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Eating Well on a Pauper’s Budget
(Click down arrow below for tips)
By Linda Lau, RD Sept. 12, 2025
Inflation! Let’s face it, food costs and other costs of living have gone up significantly in recent years. IF you are living on a fixed income, such as retirees, college students, or unemployed, it can be really challenging being able to live and eat well on a tiny budget - Yup, this means it will preclude you from eating at a posh Michelin restaurant. Just leave these places for people with money to burn. As a nutritionist, my definition for “eat well” refers to the most basic and important questions:
Are you able to eat a variety of foods to provide essential nutrients to keep you healthy?
Are you able to eat the 5 food groups in the MyPlate dietary guidelines most days?
Eat well on a pauper’s budget, say 3 meals a day, at a total of $15-20 a day? Now, that’s a challenge! However, it’s not that hard once you know some of the hacks and practical ideas. Who knows, perhaps you can even make this into a fun challenge game with friends to see who can stretch your food budget the most!
Read on if you want to learn more about how to buy quality foods at bargain prices, learn other food shopping hacks, hidden gems and more. Or share this with a family or friend who could benefit from this article.
The art and thrill of bargain hunting. At a very young age, I learned from my parents the skills for bargain hunting for food and everything else. I was a precocious child. Learning how to haggle for goods and finding bargains was fun. Being able to save money and finding good deals still excite me. Who doesn’t want to save money so you can splurge on something else or save toward building your retirement nest egg? Here are some practical tips and hacks to eat well on a low budget:
🍲Make home cooked meals. You’ll save tons of money. Limit eating out.
- Protein foods: Use more dried beans, legumes, poultry, tofu. Use leaner cuts of meat to get more for your money and it’s healthier too. To ensure lean meats are tender, use pressure cooking or slow cooking methods, e.g. stew, braise, sous vide; or slice thinly and stir-fry.
- Fruits and vegetables: Buy what’s in season. They will be sweeter, more flavorful and cheaper. Buy imperfect and ugly produce - No pity needed, just as nutritious and cost much less because they are harder to sell on the market.
- Rice/pasta/carbs: Buy whole grains for better nutrition; buy generic and in bulk. Separate the bulk item into smaller portions and store appropriately for later use.
- Snacks and desserts: Avoid or minimize buying them. They are usually high in sugar, fat and calories - in other words, junk food!! Buying less will save you money too!
👀Compare prices & look for sales. Stock up on sale items. Supermarkets often have sale items as lost leaders in order to attract consumers into the store to shop. Avoid the urge to buy all your groceries from that store because of convenience or guilt - that’s what the advertiser is counting on. Don’t fall into the trap. Adhere to your shopping list! Don’t know what is on sale? Search online for ads, or join free supermarket customer loyalty programs that offer discounts for their customers, such as “Safeway for U”.
📝Make a shopping list in advance; avoid shopping when you are hungry to prevent impulse buys or food traps prominently displayed next to the cashier.
Buy generic and in flexible quantities (if possible). Advertising costs money and the cost is ultimately passed on to you, the consumer. All supermarket chains carry store or generic brand, e.g. Kirland at Costco, Kroger at Food Co. Did you know that generic foods have the same or similar nutrition and branded products? Also the food quality is not noticeable for home cooked meals. I mean, it doesn’t matter if all the peas in your dish are not in uniform size, right? Buying too much food that you can’t use or be stored properly can lead to food waste and money. Some local food markets sell ingredients in bulk - you buy what you need and the prices are often cheaper because there’s no extra food packaging costs.
Bargain Bites & Markets. Are you tired of cooking, or need a break? Here are some tips for affordable ready-to-eat food places.
Shop local markets. Small businesses don’t spend lots of money on ad campaigns, but depend on good pricing, quality and word-of-mouth to attract customers. These markets can be found in neighborhood grocery stores, discount supermarkets (e.g. Grocery Outlet, Food Co), Co-op stores, and local farmers markets. Products sold at farmers markets range in price, depending on the customers they cater to. I find that the Heart-of-the-CityFarmersMarket offers better prices on fresh produce. Another excellent farmers market with better prices is AlemanyFarmersMarket (opens Saturdays). The best time to shop is toward the end of the day when many vendors offer deep discounts to get rid of their inventory. One of my favorite small grocery markets in San Francisco is Mi Tierra Market. They often offer seasonal fresh (mostly) produce at dirt cheap prices. Remember produce is perishable - Make sure you select and buy only fresh ones, e.g. firm, not bruised or wilted. Don’t buy old produce because rotten foods will get you sick and they have little-zero nutritional value.
