I am ready for a little break on my trip down memory lane. Last evening I sent a thank you card to school and a condolence card to my childhood friend. Her father died. It would appear we are now the keepers of the keys, the keepers of the memories. How strange.
Then back to the basement for two hours! I found the sake cup Daddy brought back from the Pacific Theatre. Put clear liquid in it, and a beautiful girl appears at the bottom. Would you like a 1960’s pamphlet on building a bomb shelter? How about a Patty Playpal? She doesn’t have any arms now, but I have them in the next box. I am sure someone will be able to fix her.
So, yeah, I save ‘stuff’. Lots of good memories. I am fortunate. Remember reminiscing on good things in life can remind us we have a lot to build and draw upon when things are not great.
But hanging out in the basement and looking at the detritus of my youth is not the way I want to spend the next 30 years. (Didn’t know I intend to hang around until 95; did you?) It is time for a few new memories. New experiences are called for!
Huffington Post in a 2017 article by Larry Alton says a good reason to try new experiences is to help you get over the fear. Facing fears now is helpful. Even if you were not exaggerating the negative as we often do, facing fears lets us see how brave we can be. Might come in handy when it’s time for that eye shot.
Alton also says we need new experiences because it helps us know ourselves. It also stimulates our creativity. Lots of reasons.
And don’t think it all has to be some great, meaningful thing! How about engaging in some good, old-fashion play! Play, and especially something you don’t normally do, will improve your memory and thinking skills. It will also improve your emotional and social well-being.
What to do…what to do? GreatSeniorLiving printed a list of fun and activities for seniors. Some of the things they suggest are pickleball and frisbee tossing. Our Y has pickleball and there is a frisbee course in the park. I have never done either one.
Looking for something a little less active? They suggest fingerpainting and working with clay. When was the last time you played with play-doh? I cannot remember the last time but when I think of play-doh, the emotion is positive. Must have been fun!
And then there is storytelling. Which story should you tell? Your own, of course! I worked with a woman who was part of the Vietnam babylift in 1975. When she told her story to the kids at school, you could hear a pin drop. They were riveted. My guess is you have a story you could tell as well. Or maybe the story of someone not able to tell his story anymore.
…I found a picture of my father and my uncle in their Army uniforms. My uncle was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He was separated from his unit in the Ardennes forest…..
Written June 23rd, 2018
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