The U Curve of Happiness

 Years ago, I read a blog, 70-something.com, written by a woman in Boston who had an interesting life and wrote about interesting topics.  She wanted readers to hear what it was like for a woman to go through her seventies, now her eighties.  I decided to start a similar blog but from a man’s perspective. 

 Recently, the lady blogger wrote about the U Curve of Happiness, a discovery based on happiness surveys that shows happiness declines in the teen years and reaches a low around 50 years old, then trends up until death, thus the name U Curve.  I had never heard of it and googled it to learn more.  An article by Margit Cox Henderson, The Paradox of Aging: the Happiness U-curve is one of the resources I found.

It seems the U Curve is universal, showing up around the globe.  But, it is based on large populations and individual curves can vary depending on health, finances, and relationships.

 I looked at my age, 83, and the U Curve indicates that I should be at the happiest point in my life and my happiness just might continue to increase.  Believe it or not, I believe the U Curve got it right.

 Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Back To The Gym

 

Because of COVID-19, I hadn’t set foot in the Carolina Preserve Clubhouse since November 2019.  I’ve kept up my exercising by walking, crunches, squats, girl pushups, and leg and arm/shoulder training with therapy bands and stretch tubes.  I tried to do a short workout three times a week.

 On Monday of this week, I walked to the clubhouse and into the gym and went through my old workout routine.  It felt so good to be back.  I used all the weight machines and the free-weight routines I used before, but with lower weights and repetitions.  The gym now has a stationary bike that has an adjustable throw to the petals.  Since my knees don’t bend enough, I can’t pedal a normal bike.  So I spent a few minutes on the bike.  I felt great after the workout.

On Thursday, I went back expecting to be sore and my routine to be difficult, but it was even more enjoyable.  I increased weights and repetitions. 

Within a week or two, I’ll be back to my pre-COVID routine

To a younger person, my routine would be a laugh, but my 83-year-old-body thinks I’m back in the saddle again.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com

Graduation

Grandson, Jack Balint-Kurti, graduated from Raleigh Charter High School on Saturday morning.  Jennifer drove us to the graduation held outdoors at the school.  We sat in the shade, in perfect weather listening to a string quartet before the ceremony.  Even though the senior class is small (about 100), graduation was held in three separate ceremonies to keep the crowd small.  About one-half of the audience wore masks.

Jack graduated summa cun laude, never having less than an A in any high school course, earning him a National Merit Scholarship.  The three previous years, Jack was a star on the school’s soccer team, but he missed playing his senior year as Raleigh Charter did not field a team because of COVID-19.

He did not attend classes this year except for part-time during the last two months, but he applied himself to virtual learning and never missed a beat.

Jack has been accepted by Duke University to study science/engineering next year.

Jack, you are a fine young man.  We are proud of you.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com