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‘The Magazine’ deserves closer look By Sharon Johnson Sep 18, 2022 12:30 AM A A What happened? The August/September 2022 issue of AARP’s “The Magazine” is bursting with rich insight and provocative suggestions. I have always held a love-hate relationship with that magazine, and to some degree the AARP organization overall. That is definitely changing. It occurs to me this publication has been this good for a while, and I have not paid enough attention. I am now. The current issue is beckoning and readable with well-researched information that seeks to stretch the reader, inspire and educate. As illustration, topics range from “five ‘healthy’ routines — that when pursued to excess — could be aging your body prematurely” to “practical tips for making the bad stuff of life less likely to happen (and the good stuff much more probable).” See what I mean? Before I reflect further on those topics, let me introduce the current editor-in-chief of the publication: Robert Love. I do not know him, never heard of him, in fact, so I was curious. I googled him. He is youngish-appearing, bespectacled, smiling in almost every photograph. He has a long history with Rolling Stone magazine (there’s an article on Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner in this issue, too). Bob Love comes across as approachable (I feel like I sort of know him now, so I will get a little more familiar) is identified as a leader who is staff-supportive, a team player with a journalistic philosophy that focuses on trying to fully understand his readers and “ride along on their life journeys.” He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University and has been editor-in-chief at AARP since 2013. I’m concluding, based on the past two issues, he is getting increasingly better at his job. This magazine has always come to me reliably, but I often put it in a basket near my most comfortable chair, the one that contains publications I intend to look at more closely — but seldom do. Not anymore. The AARP article about “good habits that might harm you” acknowledges many older adults wear supportive shoes but strongly recommends taking them off and going barefoot around the house for 30 minutes a day as a way to improve balance and posture. The same article suggests energy bars are “covert sugar bonds” and says dehydration can be deadly with the statement: “So, if you drink when you’re thirsty, by the time you feel thirsty, it may be too late.” The article about making “bad stuff less likely to happen” is packed with similar ideas. It reminds us of the dramatically increased likelihood of experiencing an injury fall as we get older and offers frequently undiscussed ways to avoid that happening. The suggestions include paying more attention to the effects of sleep medications, antihistamines and antidepressants, as well as recognizing the role of changing vision and hearing. “Even a mild hearing loss can increase your risk of a fall.” Good information in mini articles. The longer articles are as good or better. My daughter turned 50 last month and received her first copy of “The Magazine.” I am glad it was this particular issue. I asked her about it, and she said: “They had me at the Rolling Stone piece.” Sharon Johnson is a retired Oregon State University associate professor emeritus. Reach her at [email protected]