Celebrate Life

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate. Oprah Winfrey

Two amazing elderly women inspire me to make the most of every season of my life—no matter how old I am.

Just after her husband of 67 years died, Norma was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of getting the standard cancer treatment, she told her doctor, "I’m 90 years old. I’m hitting the road." She then began an indefinite road trip across the US with her retired son and his wife. (Excerpted from the Facebook page, Driving Miss Norma)

Accompanied by her Standard Poodle Ringo, Norma’s trip of a lifetime has so far included visiting the National Parks and Disney World. She has also enjoyed whale watching and riding in a hot air balloon. Sure beats radiation, chemotherapy, blood work, tests and more tests that might not make much difference in prolonging Norma’s life.

Miss Norma & Ringo

Jean Veloz is an American dancer born in the 1920’s. She started her dancing career when the Lindy and Jitterbug were sweeping the country. She and her husband, Ray, won many dance competitions and even stared in a movie about the new craze. Eventually, Jean married Frank Veloz, an international dancer, and they danced on Frank’s TV show until the 1950’s. She came out of retirement in 1992 and today at age 90 is “back in the swing of things” on the dance floor. She is celebrating life to the full and shows no signs of slowing down. Click on this link to see Jean dance.     http://sfglobe.com/?id=3093&src=fbfan_3093

The key to both of these remarkable women’s longevity is that they keep their bodies moving by staying active and keeping their minds sharp by engaging in life. 

The stated purpose of this blog is to motivate senior adults to discard the stereotypes of ageing and to find ways to celebrate life in spite of biological age. We call all discover what keeps us motivated and sharp as long as God keeps us on this earth. Just like Jean and Norma, we all have the potential to celebrate life to the fullest.

April is National Donate Life Month which is near and dear to my heart. So many lives are saved each day by families who in the midst of their grief make the difficult decision to donate their loved ones organs. You can help others have more healthy lives and enable them to live to enjoy their senior adult years, by becoming an organ donor. I will always be grateful to the family who made that a possibility for me.

It's Time for a Change

Jim Rohn Quote

I am a BAH HUMBUG protester of Daylight Savings Time. It will take me at least a month to adjust to government imposed jet lag. I know some of you think I am crazy because you like the extra light at the end of the day. But I miss the sun streaming through the windows and the chirping of birds in the early morning. As a result of the time change, kids in Georgia have to once again wait in the dark for school buses creating a safety issue.

OK. I am done complaining. Now I can tell you why I celebrate change most of the time.

Gibbs Gardens

Just look around. Change is everywhere. Here in the South the landscape is exploding with new life. The white Bradford Pear trees, the pink Red-Bud trees, and yellow Forsythia are putting on the earliest and prettiest display I’ve seen in years. Can you imagine how bleak things would be if the trees and flowers stayed in their dormant state—refusing to bloom and shower the air with pollen and seeds? The purpose for which they were created would no longer exist and in a year or two all plant life would be dead.

People tend to avoid change because it involves risk. And risk is something we want to avoid at all costs especially as we grow older. There are some changes I’m facing as I’ve grown older that I’m trying to embrace.

1.     My body is slowing down and more things hurt. 

When I tell others how my liver transplant changed my life, I comment that “Now I get to have the aches and pains of old age just like everyone else.” While some might see that as a curse, I see it as a blessing. One hundred years ago people died at a much younger age and if they had a terminal disease like I did, they never would have survived. How can I embrace physical changes—keep moving and not give in to my aches and pains? To help keep me active, I am in physical therapy to loosen tight muscles in my hips that have caused me a lot of discomfort. The therapy is painful but productive.  It will allow me to keep active.

2.     My brain is not as nimble. 

There are days that brain fog takes over and I struggle to complete ordinary tasks. Gone are the days when I could multi-task and do three things at once. The big project I signed on to last month, seems monumental today. My solution:  Take a day off, and let the brain and body rest. I have a friend who calls this “aggressive resting.”  It an oxymoron, but it works. One of the advantages of growing older is that I can usually set my own schedule and get back to work when my energy returns.

3.     My stuff is overwhelming and I am less disciplined.

I have to practice discipline and vigilance to keep from becoming a pack rat and clutter collector.  I am not as organized with my stuff as I used to be. The changing season is forcing me to deal with my stuff, whether I want to or not. The first day of spring is March 20 and the weather this year in Georgia is right in sync. There will be still be some nippy nights, but mostly warm days are ahead. I am trying to pare down my closet to those things that fit, look decent, and are season appropriate.  For every article of clothes I buy, I pledge to donate at least two more. Now, I need motivation to deal with office paperwork and others projects that are stacked up. Getting started is half the battle. It’s like exercise, I feel a lot better after I’ve made the effort.

4.     My spirit desires a closer relationship to my Creator.

During this Holy Week leading to Easter, I want to spend more time reflecting on the great gift of salvation provided through the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus. It is so easy to let all the other demands of spring crowd out the most important event in human history. My body and circumstances may change, but “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)  Jesus never changes, but I have to constantly change so that I don’t become stagnant and useless in serving Him. The following quote by Gail Sheehy – motivates me to embrace all the changes that come my way.

