Baby It's Cold Outside

Hobbies Have Gender Price Tags

January 23, 2025

Hello there fellow Ageless!

As the first month of 2025 moves toward its close, and the nation processes yet another political transition, we're exploring transformations of our own. This week's edition challenges the status quo, questioning everything from how we view our winter habits to long-standing financial double standards. Join us today, January 23rd—which appropriately marks the start of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, a symbol of strength, fortune, and transformation—as we dive into stories that empower and illuminate. Discover why your morning latte shouldn't come with a side of guilt, find out what your dog might actually be trying to tell you (and yes, we mean with words!), learn a gentler approach to movement that could transform your wellbeing, and find out why those crisp winter days might be nature's gift to your health. These perspectives reveal that in this season of change, we're writing our own rules and charting our own course.

🏋️‍♂️ Vibrant Living: Empowering Your Health and Wellness

Embrace the Chill: While young adults boast about their ice baths on TikTok, there may be a gentler way to embrace winter’s magic. As it turns out, those crisp winter days we've been avoiding might just be nature's gift to our health and vitality. Nearly 60 years ago, Charlie Brown gave voice to what we now know as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which women are more prone to, when he confided to Linus, "I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel." Unlike Lucy's "snap out of it" advice, we've found a better solution to those winter blues: regular time outdoors. It improves our mental and emotional well-being while helping to maintain bone strength, balance, and mental sharpness and creating natural opportunities to socialize and stay connected with our community. Plus a morning cup of coffee on your porch could be doing more than just warming your hands—the early sunlight boosts vital vitamin D production while resetting your body’s natural rhythms.

Let's be honest: our cozy blankets and favorite streaming shows make compelling arguments for staying inside. But here's the surprising truth: thriving in winter weather isn’t about age— it's about mindset and preparation. Once you start moving, your body temperature rises making it feel 15-20 degrees warmer than the thermometer shows. Just 20 minutes outdoors a few times a week can significantly impact our mental clarity and energy levels, with studies showing measurable reduction in stress hormones. The cold air actually serves as a natural refresher, clearing mental fog more effectively than that afternoon espresso.

The secret is starting small and staying comfortable. Bundle up in your warmest layers, cover all extremities, and start with a short walk around the block or gentle patio stretching. Good traction shoes and trekking poles provide stability in challenging weather. Create an inviting outdoor nook with a comfortable chair, warm blanket, and perhaps a thermos of hot tea. For those craving more vigorous activity, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing await. Winter gardening, birdwatching, or even photographing frost patterns can turn outdoor time into an engaging hobby. Those managing arthritis or other health conditions should ease in gradually as it lets our bodies adapt. A quick chat with healthcare providers can help create a personalized plan. The cold air naturally increases our metabolism, becoming even more important as we age. Consider it your daily dose of natural vitality, no polar plunge required. Like every season of life, winter offers its own unique gifts—we’re just getting better at unwrapping them.

💰 Wealth Wisdom: Securing Your Financial Future

The Latte Lie and Golf Club Conundrum: Remember when your morning latte was supposedly destroying your retirement fund? A similar bias now shadows women's hobbies, where a stark financial double standard persists. While a $200 monthly art studio membership gets labeled "indulgent," a country club membership costing ten times that amount is lauded as "essential networking." This pattern plays out across the spectrum: a $500 3D printer for creative projects is deemed a "splurge" while $5,000 golf clubs are considered a "worthwhile investment." As women over 50, we've spent decades navigating a no-win situation: our hobbies are labeled either vain and superficial or attention-seeking and inauthentic, while traditionally male pursuits are hailed and supported—both socially and financially. The result? Research consistently shows women are less likely than men to maintain regular hobbies—we've been conditioned to see our leisure pursuits as optional extras rather than vital investments in ourselves.

The reality is that many of us are either leading successful careers in the SHEconomy or redefining retirement altogether, yet we still hesitate to invest in our own interests. This hesitation comes at a crucial time when research shows that engaging in meaningful leisure activities does far more than just occupy time—it helps us stay vibrant as we age, improves cognitive function, and even extends life expectancy. Our typically chosen activities, from $60 monthly book clubs to $150 cooking class series, often cost far less than traditionally male-dominated pursuits while delivering richer returns: they foster creativity, build community connections, and provide a vital sense of purpose and achievement. These pursuits keep us feeling young at heart while teaching us to approach life's challenges with renewed curiosity and playfulness—arguably more valuable returns than many traditional "networking" investments, considering women typically have less leisure time due to unpaid domestic and caretaker work. Yet women in our demographic, despite having both the means and desire to embrace these enriching hobbies, often hold back due to years of conditioning about "responsible spending."

