Lead contributor Greg Asimakoupoulos expresses his perspective on current events and life in general through verse. We have used Greg's weekly expressions since SeniorLifesytle began in 2006 and borrowed (with permission) the "Rhymes & Reasons" title used on the Partial Observer website where his work still appears.
The updated SeniorLIfestyle site includes all of the Rhymes & Reasons we have used since April 2006.
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Life Events
34 records found
Surprised by Oxford Movie by Rusty Wright
(Arts & Entertainment September 25, 2023)
Remedying broken relationships…
Topics:
Arts & Entertainment
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Education
•
Faith
•
Grace
•
Learning
•
Movies
•
Relationships
The Gift of Helen Story, Remembered by Garrison Keillor
(My World September 14, 2023)
Somehow the ridiculous missteps of my life lead to this day in September, the back-to-school month, and in my heart I am still walking into the old high school, anxious to do well in Lyle Bradley's biology and Helen Story's English class…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contemplation, Insight
•
Coping
•
Education
•
Humor
•
Learning
•
Memories
•
Optimal Aging
•
Tribute, Testimony
The Lucky Man Hits the Road, My Gosh by Garrison Keillor
(My World August 10, 2023)
I dread the prospect of retirement, which in so many cases leads to disintegration and dementia. I intend to go on performing until I reach the age of 98, beating my mother by one year…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Health Care
•
Optimal Aging
•
Retirement
•
Travel
•
Wellness
Ports of Call on an Unforgettable Journey by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons July 22, 2023)
A miniature suitcase that adorned my bookshelf during the pandemic caps off memories of an incredible decade…
Topics:
Change
•
Character, Integrity
•
Christian Life
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
COVID-19
•
Faith
•
History
•
Minorities
•
News
•
Optimal Aging
•
Relationships
•
Retirement
Discoveing Gravity and Grace in Our Journey by Leona Bergstrom
(Health & Wellness July 14, 2023)
Introducing the Gift of Life Review
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contemplation, Insight
•
Grace
•
Optimal Aging
•
Wellness
Canada is Burning, But We're Doing Okay by Garrison Keillor
(My World July 13, 2023)
And so I set aside the past and retreat into the present and take pleasure in the morning coffee, the granola with berries, the appearance of She Whom I Love . . . there is serenity to be found and freedom from the vast treasury of available anxiety.
Topics:
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contemplation, Insight
•
Contentment, Satsifaction
•
Disaster
•
News
A Lovely Lunch Last Week in New Haven by Garrison Keillor
(My World June 22, 2023)
At lunch with a pregnant woman, you talk about ordinary life, family, summer, the food, the elation of the kids at the graduation we’d attended that morning and the pride of their parents, and we never set foot in politics at all…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Communication
•
Contentment, Satsifaction
•
Optimal Aging
•
Relationships
Afternoon Tea with the Galloping Gourmet by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons June 3, 2023)
Graham Kerr welcomed Greg and Wendy Asimakoupoulos to his home in Washington State…
Topics:
Attitudes
•
Beliefs
•
Bible
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Dying and Death
•
Faith
•
Loss & Grieving
•
Love
•
Optimal Aging
•
Tragedy
O Fabulous Day! Callooh! Callay! by Garrison Keillor
(My World June 1, 2023)
Stupidity has given me sympathy for other knuckleheads and also admiration for the beautiful competence of American medicine, which has extended my life dramatically, making it possible for me to beat myself up for my mistakes and not just take up space.
Topics:
Attitudes
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Civility
•
Current Events, News
•
Humor
•
News
•
Optimal Aging
•
Politics
•
Relationships
Manhattan Man Living in the Past by Garrison Keillor
(My World May 25, 2023)
What's on my mind is family history, the seven children of James Keillor and Dora Powell, and in all of Manhattan there's not a single soul who has the slightest interest, nor should there be…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contemplation, Insight
•
Faith
•
Family
•
Memories
•
Optimal Aging
God is Never Late—But He Sure is Slow by James N. Watkins
(Faith April 29, 2023)
We humans tend to set deadlines for God to act: . . and he seems to ignore our urgency! Here are four possible reasons.
