Aging is not linear; what you believe matters

Aging is not linear; what you believe matters

"Nearly half of adults over 65 got physically or cognitively better over 12 years. The thing that predicted who did so had nothing to do with genetics, exercise, or education. It was what they believed about getting older.

📄 Levy, B.R. & Slade, M.D. (2026). Aging Redefined: Cognitive and Physical Improvement with Positive Age Beliefs. Geriatrics."

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DVykVnrgPx7/

"Student podcasters share the dark realities of middle school in America"

"School shootings, social media, beauty standards. 

13-year-olds Erika Young and Norah Weiner delve into what middle school looks like today in their award-winning podcast. 

@sequoiastweets @NPR https://t.co/hVyBB74v7G"

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED/status/1705054313498734628

"Student podcasters share the dark realities of middle school in America"

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and I get to "Talk Franklin" - 09/09/22 (audio)

FM #842 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 842 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via conference bridge.  

Topics for this session

• 9/11 thoughts

• Recap of Council meeting

• Drought & water status

• Work underway or pending 

• Economic Development Cmte, 9/21 at 6 PM

The conversation runs about 26 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie. Audio file -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Drought-Status-and-Downtown-Priorities-e1npd7i

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Franklin for All webpage 

https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/

5 year fiscal outlook -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022-08-15_fy23_to_fy27_town_administartor_fiscal_forecast_1.pdf 

Town budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget 

Community & Cultural District calendar https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and I get to "Talk Franklin" - 09/09/22 (audio)

"Fascinating Facts About Today’s New Voters and College Students"

"It’s difficult to unteach old dogs old tricks, and this applies particularly to the creators of The Mindset List, Tom McBride (mcbridet@beloit.edu) and Ron Nief (niefr@beloit.edu). Each year about this time we just naturally start thinking about the world we know and how it compares to the world of this year’s high school graduates preparing to head off to college, voting booths, and other great adventures. Their’s is a different world from their mentors and even from those just a few years older.

Therefore, we offer a few of our thoughts drawn from…

THE 18-ER FILE

If you were born in 2004 and turned 18 in 2022, THEN: (a selection of the full listing)

• Facebook, hatched the same year you were, hasn’t aged as well as you have and is now a platform frequented by oldsters.
• You were born just as the bans on assault style weapons were lifted.
• There’s only about a 50/50 chance that you are convinced going to college is a sound investment. 
• You can expect to see the inside of an office with ever less frequency, and won’t hold the same job at the same company for more than a few years. 
• You’ve made history, having grown up with both the country’s first black, and first autocratic, presidents. 
• You’ve thrived, one hopes, in a world where Blockbuster, Lehmann Brothers, Nokia, Borders, and Blackberries have not. 
• If born in Massachusetts, you have always had the right to same-sex marriage as part of your heritage. 

For the full listing of the 66 items that help make of the mindset of those born in 2004, visit

http://themindsetlist.com/2022/08/the-18-er-file-66-intriguing-facts-about-todays-new-voters-and-college-students/

You can’t recall when Wikipedia was anything other than reliable and thorough

FM #238 Kristin Letendre - Mindfulness in a pandemic 4/03/20 (audio)

FM #238 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 238 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Kristin Letendre, Health and PE Director for the Franklin Public School district as well as a teacher at FHS. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about her work on the School Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC), on the Social Emotional Learning Committee, and importantly about keeping learning alive with her approach to mindfulness and a daily practice shared via Twitter.

