February may be a short month, but there is a lot going on. To kick off the month, I’ll be attending the second annual National Alliance of Attorneys for Alzheimer’s Planning (N3AP) conference. This takes place Feb. 1 and 2 in sunny Tempe, Arizona.
As a founding member of the N3AP, I am fortunate to be joining with other nationally recognized elder law attorneys and authorities on issues related to Alzheimer’s and dementia planning. The conference will be packed with programs on the growing epidemic of Alzheimer’s and dementia and new information on the latest developments with the disease.
Our group’s main objective is to bring awareness, education, and options to seniors and families who have loved ones living with Alzheimer’s. I will be recapping the conference in our April edition and sharing many of the topics discussed during the two-day event, so be on the lookout for that in the spring.
Another big “event” this month — which isn’t really an event as much as a unique day — is leap day. The one thing in this world you can’t manufacture is more time, and yet, every four years, we get an extra day thanks to leap day. Of course, for many of us, that day will come and go and we won’t even realize it, but it’s fun to think about.
This year, leap day — Feb. 29 — is on a Saturday. I will have the day off, but I have no plans as of the time of this writing. With winter slowly but surely making way for spring, it might be a good time to take a nice brisk walk or hike and take in the crisp February air. It’s certainly a far cry from Tempe, Arizona!
It’s also a good day to sleep in and kick back and relax. Whether it’s leap day or any day you don’t have any obligations, it’s always good to spend some time doing “nothing.” Maybe “nothing” is reading a good book or catching up on a TV show you haven’t watched in months (or years). Or it could be doing a puzzle.
It could also be catching up with correspondence. If you haven’t written a letter to anyone lately — and many people haven’t — it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. Plus, research shows that writing letters comes with many psychological benefits, including maintaining a sharper mind as we age.
Speaking of writing, did you write down any goals or resolutions for this year? It’s estimated that 80% of people either forget or give up on their New Year’s resolutions by Feb. 14. If you’ve let any of your goals fall by the wayside, February can be a month of second chances. You may not have gotten a good start in January, but you may find you have the energy or inspiration to try again in February.
Think of it as starting with a clean slate. It’s only the second month of the year, so not much time has been lost. Or maybe your goals weren’t inspiring to begin with. When we set goals for ourselves, they should be worthwhile enough to see them through to the end. If you set goals in January and you’re not feeling excited about them, that’s okay! It just means you should focus your attention on something else — something that means more to you.
I hope you are having a good month! My mind is already on March — and March Madness! See you then.