She struggled to say hello...

"I have been sick for almost two weeks, I hope to get well soon," voiced by a 77 year old woman. She struggled to say hello to me because she has problem with breathing, nonetheless she managed to express her inner feeling to me. "Sometimes, problem can be very hard and it is like a rock attach to another rock," she concluded.

..each person is unique...

I saw the person was very cheerful yesterday but today she was very moody. Each day, the elderly individual's mood is unpredictable. Everyone is unique. It is not easy to understand each person feeling unless she/he discloses her/his issue. I normally do the behaviour observation each day so that I can be helpful in whatever way I can be.

Quote from Anthony de Mello

"Loneliness is not cured by human company.

Loneliness is cured by contact with reality." Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) Jesuit Priest

...reminiscing is powerful...

Pierina Basile (left) and Lee Beaudrault, parishioners of Rochester’s St. Anne Parish, play along to a calming drum beat during an Aug. 10 reminiscing session for seniors led by Father Peter Abas (right). Over seven classes, participants recalled and discussed their most important memories. (Courier photo by Mike Crupi) Parish pulsing with activities (Publication Date: 08-20-2005) By Rob Cullivan/Catholic Courier

...emotions on canvas...

Sacred Stories is a Workshop given by Fr. Peter Abas.It is an Opportunity to Express Emotions in a Safe and Supportive Environment.

The painting on the right is the combined work of 12 peopleputting their emotions on canvas over 8 weekly sessions. It is a powerful expression of their healing journey.

..Aging gracefully....

Today there were about 28 participants (ages between 75 to 99 years old) who attended the session on Aging Gracefully.

It was a great learning, here are some highlighted quotes:

What is aging according to each one of them.

. It is process of reflecting my own my life.
. I hate it and it is hard.
. I do not control it, it is God.
. I love aging, I can do whatever I was not able to do before.
. It is a blessing to be older.
. It is a gift from God.
. Aging, I feel proud of myself I am reaching 100 years old.
. I become more humble each day.
. Am I really getting old.

. It is a time of preparation.

. Aging is a time of asking, "where am I going?"

. Comparing my life before and NOW.

. I am glad to be more matured each day, it is a blessing.

. I just go with the flow, it is part and partial of life.

. What aging, that is a normal process nothing new.

. Let it comes as it is.

. It is time to relax and appreciate life.

The participants were also invited to reflect one or two of these following questions:

1. If you could relive one event in the story of your life, what would it be?

2. Which year would you choose as the best year of your life? Why?

3. Are you the same person you were as a child, or different? Explain.

4. If you could change any part of your story, what would you change?

(Taken from Remembering Your Stories by Richard L. Morgan)

"Aging is like the process of the sunset" (Aging Gracefully- Abas, 2008)

...fruitful years...

"I was a dean of studies for many years" said an 89 year old woman. It was very different type of discipline compare to now. I would not be able to handle today's situation as a dean of studies. What a wonderful reflection this person shared today. Smiling, she concluded, "I was quite strict though." The experience of this 89 year old woman was similar to the beauty of the mountain cover with the beautiful cloud.

..cognitively she is still super...

At lunch today, I was sitting and eating with four senior women. One is 99 year old, she will be 100 this December and the other two women were in their early 80s and one is in her 70s.

I talked to them and asked them this question.

Can you all tell me, which one is right?

The yolk of an egg is white OR the yolks of eggs are white.

There was moment of quiteness, and I could see the eyes of two in their 80s were blinking and shaking their heads. The woman in her 70s was saying, "this is not easy."

Surprisingly, the woman who is 99 year old said, "both sentences are wrong because egg yolk is yellow." They all laughed. A lesson for me, being 99 year old does not mean, a person is unable to think, look at this 99 year old woman, she got the answer!

Cognitively she is still SUPER!