🌭Deli shops and cafes in Chinatown or your neighborhood are hidden gems. Many deli shops (i.e. you typically see roast ducks or chickens hung in the deli window) offer 3-4 item box lunches for about $10 or less that can feed 2 people.
🌮🍜Patronize small family owned cafes in your neighborhood. Look for the ones with $ in Yelp or get referrals from friends/family. Family operated taquerias often offer low cost delicious foods. Take advantage of early bird discounts, if available. Two restaurants that I highly recommend:
JadeCafe in San Francisco. After dance classes on Tuesday nights, me and my dance posse will take a dinner break there before doing more social dancing. This cafe serves affordable, delicious home cooked Chinese food. The portion size is generous and the service is excellent. For example, ordering 4-5 dishes will serve 5-6 people. Our average cost per person out the door is under $15/person (including tax and tips).
Empero Taste in San Francisco. Extensive menu at affordable prices. Delicious and authentic Cantonese-style food. Best bargain bites: Early bird menu (available to 5 pm daily) where you select 3 entrees, plus rice and soup for $46. The food is delicious and portions are huge. Typically an early dinner with 7-8 dishes for a group of 10 will cost $15 per person or less. Yup, this met my “bargain” bites criteria 👍
🍓Too Good to Go - This is a social impact company on a mission to fight good food waste. How it benefits you: a) Rescue good food near you. b) Enjoy food at half price or less. c) Try something new from local cafes, bakeries or restaurants and d) Help the environment by reducing food waste.
Learn more about this program: TooGoodToGo Website
Government Programs and Resources. This is my wheelhouse since I worked 35 years as the lead nutritionist at San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) to develop and implement the various food assistance programs before retirement. If you or someone you know is unemployed or at risk of food insecurity, check out these programs offered by the city and the state. They are important safety net programs to help folks until they can get back on their feet. I remembered that growing up, the free school meal program and CalFresh (a.k.a Food Stamps program) provided foods to keep me and my family healthy. I’m forever grateful for those services and truly believe that they help to positively transform individuals and society. Below is a brief overview of the array of food assistance programs available.
DAS Programs for older adults and adults with disabilities:
🥪Community Meals - DAS provides free, healthy multi-ethnic meals at locations across the City. There is a suggested donation of $2.
😋CHAMPSS - Choosing Healthy Appetizing Meal Plan Solutions for Seniors (CHAMPSS) was established in July 2014. Participants can eat a healthy meal at designated restaurants. There is a suggested $5 donation.
🚚Home-Delivered Meals - This program delivers nutritious meals to individuals who are homebound and unable to shop for or prepare their own meals.
🥕Home-Delivered Groceries - This program delivers supplemental groceries each week to eligible participants who have difficulty transporting groceries home due to limited mobility.
🌽🍒Groceries for pick-up - The SF-Marin Food Bank partners with dozens of food pantry partners to provide free, fresh produce and other nutritious ingredients in locations across the city.
For more information about the programs, contact DAS at (415) 355-6700 or see details: DAS-Food Access Website
🥝🍎CalFresh Food Assistance
This program is a lifesaver for many families and provides low-income individuals and households with a special debit card to purchase food at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other food outlets. The debit card acts like a credit card and is easy to use, guilt and shame-free. To apply, call CalFresh (415) 558-4700 or DAS at (415) 355-6700.
