Monday, August 29, 2011

Aging Artfully

September is Healthy Aging® Month, thanks to HealthyAging.net.  Their reason for creating the national observance? "Because there's lots of living left to do..."


Over the last year no one has shared a more whimsical attitude about ‘getting older’ than Sophie Lumen.  Created in 2010, her Art of Aging Facebook page has nearly 10,000 “likes”. And yes, I’m one of them!  That says a little something about our society’s priorities.  Then again, the numbers may just be one more example of the power of the vast Baby Boomer generation... the first of whom are now advancing into retirement age.




On her site Lumen asks, “What if we think of aging as an art?…an effort called out of the soul that takes skill, guts and devotion to manifest…with the power to create laughter, seriously tweak stereotypes, and inspire?”


Dr. Andrew Weil may have an answer for her (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02792/senior-health How To Live To Be 100 - Senior Health by Brad Lemley)


In his bestselling tome, Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being, Dr. Weil tackles the “how-to’s” of artful aging and notes that in studies of centenarians there is no evidence "that particular foods, supplements or other substances have anything to do with our living to extreme old age."  Lifestyle, however, is key.  Strong family ties, meaningful pursuits and physical activity are all vital to keeping vital.


In a survey of American centenarians, the Evercare senior healthcare company learned the following:
As a model of longevity, Elsa Hoffman 102 – with her great-grandaughters Blair (l) and Elsa Textor-Black – says there's nothing "I say I can’t go to or don’t want to do." This centenarian's version of slowing down in the past decade is to limit her travel to places near her Florida home – South America, for example.
  • American centenarians are surprisingly plugged into popular culture. Nearly a third have watched a reality TV show, and 27 percent have watched MTV or music videos. One in seven has played a video game.
  • Six percent have been on the Internet, and four percent have listened to music on an iPod.
  • Eighty-two percent said their dietary habits had improved or stayed the same as compared to 50 years ago.
  • Only 23 percent said they have ever smoked. On average those who quit did so 41 years ago. Two percent still smoke!
  • Favorite memory? Twenty-eight percent said their wedding day, followed by 13 percent citing the birth of a child, and 13 percent their 100th birthday. One said his favorite memory was "when I learned to fly at age 76."
  • Thirty-four percent said the person they would most trust to tell the truth would be their priest, rabbi or preacher.
  • Seventy percent now live at home, either alone or with a spouse.

This is what 64 looks like!
Evergreen songstress Emmy Lou Harris
Research shows that the oldest seniors tend to embrace who they are becoming, as opposed to fighting the natural aging process they cannot stop or change. They also keep doing things that matter to them, whatever those might be. Consequently, what they do matters!  


For instance, Martha Graham danced professionally until she was 76. Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals at the age of 78. Georgia O’Keefe continued painting well into her 90s.


What would you like to accomplish when you reach those ripe ages?  


We’d love for you to share your own thoughts on artful aging on our Facebook page.


Warmly,
Lilo

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Happiness Happens... thanks to the SSoHP



Happiness does happen on occasion, but it happens specifically in August thanks to efforts of the happiest people around.  The following is how they describe their group and its purpose:


Founded: August 1998


Purpose: The Secret Society of Happy People encourages the expression of happiness and discourages parade-raining. Parade-rainers are those people who don’t want to hear your happy news.


Mission: To help people recognize more happiness and encourage them to talk about it.


Side-effect: Since happiness is contagious if more people are recognizing and talking about it, then more people will be happy. And ultimately, our world needs more happy people.


Motto: If you're happy and you know it ... tell somebody! If someone else is happy and they know it ... listen!


Members: Thousands from at least 34 countries.
In 1999 the Society declared August 8th as Admit You're Happy Day (now Happiness Happens Day). Thanks to the response of not-so-secretly-happy people from around the world, the celebration was expanded in 2000 to include the month of August.
There are three purposes of the month:

  1. Recognize and express happiness
  2. Listen to others talk about their happiness
  3. Don't rain on other people's parades
In 1999, we asked the governors in all 50 states for a proclamation. Governors from 19 states sent proclamations for Admit You're Happy Day. Find out if your governor was happy, a stick in the mud, or parade-rainer.
If you want to celebrate Happiness Happens Month & Day here are a few ideas:

  1. In August on the 8th (the official Happiness Happens Day) or anytime during August for Happiness Happens Month wear your SILVER shades, donate your SILVER coins-pay someone's toll, bus or subway fare, buy a soda, or take up a donation for your favorite charity, or pass out SILVER kisses. Why SILVER? Because not-so-secretly happy people have a way of finding the SILVER lining in even the darkest clouds.
  2. Send a text message that says: Celebrate Happiness Happens Month with me. (www.sohp.com)
  3. If you’re on Facebook, make a post every day in August that says: Happiness Happen when…(and list your happy moment of the day).
  4. If you’re on Twitter, make a post every day in August that says: #HappinessHappens when…(and list your happy moment of the day).
  5. Make a Happy Treasure Chest—a box full of the things that bring smiles to your face. Get a box and make it uniquely happy. The crafty may want to decorate one and the crafty-challenged may choose to buy one. Then fill it with favorite photos; precious cards and letters; momentous and artifacts—movie tickets, playbills, jokes, happy quotes, cartoons, music, candles, videos, and the like.
  6. When you're in need of a Happy Booster then look inside your Happy Treasure Chest and you'll find plenty of smiles. It's a great activity to do with others. Have a Happy Treasure Chest Party. You can even make one for someone who needs a happy pick-me-up! (Tip from Teri Sarin)
Take the Happy Challenge
  • Happy Memories: Put a piece of paper on the wall with each person’s name. Then have either family members or co-workers draw or write down a happy memory that they experienced with that person.
  • Lead a Happiness Happens Celebration Activity at work. Vote for the Happiest Employee or Customer, have a Happy Expressions Pot Luck Lunch where everyone tells about their happiest moment at the company (best story wins a prize), or host a Happy Scavenger Hunt.
Take your Happy Inventory
  • Host a Happiness Happens Celebration: Have a theme party with everyone wearing something from their favorite era (even if they didn't live in it this lifetime) or pick your favorite era; make up a happy trivia game that includes things the happiest things about your city, county or state; but most important, have fun.
  • When tucking your kids in for bed at night, take turns listing the happy moments you experienced that day (Tip from Cindy Fitzhugh, MA).
  • Have a Happy Expression Art Show. Each person (friend or family member) through some form of art: drawings, painting, songs, writing, and on and on can express what makes them happy. End with having a show and tell party. (Tip from Kimla Cotropia, Ph.D).
SSoHP on Facebook


We'd love to hear what makes YOU happiest. Please feel free to share with us here or on our Facebook page


Warmly,
Lilo

Friday, August 5, 2011

Eventful Events

Lilo is delighted to engage in activities that celebrate life and love.  Here is what we have in the offing:


Friday, August 19th, 2011
all day
 
August is national Get Ready for Kindergarten month. 
Make Red Sweater Day a red letter day by joining us in donning a red sweater in tribute to the man who has done more than anyone to help children prepare for kindergarten, Fred Rogers. 
This event is open to all so please invite your friends and family to participate.