New Beginnings . . .

There are rhythms to life that seem to stick with us forever.

One of those is the beginning of a new school year.

Though no one in my immediate family has had a first day of school for many years now, the appearance of school supplies in stores, coupled with all the ads for back-to-school gear, takes me back to those times in my life as if they were yesterday.

September has always seemed like a second chance at a fresh start for me—in part because that is when we celebrate the Jewish New Year, and because so many other activities restart after taking the summer off.

I have often used it as the impetus to clean up and clean out. To set and/or review goals. To return to a more structured routine. To get—as my mother would say—“all my ducks in a row.”

And so, here are a few items for you to consider as we approach the beginning of this new school year—whether you’re returning to school or not:

SHOTS

As kids, our vaccination regimens were vigilantly supervised—public school students were not allowed to attend school unless their immunizations were up-to-date. Period.

Same, I recall, for college.

But as adults, we’re generally been left to our own devices.

I recently came upon an AARP Magazine article entitled, “Your Essential Vaccine Guide.” It lists the following vaccines as “essential” for older adults:

Flu—One dose every fall for Adults 50+

RSV—One dose one time for Adults 75+

Shingles—Two-dose series for Adults 50+

Pneumococcal—One dose one time for Adults 65+

Tdap/Td Booster—One dose every 10 years

Of course, you should check with your Primary Care Physician about this before getting any of these shots—or the latest COVID booster. You may also want to ask about being tested for your immunity to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), since cases of Measles have recently increased in various part of the country.

“PAPERWORK”

Older adulthood also comes with its share of “paperwork”—just as the beginning of the schoolyear did way-back-when.

So, here are a few items to think about—and make sure are in order:

Your Will, Advanced Directive (a/k/a Living Will), Durable Medical Power of Attorney, and Durable Power of Attorney for Finances

A list of all the medications you’re taking—pocket-sized, to keep in your wallet

Your life, health, and long-term care insurance policies

Financial records—bank accounts, investment accounts, mortgages, credit cards, etc.

A safe place to keep them

Someone who knows where to find them when the situation warrants

For additional information, here’s a great resource from the National Institutes on Aging.

ACT

Finally, this is the perfect time to think about what you want the rest of your year—or your LIFE—to look like.

But don’t just set goals. Create action plans. Draw roadmaps. (I’ve found colored post-its to be a great tool to keep me on track.)

Then. Take. The. First. Step.

Because the first day of the rest of your life is here. The bell is about to ring. So let’s get to work!