Are you hungry or ready to do a “Bargain Bites Food Challenge" to see how much you can stretch your food dollar? Bon Appetit 😋 If you have other great bargain bite finds in the SF-Bay Area, please share in Twenty-Five Alive Toastmasters Facebook feed, or email us: 25alivetm@gmail.com
Are you hungry or ready to do a “Bargain Bites Food Challenge" to see how much you can stretch your food dollar? Bon Appetit 😋 If you have other great bargain bite finds in the SF-Bay Area, please share in Twenty-Five Alive Toastmasters Facebook feed, or email us: 25alivetm@gmail.com
My Love-Hate Relationship with Bicycling
By Linda Lau, RD Sept. 4, 2025
My Love-Hate Relationship with Bicycling
By Linda Lau, RD Sept. 4, 2025
Guess what activity can give all these five great benefits: keep you fit, save you money, give you a natural high, get you to places, and a sustainable energy? It’s bicycling of course! My bicycling experience is a love-hate relationship with many bumps, twists and challenges along a long journey.
Like so many children growing up, I learned to bike during my youth. For children, bicycling is not only fun, but they can get around the neighborhood quickly without having to depend on buses and paying fares. I remembered the first time I learned to bike at age 11 from my cousins in the small parking lot at my aunt and uncle’s laundry business. My first lessons from bicycling:
Balance and pedal the bike without falling over and killing yourself. Yes, I mastered this skill to tell the tale.
Well, I had many minor falls along the way. I also learned one of the most important physics laws “an object in motion will stay in motion until another force is applied to it”. Of course I didn’t know this law then, but I knew that if I get enough speed going downhill, I can balance and stay up longer. During one bicycling practice, I was going too fast, lost control, crashed and flew off my bike. That incident traumatized me such that I didn’t get back on the bike for almost 10 years. Besides, I had no need to bike. My family moved away from my uncle’s home to live in San Francisco’s Chinatown. If you are not familiar with SF Chinatown, it is densely populated with narrow and congested streets, so the best way to get around is to walk. To get out of Chinatown, I took public transportation.
Getting back on the bike and dealing with setbacks. During high school and college years, I sporadically got back on the bike for recreational purposes with friends, riding in Golden Gate Park. Luckily, I did learn how to control my ride and be safer: After I got married, I cycled on weekends with my husband who is an experienced cyclist. We rode together and I slowly gained more confidence until one day while cycling back home I hit a huge 4-feet pothole on the street. I lost control of my bike, flew over the handle bar and did an ugly face-plant landing. I felt blood dripping from my swollen lips and knew that the fall was serious. I didn’t know how bad the accident was until I got treated at the emergency hospital. There was good news and bad news. GOOD News: I won’t have any permanent scars on my face. Thank God!
BAD News: I lost 2 and a half front teeth. Luckily I had dental insurance and was able to fix my teeth with dental implants so that it almost looks normal. However, my confidence in bicycling on streets was shattered.
Leaning into my fear. As a health professional who is passionate about staying healthy and fit, I needed to get over my fear of bicycling. So after a 20+ year hiatus from bicycling, I decided to take action to regain my confidence and learn how to ride safely in San Francisco. It was an intimidating thought. Fortunately. I learned that the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition offered free bicycling riding safety workshops for adults. Back then I signed up for their 2 day free training hands-on workshop, which covered many aspects, including:
How to choose a bike
Bicycling safety laws
How to maintain your bike and minor repairs on the road
Defensive biking: how to avoid accidents, road hazards and smart riding in the city
Honing cycling skills on the road through actual group rides
The bicycle training workshop was extremely helpful for reducing some of my cycling fears. Currently the SF Bicycle Coalition offers many free bicycle safety workshops for adults, children and families. Learn more here: https://sfbike.org/resources/
Falling in love with bicycling. After several more years of riding with my cycle buddy and bicycling to work (which took only 16 minutes), I become a bicycle enthusiast because it is one activity that provides so much benefits:
💪 Great fitness without going to the gym and paying fees. I can build strength and aerobic endurance depending on how hard and length of the ride. It’s a great way to incorporate cycling as part of your healthy lifestyle to reduce risks for chronic health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
🚴A sustainable transportation method to get around and great for the environment! Over the years, San Francisco has expanded and developed safer streets for cyclists. For a hilly city such as San Francisco, you can use apps to plan easier routes with less hills, especially if you don’t have an e-bike. Two years ago, I got an e-bike. I still get exercise cycling, but now I don’t worry so much about hilly challenging routes.
