November: Looking on the Bright Side

In 2015, a song you may remember was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Record registry for its ”cultural artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation’s audio legacy.” The recording in the registry is the one on which the man who wrote those lyrics, Johnny Mercer, sings with The Pied Pipers and Paul Whiteman’s orchestra plays Harold Arlen’s tune. Mercer exhorts us to “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive!” (That’s the real title!)

Can we all sing that together now?

The song was published in 1944, which tells us that Arlen and Mercer wrote it during WWII. Somehow, the idea of accentuating the positive caught on like wildfire. The story is that Mercer heard Father Divine (you can Google him) preach a sermon using the phrase right here in Philadelphia and found the admonition to “accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative” very appealing.

With the approach of Thanksgiving, let’s think about some positive things we can personally “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate.” And share them here. That way, we multiply the positives!

I’ll start with my gratitude for so many newly engaged voters, for family, friends, and for every one of you in my life.

August: The Gifts of Slow

Just as we may be slowing down with August heat comes this lovely message from one of our ElderChicks reader/sisters, Connie Goldman. How are “the gifts of slow” affecting your life? Tell us.

Connie was an award winning radio reporter and producer for National Public Radio. She now devotes herself to programs and projects concerned with issues of aging and caregiving in America. Her most recently published books are The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of Hardship, Hope and Healing, 2nd edition, and Wisdom from Those in Care: Conversations, Insights and Inspiration. For more information, visit congoldman.org.

Updates from ElderChicks

I’m honored to be included in the article, “Joy in the Age of Loss” in The Philadelphia Inquirer published last Sunday. Please take a look!

And, more good news:  Work now starts on a new book, with JB Kittredge, about how seniors (and other retirees) are saving the world through their devotion to causes that help us all and add meaning to their own lives.

What are some of the ways you find meaning today?  Please click here and tell us.  We inspire each other in so many ways!

Prioritizing by Karen Booth

Again I find the need to re-prioritize as I enter my second empty nest phase. My next-to-last grandchildren are heading out into the world of college. Now, no more plays, concerts or activities. No more Sunday breakfasts or birthday get-togethers. I have started by enjoying the quiet times, something I have done for years, appreciating my health and the good years left with my husband. I am trying not to look ahead too far and worry about what may lie ahead that isn’t so wonderful.

The Gifts of Slow by Connie Goldman

For several months, I’ve been going to my local YMCA in the early morning to exercise in their large swimming pool. I used to go when they opened just after 5:00 AM but now that I’m in my mid-80’s, many of my usual activities have been starting at a considerably later time in the morning. Many people that still have work obligations require them to finish their routine in the gym or pool are no longer limitations for me. That means that I can arrive for my exercise routine anytime in the morning that works best for me. Without having a regular group that I meet with, I always seem to find an empty lane in the Olympic sized swimming pool. Many circumstances in my life at this time allow me the advantage of no firm plan.

I well remember the days when I needed and appreciated the energy to do things in a hurry and maybe accomplish three or four things at the same time. I’ve heard so many people in their 80’s and 90’s talk about their slowing up that leaves an emptiness and big loss in their lives. Some say “I can’t do what I used to do as quickly as I once could” and others admit to eliminating some activities from their routines altogether. Some of their comments indicate that they are referring to their slowing down as another loss at the stage of life they are in now.

One day last week when I was sitting in a park and watching the kids play and enjoying the beautiful gardens, I remembered that I used to say something about how being busy and active never gave me the time or pleasure to do such a thing.  At my current stage of life, it really doesn’t matter how long I sit in the park or walk in my neighborhood. There is always some pleasure and satisfaction of doing such things for me. It seems not having a regular and often rigid schedule is a difficult thing to unlearn.

Accepting the slow up in my life has allowed me to have a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment by focusing on doing one thing at a time. I no longer listen to my radio in the car, when I am safer keeping my whole focus on the driving. Listening to the current newscast can be a distraction from what needs to be my immediate concerns; the traffic around me, the other drivers and the current weather conditions. By turning off my radio, I arrive at my destination feeling more relaxed and safe, protecting my own life and retaining my ability to hold on to my driver’s license.

I have an increased appreciation for my patio garden now that my life has slowed up. In my younger years, I would spend my meal times, reading the newspaper in between bites of food so I was unable to fully appreciate the meal or my surroundings. I’ve found that sitting back and just watching the multitude of birds that visit my backyard can be an enjoyable experience.  Reading the newspaper can wait a bit along with thinking about what plans and commitments need to be accomplished today or in the days ahead.  I’ve truly discovered that doing and concentrating on one thing at a time can be considered as a gift, not a limitation.

Many of us have different stages of our life when we have the necessity to reprioritize what needs to done first, deciding what chores are most important or taking care of someone else’s needs. With the time left over before another commitment arises, we can attempt to complete what needs to be done for ourselves. There are so many things that are necessary to do at certain times in various periods in each of our lives. When our 70’s, 80’s and 90’s include celebrating our current birthday and our individual physical condition has specific needs and limitations, then old priorities need to be reconsidered.

It’s not based on what decisions other people make but what is useful and appropriate for me at this specific time of my life. I have to remember to keep reassessing the changes in my own energy and physical condition in the days ahead.