“If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.”

Take a Leap of Faith

Today is February 29, but some folks act as if the day doesn’t exist.  I attempted to read a selection in two of my devotional books, but there was none given for today. Now I know how “leaplings” feel who were born on Leap Day when they have a birthday only once every four years.

Adding a Leap Day every four years is an attempt to reconcile the Gregorian calendar with the rotations of the earth around the sun. Technically a complete orbit of the earth around the sun takes exactly 365, 2422 days to complete, so every four years we have 366 days to keep the calendar in sync with the sun. If a leap day was not in our calendar every four years, today would be July 10, 2017.

1996 was a special leap year for me. I took a leap out of my comfort zone and dipped my toe back into the dating scene. I had been widowed for ten years and was dealing with a terminal liver disease. The idea of dating and the fear of rejection were very scary. Charles and I met twenty years ago this week and soon discovered we were both looking for God’s will in our lives. It didn’t take us long to realize His will was leading us toward marriage. It was a risky leap of faith for both of us because of my health. Twenty years and one liver transplant later, we have no doubt that God was directing our paths.

In April of 1996, we started our company, Consulting Aviation Services. As an aerospace engineer, Charles believed his innovative ideas to improve aircraft performance and safety would benefit the aviation industry. Two patents and twenty years later, he is still working hard every day to accomplish his goal. This year he is working on both commercial and military contracts.  This will be our make it or break it year depending on results from flight tests in California and Germany. Every day our leap of faith into the unknown challenges our patience and perseverance.

Last weekend, we went to see the movie “Risen.” The Romans heard the rumors that Jesus would arise from the dead after his brutal crucifixion. When Jesus body disappeared from the tomb where he was buried, the Roman authorities were determined to find his body. They wanted to discredit the belief that Jesus was resurrected. A Roman soldier followed the early disciples in order to destroy the believers—instead his life was transformed by what he saw. He along with many others took a giant leap of faith and believed that Jesus was the long awaited Savior and Messiah.

What other leaps of faith await you during this Leap Year?

• Traveling to that dream destination on your “bucket list.”
•  Furthering your education in order to pursue a different career.
•  Forgiving a person from your past and working on reconciliation.
•  Making a personal commit to Jesus as your Savior or working toward a deeper relationship with Him.    

   A Leap Year is a good time to take a leap of faith.  

After all you have one more day to make it happen.

Think Before You Vote

Every time, you turn on the TV, more and more problems seem unsolvable. Economic, national security, immigration, and healthcare issues dominate the headlines. The recent death of a Supreme Court Judge has left a void at a crucial time in our nation’s history. The next nominee will be scrutinized like none other.

Unless you live on another planet, you know this is a presidential election year in the U.S. The liberal/progressive Democrats say the problem this country is facing is income inequality and that the Federal government needs to do more to level the playing field for everybody. They insist taxes need to be raised so that Washington, D.C. will have more money to redistribute.

The more conservative Republicans insist that our government is too big and that the economy does better with less regulation on businesses and lower taxes for everyone. More jobs will then be created and individual incomes will grow in a thriving economy. Both sides accuse the other of trying to fix the wrong problem. If we can survive the loud voices and campaign rhetoric, the side that makes the best case will win the upcoming election.

In the next few weeks, the people’s voices will be heard as they head to the polls to continue to vote in primaries and caucuses. By this time next month, both political parties will have a pretty good idea of who will be the nominee of their party for the national election. I am not going to endorse anyone in my blog, but I would ask you to consider some very important questions before you cast that all important vote for your party's nominee.

• What person do you want to appoint the next Supreme Court Judge? What will be the qualifications of the next Justice and what will be their philosophy on the role of Constitution in our country?
• Whose face do you want to see in your living room on the TV for the next four years? The next President will have many problems to solve and his presence will dominate every news cycle. If you are already tired of a certain candidate, don’t vote for that person as the nominee of your party.
• What person has the character and lifestyle you want to see exemplified that will influence our children and be an example to the rest of the world?
• What philosophy of government do you want imposed on your children and grandchildren?  This election is not only about us but the future generations. We need someone in office who has the ability to bring both sides together so that our most pressing problems will be solved. Our descendants deserve an America with a good economy for all with peace and security in order to live as productive citizens.
• Have you prayed about your choice for President?  As Christians, we are to be in submission to God and then to our leaders. Ask God to influence your vote and give you  wisdom as you cast your ballot.
  

February Fun

February is the shortest month in the year and sometimes the dreariest as spring is still weeks away. But, if you put your mind to it, it can be a month for a good time. National Groundhog Day is behind us and Valentine Day is just around the corner. The groundhog did not see his shadow and we will have an early spring and love will be in the air, at least through February 14.

But do you know there are a lot of other fun days to celebrate in February? For example, who knew February 4^th is:

National Thank a Mailman Day

National Homemade Soup Day

National Create a Vacuum day

To celebrate, I will wave at my mailman, make a pot of soup for supper, and push my vacuum around.

