I’ve
been thinking (and I know, don’t believe everything your mind tells you) but I
have being reading Being Mortal
written by Atul Gawande, practicing surgeon and professor at the Harvard School
of Public Health. In this thought provoking book, he reminds us that contrary
to popular culture and marketing hype, we will not live forever. And
unfortunately most of us are not prepared to deal with this eventuality. As we
age and gradually decline, we may be able to slow the process by being mentally
engaged, staying physically active and eating right. But like the rubber on a car’s
tires, we eventually wear out. As Jim Holston reminds me “This is as good as it
gets!”
But
there is good news. Atul Gawande also highlights the research of Laura
Carnesten a professor of psychology at Stanford University. Her work has shown
as we acknowledge our own mortality, it changes our perspective on life.
She
has found when people feel they will live forever, or too busy to consider their
eventual fate, they seek new friends and relationships, try new experiences,
and take chances. Because if it doesn’t work out, well, there is always
tomorrow.
But
when people realize that death is an eventuality they can’t escape, it is in
our genes, their perspective changes. People start to see their priorities more
clearly, take less notice of trivial matters, are more appreciative, and live
more in the “now”. Life gets better and they are happier.
And
isn’t that ironic? As we ride this downward trajectory of aging, we generally are
happier. What was thought to be so important during the “productive” years is no
longer, while friendships and living in the present are. It is like seeing the
world with sharper glasses and thinking, wow, even with all the challenges of personal
losses and physical ailments, life is pretty good.
If
you want to discuss more about how our outlook on life changes as we age, join
me for the 11:00 Tuesday Lecture at the Center on December 9th when we will
watch a video presentations by both Laura Carstensen and Atul Gawande.
Since
the Center’s Saturday Breakfasts took a hiatus for several months, I wanted to
give you an early notice that Saturday Breakfast will be back on December 22nd
for the traditional Christmas Breakfast sponsored once again by The Springs at
Mill Creek. You can enjoy a traditional breakfast of pancakes, bacon and
scrambled eggs, and we’ll see whether Santa makes an appearance this year.
The
Center quilters have been creating beautiful quilts in support of the Center since
the mid-80’s raising thousands of dollars. But you may not know that the Center
quilters can also be hired to repair worn or unfinished quilts if you have that
special quilt you want mended. You can find the quilters downstairs at the
Center every Monday from 10:00 to 3:00 where they still patiently hand stitch
their quilts. And this month you can purchase raffle tickets for two of their
quilts which are on display at the Center.
It’s
been a while since I have tried to scramble your grey cells by mixing up the Center’s
music announcement. See what you can decipher this week.
Fro
teh Centre’s Tsuedya Ngiht msiuc no Demcereb 9th, Mriatn and Frindes will eb prefmriong.
Adn unlses teh swno flals or teh rain zfreees, the msicu strsat ta 7:00 nad is
oerv by 9:00. Eveyreno is wolecme and dionosatn aer aywlas apatpicred.
The
actress, comedienne and musical performer who starred in several movie musicals
as well as her own television specials in the 60’s and 70’s was Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber, I
mean, Mitzi Gaynor. And the winner of a free Saturday breakfast on
December 20th is Alex Currie.)
This
week’s “Remember When question is not a quote or of local significance, but a
multiple choice question about the good old days. In 2013 the median family
income was $51,939. What was the median family income fifty years ago in 1964? (a)
Between $5,000 and $7,000, (b) between $7,000 and $9,000, or (c) between $9,000
and $11,000. E-mail your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788
or mail it with a roll of u-lick-em 5 cent postage stamps and a gallon of 30
cent gas.
Well,
it’s been another week, trying to find my way back in the dark. Until we meet
again, as Roger Rosenblatt wrote in his book Rules for Aging, “Just because the person criticized you is an
idiot, doesn’t make him wrong”.
Every
time I think that I'm getting old, and gradually going to the grave, something
else happens. ~ Lillian Carter
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