Health is wealth

After the hot, dry, dusty summer we’ve endured, October is bewitching me. I find myself looking for reasons to linger outside and enjoy the cooler temps. I’ve always loved evening walks with my husband; we talk through our days, breathe fresh air and burn some calories. However, those walks were interrupted over the past year by more than extreme heat. I have suffered from plantar fasciitis in my feet, and Don had major shoulder surgery this summer. Living with daily pain from injuries or illness is hard and can lead to isolation and even depression. Our experiences reminded us that good health is a currency we usually take for granted.

October’s theme is “Health is Wealth” and we know that being in good health requires cooperation from the body, mind and spirit. In this magazine, we share inspiring stories that will feed your soul and body.

There is some magic in learning new skills while making new friends. Writer Mark Oliver shares that it’s never too late to play, or even go for the gold, through the Arkansas Senior Olympics.

Columnist Mike Kemp believes that riding a motorcycle is good for your health. Why? His wife told him so! He also cites a UCLA study that found 20 minutes of riding raises adrenaline levels like a light workout, sharpens sensory focus and drops stress by 28%.

We also explore how music is drawing senior adults with memory problems back into the present. KD Reep profiles The Kavanaugh Band. These talented retirees enchant audiences with tunes from the 1960s, bringing beautiful souls out of a mental fog—if only during the concert.

The final feature is about Coach Alex VanHouten, an exercise scientist who has helped thousands of clients make the most of the body God has given them. His philosophy summarizes our theme. So, grab your walking buddy and say yes to cooler temps: Hike a favorite trail, watch a sunset, visit a county fair, a pumpkin patch or a corn maze and spend the currency we shouldn’t save up—good health is wealth!

Stefanie Brazile

Editor