We have George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to thank for being born in February. Our present line up of politicians running for President want to take Father George’s and Uncle Abe’s place in the annals of U.S. history. From the Iowa causes to Super Tuesday, there will be plenty of intrigue, entertainment, accusations, and speeches. As a political junkie, I’ve watched all the debates and have picked my candidate. Our absentee ballots have been mailed for our Super Tuesday vote here in Georgia. Now we get to sit back and watch it all unfold and, hopefully, celebrate when our candidate gets picked.

Think of how much you will accomplish this month if you take seriously the following:

·                                                                                February 11—National Make a Friend Day

·                                                                                February 14—National Organ Donor Day

·                                                                                February 17—National Random Acts of Kindness Day

Or for a more lighthearted approach, recognize these days:

·                                                                              February 6—National Lame Duck Day                                                                  

                                   February 11—National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day

·                                                                              February 16—National Do a Grouch a Favor Day

A lot of folks will be going to Mardi Gras for a super-sized party and folks born on February 29 will actually have a birthday this Leap Year.

Speaking of birthdays you can always celebrate mine on February 8. Isn’t February a great month?

The Power of One Word

As a writer I love words. Lots of them! When joined together in powerful sentences and paragraphs, words tell great stories and provide inspiration. Two of my writer friends inspired me to think about the power of ONE WORD. In my last blog post I wrote about how I wanted to simplify my life this year and find joy and contentment in accomplishing small things. I am intrigued to think that one word could change my life. I decided accept the challenge and choose ONE WORD to live by in 2016.

My online research led me to a book entitled My One Word written by Mike Ashcraft, senior pastor at Port City Community Church in Wilmington, NC. Instead of sweeping resolutions that disappear by the end of January, Ashcraft says that choosing one word will help us concentrate on accomplishing something instead of a lot of nothing. I also discovered a blog by Margaret Feinberg entitled One Word in which she encourages people to choose one word to study and meditate on during 2016. 

It took me a couple of days to narrow my focus to just one word. My writer friends chose the words “Confidence” and “Flourish.” All sorts of other words drifted through my mind—all of them perfectly good words—just not for me at this time in my life. I finally settled on a word for 2016 that has the potential to change my thinking and my actions. Here it is!

STEADFAST

According to the Miriam Webster Dictionary my word is defined as: “very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause: not changing” Those that know me might say that word already describes me.Yes, I can be opinionated and passionate about what I believe. My area of struggle is in my thinking and about keeping my mind focused on the positive in each situation. I picked this Bible verse for 2016, because it describes exactly what I need in my life—the ability to find peace in every chaotic and stressful situation that I will face this year.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV

There will be plenty of challenges — personal and family health problems, the roller coaster stock market, endless delays in our aircraft business, and the inevitable unexpected events that can turn life on a dime.

Are you up to taking the ONE WORD challenge in 2016?  

If so I would love to hear from you. If you choose to comment at the end of this blog and you use the Anonymous designation, please add your name at the end of your comment so we can pray for each other’s journey.You can also email me at friedas@bellsouth.net to let me know the word you have chosen. To help you get started, here are the two links I referenced above that will give you additional information and motivation.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008EGUFF2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr=1

http://margaretfeinberg.com/whats-one-word-2016-free-download/

What is your ONE WORD for 2016?

It's the Little Things

It’s the second week of January and I am still recovering from a wonderful and jam-packed Christmas season. Whew! Dealing with a painful hip and hobbling around for the past month has dampened my usual burst of January energy to bring order back into my cluttered house. Instead I’ve had plenty of time to sit with an ice pack or heating pad (depending on the latest diagnosis of my hip pain) and reflect on the events of Christmas and my thoughts for the New Year.

Celebrating Christmas with both my sons and their families was very special. It’s a normal experience for many families but— because of time, distance, and circumstances— a rarity for me.  Because I don’t want to forget the details, I compiled a list of some memories that made it such a special time. Here are a few:  

• Ten of us at Stone Mountain Park with me in a wheelchair being pushed over the rough terrain by my strapping grandson.
• Watching granddaughters decorating cut-out sugar cookies with lots of sprinkles.
• A row filled with Dixons and Davises listening to Charles play O Holy Night on his harmonica at the church Christmas Eve Service.
• Working with my daughter-in-law in the kitchen to keep everyone fed.
• Star Wars gifts under the tree reminiscence of my sons’ younger years when it was all about Star Wars. 

So as 2016 begins, my resolution is to be more mindful of the smaller events of life—those things that give life its richness. I want to take time to talk to someone I meet at the grocery store, pay attention to the birds on our deck, be thankful for a warm house and a hot cup of tea.

Instead of a sweeping (no pun intended) resolution to de-clutter my house from top to bottom, I will tackle my to-do list one item at a time and will be thankful for each small step.  Clean out one drawer in the kitchen, sort one pile on my desk, review and delete 100 old emails in my inbox instead of 1000.

I will find one Bible verse or devotional thought to focus on each day and savor its meaning, and pray for one or two persons each day that God puts in my mind and on my heart. Here is one of my favorite Bible verses and a good one for all of us to think about often during 2016.  

Have a blessed New Year.

Ephesians 4:8-9

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”