🤩 Feel great and save money: Health professionals recommend that we exercise most days of the week to stay healthy. Bicycling is my regular exercise and transportation around the city - it’s an easy and convenient method to see friends, eat out, dance or shop. Plus, I save lots of money - reduced need to buy gas or pay for bus fares. Truly a win-win!
🌷 Enjoy sights and relaxation: With your bicycle commute, you can have fun, relax and get a closer look at sights around you. You can slow down to smell the roses, or smell the enticing aroma from street festivals and avoid crazy traffic jams. One of my most memorable travels last year was going on a boat-bike tour in Italy with a group of friends. The boat served as our moving hotel for sleeping and eating at night; then during the day we biked to the next city to see new sights. This was a unique way to see smaller cities along the countryside, enjoy the beautiful natural sights, attractions and foods.
If you are inspired to learn how to bike, it’s never too late to learn. Take your time and get help learning how to ride safely. The SF Bicycle Coalition has many free classes you can enroll in to get started. After learning the basics, bicycle with a buddy to gain experience and confidence. Be alert and practice safe riding guidelines and laws to avoid accidents. You know, accidents can happen anywhere, even if you are a pedestrian. So don’t be afraid to explore a new hobby such as bicycling. Who knows, you may fall in love with it like I did. 😂 🚴
A Toastmasters Journey, Unlike Alice Falling Into a Rabbit Hole (Click down arrow below for details)
A Toastmasters Journey, Unlike Alice Falling Into a Rabbit Hole (Click down arrow below for details)
By Linda Lau, RD August 28, 2025
Getting Started...I’ve never imagined that I would stay with any club for 3 decades. How did this happen and why am I still involved? I’m referring to Toastmasters. I’m sure you have heard about this club, especially if you know me. For those who are not familiar with Toastmasters, you may be wondering: Does this club help you become “masters” in making “toasts” as in breakfast, or “toasts” as in drinking? Neither. According to Toastmasters International, during the early 1900s the word 'toastmaster' referred to a person who proposed the toasts and introduced the speakers at a banquet. Ralph Smedley named his group "The Toastmasters Club" because he thought it suggested a pleasant, social atmosphere appealing to young men." Since then, Toastmasters has evolved through the years.
Since 1924, Toastmasters International has become a worldwide nonprofit organization and it has transformed nearly eight million lives through a simple, yet powerful, mission: empowering individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. What sets Toastmasters apart from others is not just what you learn, but how you learn it. You see, at every weekly meeting, you have opportunities to:
Practice planned speeches/presentations and unplanned impromptu speaking
Give and receive meaningful feedback using active listening and good communication skills
Practice and hone leadership roles and skills
Getting back to the question “why did I originally join Toastmasters?” I joined because I needed more confidence speaking and making presentations in front of a large crowd, responding to questions during meetings/news conferences and dealing with difficult people. As luck would have it, when I heard that a Toastmasters club was being formed at my work at 25 Van Ness Ave in San Francisco, I jumped at the opportunity and became one of the founding members of 25 Alive Toastmasters. This was 30 years ago. 😎
Toastmasters profoundly impacted my life. With the ongoing practice and support from fellow Toastmaster members, I have surpassed my original goals for joining Toastmasters. Although I couldn’t attend all the weekly meetings while I was working fulltime, I stayed and slowly worked through the Toastmasters self-paced educational programs and served on different club officer roles. Besides, the cost to join Toastmasters is less than a cup of coffee a week! Plus there are other perks and benefits:
Access to Toastmasters sponsored free or low cost training and conferences
Gain leadership skills with “on-the-job” free training and practice.
Connect to a large network of people who believe in Toastmasters mission and can help you grow.
Truly Toastmasters had positively affected my life on a professional and personal level. Let me humblebrag a few.
Practice, practice, practice => Honed my communication, leadership and organizational skills. Still not perfect, but it’s work in progress. 😂
While working at the San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services (DAS) as lead nutritionist, I managed a team of 2 staff + interns, helped develop policies and procedures to expand the city’s nutrition programs into world class services that provided 10 different cuisines and award winning health promotion programs which are recognized in California and around the United States.
