This is a fate I don't wish upon anyone.

In March 2020, my father passed away, alone, in a long-term care institution. My mother had been caring for him at home for several years as his body and mind deteriorated, but as of January he had become too frail for her to support him. With all the chaos of that very weird time - it was just after covid-19 was labeled a pandemic - we never found out the immediate cause of his death. On his death certificate, the doctor wrote: "Alzheimer's." But maybe it was covid - tests weren't widely available then. Or he just completely ran out of energy and strength. The last time my mother had seen him, he was so weak, it seemed uncertain whether each breath would be followed by another.

Everyone dies - even healthy vegans! (And Dad certainly was neither healthy nor vegan.) I think about death every day. Memento Mori! But such an early demise (he was only 74) from dementia isn't inevitable or necessary.

Prior to my father's tragic decline, I saw plant-based eating as a way to decrease humanity's pressure on Earth's finite resources and alleviate the suffering of all beings. The health benefits seemed reasonably plausible, but I hadn't seriously considered the science.

Witnessing the ravages of degenerative disease lit a fire in me.

Driven by the desire to avoid his fate, for myself and those around me, I eagerly started learning more about aging in general and dementia in particular. There's still so much to learn, but there are a few things I feel very confident in based on the literature:

• Eating greens, beans, and berries every day significantly reduces the risks of developing dementia.
• Everything that's good for the heart (vegetables and fruit, legumes, whole grains, avoiding cholesterol and saturated fats...) is good for the brain.
• Exercise makes a difference.
• Proper sleep and stress management are key to protect our brain.
• A continued sense of purpose and connection to loved ones and the broader community keep us going.

That's common sense, isn't it? Everyone knows that eating a lot of veggies (5+ portions/day) and getting enough sleep is important. But how many of us actually do both of those things most days?

(Personally, I really struggle with the sleep part.)

The second half of our life can be the best half, but it won't happen automatically. Practically everything in our modern world conspires against embracing healthy habits. Unless we shape our environment and experience to nurture those habits, we're at great risk of sickness and sadness.

We can work, as individuals and as a community, to bring our lifestyle in line with our knowledge, shaping our experience towards thriving.

😁 More joy
🥦 Really good food
👟 Movement through the day
☮️ More rested bodies and calmer minds
💕 Connections with family, friends, and neighbors
📈 Hope that we can bring our lives into closer alignment with our values

This is not easy!!! There are many obstacles. It doesn't happen overnight. Often there's setbacks. Still, every step in the right direction adds life to our years.

As I approach 50, it feels urgent to dedicate my efforts to:

• Making this vision of a healthy lifestyle and meaningful life unfold for myself;
• Support others in their own journey towards a robust and resilient body and mind.

That's what this newsletter - Greens Forward for a Better Second Half - is all about.

My work will remain focused on plant-based nutrition and cooking as well as lifestyle habits, with a growing focus on how to thrive in the second half of our life - from our 50s to our 100s!

Traveling together makes it more meaningful. Please subscribe and do not hesitate to invite friends to to the same. Thank you for joining me on this fascinating adventure called life.

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