I SHALL WEAR PURPLE!
This series gave me time to reflect on growing old.
What do I cherish about growing older?
How do I convey the joy of living an attentive life?
What wisdom can I share?
How do I show that I value the aging process?
How do I nurture delight in all of life's stages?
What do I cherish about growing older?
How do I convey the joy of living an attentive life?
What wisdom can I share?
How do I show that I value the aging process?
How do I nurture delight in all of life's stages?
Lizzie is serendipitous - I originally made her upside down but she insisted on being a dancer!
Now she is a Jane-of-all-trades :-)
Now she is a Jane-of-all-trades :-)
Why are we so afraid of aging and the aged?
Why do we crowd them into care facilities for the old and infirm
instead of caring for them at home?
Are we afraid of daily facing our humanity, our mortality?
Are our lives so busy, so crowded,
that we cannot pause to listen, to honour their story?
Why do we crowd them into care facilities for the old and infirm
instead of caring for them at home?
Are we afraid of daily facing our humanity, our mortality?
Are our lives so busy, so crowded,
that we cannot pause to listen, to honour their story?
I thought about words that sometimes come to mind when we say 'old'...
frail, vulnerable, nuisance, dependent, sick, forgetful, eccentric.
Are these words valid? unjust? cruel? abusive, maybe?
How do we react when we hear them?
What words should first come to mind ...
wise, mature, storyteller, safe harbour, hospitable, treasure, belonging.
When we use positive language to describe something,
it alters our mind-set and attitude.
We are more prepared to honour the inherent dignity of the person
rather than their difficulties.
These are readily accommodated as a small part of a wonderful human being.
frail, vulnerable, nuisance, dependent, sick, forgetful, eccentric.
Are these words valid? unjust? cruel? abusive, maybe?
How do we react when we hear them?
What words should first come to mind ...
wise, mature, storyteller, safe harbour, hospitable, treasure, belonging.
When we use positive language to describe something,
it alters our mind-set and attitude.
We are more prepared to honour the inherent dignity of the person
rather than their difficulties.
These are readily accommodated as a small part of a wonderful human being.
What questions am I asking myself as I get older ...
What am I going to do as I get older?
Are there life ambitions that I want to fulfil?
Do I have a 'bucket list'?
Do I see the aging process as a negative or a positive thing?
How will I treasure the giftedness of old age?
Will I delight in its surprises?
What am I going to do as I get older?
Are there life ambitions that I want to fulfil?
Do I have a 'bucket list'?
Do I see the aging process as a negative or a positive thing?
How will I treasure the giftedness of old age?
Will I delight in its surprises?
Elder abuse and neglect are on the increase in modern, first world societies.
How does this happen?
Does the 'culture of youth' mean we become slowly brainwashed
to believe the aged to be cumbersome; a nuisance; inhuman?
When did we cease to honour and respect older human beings?
We desire aged cheese and beef.
We collect vintage and antique objects.
We delight in old manuscripts and classical music.
We restore crumbling buildings and rusted cars.
But we reject old people.
Let's look to the treasure among us and re-engage with senior citizens.
How does this happen?
Does the 'culture of youth' mean we become slowly brainwashed
to believe the aged to be cumbersome; a nuisance; inhuman?
When did we cease to honour and respect older human beings?
We desire aged cheese and beef.
We collect vintage and antique objects.
We delight in old manuscripts and classical music.
We restore crumbling buildings and rusted cars.
But we reject old people.
Let's look to the treasure among us and re-engage with senior citizens.
"A man's age is something impressive,
it sums up his life:
maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles,
illnesses cured, griefs and despairs overcome,
and unconscious risks taken;
maturity formed through so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves.
A man's age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wartime Writings 1939-1944,
translated from French by Norah Purcell
it sums up his life:
maturity reached slowly and against many obstacles,
illnesses cured, griefs and despairs overcome,
and unconscious risks taken;
maturity formed through so many desires, hopes, regrets, forgotten things, loves.
A man's age represents a fine cargo of experiences and memories."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wartime Writings 1939-1944,
translated from French by Norah Purcell