William Penn Life, 2015 (50. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2015-08-01 / 8. szám
Aging Well with Cathy Graham Let summer bring out the child in you IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH to have school-aged children in your family or living on your block, your summer can be full of imagination, laughter and learning. Fortunately, we still have left about 30 days worth of opportunities to catch some exuberance from any rambunctious, rowdy, twinkle-in-their-eye kiddos. Children's love of riding on swings, playing ball or catching frogs makes every day an adventure. Children help us to remember how to be—for lack of a better term—"child-like," a delightful attitude which more adults need to adopt. Kids have an instinctual way of letting a banana popsiele light the way on a rainy day. Indulge yourself by living in their world and see with clarity how easy it is to be thrilled about a mud puddle. Turn your living room into a camping experience complete with blanket tents and shadow puppets. If your kids are into gaming, let them show you how to play on the Wii. Take a seat and have your kids teach you about something that is new to you. Then, switch roles and show them something you do for fun. Let them help you in the garden, teach them how to put a night crawler on the hook, or introduce them to chess. The relationship between grandchildren and grandparents is one of the most mutually beneficial partnerships to invest in. Even if your grandchildren are older, the rules still apply. Shadow them as they skim Facebook and Instagram. Ask them to take a selfie of the two of you and send it to family members. Interview each other about important view points and listen-really listen—to the sound of their voices. Kids of all ages have knowledge worth sharing; you just have to ask. Put down the newspaper when they walk in the room and make a date for later in the week. Kids will keep you active and young because they have a completely different way of seeing the world than you do. Watch them jump in a pool a thousand times, patch their wounds with a band aid, and sneak in a hug and kiss at every corner. Summer is fun and games for children, and it can be for you, too. Pick up the phone right now and make plans to catch fireflies in a mason jar with someone under the age of five-a guaranteed, out-of-the-park home run moment. Cathy Graham is director of the Graceful Aging Wellness Center at Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pa. Stoke the embers JÉ t one time or another, most of us have had goals, focus and direction. M %As we transitioned eagerly into adulthood, we aspired, desired and felt compelled to achieve and persevere. We entered adulthood with purpose and conviction. We were “wide-eyed and bushy-tailed,” as my father used to put it. So, what occurs in the aging process that we settle for quiet embers where the fire in our bellies used to be? After the careers have been launched, the children raised or the travel completed, we find ourselves pale in comparison to our younger, more colorful selves. Do we really cease to have ambition simply because we are older and wiser? In most cases, the answer is yes. Yes, we do stop thinking of ourselves in the way we once did when the possibilities of what could be were endless. But, the aging process does not take such a toll on us that we should no longer seek new adventures. We become settled, unimaginative, and a little stale because we no longer challenge ourselves. Aging isn’t synonymous with a less meaningful life. Sure, priorities change, as do our circumstances, but not the fire; it is still there. The promise of aging is that we view the world from the eagle’s nest. We have a magnificent set of skills. We have more time to create, learn and wonder. All it takes is a little internal stoking of the smoldering coals. Ask yourself, who am I today, and what is my purpose? Go where your intuition leads you and forge ahead with no regrets. Photo © Can Stock Photo Inc./ monkey business William Penn Life 0 August 2015 0 3
