Monday, September 29, 2025
Big Brother Season 27: Who will Win?? Who Should Win?
Friday, September 26, 2025
Big Brother Season 27
Thursday, September 25, 2025
"Be on Time Chronicles": Sometimes It Works Out
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Poem about Fall
Monday, September 22, 2025
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is all about being in the present moment.
There are health benefits to mindfulness, including
decreased anxiety
decreased depression
decreased stress
decreased rumination (dwelling on negative thoughts and experiences)
Mindfulness contributes to neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the brain to change in response to experience
Mindfulness can help with
executive functioning (skills that you use to manage everyday tasks)
emotional regulation
fight, flight or freeze response
higher reasoning (critical thinking and problem solving)
You can practice mindfulness any time.
Even a few minutes a day can be beneficial.
Examples of mindfulness activities are
mindful eating
movement, such as yoga and stretching
being in nature
journaling
breathing exercising
practicing gratitude
a few examples of breathing exercises are
box breathing
4-7-8 breathing
candle blowing breathing
humming bee breathing
Because my disability affects my lung capacity, I haven't been successful with the first two types of breathing exercises. I was recently introduced to the other two types, and they are easier and more helpful for me.
Ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your day
Take a few deep breaths when you wake up
Observe your surroundings during your daily commute
Move and stretch during work breaks
Listen fully during conversations
Mindfulness is beneficial for your brain, your physical health and your emotional health.
There are books and apps to learn more about and help you practice mindfulness.
Apps:
Headspace
Calm
Insight Timer
Smiling Mind
Mindfulness Daily
Aura
And here are a few links too:
From NIH: Mindfulness for Your Health | NIH News in Health
From Mindful.org: What Is Mindfulness? - Mindful
From Psychology Today: Mindfulness | Psychology Today
librarianintx
Friday, September 19, 2025
Game Changer
In Austin, the paratransit system has a thirty-minute window.
That means that when you schedule a ride to be picked up at 8 am, the vehicle can arrive between 8 - 8:30 without being late. Once the vehicle arrives, you have five minutes to board and then you are considered late, and the vehicle can leave.
The thirty-minute window is super frustrating.
With ride share services like Uber and Lyft, you can track your vehicle and see where it is on a map.
Metro Access never had that option.
Now it does.
Yesterday I FINALLY figured out to access it.
And it is a GAME CHANGER.
Before, I used to just wonder and wait around and then when the thirty minute expired, I would call dispatch, often have to wait on hold, then be told, "Oh, it will be there in five minutes," which often turned into way more than five minutes. It was a very frustrating process.
Yesterday I went to the store, and while I was waiting for my return, that's when I finally figured out how to see the estimated pick-up time and where the vehicle was. And it was mesmerizing, and ultimately calming, to see that little vehicle chugging along towards me. I didn't have to sit on hold and wait for dispatch. I just had to watch that little engine that could. I had to wait a long time yesterday. But I didn't mind as much. Because I knew what happening. I had some control over the situation. Not that I could make the vehicle come faster. But that I could see where they were and approximately when they would arrive. This also meant that I knew when to go outside and be ready to board.
My ride this morning is arriving in approximately fourteen minutes.
Because I know this, I had time to write this blog post.
Less wasted time.
Less frustration.
Persistence in finding this option finally paid off.
librarianintx
Friday, September 12, 2025
Ageism
Ageism can include stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination against older adults.
Ageism can negatively affect someone's physical and emotional health, and contribute to social isolation and loneliness.
Ageism can be intentional and unintentional, and is often reinforced across the lifespan.
Ageism is unfortunately prevalent in healthcare, education, the media, and in family dynamics.
Using terms like "old fogey," "over the hill, "old folks home," and perpetuating stereotypes of older adults being frail and confused are examples of ageism.
But many public figures are thriving in their older years and by example pushing back ageist notions. Oprah Winfrey, Cher, Rick Springfield, Mick Jagger, Helen Mirren, Jane Goodall, and Margaret Atwood are just a few examples.
Living a healthy lifestyle - nutrition, exercise, managing chronic conditions, proper sleep, social connections and lifelong learning contribute to not only living longer, but living better and happier lives.
Instead of viewing older adults as unproductive members of society and those that deserve to be pitied and ridiculed, we, individually and collectively, need to celebrate older adults, and afford them opportunities to be successful.
Intergenerational activities are an excellent way to combat ageism. Young and not-so-young individuals can learn from each other and work together. Volunteer opportunities also benefit people of all ages.
librarianintx