Every year when May rolls around, a US Government Agency, Administration on Aging – a part of the Administration for Community Living, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services – tells us it is time to celebrate the fact that we are aging.

May’s 2018 theme is Engage at Every Age.

Celebrate AGING? You gotta be kidding! Some who are not enjoying various aspects of their own aging may think it strange to encouraged to celebrate it. Do you like to be reminded that you are “getting older” by others and your government? Our joints are starting to remind us. Our glasses or hearing aids might remind us. My balding head reminds me. Has it been awhile since your family gave up on actually having a candy for every year on your cake? Do you refer to you knees now as “good” or “bad” instead of “right” and “left”?

You get the picture … so what is there to celebrate?

Let’s go back to the government site on this. This year’s theme, Engage at Every Age, emphasizes that you are never too old to take part in activities that can enrich your physical, mental and emotional well-being. It also celebrates the many ways in which older adults make a difference in their communities.

Well, that doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

What does it really mean to Engage?

Do stuff with other people. It’s pretty simple. Our connectedness with other people will help us live longer and richer lives. We can participate in activities like those you can find here at Shipley Center, where our theme is “Friendship * Recreation * Education”. “Friendship” is first because having others to enjoy things with can enhanced the recreational and educational benefits of what we do. Sure, there are times to be alone – at home reading, thinking, enjoying TV or solitaire or a hobby – but human beings are, at their core, social creatures!

Come out and play! Make time to Engage with others here at Shipley Center! Maybe you already have lots of friends – that’s great … bring them with you! Enjoy lunch in The Cafe together or take a class. Someone you meet in an activity or at a social event may have few friends, and you could brighten their day by speaking a kind word and getting acquainted. It is up to you and your personality type, of course, but stretch yourself to find something new to do and someone new to meet now and then. (I even know of a few cases of new love being found here at the Center, so don’t rule that possibility out!)

So, a few closing thoughts on aging and engaging:

• If you sit in a rocking chair and can’t get it started, or it takes you two tries to get up off the couch, you might want to check out one of our exercise classes.
• If your knees buckle and your belt won’t, same thing – exercise classes.
• Is your problem that your favorite part of the newspaper is “20 Years Ago Today” and you know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions? Come play Jeopardy! with us and put all that stuff you know and remember to use! (2nd Tuesday @ 3:00pm.)

The bottom line is: we are having fun by Engaging at any Age here at Shipley Center and want YOU to join in.

Thanks for your participation and support!

– Michael