries in the fight against health care fraud. Your SMP can help you with your questions, concerns, or complaints about potential Medicare fraud and abuse issues. It also can provide information and educational presentations. For more information, contact the Senior Medicare Patrol at your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-994-9422 or visit https://portal.ct.gov/ads-smp.

As time moves on, we might become old and worn but, on the inside, we are still young. This song helps us understand that even though the “Old Man” is on the other side of the door, we have the choice on whether we want to be that person or continue living as if we do not know how old we are.

So, get up every morning and “Don’t Let the Old Man In!!”

https://www.facebook.com/ParadisePicturesAndSound/videos/2627609477528957

We all will feel a little cooped up during the next couple of months, won’t we? To help combat the gloom, it is time to dust off those old hobbies and find a few new news!! What about indoor gardening, walking or even writing?? Indoor gardening could be taking care of that poinsettia you got for the holidays, growing some lettuce, or buying an African Violet. Something to take care of and they are so pretty. Plus, you can eat the lettuce!! Walking is good for us and how about picking all of the days that it is above 35 to get outside and try to walk a mile. Maybe even get a buddy to join you. And as for writing we all have stories we like to tell. Write them down. Print them and put them in a folder. You will be surprised how much you will enjoy going down memory lane. And do not tell yourself you are not talented enough. It is your story, and you can tell it anyway you want!! So, make the time to renew some of your old hobbies, recharge, shift gears and discover new moxie.

Change is defined as – the act of making or becoming different. This whole COVID situation certainly has made our entire lives different in a multitude of ways. From how we stay safe, interact, work and even make purchases evolves constantly.

2020 has been the all-time master of change whether we wanted it or not! Who would have ever dreamed we would be wearing masks? In 2019 we didn’t even know what social distancing was. Also, in 2019 just what could of possibly have been meant by “mandatory stay at home”?? Or that children would no longer go to school?

Even if someone had told you that they were going to make all of this into a movie, most of us would have said it’s all too crazy and no one will ever go see that!

For us New England Patriots fans the biggest 2020 news should have been Tom Brady leaving!! Instead local and high school sports almost doesn’t exist. Fans can’t go to games.  We don’t know from week to week which school is opened, and which are closed.

COVID has changed our world forever. Whether we wanted it or not! Life will never go back to what it was.

Now is the time we should be thinking about how we want our individual lives to be as we move past 2020.

What do you want your 2022 to look like? What have you been dreaming about? What did you miss the most? What did you get robbed of in 2020? My husband and I were not able to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary the way we had been planning for the last three years. We were going to have a huge party with all of the bells and whistles followed by a three-week vacation to Vancouver, a cruise to San Francisco and then onto Las Vegas.

So now is the time to start planning to live the life you want. Use the present to get healthier. Find new paths to travel. Start saving, even if it’s only $5.00 a week.

Don’t be afraid to reach out. Talk to your doctor, your friends, your family. Find a therapist.  Tell them how hard 2020 has been for you.

Embrace change! No matter what it will look like.

Figure out new ways to socialize. I’m doing a Zoom Paint Night where the instructor will be online, and attendees can be in person in small groups or on Zoom. A network I’m part of is planning a Zoom night where we will learn how to make a couple of drinks.

Start work on your “2020 Bucket List”. Start making the actual plan on how you will achieve those goals. Hit the ground running. Be ready  to live.

Now start planning your 2022 so you will know what it’s going to look like!!