Category Archives: Body

Contemplation and Attention

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Bob Ritzema

After turning 50, prominent psychiatrist Gerald G. May started to take solitary camping trips to wilderness areas, attempting to become more connected with nature (including his own nature). His book The Wisdom of the Wilderness: Experiencing the Healing Power of … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Psyche, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Finally Got Covid

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Bob Ritzema

So, I finally got Covid, having dodged it for nearly four years. I started coughing Sunday afternoon, and it progressively got worse the next few days. I went for a Covid test on Tuesday, and it came back positive. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Psyche | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Lessons in Loss from Brooks and Beethoven

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Bob Ritzema

My most recent post on this blog described an article by Arthur C. Brooks in The Atlantic titled “Your Professional Decline Is Coming Sooner Than You Think.” In it he described research demonstrating that fluid intelligence declines after midlife. Due … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Psyche | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Recovering From Loss: Giving Back

Posted on September 29, 2018 by Bob Ritzema

In his book Struck: One Christian’s Reflections on Encountering Death (IVP Books, 2017), Russ Ramsey, pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, tells the story of his encounter with a life-threatening illness. Ramsey developed a persistent fever caused by … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Seven Deadly Sins for Seniors: Gluttony

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve been writing about the seven deadly sins, using as my basis the book Glittering Vices: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and their Remedies by Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung. I’m especially interested in how these harmful habits manifest … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Taking Up Yoga Late in Life

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

  For most of my adult life, I had no use for yoga. I have always exercised regularly and have been fit, so I didn’t need yoga for that. I also didn’t need the calming effects, since I could deal … Continue reading →

Posted in Body | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mom on the Mend

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

My mom, who is 91 years old, fell a couple weeks ago. She was in the bathroom, heading for the toilet in the middle of the night when her feet flew out from under her. She normally takes her time … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, caregiving | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Healthcare Decisions for Our Parents and Us

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

In a recent New York Times article, Dr. Mikkael A. Sekeres, a cancer specialist. told of his first meeting with a 97 year-old patient. The elderly man had recently moved into an assisted living facility in Cleveland in order to … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, caregiving, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Silver Lining While Waiting for Healing

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve had a difficult time of it recently. Though the surgery I had in February was successful, I was rehospitalized a couple weeks later with complications. Urine was leaking into my abdomen, causing severe pain. The doctors fitted me with … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Complications

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve been writing recently about my medical problems. After living a year and a half with prostate cancer, I had surgery a couple weeks ago to remove my prostate. Last week, I blogged about the surgery and the first week of recovery. A few … Continue reading →

Posted in Body | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment