Most Americans willingly sacrifice. More than half of us make charitable contributions every year. We hardly need tell Vineyarders how accommodating we were to the Venezuelans Governor DeSantis sent our way.

So, I hope you won’t mind if I ask you to make some sacrifices that, well, really aren’t. They’re especially useful for seniors.

First, stand up straight. It’s uplifting. Good posture isn’t just a matter of appearance. It takes pressure off the lower back. If you make the top of your head as high as you can, you might find the next time you measure yourself that you’ve gained half an inch. (Actually, I found I’d lost an inch. Ouch.)

If you can’t stand up straight, know that physical therapists work wonders.

Second, walk right. Most people amble around splayfooted. I know this because I’ve made a study of it. Pointing your toes straight ahead is also good for your health. A doctor told me that.

Third, eat better. I heard a hydrologist on NPR say that if we reduced meat consumption by one meal a week, the Colorado River would run free indefinitely. Look, as much as anyone I enjoy my beef, lamb, pork chop, ground hog and hyena. There are plenty of good meals from poultry, fish, pasta and vegetables. I had one once.

Fourth, banisters are there for a reason. Use them. If you insist on climbing stairs without touching a railing, lean way forward so you won’t fall back and break your neck. This could save your life.

Fifth, try to weave foreign words and phrases into your conversation. English is a great language but not a beautiful one. Instead of saying “note-er-dame,” how about “no-truh-dahm”? Honor the cathedral. Honor the university.

Spanish is every bit as pretty as French. When I had to decide on a shaving cream ­— they’re all good — I chose one that could be pronounced with a Spanish accent: Barbasol. Moreover, using another language may be more concise than an English alternative. I mean, would you say, “For want of anything better” or “Faute de mieux”? Faute de mieux, man, faute de mieux!

You’re not using a foreign language to strut but to give your conversation a bit of je ne sais quoi.

Finally, you may have plenty of idle time as a senior. Fill it with books. If I don’t have one handy, I feel lost. There’s another step to take. Don’t just read great writing, memorize it. Much as you may have song lyrics coursing through your mind but much deeper, literature will give you special joy. Because I’m obsessed with King Lear, I find myself using portions in conversation. When a new bridge player hesitates to partner with me because I’m a bridge teacher, I’ll say, “I will be the pattern of all patience.”

Asked about my age, I say, “I have years on my back 79.”

I especially like this bit of dialogue:

Lear: Give the word.

Edgar: Sweet marjoram.

Lear: Pass.

I put marjoram on everything I cook.

Are you starting to see how much fun small sacrifices can be?

Jim Kaplan is the Gazette’s bridge columnist and author of the pamphlet First Patriot: The Extraordinary Life of James Otis.