Life is walking in the forest and enjoying the beauty of it."

I asked this elderly woman today, "how are you feeling that you will be reaching your 100 birthday soon?" She responded, "I am taking it easy and I don't feel that I am 100." She further asked me, "how are you keeping up with day?" I said to her, "It is OK today but often I am quite busy." She advised me, "remember to have time for yourself." She said, "life is walking into the forest while enjoying the beauty of it."

Thank God, she was on target to advise me, "she helps me to slow down a bit and look into my own needs."

..I am really tired...the journey is just too long."

Often I encountered and listened to"caregivers" adults who are taking care of their aging parents. Words and sentences came out from them such as:

"I am really tired."

"How long is this going to be?"

"Where are my other siblings?"

"I love mum very much, the nursing home is not her place."

"I pray to God to help me to handle this problem."

"I see the journey is just too long."

"I need professional help now."

Yes as a caregiver, she/he needs to reflect that "I simply cannot do everything, be everything, or achieve everything, no matter how much I want to." It is far healthier to accept limitations than to pretend that they don't exist and became flooded with frustration.

One cannot put a quart in a pint cup (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)

...words of wisdom.!

A 90 year old man asked me, "How are the leaves on the trees?" I answered, "they are beautiful but all are dropping." He responded, "that is the beauty of fall season and winter will come."

I told him, "I am glad to see the beauty of God in nature too." He further said, "Yes, you are right, I used to walk around the park but unfortunately my mobility is limited now." He was referring to his "wheel-chair" and the problem in walking.

He finally told me, "You need to take care of yourself, be healthy so that you can take care of us here." I replied, "I will surely follow your advice," and he gave me a wonderful smile.

...you need to eat healthy food, good rest and peaceful mind."

Today, I was eating my lunch with five wonderful elderly women. Three of them celebrated their 90 birthday last month. One will celebrate her 90 birthday next June, 2009. The youngest among them is 84 year old woman.

It was very rewarding to listen to their wonderful "sacred stories" of their lives. While I was listening to each one of them sharing a particular story, I saw the joy in them as they expressed their experiences in words. One of them told me, "you need to eat healthy food, good rest and peaceful mind" in order to function well. Her words of wisdom to me this morning. I am glad to have the opportunity to be with them.

My bridge to Heaven

My Bridge to Heaven

Wonderful education from my parents made me of who am I now
Marriage blessed me with children
The transitions and changes in the Church affected my life
Changes are difficult to handle
Being a widow is not that easy
Need a companion but I do not have
Depend on my Father the Lord to guide me and

Holy Spirit comes to aid me.

Written by a 90 year old woman

"Catch the Age Wave"

Catch the Age Wave: A Handbook for Effective Ministry with Senior Adults.

This is another book that I recommed to those who minister the senior adults.

I read this book, it is very helpful in my daily work.

..learning something new everyday...

During lunch today, I sat with three elderly women. One of them said to me, "I wish I can see your facial expression when you talk to me." The 94 year old woman is blind but she still has the sense of hearing. She told me, she asked the other elderly woman to describe of how I look.

Everyday, I learn new thing from each individual and I am thankful to each one of them.