Finding peace amid the anguish of our world seems more elusive now than ever. Turning on the TV should be a source of entertainment, but it can look like a blood sport if you’re watching the news. Have we forgotten that it’s summertime, and we need to turn the heat down?

Beth Bruno writes from her home in North Carolina that she has chosen to be deliberate in the face of rising political tensions. Read My Response to a Broken World is to Lean into Quiet Joy. We have the power to choose.

Another Crow’s Feet writer, Bruce Stambaugh, has immersed himself in a wonderful summer memory featuring a pack of gangly kids fishing and swimming in a cool refreshing lake. Read A Rare Family Vacation to Remember. Ferries, fish, sunburns, and drunks highlighted the trip.

Speaking of memories, this week’s writing prompt from Robin James suggests that we dig out some of our memories and write about them — and how they have shaped who we are today.

Alisa Wolf did just that days before Robin’s prompt was published. She dug into memories of how her mother became a more liberated woman in the 1970s and how her parents’ divorce changed their family dynamics forever. Read “Why Don’t I Have a Close Family?” Taking my mother’s lament to heart.

Marlane Ainsworth explores a childhood memory of singing and writes from her home in Western Australia that her experience marked her life. Read Reflections on Being Kicked out of a Children’s Choir. There is so much in my heart that is yet to be sung.

Before we get too serious on a hot summer day, take a moment to relax, like Catherine Oceano does in her essay The Perk of Retirement, Being Able to Contemplate Everything. I woke up and wondered, what shall I do today?

Or have a laugh courtesy of Smillew Rahcuef who has some tips for you. How to Make Friends in Your New 55+ Community. Loneliness isn’t inevitable.

Finally, you may recall that last week we introduced our latest podcast episode featuring an interview with a kidney donor and a recipient, Carol Offen and Betsy Crais who talk about the life-saving impact of live organ donation. (Listen to the episode here.)

Today, we’re sharing a story written by Ann Litts, a retired RN who cared for countless donor patients over a long career. She writes about the importance of organ donation in The Gift of Life. Transplants save lives.

I hope you enjoy these stories and all the tales of aging published on Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age. You can read them right here.

Until next week,

Nancy Peckenham, Editor

Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 charitable organization that produces this publication and a bi-weely podcast.

If you find the essays and interviews on Crow’s Feet: Life As We Age that change your views on aging or help you navigate the aging process, please consider making a donation to our work here. We’re all volunteers and your support helps us reach even more people with our meaningful discussions about aging.

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