The Parable of the Trapeze – Senior Living Insights

January 21, 2009

Turning the Fear of Transformation into the Transformation of Fear
by Danaan Parry

Sometimes I feel that my life is a series of trapeze swings. I’m either
hanging on to a trapeze bar swinging along or, for a few moments in my
life, I’m hurtling across space in between trapeze bars.

Most of the time, I spend my life hanging on for dear life to my
trapeze-bar-of-the-moment. It carries me along at a certain steady rate of
swing and I have the feeling that I’m in control of my life.

I know most of the right questions and even some of the answers.

But every once in a while as I’m merrily (or even not-so-merrily) swinging
along, I look out ahead of me into the distance and what do I see? I see
another trapeze bar swinging toward me. It’s empty and I know, in that
place in me that knows, that this new trapeze bar has my name on it. It is
my next step, my growth, my aliveness coming to get me. In my heart of
hearts I know that, for me to grow, I must release my grip on this
present, well-known bar and move to the new one.

Each time it happens to me I hope (no, I pray) that I won’t have to let go
of my old bar completely before I grab the new one. But in my knowing
place, I know that I must totally release my grasp on my old bar and, for
some moment in time, I must hurtle across space before I can grab onto the
new bar.

Each time, I am filled with terror. It doesn’t matter that in all my
previous hurtles across the void of unknowing I have always made it. I am
each time afraid that I will miss, that I will be crushed on unseen rocks
in the bottomless chasm between bars. I do it anyway. Perhaps this is the
essence of what the mystics call the faith experience. No guarantees, no
net, no insurance policy, but you do it anyway because somehow to keep
hanging on to that old bar is no longer on the list of alternatives. So,
for an eternity that can last a microsecond or a thousand lifetimes, I
soar across the dark void of “the past is gone, the future is not yet
here.”

It’s called “transition.” I have come to believe that this transition is
the only place that real change occurs. I mean real change, not the
pseudo-change that only lasts until the next time my old buttons get
punched.

I have noticed that, in our culture, this transition zone is looked upon
as a “no-thing,” a noplace between places. Sure, the old trapeze bar was
real, and that new one coming towards me, I hope that’s real, too. But the
void in between? Is that just a scary, confusing, disorienting nowhere
that must be gotten through as fast and as unconsciously as possible?

NO! What a wasted opportunity that would be. I have a sneaking suspicion
that the transition zone is the only real thing and the bars are illusions
we dream up to avoid the void where the real change, the real growth,
occurs for us. Whether or not my hunch is true, it remains that the
transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places. They should be
honored, even savored. Yes, with all the pain and fear and feelings of
being out of control that can (but not necessarily) accompany transitions,
they are still the most alive, most growth-filled, passionate, expansive
moments in our lives.

We cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose
sight of the shore. Anonymous

So, transformation of fear may have nothing to do with making fear go
away, but rather with giving ourselves permission to “hang out” in the
transition between trapezes. Transforming our need to grab that new bar,
any bar, is allowing ourselves to dwell in the only place where change
really happens. It can be terrifying. It can also be enlightening in the
true sense of the word. Hurtling through the void, we just may learn how
to fly.

A Love Letter – Senior Living

January 6, 2009

A LOVE LETTER

 

By Ruby MacDonald – Senior Living Insights

Hello. How are you?

 

I just had to send you this letter to tell you how much I love you and care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were walking with your friends. I waited all day, hoping you would walk and talk with me also. As evening drew near, I gave you a sunset to close your day, and a cool breeze to rest you. Then I waited, but you never came. O yes, it hurt me, but I still love you because I am your friend.

 

I saw you fall asleep last night, and I longed to touch your brow, so I spilled moonlight upon your pillow and your face…Again, I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. I have so many gifts for you.

 

You awakened late this morning and rushed off for the day. My tears were in the rain. Today you looked so sad, so alone. It makes my heart ache because I understand. My friends let me down and hurt me many times, but I love you. I try to tell you in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves and trees, and breathe it in the color of the flowers. I shout it to you in the mountain streams, and give the birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air. My love for you is deeper than the oceans and bigger than the biggest want or need you could ever have.

 

We will spend eternity together in heaven. I know how hard it is on earth. I really know, because I was there, and I want to help you. My Father wants to help you, too. He’s that way, you know. Just call me, ask me, talk to me. It is your decision . . .

 

 I have chosen you, and because of this I will wait  . . . 

Because I love you.

