On our aging bodies and a shared belonging (BY BARB)

 

"Our true well being depends not on our wealth or technological sophistication but, rather, on our degree of shared belonging....." *

This quote came to mind as I reflected on how we are all aging, trying to manage the aches, pains and therapies that our aging body (and those other partner bodies that we love) presents us with.   This is not to say that we are a decrepit bunch! Far from it. From our travels to our races; from our physical fitness routines to our intellectual engagements, and from our passionate discussions to the families that we love and support. We fight the good fight with our bodies that sometimes seem to betray us, and try to come to terms with the realization that this is indeed, probably a new normal. 

This new normal is met with a certain amount of stubbornness and attitude.  Whether it's battling a systemic bias against "seniors"; a pesky problem that keeps rearing its ugly head, or a new illness completely out of the blue - we are all connected by a resolve, and even I may say, a positivity that is underpinned by the "shared belonging" that our group provides so easily and profoundly.  

And along with this, is a sense of hope and optimism that we all lean into when we are side swiped if not blindsided by what is happening to our bodies.  (What's happening to our brains is a topic for another day....).  We often say that we derive comfort in knowing that we are not alone- the aging process does not discriminate - and we can commiserate knowing that in the end we rarely get a free pass.

But in the meantime, we will put one foot in front of the other, smile, laugh, share stories and welcome another new life.  We delight in the coming of spring (especially the certainty of it!)  engage in our challenging, if not a bit darker world, support each other and continue to cherish our shared belonging 

* From "On Belonging:  Finding Connection in an Age of Isolation" by Canadian author Kim Samuel.

Spring Has Sprung A Leak! (BY SHIRLEY)

 

I was looking forward to the Spring Run-off this Saturday. Now with the uncertainty of the weather I am feeling a little meh.  Today was a beautiful sunny day.  Tomorrow is another day.  I have decided to not let the weather dictate my mood.  I am reading The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. Her philosophy is that you can only control how you choose to react to a given situation.  You may not be able to control your environment, but you can make a choice on how you will handle it.  

I will be wearing my rain gear Saturday and enjoy the race.  Sharing the experience with my fellow participants as I fulfill my role as Back of the Pack.  Being sure to thank all the other volunteers who will brave the weather to make the event a success.

Come and join us.

COMMUNITY (BY PHILIPPA)

 One of the saddest things I heard about a few weeks ago, was the death of actor Gene
Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. What really struck me was the obvious isolation
and loneliness they were experiencing behind the walls of their gated community. How
could it be that no one, not a family member (Hackman had grown children) or a friendly
neighbour knew of their circumstances when alive? How could they have only been
discovered long after death by their scheduled maintenance workers? Sometimes I
think the nuclear family is not all it’s cracked up to be.
As our walking group ages, I know that each of us has begun planning how best to live
out our remaining years. Some of us want to “age in place” and are setting up a more
manageable space to live in. Others are planning to enter a residence where their
future needs can be met or perhaps, they are thinking of moving to a simpler space to
own or to rent. Still others may be thinking of joining children in multigenerational living.
Whatever the choices made, one thing remains of upper most importance and that is:
our community. No matter what our individual circumstance, we are interconnected with
each other as we walk together, in rain and in shine, and I like to think that not one of us is ever truly alone.

St. Patricks's Day - Is It Really Irish?

 Well, it is and it isn't.  Certainly, St Patrick was considered Irish, although he was an immigrant from Britain sometime around 450. He was named Ireland's patron saint long afterward and his feast day was established in 1631.  Still later, his feast day became a break in Lent (which is a very long period of abstinence!)

But the celebration we now know was developed by Irish immigrants to New York and Boston and embellished even further in Chicago. It was a way to maintain their identity and solidarity. By the 1900's Americans were wearing green, eating corned beef and cabbage, and holding huge parades.  It wasn't till 1904 that Ireland named it a holiday, following their American cousins.

So why the green clothes?  Green was the colour of the flag of the Great Irish rebellion against Britain in 1641. And why is the meal of the day corned beef and cabbage?  Immigrants to New York found corned beef a cheaper alternative to the traditional salt pork and cabbage is always a cheap veg.  And the parades are a sign of the solidarity of the immigrants. 

Oh! and the Illinois EPA says that the green stuff that gets poured into the Chicago River on this day is a non-toxic vegetable dye.  SLAINTE!

 

International Women’s Day (BY DANIELLE)

 

On March 8 we celebrate International Women’s Day. Don’t tell anyone, but it was celebrated by Lenin in 1922 to honour women who had been an instrumental part of the 1917 Russian Revolution. The day left the socialist/communist sphere and went mainstream in 1977 when the UN declared it an International Day.

 Historically, this day had a number of purposes. It was a day to march and call for women’s rights, specifically the right to vote; a day to celebrate the many achievements of women – and a day to call for the end of war. Some things just don’t get old.

As a group of strong and thoughtful women, TPW has much to celebrate. Not only have our members accomplished a great deal in their wide and varied working lives, we also continue to make significant contributions to the world around us. Did a know-nothing politician indicate that a certain African country was unimportant because no one knew of its existence? Well, a TPW member has been involved in a successful education program for girls in that country. And now more of us know what is happening in that part of the world. Are you interested in an art project, a new sport, a good book to read or film to see, or in finding someone who can repair something that broke? Or do you need to express your concerns about what is happening in the world today? We are here for one another, and we are here as women who make a difference. We may look like people going for a walk in the morning, but watch out. TPW walkers have each other’s backs and are not to be underestimated. Elbows are UP!