The choice is ours
Generally, whatever the situation, we like knowing we have choices in life. Being boxed in, having no alternative, being forced into a decision doesn’t feel good. We want to be in control. That applies to nearly every aspect of life — what to eat, what to wear, what to spend our time on — at every stage of life, from the terrible twos, into adolescence, and throughout... READ MORE
Seizing an opportunity
I’ve never been one to keep a daily journal or diary. I do find myself wishing sometimes that I had done so in the past, but not enough to get myself to start keeping one now. However, there have been a few days in my life when I have had such a meaningful (or traumatic) experience that I feel compelled to write down what happened and how I felt. The other day, I was looking for a... READ MORE
Reader snapshots
A couple of months ago, I shared some insights that we learned from hundreds of readers who answered our survey asking how the pandemic has affected them. We followed that up with another survey, asking readers more about who they are, what their future plans are, and what they think of the Beacon and our advertisers. This type of information is especially valuable to us, both so we know ... READ MORE
Guest column: Wake-up call
Editor’s Note: The following guest column is by Timothy Cox, one of our contributing writers. Mr. Cox has written for Gannett and Scripps-Howard as well as for newspapers in Augusta, Atlanta, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, he has a journalism degree from Point Park University. I vividly recall the spring of 1968. I... READ MORE
What you have told us
First, a thank-you to the hundreds of readers who have filled out and mailed (or taken online) our “How are you faring?” coronavirus pandemic survey. For those who have not yet done so, we will continue to collect and tally survey results for a few more weeks. You can reach it through our website home page (see “Attention Readers” at thebeaconnewspapers.com), or go directly to... READ MORE
How are you faring?
Many of us have lived through some strange and rough times, but I think it’s fair to say, our lives today are unlike anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. I heard firsthand reports from my parents and grandparents about the difficulties of wartime, and I know those days were in many ways far more difficult — both for those on the front lines and for the families left... READ MORE
Seek, but shall ye find?
First, I want to start out by admitting I am guilty of the very pet peeve I want to share today. I’m speaking about the classic error of conducting a survey that’s mis-aimed from the outset. The Beacon did such a survey of readers more than 15 years ago. Long-time readers will recall our publication was named “Senior Beacon” at its inception in 1988. In the early 2000s, we... READ MORE
Understood too well?
We all want to be understood by our close friends and, particularly, by our mates. We want them to know what our preferences are, what we like to eat, with whom we like (and don’t like) to socialize. We want them to remember our birthday, what types of gifts please us, what music we like to listen to at different times of day. These are among the myriad ways in which people who love... READ MORE
Wonder and creativity
I found myself standing beside a window one chilly morning recently as my thoughts wandered into wondering, as they often do. This time, I was wondering — both wondering about and feeling a sense of wonder — at the early morning sunlight filtering through the window. As I raised the shade to get a better look at the day, I immediately felt an odd sensation: a coldness radiating... READ MORE
Innovative solutions
I recently attended a national conference that highlighted some of the latest innovations in products and services for older adults. Attendees represented companies large and small, start-ups and long-established brands, as well as associations like AARP and the National Council on the Aging. I came away excited about what I learned, and energized by the creative technologies and... READ MORE
