MOMENTSWITHMAUDE.COM

Welcome to my first blog!

I hope that you will join me in conversations on various topics of elderhood and you. There are three stages of life; childhood, adulthood, and elderhood. There are a whole array of issues and topics that do not get addressed directly for those of us who are privileged to be a part of the elderhood society. I’m in my seventies and enjoying a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual life.

This blog will provide an opportunity for you and me to become more informed on topics that can support and enhance the remainder of our elderhood years.

Were in our third chapter of life; having matriculated through childhood and adult life. We want to acquire as many tools as possible to thrive during this final chapter. I’m determined to bring those tools to you.

Recently I surveyed twenty of my associates, friends, and family who are living in the third chapter of their lives (Elderhood) and inquired about some of the benefits and blessings of elderhood. Below are some of their thoughts.

• You can wear bright colors and crazy eyeglasses and people smile
• You can tell your age...or not
• You can drive or use one of the driving services
• You can live in large settings or petite ones
• Enjoy circle of connected friendships
• Appreciate the gift of quiet time
• Enjoy peace and contentment
• Material things have less meaning
• Appreciation of relationships
• Engage in the joys of being a grandparent
• Experience the young adults as they move into productive members of society
• Acceptance is key to peace.

During my recent elderhood years, I’ve changed my eating habits through a spiritual program, which affords me the opportunity to eliminate flour, sugar and unhealthy portion sizes from my eating plan resulting in the elimination of all prescribed medications.

I’ve been educated that what I put in my body can poison it or heal. The changes have enhanced my physical well-being. As a result of the changes, I have lost thirty pounds and I’m no longer prescribed and ingesting medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. My A1C numbers, which measures blood sugar levels, have dropped significantly. The spiritual tools of meditation, prayer, and inspirational readings have transformed my overall outlook on life. Meditation quiets my brain; prayer and inspirational readings center me and help to eliminate the mental chatter by assisting me with eliminating negative thoughts and feelings by replacing them with thankful ones.

Friends, (Elderhood) is a time to celebrate who we are and appreciate the journey thus far. By the time we reach the third chapter of our lives, we’ve all experienced a host of trials and tribulations, which have enriched our lives and strengthened us. We all have stories that are filled with grace and wonder.

There are many topics that I will be including in my writings along this journey; such as:

• Self-care which can enhance our coping skills;
• Opportunities to explore life reviews;
• Loss and grief;
• Gratitude practice;
• Discussing aspects of spirituality and what that means for you;
• Discussing what keeps you going;
• Partnering with a family member or a friend for safety reasons, especially if you live alone as many of us do;
  
• Exploring what’s most important to you at this stage;
• Developing your goofy side.

I’ve been a reader since childhood and have enjoyed books to the point of acquiring thousands of books in my library, eBooks, and more recently audible books. I will be joyfully sharing tidbits of information from my readings on an array of topics that I think will be helpful to you my elderhood cohorts.

I continue to work part-time during my elderhood years because my work as a grief counselor and Sunday morning chaplain add richly to my life at this stage. As the firstborn of five siblings, I’m the only one who continues to work.

My siblings were shocked when I took an early retirement from employment that was not rewarding or fulfilling. I was motivated to reenter the classroom in my fifties to prepare for the work that I continue to engage in.

My two remaining siblings query me from time to time as to when I will disengage and fully retire. My answer is always, “ I will know when the time comes.” I’m grateful to be living during a time period when it is uncommon for many who are in their elderhood years to continue to work such as President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Morgan Freeman, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Several of the grief counselors with whom I work are also members of the elderhood society.
Elderhood is an exciting and fascinating time of life. Enjoy it to the fullest

• What’s important to you in Elderhood?
• What’s on your heart and mind?

Query: Did you know that sleep deprivation can contribute to falls in Elderhood?

Join me in discussions about various upcoming topics related to us in the Elderhood society.

Take good care.