After retiring from my professional career, the skills I acquired continue to serve me well as I volunteer to serve on community nonprofit boards. For example I’ve mastered the skill of cajoling & nudging members at 25 Alive Toastmasters to “volunteer” for serving various meeting roles. My club members dubbed this assertive technique “voluntold”, which is a dubious honor they bestowed on me.🤣 🤣 It does get the job done 🙂 Kidding aside, I depend on others and team work to successfully accomplish a project, an event or meeting.
Made new friends, connections and inspirations - The secret sauce
Attending Toastmasters meetings is one of the highlights of my week, similar to dancing (yup, I’m a dance-a-holic). This was especially true 5-years ago during COVID when everyone had to be isolated and sheltered in-place. The weekly virtual Toastmasters meetings provided structure for the week where I met with friends, joked around and had fun sharing and learning new things amidst the daily challenges. This Toastmasters family helped me maintain my mental health and sanity. The weekly meetings continue to bring me joy and new opportunities for learning.
I loved that the members at 25 Alive Toastmasters are diverse with different expertise and interests. Plus they are some of the nicest people you’ll meet. They have inspired me to learn new things. Here are just a few people to acknowledge:
Thank you Peter, who is one of the founding members of 25 Alive. He was the Bicycle Coordinator at the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic, now called SFMTA. As the Bicycle Coordinator during 1999, Peter had biked the entire city to ensure that all the catch basin drain grates (the grates with slots) are perpendicular to the street corner so cyclists can ride safely without getting their tires stuck in them. I’m so grateful for these thoughtful safety measures for cyclists since I regularly bike to get around the city.
Thank you Nancy for introducing and conducting Canva training in our club several years ago. You raved about how fun Canva can be. I absolutely agree now. I have become a Canva fan! Canva is a wonderful app to create handouts, presentations or videos with lots of templates and ideas for inspiration. You can sign-up for a no-frills account for free https://www.canva.com/
Thank you Nora and Dena for your dedication and sharing your social media hacks. You have inspired me to learn and improve my video editing skills. Being able to use these skills to develop attractive marketing materials is a fun way to express my creativity. Oh my, now I’m learning to blog! The verdict is still out whether I love blogging or not. I will know better after 1-2 months. My Toastmasters project goal is to write 5 or more blogs from August to September 2025, publish and share on 25 Alive Toastmasters website on a weekly basis.
What do you think? Are there particular blogs that you enjoy? Which ones? Leave us a comment at: 25alivetm@gmail.comThank you Jeff, our in-house tech support, a world traveler, foodie, tango dancer and a great friend. You continue to inspire me with your exploits and travels around the world. Sadly, I can never catch-up to you as a “3 Million Mile Club” member at United Air.
Thank you Zak, the elder, jokester and contrarian who sometimes adds spiciness to our club meetings. I appreciate and learn from your experiences. I mean, who would bring up such philosophical topics as hegemony?
Thank you Kelly, one of our newer members and a sommelier! As someone who is clueless when it comes to wine, I’m so grateful for your help and expertise in writing and putting together the 2 lots of vintage wines that the Lau family donated to Moonstar Charitables auction fundraiser this year. Your awesome review made the auction items a success! 🍷
There are so many other members at 25 Alive Toastmasters who inspired me and expanded my worldview, but I need to keep this blog short. It’s already too long!!
Humm, sometimes the weekly Toastmasters meeting do feel like falling into the rabbit’s hole in Alice in Wonderland. You don’t know what intriguing stories will be presented, or what topics will spring up at the impromptu section of the meeting.
Sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith, go with the flow and have fun.
Be creative and let your inner child shine. It may just be what you need to create a fantastical narrative for the question on hand.
Don’t worry about falling or failing. It is part of the learning process. 🙃
In a nutshell, here’s what I learned through my long Toastmasters journey:
Toastmasters is an effective and low cost method to improve and master your communication and leadership skills.
You’ll discover many easter eggs and surprises along your journey if you persevere and make it a priority to attend the meetings on a regular basis. Later, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by your personal growth and fun you had along the way.
