Social Challenge: Week 1 One Small Win!

[AARPTeri]

Week 1:  What’s one small win you have had this week and one thing that’s been harder than expected?  Short answers welcome! Jump in even if you’re just getting started!

Want to join the challenge?  Here’s the URL:https://www.aarp.org/rewards/earn/socialchallenge/ 

[JeanneH311525]

Hi. I switched from the Edge gym to the YMCA gym hoping to make social connections in the classes. 

Wishing us both Good Connections!

[a669917h]

Remember to say hi to a couple of folks, maybe introduce yourself

[FreidaT20164]

One small win is being allowed another beautiful day,  the hardest thing is dealing with my relocation situation 

[a669917h]

Relocating is hard.  I’ve been following my youngest child to a be a present grandma in her girls life.  Ten years, 3 moves.  All in the same state but hundreds of miles apart.  I always go looking for my church first.  Not always the first I try.  After I start to feel comfortable there I look for the senior center.  You can usually get lunches there a few dollars and sit with other folks and start up conversation.  Another place I look for is classes at the Y or community center.  Whether it’s craft or exercise being with people in a common goal can least to conversation.   You may not one to do all these at the same time, pick one you feel comfortable with and go.  If you don’t want to be lonely ask one of your class members what else is there to do for senior?  Which one do they suggest? …etc.

[RitaB614471]

  I think I will take my brother to the Senior Center and see if we like it. He's an introvert.

[CarolB430334]

• That's a good idea he may love it like I did.

[RozR5886]

Me too. Relocated and still struggling after 6 years. I don’t connect well 

[a669917h]

What have you tried?

[r23935s]

One win for me this week is planning to travel this w/e to see family, including grandchildren in another state.  It’s my sister’s birthday and I’ll be there to celebrate!

[a669917h]

Great!

[EileenR853519]

I’ve been attending classes at the YMCA and I volunteer weekly in the community. 

[a669917h]

What do you want to do better?

[CarolB430334]

Eat better 

[Yvettemaria]

That's great!

[terywlms]

We caught up with about 40 friends we worked with 30+ years ago!  It was amazing!

[KatharineG786888]

We moved to a 55+ community in madch. Ct I am slowly meeting people but having a lot of names to remember!it is getting better and I have joined card groups   . This c week I was able to get a ride to the Clubhouse with a fellow player!

[LaurenN179233]

Two social outlets, though it can be hard to push myself to go sometimes when feeling more introverted. My square dance club, and pickleball. Modern square dancing is an awesome way to 'check all the boxes' on exercise, cognitive play, social, fun for low cost. Pickleball I choose where to play based on whether I'll enjoy the people I'll be with. www.castoff8s.com; www.wheresthedance.com

[bm25223617]

My small win felt like a huge win; going out to lunch with a twenty-something friend. An absolute delight!

   My struggle is the weather.  As an asthmatic, I can’t attend the “Fridays at Five” outdoor concerts in the downtown area of where I live. 🙁

[tjlannon]

At the beginning of the month I joined a Tai-Chi class at the local community center. The group meets

3 days a week for an hour each.

[CarolynM127038]

My husband and others began a neighborhood association in our urban area last year (after I urged him to get involved in our community; my health limited me in the initial stages). This month, we attended a strawberry 🍓 ice cream social at our local library, where I ran into and got caught up with an old friend. 

Then yesterday, I responded to a give-away offer from a really community-minded young woman on our association's FB group. We liberated some of her children's used toys, gained some fun toys for our 3-year-old grand-niece, and connected again with a delightful person ( plus I got out of the house.)

[Sarah9910]

1 Swim class and 2 Silver Sneakers class at the senior center

[SereneSeagull]

Sounds fun 🙂

[LauraW628984]

Haven’t had a cigarette in 5 days. Doing vitamin vape and will get off these soon.

[JeanneH311525]

Congratulations on reducing the vape use.  Think of the money you'll save as motivation!  Spend it on new sandals. Lol

[b713323s]

I did the same many yrs ago. If it helps-  I bought the nicotine gum, wellbutrin, patches, printed out pics of smokers lungs & placed  them all over the house. Lol.  Plus attended the Nicotine Anonymous meetings- only one in Austin at that time.  Hope it helps! You can do it.

[ThirdAct]

Bravo!!!  That's not easy.  You will be so much happier (and be richer) getting beyond cigarettes.

[tjlannon]

Well worth doing. Hang in there.

[SereneSeagull]

Congrats on not having a cigarette in 5 days!  Thats a healthy achievement!  Way to go, @LauraW628984  💪

[VelmaZ]

I spent 4 days with friends that I've known since 6th grade! It was a wonderful spending time with them!

[SereneSeagull]

Wow!  Thats a long time to have known them!  Nice!