Knitting with Purpose

Dody Patterson likes to be busy.  She loves to knit and makes hats for children that need them, 250 of them a year.  Dody Patterson has purpose!  She is 104 years old.  She tells us that knitting keeps her mind busy, her fingers nimble and allows her to give to others.

Knitting is such a simple thing and it has given Dody purpose for many years. So why is purpose so important as we age?  The same reason it's important for us when we are starting a career; when you have a strong purpose you have a drive, a direction and a passion that gets you out of bed in the morning. People with a purpose thrive!

As we journey through life our purpose will often change.  When we have children they become our purpose.  Our jobs and careers are often a purpose.  When we retire we will see another change and that is a time that it is very important to find our new purpose.

Part of aging successfully is having a purpose, something we love to do and want to share.  It might be knitting, it might be a hobby you haven't even started yet.  Maybe it's reading and sharing your books or sharing your love of yoga.  Whatever it is jump in fearlessly and live it up!  You want to thrive!

Choices

   

     70% of the way we age comes from the choices we make.  We get to choose how we eat, what exercise we do, who we hang out with and how we spend our time.  The choices we make when we are 25, effect how successfully we age when we are 40.  Those positive changes we make at 50 effect how successfully we age in our 60's and even 80's.
     It's so empowering to think we are in charge of our aging "destiny".  We can make changes today, that will help us age more successfully within our current circumstances.   A study done by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) tells us that the three most important components of wellness to age the most successfully are physical, spiritual and social wellness. That makes things pretty simple; a walk with our spouse or friends will benefit us both physically and socially.  Going to church gives the benefit of both social and spiritual wellness.  A healthy meal with friends after a bible study is the trifecta of active aging!
     What choices will you make today that will give you the best chance to age successfully?  A balanced diet, getting up and moving around and getting together with friends and family are a great place to start!

Changing the Face of a Senior Moment

     "Oh, I just can't remember right now, I guess I'm just having a senior moment," a friend of mine said recently.

     I'm not sure when a "senior moment" became a negative, but what would happen if we changed that perception?

     What if a senior moment is when my friend's 96 year old grandmother informs her family she will be skydiving before autumn roles around, and by the way would any of the youngsters like to join her?  

     Maybe it's the moment Harriette Thompson crosses the finish line at the San Diego marathon.  

When she completed her run that day she became the oldest woman to run a marathon by 3 months. Ms. Thompson is a two time cancer survivor that has raised over $100,000 for charity since she started running at 76 years old.

     You could also consider it a "senior moment" when Leonid Hursicz received the Nobel Prize at the age of 90 for his findings in economics.  

     It could be the moment an elder finishes her first painting or her 101st painting.  It's that moment the gentleman down the street finishes his 4 block walk every evening.  It is the couple sitting on the bench reminiscing about their wedding day.  

     Let's change the face of a senior moment and focus on the positive in aging!

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