 

Your friend, ___________________(please insert the deity of your choice)

 

This writing by Harry D. Cup of Orland, Fl., was found in the Bible of Tom MacDonald’s mother, Carolyn, who some of you may remember when she lived at Chateau I.

“You gotta live every day like it’s your last because one day you’ll be right.” – Senior Living Insights

December 6, 2008

“You gotta live every day like it’s your last because one day you’ll be right.” Frank Sinatra

Senior Living Insights

 

By: Ruby MacDonald

 

While Tom and I, Tim and Suz and friends were moored off the New Zealand coast one evening, listening to my all time favorite, Frank Sinatra singing many of his popular hits, we made a point of listening carefully to the lyrics. We found that they contained some pretty wonderful messages for our lives that triggered a lively discussion. Ole Blue Eyes may be gone but his spirit certainly is alive in our daily lives through his music.  As you read these words, think about them and what they either do or can mean to you personally.

 

IF YOU’RE YOUNG AT HEART

Fairy tales can come true

It can happen to you

If you’re young at heart

For its hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind

If you’re young at heart

 

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes

You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams

And life gets more exciting with each passing day

And love is either in your heart or on its way

 

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth

To be young at heart

For as rich as you are its much better by far

To be young at heart

 

And if you should survive to 105

Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive

Then here is the best part

You have a head start

If you are among the very young at heart. – (Music:Joseph Myrow, Lyrics: Mack Gordon 1946)

 

We asked everyone aboard what they thought it meant to be “young at heart” and thus this month’s column was born.

 

First of all, let’s begin by discussing what it means when we don’t stay young at heart:  All too often we focus on the number of years we’ve lived and give the number permission to dominate our lives, either by mimicking aging role models, or living by preconceived ideas about aging that society has handed to us.  It’s easy to forget that times change and today we are far younger than our parents were in their aging years.  If we do focus on the number of years we’ve lived, too often we use our age as an excuse to get stuck in one time zone and live in the past. Or we think we’re much too old to do certain things such as dressing more youthfully, trying a new hair style and since we’re simply afraid to try new things, we limit/deprive ourselves of being young at heart. We stop dreaming. We get stuck. Fairy tales fade away.

 

“For its hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind, If you’re young at heart”

 

On the other hand, those who remain young at heart seldom use their age as an excuse. If anything, they use their age as a springboard because they know it’s now or never and they’d better get with the program if they’re going to have fairy tales come true. They live each day to the fullest—as though it’s the last, as ole Blue Eyes said.

 

Those who are young at heart are not afraid to risk doing something new and different, whether it is a new card game, traveling to an unfamiliar place, or ordering something new on the menu. Or perhaps it’s a new trendy hairstyle, or daring to have our hair colored (men and women), or wearing a bright new color that makes us look alive and ready to explore life.

 

To be young at heart is to be limitless – that is, there are no limits set, no boundaries to which you will not cross because of fear, or risk, or age.

 

The young at heart feel ageless. They don’t look in the mirror and concentrate on the road map that has planted itself on their faces. They are proud of their wrinkles, knowing they’ve worked darned hard to earn them. Instead they look in the mirror and see a face that has sparkling eyes, smile lines, and a mind filled with positive attitudes that nourish a sense of enduring adventure. They still buy green bananas.

 

The young at heart are timeless. They don’t make plans according to the number of years they’ve lived. Their time-line is open. They can bend. They are open-ended to new ideas as the times change, and know that change is what life on this planet is all about.

 

The young at heart aren’t afraid to dream. They set realistic goals and watch them come true, one at a time. They know that they must have something to look forward to each day, something that is filled with hope for tomorrow. It may be as small as knitting a scarf for someone, or as large as taking a trip to a place they’ve always wanted to see on the other side of the world, or in the next town, or in the garden. There are no size restrictions to dreams and we can have any kind and as many as we want. So what are you waiting for?

 

Fairy tales can come true. It can happen to you – if you’re young at heart.

 

 

Senior Living Insight by Ruby MacDonald 

 

 

 

WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR LET THERE BE HOPE – Senior Living Insight

December 4, 2008

Senior Living Insight – WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR LET THERE BE HOPE  St Francis/Assisi    

 

By Ruby MacDonald

Several times I have related that a thought is the first step in creating both the healthy and unhealthy emotions we live with. It takes but a simple persistent negative thought to lead to despair. Dr. Wayne Dyer, author of There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, says, “Despair is an attitude, experienced in the mind. It is a way of looking at a life situation and feeling hopeless.” He adds that there actually is no despair in the world. You cannot bring home a bucket full of despair; there are only people thinking despairing thoughts. “Despair itself is a mental process that sizes up and views a situation as awful,” says Dr. Dyer. Once we see despair as a mental attitude, we can remedy it by beginning the process of bringing the hope that will dissolve the attitude of suffering. Hope is also a thought. Hope is a vision. Despair is darkness. Hope is light. Hope is on the higher end of the energy scale that brings health and happiness; despair and gloom is on the lower end of the energy scale that makes us vulnerable to illness and depression. It clouds our thinking. We cannot see in the darkness.

