Yes, despite dealing with increased (some more, some less) physical issues, people tend as they age to feel better about themselves and their lives. Like good wine and cheese that get better with time,  human beings can improve with aging.

More than 1000 senior adults, chosen randomly and across ethnic variations (not volunteers who might have self-selected as people doing well) reported themselves “happier and more content with their lives than those in their 20s and 30s, despite their physical ailments,” according to a study published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

Most seniors have accumulated some level of wisdom, don’t feel they have to prove much of anything any more, and don’t often face as many life-changing decisions as younger adults. Remember how exhausting it was trying to figure out how to handle various situations – at work, in your family life, in your marriage/romantic relationship? Of course, the results of these questions might be different for seniors who are yet struggling to pay the bills in their later years. But for many, simply not having to keep up with a job or career – or keeping up with a much-loved career but feeling more secure in it – can feel liberating and relaxing.

Always nice to hear about the benefits of getting older. Read more in the article on Medscape.

Thank you, Timeout Chicago, for sharing this important information about such a deal on Uber travel good for rides generally in the 312 area code.  If you want to travel in Chicago in a square bounded by south of Irving Park, north of 71st Street and east of Western Avenue, you’ll automatically get the $3.12 fares through Friday at 10pm.

If you’ve been hesitant to try Uber, it’s time to jump in and give ’em a try. Around here, we use Uber regularly and have had mainly very positive experiences – on the whole better than some taxi rides.  With this kind of deal in this heat. why resist?

P.S. Tried it today, Thursday August 18. Worked fine. $3.12 for the ride but it was only available for UberPool at 6 pm. Turned out fine  because another person was going in the same direction at the same time, so there was no wait.

Summers in Chicago can be brutal. When temps reach 90-ish and humidity gets over 60%, we’re talking grim. Seniors and anybody with heart or lung conditions has to either stay inside or get door-to-air-conditioned-door service.

So how about making something delicious and light and COLD to eat? Order from Peapod if you can’t make it out to the grocery store, and try out a few recipe ideas created by Chef Anthony Stewart from Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa. They sound so good and look so beautiful! His chilled tomato, watermelon and basil soup, citrus fennel mango salad, and creamy banana ricotta ice cream all sound unique and refreshing and don’t require any weird ingredients. Check ’em out:

Chilled Tomato, Watermelon, and Basil Soup 

• 1 cup canned low-sodium plum tomatoes
• ¼ cup low-sodium tomato puree
• 1 cup chopped watermelon (seedless)
• ½ teaspoon chopped garlic
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon orange zest *
• 1 tablespoon basil, chiffonade (cut into thin strips)
• Garnish:  Four sprigs of fresh basil

1. Using a grater or microplane, shave off the peel of an orange to make ½ teaspoon of shavings
2. The shavings are your zest, which add strong, wonderfully citrus flavor to foods
3. Use only the colored part of the peel, not the bitter white pith beneath

Combine all ingredients in a blender.  Blend well.
Chill.  Before serving, garnish each bowl with a sprig of fresh basil.

Nutrition Information (per serving): 35 calories, 0g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 1g protein, 2g fiber, 15mg sodium.

Citrus Fennel Mango Salad 

• 2 Bulbs fennel julienne
• 1 Grapefruit (supreme)
• 2 Oranges (Supreme)
• 3 Mangoes (peeled & julienne)
• ¼ Bu Cilantro chopped
• 1 t chopped garlic
• 1 Red onion julienne
• 1 Red pepper julienne
• 1 Green pepper julienne
• 1 carrot julienne
• 1 # Lettuce (chopped)

Dressing:

• 1 T Low sodium stone ground mustard
• ¼ C Rice wine vinegar
• 2 T Apple juice concentrate

1. Combine all Vegetables in a bowl
2. In a separate bowl combine all ingredients for dressing and mix well
3. Add dressing to vegetables and let stand for 15 minutes
4. Serve on a bed of chopped lettuce

Banana Ricotta Ice Cream 

• 1 pound very ripe bananas (peeled, vacuum sealed, and frozen)
• 1 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Remove bananas from freezer and let sit for 5 minutes (until they begin to defrost around the edges).
2. Place ricotta cheese in a food processor and pulse.
3. Chop the bananas and add to the food processor along with all remaining ingredients.
4. Puree until smooth and creamy.
5. Scoop mixture into a plastic bowl and cover with food-grade plastic wrap, making sure the plastic wrap touches the top of the mixture. Place in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Bon appetit!

Speaking of New Zealand, as we were in the last post, here’s some cool news about Disney’s classic family film Pete’s Dragon. They’ve re-filmed it with spectacular, real-life locations in New Zealand serving as a backdrop. The film was shot over both of New Zealand’s main islands, the North and the South, showcasing the country’s diverse landscapes.