...richness and sacred stories...

Aging Gracefully met today

There were 12 elderly individuals (ages 100-85) who attend this group.
The topic of discussion was:

Which year would you choose as the best year of your life? Why?
Some highlights:
"I was 15 and I thought I can do whatever I can."
"The time when my father bought a cow."
"The day my father told me, very good so that you can pray for us."
"As a teacher, I was very much interesting in teaching those children."
"I am 90 year old that is the best year for me."
"When I had all my children with me, now they are grown-up."
"What more can I say, today is the best day for me."
"Too many best years, particularly when my father acknowledged whom I am."
"The journey of my life, the time I was teaching in school."
"I am 100 but I am always thankful to God for the blessings."

...listen to their words...

Various expressions from elderly individuals:

Adrian states, " It is something hard to define, but the limitations in my capacity to be able to work, create a lonely situation for me."

Josephine echoes, " My slowness and incapability to perform my work is a kind of loneliness."

"Being alone and incapable of doing certain tasks is loneliness", said Sonia.

...positive attitude!

While she was eating she was talking to me. "I have nothing to complain, I have food, a nice room and many friends" said a 90 year old woman. It is always nice and inspiring to hear this positive attitude from an elderly person.

A state of no direction

A State of No Direction

Loneliness is like losing my path of where I am going. It is a searching kind of experience.

-Jessica- 88 year old woman.

..it is inspiring...

Today an 88 year old woman told me, "When I start to put my hands on the hand drum, I immediately feel I can produce a melody as I lift my hand up and down. It produces beautiful sound."

I was very happy to hear the inspiring sharing from this elderly individual.

something to learn...

This story is wrtten by Fr. Thomas Tehan.

Growing Old Gracefully

Japanese women live longer than any other women in the world. While I can not explain the reasons for the longevity of Japanese women, I would like to share with you how Mrs. Takako Yanamisawa planned and enjoyed the celebration of her 88th birthday is called Beiju. The word is comprised of two chinese characters: bei, meaning rice, and juwhich has various meanings including age, one's natural life, longevity or congratulations.

In Japan, almost everyone celebrates two birthdays. The first birthday is on New Year's Day and is the same for everyone. It is call Shogastu, or full moon, and a year is added to veryone's age. The second birthday is the actual date of birth. Takako planned to celebrate both of her birthdays with a party in January and another around May 6th, her actual birth date.

Columban Mission, December 2008.

...I am very happy...

"It is hard to be old," said by an 89 year old woman. She further said, "However, I am very happy to reach this age." Listening to her is really teaching me of what is to be "aging gracefully" and still happy.