William Penn Life, 2016 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-01-01 / 1. szám
Aging Well with Cathy Graham I LOVE SINGING OUT LOUD. I will engage in song any chance I get. I can't carry a tune, and my voice is kind of alto-shrilly, but it makes me happy to sing so I do. Singing helps to keep the voice strong and the supporting muscles active. Like many things, our voices can change with age. The pitch of a woman's voice gets lower, while the pitch of a man's drifts higher. Without intentional voice box use, speech slows and fewer words are audible through breaths. Also attributing to a weakened voice is a gradual loss of muscle mass in the voice box, a stiffening of the cartilage that surrounds it, and atrophy of the vocal cords. Mechanisms that control the jaw, tongue, lips and soft palate can deteriorate leading to a softer voice. There are several things that you can do to strengthen your voice, starting this very minute. Singing is a wonderful and obvious choice. However many folks are not comfortable bursting out in song like yours truly. Join a church choir, a singing group or see a vocal coach. A speech language pathologist may also be right for you. Properly coached singing can build up the respiratory system, too. Check with your health insurance provider to see if coverage is available for professional services. Keeping the rest of your body healthy I through exercise and eating nutritionally dense foods will also serve you well. Above all, use your voice daily. Talk back to the television, have conversations with your pet and yell "hello" to your neighbor across the way. People will love to hear from you, so pick up the phone and chat with someone when the feeling hits. Be an active sports fan and cheer on your favorite team, or yell "NO!" when the opponent scores. Voices matter: use them or lose them. Cathy Graham is director of the Graceful Aging Wellness Center at Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pa. Photo © Can Stock Photo Inc./Mclninch WPA is looking for good agents who want to grow with us William Penn Association is looking to grow and expand its reach in current and possibly new markets. To do this, we are seeking to add highly motivated agents to our list of over 800 existing agents. WPA currently writes insurance and annuity products in 20 states. The states include: CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, Ml, MO, NC, NE, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV and Wl. To grow, we need both full-time and part-time agents. Good agents are the lifeblood of any association, and WPA is a strong and growing association that has much to offer our members and the agents who write for us. If you are interested in an opportunity to grow with us, then contact Bob Bisceglia at 1-800- 848-7366, ext. 134. Thank you. Illustration © Can Stock Photo Inc./benjaminet William Penn Life ° January 2016 0 5 Let your voice be heard
