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Aging Gracefully: My Neighbor
I have a wonderful neighbor whose name I don't even know, but each time our paths cross, he smiles broadly, asks how I am and I return the pleasantry. We live just two floors apart in an apartment building, but we've never been into each other's apartments, nor have we sat on the porch to just talk about nothing in particular.
From what I've seen, he's incredibly productive, goes shopping each day, cooks for himself and I've never seen him either grouchy or curt. I wish I could say the same for me. I am a grouch sometimes.
My neighbor also has an incredible talent - he repairs violins, cellos and violas. Small children go with their parents to his studio apartment where he listens thoughtfully to their playing and then offers some suggestions about the instrument or the tuning. In the warmer weather he leaves the door open so I've taken a peek or two.
I've never seen anyone approach that door with anything but a sense of reverence. It's almost as though they are approaching a very special place, a Mount Olympus on the East Coast of the United States.
He is so pleasant, so content and I would love to talk to him about his philosophy of life. When he's not repairing violins or giving small lessons, he hops on the bus to Manhattan and returns in the evening with a small bulging shopping bag. He never seems to find his osteoporosis bothersome, even though it makes him walk with his head somewhat down. His beret is always jauntily tilted on his head and he walks up the stairs rather than taking the elevator to his apartment.
What's so special about this man? He's around 80 and he never lets that get him down from my observation. There isn't a hint of dementia. If 60 is the new 40 for our President, I guess 80 is the new 35 for this man. Just goes to prove that we are only as old as we tell ourselves and that we are the ones who keep us from being active. I guess he learned that lesson eight decades ago when he was born in China long before any of us knew of Positive Psychology.
Related Topics: Aging Bonus: Increased Happiness, WebMD Video: Seniors Kick Butt with Kickboxing
Technorati Tags: age, aging, senior citizen
From what I've seen, he's incredibly productive, goes shopping each day, cooks for himself and I've never seen him either grouchy or curt. I wish I could say the same for me. I am a grouch sometimes.
My neighbor also has an incredible talent - he repairs violins, cellos and violas. Small children go with their parents to his studio apartment where he listens thoughtfully to their playing and then offers some suggestions about the instrument or the tuning. In the warmer weather he leaves the door open so I've taken a peek or two.
I've never seen anyone approach that door with anything but a sense of reverence. It's almost as though they are approaching a very special place, a Mount Olympus on the East Coast of the United States.
He is so pleasant, so content and I would love to talk to him about his philosophy of life. When he's not repairing violins or giving small lessons, he hops on the bus to Manhattan and returns in the evening with a small bulging shopping bag. He never seems to find his osteoporosis bothersome, even though it makes him walk with his head somewhat down. His beret is always jauntily tilted on his head and he walks up the stairs rather than taking the elevator to his apartment.
What's so special about this man? He's around 80 and he never lets that get him down from my observation. There isn't a hint of dementia. If 60 is the new 40 for our President, I guess 80 is the new 35 for this man. Just goes to prove that we are only as old as we tell ourselves and that we are the ones who keep us from being active. I guess he learned that lesson eight decades ago when he was born in China long before any of us knew of Positive Psychology.
Related Topics: Aging Bonus: Increased Happiness, WebMD Video: Seniors Kick Butt with Kickboxing
Technorati Tags: age, aging, senior citizen