It's time to flip the script on this financial double standard. Whether you're a CEO looking for a stress-relieving hobby or a recent retiree exploring new passions, your interests deserve investment—both financially and emotionally. Instead of apologizing for that aerial yoga class or destination painting retreat, recognize it as an investment in your wellbeing, just as valid as any boat or premium sports package. Let's champion a new financial narrative where women's hobbies—whether that’s beekeeping, glassblowing, or competitive fencing—receive the same respect, value, and investment as any other life-enriching activity. After all, our happiness isn’t a line item that needs justification in someone else’s budget—because nobody ever looks back on their life and wishes they spent less time doing what they love.

🧠 Lifelong Learning And Brain Boosts

Mind and Body in Harmony: Ever feel like your body is holding onto stress you didn't even know you had? Maybe it's that tightness in your shoulders, or the clenching of your jaw when life gets hectic. That’s where somatic exercises come in—and trust me, they're not just for yogis or meditation enthusiasts. These gentle, intentional movements help you tune into your body, release tension, and in the process, calm your mind. For women over 50, it's like a secret weapon against the chaos of daily life. And here's the really exciting part: recent research found that these mind-body practices improve cognitive functions more effectively than traditional exercise alone. Think sharper memory, better attention, and faster mental processing—all while feeling more like self-care than workout.

Here's the fascinating part: somatic exercises aren't about breaking a sweat—they're about paying attention. While society might expect us to slow down or take it easy after 50, these practices prove that engaging both brain and body becomes even more powerful as we age. When you slow down and tune in, you're activating your parasympathetic nervous system, your body's "calm down" button. And the benefits? They're bigger than we ever imagined. Studies recently confirmed these practices significantly reduce cognitive decline risk and research shows that they can help manage chronic pain too, freeing up mental energy for what matters most. This isn’t about accepting cognitive change as inevitable—it’s about actively shaping our brain health. Imagine doing slow, mindful stretches or a gentle tai chi routine and feeling your mental clutter just melt away. It's not magic—it's neuroplasticity, your brain's remarkable ability to adapt and reorganize, staying sharp and resilient as you age.

The best part? You don't need a fancy gym or hours of free time to start. Try lying in bed and doing a body scan, noticing each part of your body from head to toe. Or spend five minutes doing slow, deliberate stretches, focusing on your breath. Feeling restless during a TV show? Try seated cat-cow stretches to gently loosen your spine. Taking a walk? Turn it into a moving meditation by paying attention to the sensation of your feet hitting the ground. Even something as simple as standing up, closing your eyes, and gently swaying side to side can reconnect you with your body. Whether it's Tai Chi, yoga, or Pilates, these practices aren't just exercise; they're an investment in your cognitive health, helping you navigate life's challenges with grace and mental clarity. So why not give it a go right now? You don't need anything fancy—just your body, a few quiet minutes, and the willingness to see where it takes you. Who knows? It might just become your new favorite way to feel amazing, in body and mind.

When Pets Speak Our Language: Have you ever wondered what your dog would say if it could talk? It turns out, we might be closer to finding out than you think. Recent research has explored how dogs are using soundboards—devices with buttons representing specific words—to communicate with humans. By pressing buttons for “outside,” “play,” or even “love you,” some dogs are demonstrating not just an understanding of these concepts, but an ability to express their needs and emotions in ways we can clearly comprehend. While this is still more hypothesis than definitive science, the early findings are undeniably exciting. They hint at a new depth of connection with our four-legged friends that could change how we view them, ourselves, and the relationships we share.

For women over 50, this potential breakthrough is particularly meaningful. Recent brain research has revealed something remarkable: dogs' brains process words similarly to humans, forming actual mental representations of objects—they're not just responding to commands. When dogs hear a word and see an unexpected object, their brains show the same type of response humans do when encountering mismatched words and objects. This deeper understanding of language, combined with new soundboard technology, could transform how we connect with our pets. Loneliness, a growing concern in this stage of life, often makes pets a lifeline of emotional support. Imagine your dog not just wagging its tail to greet you but “telling” you it’s happy to see you or asking for its favorite toy. While research has already shown that dogs have some understanding of the words we say, this level of communication could strengthen the bond we share with our pets, turning companionship into a true partnership. Not to mention, the encouragement to engage in daily walks or playtime, prompted by a spoken request, adds another layer of joy and connection to your routine. Researchers believe these interactions could further reduce feelings of isolation and even improve mental and physical health for dog owners.

While we’re not at Dr. Dolittle levels of dialogue yet, the implications are profound. If dogs can communicate their needs and emotions so clearly, it reinforces the idea that the human-animal bond is far deeper than we’ve imagined. It’s a reminder of the unconditional love, companionship, and true value pets bring into our lives. So next time your pup stares at you with those soulful eyes, just imagine: the words might not be far behind. Until then, let’s continue to cherish the unique language we already share—one full of love, loyalty, and understanding.

🔗 The Extras - Fun Stuff We Had to Share

🌿 Sage Reflections

“You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless [s]he is willing to climb a little.”

-Andrew Carnegie

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