Find a Toastmasters club that fits you. Give it a try and actively participate. 25 Alive Toastmasters welcomes guests to visit and participate in our weekly virtual meetings. To get Zoom meeting information, contact us at 25alivetm@gmail.com
By Linda Lau
8/22/25
“So You Think You Can Dance?”
“So You Think You Can Dance?”
Have you watched one of your favorite artists in a music video, or watched a football halftime show, or TV shows such as “So you Think You Can Dance?” Afterwards, how do you feel?
Are you inspired, thinking “Wow, that looks so cool and amazing. I wish I could dance like that!” Well, your wish could come true with practice - Lots of practice; maybe years of practice to be a pro. However, to learn basic dance steps for fun, it can be just an hour or two. Dancing to music can inspire you to be creative, provide an outlet for self expressions and connect with others. Other benefits for learning to dance, backed by science-based facts:
Provides excellent aerobic activity
Helps improve your heart and cardiovascular system
Helps you with weight management
Reduce chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure
Provides great brain fitness to reduce risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s
With so much to gain and little to lose except your fears, why not learn to dance? There are many types of dances; so which is easier to learn for beginners? The answer will depend on several factors, including where you live, dance opportunities/resources available in your area, your budget and time available. As someone who has tried and learned various dance forms for 20+ years, I recommend new dancers to start with swing or Latin (bachata or Salsa) dance for for 3 reasons:
Easy to learn basic steps and dance to fun happy music.
The Bay Area has many free or low cost places to learn these dance forms.
You can easily meet and connect with people of all ages in these dance communities..
One of the great things about living in San Francisco and the Bay Area is the abundance and diversity of dances available. Below are some tips and resources to help you explore and learn to dance. Please let us know if you have other free/low cost dance suggestions by contacting us at: 25alivetm@gmail.com
Swing Dancing
Lindy in the Park https://lindyinthepark.com/ Every Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Located on JFK Drive behind DeYoung Museum, San Francisco. This is a free swing dance event that started 29 years ago (August 1996) by two Lindy Hoppers Chad Kubo and Ken Watanabe. Lindy in the Park (LitP), is my favorite place to hang out and dance on Sundays. They offer free beginner swing dance lessons from 12 noon to 12:30 pm, no partner or experience needed. People are friendly. It is attended by dancers of all ages and experience levels. LitP is well known and attracts swing dancers from around the world who drop by when they visit San Francisco.
Lindy by the Lake https://www.facebook.com/lindybythelake
Located at Lake Meritt, Oakland. This is a monthly public swing dance event on a Saturday, with a free beginner lesson and live band and/or DJed music. It’s a fun community event organized by a group of swing dance enthusiasts.
San Francisco Lindy Hop calendar: https://sflindy.com/
Bay Area Swing calendar: Bay Area Swing Dance Calendar
Latin (Bachata & Salsa) Dancing
When I first started dancing, it was learning the Bachata and Salsa. These dances are easy and fun to learn in a short period of time.
Free Salsa Classes on Sunday: https://latinbayarea.com/free-salsa-sunday-classes-el-club-puertorriqueno-sf/
Salsa and Bachata dance lessons and socials:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/san-francisco-salsa-bachata-dance-and-dance-lesson-3752359
Salsa Vida Guide:
https://www.salsavida.com/guides/sf-bay-area/
Guajirón Cuban Jam at Bissap Baobab, located at 2243 Mission St, San Francisco, CA
Free music jam, 4th Sunday of each month
Guajiron-CubanJam-BissapBaobab
Multi-Dance Type Opportunities
Summer September 2025 Dance Series at Fisherman’s Wharf
Free. Learn different dance forms for free SummerDanceSeries-Fishermans-Wharf
UN Plaza - Dance at the Plaza FREE Outdoor Classes:
Different dance forms will be taught.
UN-Plaza_FreeOutdoorDanceClasses
Local Edition: https://www.localeditionsf.com/#events
This is a popular bar in San Francisco with a great vibe. Did you know that some of the best swing-jazz bands from the Bay Area play there weekly! There’s no cover charge, but get a drink and tip the band to support and keep live music in the city.
