I spoke about this couple I met around 3 weeks ago. She is 83 and he is 91. And these aren't ordinary seniors. They are both active. He drives this little brand new SUV. And she drives a Subaru outback. They are planning their next cruise that will take them to a couple of islands in the Pacific. Here's the weird thing the conversation I had with them wasn't like speaking to two old folks that were resigned to staying in their rocking chairs. These guys were thinking about going places and still doing things. Now they are mindful that they can't walk that fast any more but they both a "willingness" to beat the typical age boundaries.
I am convinced that older folks are breaking the mold of what the little storybooks showed of the little old couple on the front porch. It's like my opinion of these Harley Davidson fanatics.
What ?
They are wearing these outfits and riding motorcycles. Hell yes there are. And now I am thinking more power to them. They love it. They love the freedom. They love the youthfulness they still hold on tight to. So I am no longer complaining about them. I am actually proud that they are attempting to break the age barrier.
Right now corporations, companies and so called thought leaders know that the age wave is rushing to shore. So why not make the last part of your life magnificent. Toyota is experimenting in building houses that are more ergonomic. I am sure that manufacturers like Nike, Apple, Rubbermaid or whomever are looking now at more serious ways to catch the eyes of older markets with universal design.
There is a redefinition of age streaming forward and it is thrilling to see it. All these new books on the shelves redefining the possibilities of the brain with its constant neuroplasticity and ability to change.
The biggest ticket to this show looks like it has to do with adopting the attitude. The willingness to believe. Yes it takes courage, to create better things for yourself. But it is becoming more of a reality that you can still achieve very cool things no matter hold old you are. For me getting older has gotten way cooler. See ya up ahead.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Balance.
The darwinists say balance is created by evolution. The creationists say it's their version of intelligent design. The atheists agree with the darwinists. And the third group who doesn't care for the stock answer and believes it is something more we have not yet discovered..well that is the camp where you'll find me sitting around the campfire. Yes intelligent design does not have to taken from the heralding fundamentalist or one that believes in random chance. Intelligent design is something still beyond our grasp. The most powerful force we dismiss is balance. Gravity. Oxygen.
The mystery of it all. So many people want that control piece for answers.
Letting go is the place where I find answers but I also misplace that idea from time to time. Only when trying to help other in difficult situations does it come to me. The balance of this country has so many enemies. And enemies are us, so much of the time. Those that rant and scream out fear. Interesting that when we remember to try to eat well, get some kind of exercise, work on what we love, and work at what we have to do. Balance appears. Then just as fast along comes distraction that interrupts our memory of how important it is to stay in the balance. So many have been making money on dividing our country. Real courage is when can we start to really study what unites us again. What makes us a great nation is the united parts of our diversity and not just one following. Political messages try to grab us. The news tries to addict us. So much noisy static. Focus to balance comes a lot of the time in the idea of being a regular person that cares about others, without an agenda.
If you look closely. Take a breath and find just a beautiful sight in your children's eyes, a sunrise, your lovers lips or maybe see the limbs in the trees sway from the invisible breeze. It is so powerfully stunning. Ask yourself to see the balance and see the gifts from it each day.
The mystery of it all. So many people want that control piece for answers.
Letting go is the place where I find answers but I also misplace that idea from time to time. Only when trying to help other in difficult situations does it come to me. The balance of this country has so many enemies. And enemies are us, so much of the time. Those that rant and scream out fear. Interesting that when we remember to try to eat well, get some kind of exercise, work on what we love, and work at what we have to do. Balance appears. Then just as fast along comes distraction that interrupts our memory of how important it is to stay in the balance. So many have been making money on dividing our country. Real courage is when can we start to really study what unites us again. What makes us a great nation is the united parts of our diversity and not just one following. Political messages try to grab us. The news tries to addict us. So much noisy static. Focus to balance comes a lot of the time in the idea of being a regular person that cares about others, without an agenda.
If you look closely. Take a breath and find just a beautiful sight in your children's eyes, a sunrise, your lovers lips or maybe see the limbs in the trees sway from the invisible breeze. It is so powerfully stunning. Ask yourself to see the balance and see the gifts from it each day.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The way of death should expire
Went to my Uncle's funeral today. He was 94. Created some great things. But I realize the exit plan he created for himself is something of the past. Today it costs on average $7,000.00 for a funeral. The incredible burden of this cost on the living. The land mass we take up. And funerals ugh. It's like my mom said "See them before they die, avoid funerals."
There has to be a better way. For example if we have to have cemeteries my friend who is an architect, Steve Zagorski, came up with a beautiful pyramid tower type of tomb. It is composed of a series of levels that can be visited. In these levels are a series of blocks that either contain ashes or coffins. I know this sounds creepy. But his design was beautiful and functional. And the reason that all this sounds creepy is because the funeral industry is a dinosaur and currently creepy.
Today families are doing green burials, cremation and give your body to science for heaven's sake wait a minute for "life's sake" if it can help your fellow human do so. New ideas in this area need to be created. So you can honor someone's life yet not be killed twice. Once from the death and the other managing the cost of the death.
There has to be a better way. For example if we have to have cemeteries my friend who is an architect, Steve Zagorski, came up with a beautiful pyramid tower type of tomb. It is composed of a series of levels that can be visited. In these levels are a series of blocks that either contain ashes or coffins. I know this sounds creepy. But his design was beautiful and functional. And the reason that all this sounds creepy is because the funeral industry is a dinosaur and currently creepy.