This recording runs about 20 minutes, so listen to my conversation with Kristin and hear how a mindful approach can really provide help for us to be present during these challenging days.   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HZB9N9D7




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The Twitter account for FPS Health PE = https://twitter.com/FPSHealthPE

The Social Emotional Learning Committee has created this SEL page with resources and a monthly focus  https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/sel/home

Kristin is an adjunct professor at Bridgewater State
 https://www.bridgew.edu/department/movement-arts-health-promotion-leisure-studies/kristin-letendre 

Resources shared by Kristin as mentioned during our conversation:

Mindfulness

• Calm.com - Website including daily calms, body scans, and other mindful practices
• Headspace - App for incorporating mindfulness into your daily life
• Breathe - App designed to help people stop, breathe, think
• Insight Timer - App for sleep, anxiety and stress
• Stop Stress in its Tracks - American Heart Association
• Loving Kindness Meditation - American Heart Association
• Mindful Eating Article 
• Drawing Your Breath Activity
• Mindfulness Based Art Activities and Resources for Children and Parents
• Mindful Online Learning

Mindfulness Book Recommendations

• Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration  by Meera Lee Patel
• Made Out of Stars: A Journal for Self-Realization by Meera Lee Patel
• The Little Book of Mindfulness by Dr. Patrizia Collard
• Mindfulness for Teens in 10 Minutes a Day by Jennie Marie Battistin
• Present, Not Perfect: A Journal for Slowing Down, Letting Go, and Loving Who You Are by Aimee Chase
• Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in Everyday by Matthew Sockolov
• Choose The Life You Want: The Mindful Way to Happiness by Tal Ben-Shahar, PHD

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #238 Kristin Letendre - Mindfulness in a pandemic 4/03/20 (audio)

Mind-Body-Spirit at St. John’s - a three part series

St John’s Episcopal Church in Franklin, MA presents a three-part series entitled "Mind-Body-Spirit". This free series of seminars, workshops, activities, and demonstrations is open to the community and welcomes anyone interested in enhancing their well-being.

MIND

March 22nd & 29th 2 PM–4 PM

If you are experiencing stress and anxiety, come learn how Dr. Trudy Good, a clinical psychologist with 12+ years of experience,
can help. Join us for Dr. Good’s seminar and workshop to learn about how our minds deal with stress, mindful practice (the science behind it and its practical application to your life). Learn self-care for managing stress and how mindfulness can help.

BODY.

April 26th 12:30 PM–4 PM

Looking for new ways to care for your body? Come to St John’s Health and Wellness Fair. Register to enjoy a free, catered lunch.
Explore healthy eating habits, new exercise routines, and ideas for preventative care.
Enjoy samples of healthy and tasty snacks. Learn about nutrition, and watch demonstrations from award winning nutritionist Tricia Silverman. Participate in activities to learn first-hand how you can take better care of your body, including sessions on T'ai Chi, Yoga, and Zumba.

Take a minute (or 10) to relax with a free chair massage. Learn more about acupuncture and get a confidential health screening to check your blood pressure, glucose, and more.
Leave feeling relaxed and more in control of your body.

Mind-Body-Spirit at St. John’s

*BODY SESSION BONUS*

Enter to win door prizes and raffles for gift vouchers to local vendors, including:
a 3mo fitness membership or 6-mo individual tennis membership to Adirondack Club-$220 value

• a $175 Gift Certificate to Franklin YMCA
• Free Trial Week Passes to Franklin YMCA
• a Ninja personal blender and to-go cup
• a Whole Foods gift certificate
• a Healthy foods gift basket
• a fruit infuser water bottle
• and MUCH more!

SPIRIT.

May 17th 2 PM–4 PM

Allow Ethel Fraga, a highly respected mindfulness-based stress reduction instructor, centering prayer presenter, and a spiritual director, to guide your spirit in understanding and connecting with the sacredness of life.
Ms. Fraga has been a student of contemplative spirituality for 52 years and practices meditation daily. Learn from her how you can enrich your life through Christian Contemplative Practice.


All events are free, but registration is highly recommended. Childcare and refreshments available at all events.
To learn more visit: http://stjohnsfranklinma.org/
To register, or to learn more, please contact: Amali De Zoysa (508) 528-2387
St John’s Episcopal Church-237 Pleasant St. Franklin, MA 02038 stjohns.mindbodyspirit@gmail.com


Download your copy of the flyer here or from copy embedded below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tEanB4_hkwj2YEWqHcOnipyUiBY8giYu/view?usp=sharing

"Do we actually care about the well-being of others that we share the planet with?"

