Golden Expressions of Joy
One of my favorite activities is facilitating writing workshops with independent residents of St. Leonard Senior Living Community. I’ve cultivated treasured relationships with my writing friends. We meet bi-weekly, and in advance of our meetings, I offer a writing prompt in hopes it will jumpstart a creative response. The prompts are varied. One week I asked them to describe what’s in their junk drawer. Another time I asked them to write about a memorable neighbor. When we gather, each person reads their essay. As you can imagine, every submission is as different as those who compose them. Our time together is full of shared delight.
My fellow writers constantly astonish me with their continued and varied ways they seek purpose and connection. I’m witness to the lessons they offer in how to live the golden years of life with an intentional pursuit of joy and fellowship. Moving into a retirement community requires adjustment. Giving up a family home or navigating a new life after the loss of a spouse pose unique challenges. Yet, my residents often share how they surprise themselves in ways never expected. They seek expansion and extension in the world. By contrast, I’ve known others who meet their golden years with little desire to seek inspiration. Daily routine becomes defined by the same view outside the same window or the same channel on the tv. It’s easy to become stuck in your ways. The older I get, I realize how easy it would be to settle into the lackluster of my proverbial recliner. This is not the case for my writing friends.
Take Alice, for example. Following the death of her husband, 76-year-old Alice decided to buy an RV camper. Some might have coiled with loss and loneliness, but Alice decided to bring her grief (and her dog, Cooper) with her outward by way of new roadmaps. Imagine such grit. Carol Ann repurposes flower arrangements from her church so she can deliver a bit of cheer to those she senses need a bit of uplifting. Penny writes about her how her French speaking skills are improving after attending French Class taught by fellow workshopper, Teresa. Paul, while tooling around in his golf cart, is known to sing, “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” every day. Talk about a great way to set your day!
We all know life thrusts upon us struggle and pain. Living well into age 70 and beyond almost guarantees survival through hardship or bombardment that threaten the ability to retain gladness. For all my writers, there have been challenging times. How could there not be? Yet, through their writings I witness the ability for their hearts to still sing despite it all.
I’ve come to love how my senior age writing friends continue to extend themselves into big life. Mary strives to keep a light heart. Penny reminds us “what you talk about you think about.” Her wisdom makes me reflect on what occupies my thoughts and words.
My friends continue to outstretch their arms as they welcome varied experiences, take advantage of community offerings, and perhaps most important, offer themselves for the benefit of others through various volunteer opportunities. These golden-aged friends are ambassadors for joy. They continue to call themselves by name as they engage in intentional living. I love spending time with them. Each time we meet, I am awed by their lessons in how to live with motivation and intention. For them, the quest for joy is a manifesto that feels fun and infectious. I may be their facilitator, but they are my teachers in how to keep a light heart at any age.
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash