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Building a Support Network: Beyond Family and Old Friends
Trivia: What is the culinary term for partially cooking food by boiling it briefly, then plunging it into cold water to stop the cooking?
RetireHub
August 17, 2025
Rise and shine, RetireHub community! ☀️ Your Sunday newsletter is here!
Today we’re sharing great tips on building a support network: beyond family and old friends, along with the best deals, fun trivia, and more!
Top Deals From Around The Web
We find the best daily online deals so you don’t have to!
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🍲 41% OFF – Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker (6 Quart)
From pressure cooking to slow cooking, sautéing to steaming—this do-it-all appliance handles it all with ease. With 28 customizable programs and even a sterilizer function, it’s a must-have for easy, efficient home cooking.
What We’re Reading
Get these e-book deals before they’re gone.
 | By: Murray Bailey "WOWZA!" - Barnsey's Books Junior Egyptologist, Alex MacLure, is ill-prepared for the cryptic mystery left by his murdered best friend - a forgotten truth buried beneath centuries of deception - a revelation so explosive, it could rewrite everything we know about ancient Egypt and religion. |
On this day in 1960, The Beatles gave their very first performance at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. This marked the beginning of a grueling residency where they played for hours each night—honing their stage presence, stamina, and sound. Though far from glamorous, their time in Hamburg is often credited as the place where The Beatles truly became a band.
Building a Support Network: Beyond Family and Old Friends
As we move through different seasons of life, the people around us naturally shift. Children grow up, close friends may relocate, and even long-time neighbors can fade from view. But staying socially connected remains one of the most important elements of emotional and physical well-being—especially as we age. That’s why building a support network that extends beyond family and old friends can be both enriching and essential.
Reimagining Connection
A support network doesn't have to look one specific way. It might include neighbors, fellow volunteers, book club members, walking partners, or new acquaintances from community classes. These connections can offer fresh perspectives, shared experiences, and often a surprising depth of support.
Think of it as expanding your "circle of care." Instead of relying only on long-standing relationships, you're allowing space for new people to walk alongside you—whether it's during a major life change or simply the day-to-day.
Finding Support in Unexpected Places
Community centers, senior programs, libraries, and local events are wonderful places to meet others. Even casual conversations at the farmers market or in your building’s elevator can be seeds of connection. Technology also offers opportunity: many people form genuine friendships through Facebook groups, virtual meetups, or even apps specifically for connecting older adults with shared interests.
If you’re feeling hesitant, start small. A kind hello, a compliment, or a shared activity can be the bridge to something deeper. Vulnerability is part of connection—it’s okay to say, “I’ve been looking to meet more people around here.”
When You Need More than Companionship
Sometimes, support also means help—rides to appointments, someone to check in after surgery, or an ear when you’re going through something hard. Look into local resources like volunteer companionship programs, neighborhood mutual aid groups, or even faith-based initiatives that offer practical assistance to seniors. And don’t forget: it's okay to ask. People often want to help, they just need to know how.
Nurturing Your New Network
Once connections begin to form, keep them going with small gestures: a weekly call, an invitation for tea, or a thoughtful message. Relationships don’t need to be long-established to be meaningful. What matters most is mutual care, respect, and the willingness to show up.
In the end, building a support network is a gift to yourself—an act of empowerment, resilience, and love.
Yesterday’s Poll Results: How fancy do you make your coffee at home?
It turns out most of us prefer to keep our coffee habits delightfully easygoing. Nearly half of respondents (46%) say they appreciate a good cup but don’t fuss too much—comfort over complexity! Just 5% are full-on home baristas, while 19% like a quality bean without getting fancy. And for the rest? Some just want it to taste like coffee (14%), while 16% skip the java altogether. However you sip it, there’s no wrong way to enjoy your morning ritual.
TOP COMMENTS
I am a R-E-A-L-L-Y big fan of coffee!!! I like it hot, lukewarm, cold or iced. I like it black, or doctored up with Silk milk (30 calorie), and Splenda. I don't care for coffee drinks that are sweetened with sugar, or those that have whipped topping or real cream. If l want a milkshake, l can make myself one of those instead. In short, coffee should still have a rich body, and l like to taste the slight amount of bitter in MY cup.”
“A good medium to strong roasted bean that isn't bitter like Starbucks coffee”
“I brew a pot of coffee after grinding some good beans. I make my own coffee drinks. I could afford to buy, but why? I think mine taste better. Also, I don’t want to waste time standing in line.”
Broken, Beautiful, Brave: How Healing Cracks Teaches Us Resilience
One serene afternoon, an ordinary orange bowl fell and shattered—not for its beauty, but for the memories it held. That break touched a hidden grief, bringing to light wounds long tucked away. Yet, in repairing it—piece by piece, slowly rebuilding and then sealing its scars with gold—the bowl transformed into something uniquely powerful, a vivid reminder of survival, healing, and what it means to carry on.
This story reveals how unexpected reminders of loss or hurt can open a path to healing. In embracing what is broken, we discover strength and beauty that surpasses the unbroken. It’s an invitation to reconsider letting go—not always in favor of discarding or replacing—but in choosing what’s worth saving, mending, and honoring.
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Slang Phrase of the Day
Phrase: Polite roast
Meaning: A polite roast is a light-hearted, good-natured jab or teasing comment that’s meant to be funny without being mean. It’s the kind of gentle ribbing that comes from affection—more of a warm chuckle than a burn. The goal is to make someone smile at themselves without hurting their feelings.
In a sentence: “At our weekly bridge club, Ed gave Mary a polite roast about her “expert strategy” of always bidding too high—she laughed and said, ‘At least I keep things exciting!’”
Good News of the Day
The Atlantic’s Graceful Secret: Scientists Discover a Third Manta Ray Species
In a rare and beautiful breakthrough, scientists have officially discovered a third species of manta ray—Mobula yarae—gracing the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean. This gentle giant had been gliding under the radar for years, blending in with its manta cousins, until persistent researchers finally confirmed its unique identity. The discovery not only adds a new chapter to our understanding of ocean life, but also highlights just how much mystery still lies beneath the waves. A reminder that the world is full of wonder—and it’s never too late to meet a new neighbor in nature.
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RetireHub Trivia
Want more trivia? Play our “Nostalgia Trivia Game” on our site! We add fresh questions daily, so there’s always something new to test your knowledge.
Not into trivia? No worries! We’ve got plenty of other fun games to enjoy, like:
What is the culinary term for partially cooking food by boiling it briefly, then plunging it into cold water to stop the cooking? |
Which U.S. national park is home to the largest trees by volume in the world? |
Who was the first woman to swim the English Channel? |
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