"Jeffon asks the important question, "Do we actually care about the well-being of others that we share the planet with?" He shares three elements that are essential for us as human beings to begin to embrace that will allow us to create a future and a world that works for everyone. 

Jeffon Seely is a senior consultant, transformational speaker, and workshop facilitator. Mr. Seely is a highly recognized leading resource in the field of Diversity and Inclusion, Millennials, Mindfulness, and Leadership."

From the TEDx event held on August 16, 2018
https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/27654

Franklin Public Library: The Transformative Power of Ten Minutes - Nov 6

Join clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Beth Kurland, at the Franklin Public Library Monday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m. as she shares strategies from her new book The Transformative Power of Ten Minutes: An Eight Week Guide to Reducing Stress and Cultivating Well-Being. 

Discover how setting aside just ten minutes a day, and bringing simple tools such as mindfulness into the course of your day, can help you reduce stress and develop a deeper sense of well-being. The book was awarded Finalist in the Health and Wellness category by Next Genertion Indie Book Awards. 

Dr. Kurland has an outpatient practice in Norwood, MA where she specializes in mindfulness and mind-body strategies to help her patients achieve whole person health and wellness. Free audio and video meditations can be found on her website at BethKurland.com.

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/events/142163

Franklin Public Library: The Transformative Power of Ten Minutes - Nov 6

Lessons from the Beloit Mindset List for the Class of 2021

An annual event is upon us again. As students (and educational professionals) return to school this September, thinking about how to approach this class and the opportunities they present will occupy some time for their reflection.

Three professors from Beloit College started this process 20 years ago by looking at what had happened during the life of the freshman class that they were faced with. Each August, the Mindset List is published. It is interesting to see what the world was for these college freshman as they grew up. The list is not meant to be the end all. It is meant to start the conversation.

"Teachers and counselors alike have used the Mindset List over the years, sometimes as the basis for one-on-one chats, and at other times for class discussions and even personal essays. This year’s List is no different. The annual Lists are wonderful icebreakers for counselors and professors and students. They stimulate intergenerational conversations."

What does the list look like? A sampling follows

• They are the last class to be born in the 1900s, the last of the Millennials -- enter next year, on cue, Generation Z!
• They are the first generation for whom a “phone” has been primarily a video game, direction finder, electronic telegraph, and research library.
• There have always been emojis to cheer us up.
• Donald Trump has always been a political figure, as a Democrat, an Independent, and a Republican.
• Zappos has always meant shoes on the Internet.

As Franklinites prepare for the biennial town election this November. Let's think about 

• Where we are? 
• How did we get here? 
• Where do we want to go? 
• What do we need to do to move forward?

To help with the conversation, the election collection has thus far presented the background info on each of the elected bodies (Town Council, School Committee, Board of Assessors, Board of Health and Planning Board).

The offer to candidates to share their background and info has been made. Several candidates have taken up the offer and that information will be posted when complete.

Several key posts from the archive of Franklin Matters will be shared to remind us of the budget and other items that should be worthy of discussion as we prepare to cast our ballots on November 7.

If you have a suggestion (or two) on what you would like to see to help you prepare, please let me know. You can use any of the following methods:

• send me an email (shersteve @ gmail dot com)
• leave a comment here on the Franklin Matters webpage
• leave a comment on the Franklin Matters Facebook page
• reply to one of the @FranklinMatters tweets

I would also recommend that if you haven't already, please consider subscribing to the Franklin Matters daily newsletter. It is one email per day with all that is posted. You don't need to wait for Facebook to filter the newsfeed for you. The newsletter is delivered daily (approx 10:00 AM) and then you can keep informed.

Note the subscription is a two-step process. (1) Enter your email address (2) Reply to confirm your email address.

the Town Common in the rain Sunday morning

The full listing of the Beloit Mindset list for the class of 2021
https://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2021/

The Franklin Election Collection 2017 can be found
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/election-collection-2017.html