Today families are doing green burials, cremation and give your body to science for heaven's sake wait a minute for "life's sake" if it can help your fellow human do so. New ideas in this area need to be created. So you can honor someone's life yet not be killed twice. Once from the death and the other managing the cost of the death.
Thundering herds in plain sight awaiting new shepherds
The secret to the future will be those who can help Shepherd us through the vast information that is relevant to our lives. Those Shepherds that can guide us through the dirt clod of information, to help us find what we need and not the pseudo shepherd with the stink of political affiliation. Recently I have gone on a news band, and wow what a blast of clarity.
I used to think I was on top of it all taking in the New York Times, Rush Limbaugh, Daily Show, a pinch of FOX news and even a bit of CNBC. What I realized was the agenda I was absorbing. What unearthly crap. There is only one agenda they hold in common. Serving up a fresh plate of Daily Fear. There are these news outlets blasting out fear right and left. Like standing within inches of a eardrum busting speaker at a U.T. Longhorn football game.
A friend showed me the Christian Science Monitor. Hey not bad. But still if there is news you need to know I believe you are going to receive it. Heck, a friend will you know. I use to pride myself on the intellectual intake from immediate news and now I have realized the wisdom from people I have met that are on a news black out and still read literature. Still pick up knowledge on science, the arts and how learn how people are moving forward.
A thundering herd of sheep are awaiting new shepherds on the internet who are not so biased. Yes everyone has their agenda, however the weeding out process is great one on the open internet. And even if Comcast or others try to crush free speech by trying to filter out free internet people will find a way. The genie and new oxygen is out of the bottle. Take a break from the herd and be your own Shepherd for the day. Make a list of what you think is cool news and let me know.
See ya on the next hill. I heard there is good grazing up there.
I used to think I was on top of it all taking in the New York Times, Rush Limbaugh, Daily Show, a pinch of FOX news and even a bit of CNBC. What I realized was the agenda I was absorbing. What unearthly crap. There is only one agenda they hold in common. Serving up a fresh plate of Daily Fear. There are these news outlets blasting out fear right and left. Like standing within inches of a eardrum busting speaker at a U.T. Longhorn football game.
A friend showed me the Christian Science Monitor. Hey not bad. But still if there is news you need to know I believe you are going to receive it. Heck, a friend will you know. I use to pride myself on the intellectual intake from immediate news and now I have realized the wisdom from people I have met that are on a news black out and still read literature. Still pick up knowledge on science, the arts and how learn how people are moving forward.
A thundering herd of sheep are awaiting new shepherds on the internet who are not so biased. Yes everyone has their agenda, however the weeding out process is great one on the open internet. And even if Comcast or others try to crush free speech by trying to filter out free internet people will find a way. The genie and new oxygen is out of the bottle. Take a break from the herd and be your own Shepherd for the day. Make a list of what you think is cool news and let me know.
See ya on the next hill. I heard there is good grazing up there.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Retiring the word "Seniors"
It is clear that Baby boomers are not going to stand for the old way of describing themselves. The word "baby boomer" and the word "senior" were created by a previous generation. The act of creating new terminology is revealing itself now. I have always peered out into the inky void of the future and felt that "when I get older things will be cooler".
In my 50's now I look at men and women who are in their 60's and beyond. Those individuals that defy description of their age.Physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually those older adults that defy the little story book picture of little old people.
If they have had a bit of plastic surgery without the physical smears of a rabid evangelist cosmetic surgeon or three cheers if they have not. It has been interesting to meet those individuals who know how to take care of their bodies through exercise, their minds through mediation and their bodies through steps like eating locally. Their ability to maintain the "curious" for their mental interests.
Most recently I met a 91 year old who worked on splitting the atom in the 1940's. You'd swear he was in his late 70's except from the limp he had from hip repair surgery. He had just drove up to his girlfriend's house, she's 83. And his girl friend seemed like a version of someone in their late 60's. The intellectual discussion that proceeded that evening with them and my girlfriend was like being in combination of a Ray Bradbury short story and new fangled Norman Rockwell painting. Mind bending. Not your typical boring get together chats. Wow. I said to them "I want to be like you when I grow up." Their reply was "We never grew up".
There's hope out there if you choose to take it. There's a strong future out there if you choose to see it. Yes, the word "Senior" sounds like a package ready for its expiration date. No there's a better word and I am on the hunt for it.
In my 50's now I look at men and women who are in their 60's and beyond. Those individuals that defy description of their age.Physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually those older adults that defy the little story book picture of little old people.
If they have had a bit of plastic surgery without the physical smears of a rabid evangelist cosmetic surgeon or three cheers if they have not. It has been interesting to meet those individuals who know how to take care of their bodies through exercise, their minds through mediation and their bodies through steps like eating locally. Their ability to maintain the "curious" for their mental interests.
Most recently I met a 91 year old who worked on splitting the atom in the 1940's. You'd swear he was in his late 70's except from the limp he had from hip repair surgery. He had just drove up to his girlfriend's house, she's 83. And his girl friend seemed like a version of someone in their late 60's. The intellectual discussion that proceeded that evening with them and my girlfriend was like being in combination of a Ray Bradbury short story and new fangled Norman Rockwell painting. Mind bending. Not your typical boring get together chats. Wow. I said to them "I want to be like you when I grow up." Their reply was "We never grew up".
There's hope out there if you choose to take it. There's a strong future out there if you choose to see it. Yes, the word "Senior" sounds like a package ready for its expiration date. No there's a better word and I am on the hunt for it.
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