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Faith
•
God
•
Loss & Grieving
•
Prayer
On a Wing and a Prayer Movie by Rusty Wright
(Arts & Entertainment March 25, 2023)
Deadly danger; divine drama?…
Topics:
Arts & Entertainment
•
Beliefs
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Courage
•
Crisis
•
Faith
•
Movies
•
Relationships
•
Risk
You Will Get it Wrong . . . But You Won't Make it Worse by Cariad Lloyd / The Guardian
(Connections January 27, 2023)
16 ways to talk to people who are grieving…
Topics:
Advice, Guidance & Mentoring
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Comfort & Consolation
•
Communication
•
Coping
•
Dying and Death
•
Loss & Grieving
•
Love
•
Optimal Aging
•
Relationships
Squeezing Good Out of Bad by James N. Watkins
(My World January 20, 2023)
Yikes! It’s hard to believe that Squeezing Good Out of Bad is sixteen years old…
Topics:
Advice, Guidance & Mentoring
•
Attitudes
•
Choices and Decision Making
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Humor
•
Optimal Aging
A Pleasant Night with Nice People in LA by Garrison Keillor
(Connections January 13, 2023)
People could go hear a lecture on the coming water shortage in the Southwest or come hear me tell you that life is pretty good and could be worse but even if bad things happen there is a great deal of kindness in the world…
Topics:
Attitudes
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contentment, Satsifaction
•
Optimal Aging
•
Relationships
I Wanna Dance Movie by Rusty Wright
(Arts & Entertainment December 23, 2022)
Whitney Houston's success and struggles…
Topics:
Arts & Entertainment
•
Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography)
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Dying and Death
•
Hopes & Dreams
•
Movies
•
Music
•
Popular Culture
Nothing is Impossible Movie by Rusty Wright
(Arts & Entertainment September 30, 2022)
Hoops, romance, second chances…
Topics:
Arts & Entertainment
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Faith
•
God
•
Hopes & Dreams
•
Movies
•
Relationships
•
Trust
October is Coming, Prepare to Be Bold by Garrison Keillor
(My World September 23, 2022)
October is a month that encourages courage. The languors of summer are finally dispersed and the chill of reality in the air tells you to get to business…
Topics:
Choices and Decision Making
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Opportunity
•
Seasons
Lessons from the Fall by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons September 10, 2022)
Favorite Jim Ryan failed to qualify for his event in the Munich Olympics 50 years ago…
Topics:
Character, Integrity
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Faith
•
History
•
Leadership
•
Sports
A Letter from a Father in Heaven by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons July 9, 2022)
Loving thoughts to a daughter from out of this world…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Faith
•
Family
•
Relationships
Graduating from the School of Hard Knocks by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons June 25, 2022)
Chalking up the lessons of life to the experiences of daily living…
Topics:
Character, Integrity
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Learning
Just One More Morning of an Old Man by Garrison Keillor
(My World April 7, 2022)
Thoughts on life from the right field bleachers…
Topics:
Baseball
•
Change
•
Choices and Decision Making
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Contentment, Satsifaction
•
Optimal Aging
Americans Are Stuck in Unhealhty Pandemic Habits by Alliison Aubrey / NPR
(Health & Wellness March 11, 2022)
Here's how to reboot…
Topics:
Advice, Guidance & Mentoring
•
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
COVID-19
•
Disease
•
Lifestyle, General
•
Optimal Aging
•
Wellness
Betwixt and Between by Leona Bergstrom
(My World February 19, 2022)
Being resilient when life throws you a curve…
Topics:
Change
•
Character, Integrity
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Courage
•
COVID-19
•
Hopes & Dreams
The Agony and the Ecstasy of Downsizing by Leona Bergstrom
(My World February 12, 2022)
I know I must let go of stuff, let go of who I once was and the pursuits I once fought for, but…
Topics:
Advice, Guidance & Mentoring
•
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Housing
•
Lifestyle, General
•
Memories
•
Optimal Aging
•
Values
Weeping with Those Who Weep by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons February 10, 2022)
Who can you comfort today?…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Comfort & Consolation
•
Compassion
•
Faith
•
Inspiration
•
Relationships
The Changing Seasons compiled by Leona Bergstrom
(My World October 16, 2021)
Words to contemplate as we move into Autumn…
Topics:
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Nature
•
Seasons
•
Wisdom
The Streets Were My Father Movie by Rusty Wright
(Arts & Entertainment June 17, 2021)
Who's your daddy? A story of hopelessness and redemption…
Topics:
Abuse and Addiction
•
Addictions
•
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Crime, Justice, Punishment
•
Faith
•
Father's Day
•
Forgive, Forgiveness
•
Grace
•
Hopes & Dreams
•
Movies
•
Relationships
•
Social Issues
Reflections on Nomadland by Leona Bergstrom
(Arts & Entertainment May 14, 2021)
Raw, fascinating, and pertinent for those of us in midlife and beyond…
Topics:
Change
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Lifestyle, General
•
Movies
•
Popular Culture
•
Stress
NASA Trailblazer's Inspiring Journey by Christopher Brito / CBS News
(Learn March 5, 2021)
She came to the U.S. with $300 and worked housekeeping jobs. Now she's a flight director for NASA's Mars Perseverance…
Topics:
Attitudes
•
Personal Stories (Biography/Autobiography)
•
Character, Integrity
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Discipline
•
Inspiration
•
Opportunity
•
Optimal Aging
Thanks for Nothing! by James N. Watkins
(My World November 25, 2020)
When things seem they cannot be more bleak, there is reason for hope…
Topics:
Bible
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
COVID-19
•
Faith
•
God
•
Gratitute
•
Holidays
•
Holiday Season
•
Hopes & Dreams
•
Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving
He Faced Death this Week by Bill Nichols
(Health & Wellness September 1, 2019)
It made be think…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Comfort & Consolation
•
Contemplation, Insight
•
Coping
•
Dying and Death
•
Disease
•
Fears, Concerns
•
Relationships
•
Wellness
Dealing with the Cards You're Dealt by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(Rhymes & Reasons August 25, 2018)
Life is more than just a game…
Topics:
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Coping
•
Humor
•
Metaphors, Life Lessons
Stepping Out in Faith by Stu Johnson
(Faith May 5, 2018)
Discovering the meaning of faith in stories from life's journey…
Topics:
Christian Life
•
Circumstances, Life Events
•
Courage
•
Faith
•
God
•
Inspiration
•
Jesus
•
Prayer
•
Religion
•
Values