Daily Wisdom 09-04-2002 Great "Senior" Moments

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Great "Senior" Moments

Rhoda Cressman, an Another Way reader in the Scottdale, Pa., area wrote in response to my three-part series earlier this year on "Reinventing the Way We Age."First, a little word picture of Rhoda's life at present: "I'm 69 ?, live on a 40-acre farm growing trees and wildflower-bird nesting meadows, an apple and peace orchard, berry patches, garden and lots of flowers, four ponds, and am co-creator of a garden at our church camp in memory of my husband, Arnold. I am one of our church's librarians. I work with children occasionally, do some writing, collect articles about peacemaking, ... and collect amusing stories and quotes." This quote on aging cracks her up: "No matter how old a mother gets, she never stops watching her middle-aged children for signs of improvement."

Actually her letter was so good I excerpt it here at length with her permission:"George Sand once wrote, 'It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides.'The first sentence refers to all the aches and pains, the slower recall, the diminished energy, etc. The last sentence, I think, is talking about the positive aspects of aging and I add more: how about the insights, the greater ability to see what's important, the values and priorities being clearer, greater tolerance and mellowness, a greater capacity for love, patience and compassion? Our culture focuses too much on the losses and not enough on the gains. There's another side to growing older than just the changes in the physical body."Rhoda doesn't like this oft-heard quote about aging: "Age is a very high price to pay for maturity." She says, "It's humorous, but it is still focusing on the downside. Maybe it should say, 'Maturity is one of the rewards of old age.' (I know, it's not as funny. I do recommend laughing!)"

She takes on another line in my article. "You say 'aging is not fun.' I would amend that to read, "Illness is not fun, no matter what the age. I know lots of advanced age folks who are fairly healthy (at least not bed-ridden or in constant pain), have equanimity, wonderful humor, positive attitude, excitement and interest in life, rewarding interaction with other people. ... If one can be positive, focus on the things one can do and the opportunities one now has, it makes a difference. If people relegate me to the sidelines, I'm gonna surprise 'em. [So] volunteer. Entertain. Start something. Get a group together (all ages) and do something together. Program in some fun, good experiences."

Rhoda ended her comments by adding (nicely), "I know your space is limited and you can't elaborate on and on, I'm just bouncing off what you wrote." Her soft words speak to me. The Bible tells us about the rewards of aging: Proverbs 16:31 says, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life."

Rhoda, instead of wringing her hands about "senior moments," says that whenever she hears someone over 50 say something wise, insightful, helpful or profound, she says with an affirming smile, "Hey, I do believe you're having a senior moment!"

Contributed by Melodie Davis from her weekly columnANOTHER WAY (http://www.thirdway.com/aw/).For information on using Another Way in a local newspaper, contact:ANOTHER WAY, 1251 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22801-2497; or call1-800-999-3534; fax at 540-434-5556; or email me at:Melodie@mennomedia.org