Blondie’s Bar https://www.eventbrite.com/o/blondies-bar-57742980123
San Francisco’s ODC School & Rhythm & Motion Program
Offers many types of dance and movement classes. Special rates offered to new students.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/un-plaza-dance-at-the-plaza-free-outdoor-classes-4136203
By Linda Lau
8/13/25
Discover Lesser Known Gems in San Francisco with FREE Classes and More!
How many of you would like to reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s? Whether you are working, looking for work or retired, one of the biggest things you can do to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s is to continue learning new things to exercise your mind.
As a retired nutritionist & health promotion educator, I hear some seniors say “I’m too old to learn.” That’s not true. It may take you longer to learn, but never too old to learn. Many studies have confirmed that the human brain has plasticity - The more you exercise it by learning new things, the stronger and better it gets. With that in mind, let me start sharing a gold mine I recently discovered.
A few weeks ago, I was talking to a friend and said “on my retirement bucket list is to learn Spanish, but I have not started that yet.” My friend said “you should look into San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), which offers free online language classes.” As someone who has lived in SF for over 5 decades, this was news to me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that over the years SFPL has transformed into a world class library that provides a plethora of resources, programming and services to the community for all ages.
Let me share and highlight four lesser known services provided by SFPL, URL: https://sfpl.org
From this home page, you can navigate to the different sections below.
BOOKS & MEDIA: They have an extensive collection of books, e-books, but did you know that they also provide streaming music, movie and TV? Check it out!
JOBS & CAREERS RESOURCES center:
Click: Research & Lean/Jobs and Careers Resources
The Jobs & Careers Center, located on the 4th floor of the Main Library, offers resources to help in job searching, career exploration, and professional development. It features a collection of books on topics like resume writing, interviewing, and networking. Also, the librarians at the Business, Science and Technology Center reference desk are available to assist with job and career-related information.
EVENTS & EXHIBITS: Available in a wide range of topics for children to adults at different library branches located throughout the city. For example: Story time for families with young children; One-on-one tutorial with a financial planner for adults; and free admission to museums & exhibits with “Discover & Go” https://sfpl.discoverandgo.net/
e-LEARNING: You can register to attend online courses for FREE, and there’s NO ads using the interactive app. Wow, this is the diamond that I found among all the excellent resources at SFPL. There’s a wide range of classes, from technology (e.g. learning to code) to learning languages. In fact, language courses are offered through 3 different entities: Gale Courses, Manago Languages and Rosetta Stone (offers the most different languages). You can click on the links online to get details about the course and see if it is a good fit for you. Note: You will need a SFPL library card to access these services.
https://sfpl.org/research-learn/elearning
I’m so excited to learn about this resource that I registered for a 6-week Speed Spanish course to learn Spanish as a beginner.
By now, if you don’t have a SFPL card, you probably ask “how do I get one?” Any California resident is eligible for SFPL card. The application process is easy, free and you can do it online: https://sfpl.libanswers.com//faq/65116
Now that you know about this e-learning resource, go to register for a course to learn something that’s on your bucket list! You’ll save money, have fun, and reduce the risks for Alzheimer’s. It’s a triple win!
By Dena Murr
8/13/23
Poor Communication Skills could be holding you back
Poor Communication Skills could be holding you back
Commnon scenarios that play out everyday.
A boss decides not to promote his employee after the employee's poor presentation.
A sales person fails to win the valuable new contract because his sales pitch wasnt convincing.
A manager makes a poor impression with his team because he failed to connect to his audience during his first presentation.
Should something like this happen to you, you probably won't even know. Usually when we dont get the raise/promotion, or our team isnt receptive to us, we usually blame it on everything outside our control - our boss doesnt like us, our team is against us, the potential customer chose another solution because it was better than ours...
And while these reasons may be the case, they are outcomes when our communication isnt landing the way it should. Our boss should love us, because we are awesome. Our team should be on our side, because we're right and the other side is wrong, obvi. And we should win the sale even if our solution isnt the best fit, because you are a better sales person than the person from the other company.
Improving our communication skills is like upgrading everthing in your life. Suddenly, issues become less frequent. People starting supporting you a little more. And that raise or promotion becomes a more than likely scenario.
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