50+ Lifestyles

A Different Kind of Recipe for Fall

By Bob Morrison
Marketing & Development Director Ridgecrest Village

Fall is finally here! Though we love the last hot days of Indian Summer, it’s time to move on to the cool, crisp days of Autumn. Colored falling leaves, a harvest moon, football games, pumpkins, Octoberfest celebrations, and bountiful harvests let us know we are in a new season.

Fall is my wife’s favorite time of year, and now is the time she often gets out the cookbooks to find new recipes and rediscover favorites from long ago. This began a discussion about our diet which led to further conversation about exercise and general health as we too are entering a new season of life. It is so easy to just do what we’ve always done!

Our new health “recipe” is pretty simple: Diet – more vegetables and fruit, less sweets, and more water; Exercise- walking daily and biking weekly, Mental Health – reduce chronic stress and play more, and Spiritual Health – prayer and Bible study daily.

As Marketing Director at Ridgecrest Village, I see every day the benefits our seniors have that make it easier to live a healthy lifestyle.  Our new health “recipe” is already happening there!  Ridgecrest’s gourmet chef and dietary staff provide many delicious options at each meal so eating a balanced healthy diet is easy. With an exercise room, exercise classes, and a beautiful campus for walking, both indoors and out, there is no excuse not to stay fit. There is even a brain fitness machine to help keep minds sharp. We have a chaplain who leads a Bible study each week in addition to Sunday worship. Fun activities and outings and caring relationships among the residents make the recipe complete.

As you get out your favorite recipes for Fall, why not write a new one of your own with the ingredients of diet, exercise, mental and spiritual health? Write out directions that work for you, and enjoy, knowing you’ll be healthier for it.

And here’s one of the recipes my wife found that will make it all perfect, a Recipe for Happiness.  Mix 2 heaping cups of patience, 1 heart full of love, 2 handfuls of generosity, 1 dash of laughter, and 1 head of understanding.  Sprinkle generously with kindness and plenty of faith and mix well.  Spread over a period of a life time and serve everybody you meet!

Bob Morrison is the Marketing Director for Ridgecrest Village in Davenport, Iowa. For more information about Ridgecrest Village, contact Bob at (563) 388-3431 or bmorrison@ridgecrestvillage.org or Mary at (563) 388-3215 or mhuebbe@ridgecrestvillage.org.