 

In order to cope with despair, we must learn to stand back and in affect, detach ourselves from what is happening, or take on the attitude of the observer so that you can “look in and see the despair” as though you are another person seeing you. This detachment gives us the power to change our thought pattern to create hope and a higher level of energy. The higher the level of energy we can create, the easier it is to find the spiritual solution to our problems since God is peace, hope and love.

 

As we grow older, often the optimism we held about life turns to despair for many reasons. Loneliness, illness, grief, and more, can overwhelm us.   Gloom and despair may come from our attachment to the feelings that life is unfair, or we blame others for our sorrows, or we feel we are not understood. These equate to self-pity and self-loathing. “Despair allows the sufferer to suffer in comfort”, says Dr. Dyer. Often we despair over what or who is missing in our lives. We have been conditioned to think, “I am what I have, what I do, and what others think of me.” Yet if we listen, God’s voice will whisper that none of these things bring happiness. If we listen we may even hear Him say, “I am your only source of peace. I am the spiritual solution to all your problems related to attachments.”

     To bring light to darkness, practice doing the following every day: 1) Refuse to dwell on thoughts about the problems in your life but rather on all there is to be grateful for even if it is one tiny thing. In time your list of blessings will become more evident. 2) Practice being an appreciator of beauty; strive to see the beauty in everyone and everything. 3) Read about those who have overcome darkness in their lives such as Helen Keller & Christopher Reeves.  4) Send out thoughts of love to those around you and immediately replace thoughts of resentment/disturbance/criticalness, with love. 5) Keep your thoughts centered on light and what you want, rather than on dark and what you don’t want; visualize your body as well and whole, do not reinforce any illness by thinking about it or discussing it habitually.  6) Go outside into the day light when thoughts of darkness overtake you since light dissolves darkness. 7) Practice purification by drinking pure water, eating pure foods, and keeping your thoughts pure. 8) Repeat to yourself daily the following:

AS I THINK SO SHALL I BE

 Senior Living Insights by Ruby MacDonald

 

 

Where did all the fun go? – Senior Living Insights

November 26, 2008

Where did all the fun go?

by Ruby MacDonald
Senior Living Insights

“In the true person, there is a child concealed who wants to come out and play – Nietzsche

When was the last time you had any fun?
It seems that kids are always having fun, no matter what they do, or where they are. They overflow with energy as though they are about to explode with it.  But as they grow older, day by day, year by year, the ability to have fun seems to decrease and for some adults, to completely disappear from their lives.  What happened to this all-important part of life?

Usually responsibility takes over. It makes us serious and so goal oriented that we forget what living really means..  Making a living – a necessity. A few enjoy the process while many others  have no options but to work at jobs they do not enjoy   In either case,  we still need to make time to have fun.

Fun serves many purposes. For kids, it teaches social and new skills, confidence, and creates laughter. It is a carefree time. Adults need  play so that they can relax, enjoy interaction with people and expand their horizons. Everyone needs laughter.

Many people think they are playing when they are competing. When in fact they are creating stress for themselves. So playing to win doesn’t quality as fun.  True playing doesn’t involve trying to impress or please other people; it isn’t measured by results, production or external rewards.  True fun is pure enjoyment that allows us to be totally present in the moment, and it includes moments of laughter, a good belly laugh. Here are a few quotes to ponder:
Laugh longer – live louder” -  “The purpose of fun is to have it.” -  “In the beginning, it was fun.” “A playful path is the shortest road to happiness.”  And one I especially like is: “For every Way there’s a Way of following that Way that’s fun.” Try the following to add more spice to your life.

Think of play as enjoying the simple things that give you instant emotional rewards.
Try new things to push your limits that are fun.
Allow your imagination to flow freely
Be anything and everything you dream of such  as a ballerina, an artist, etc. if only for a day or in your imagination
Engage with nature and its creatures
Be silly, playful, spontaneous and curious
Go to the senior center and sign up for a fun trip
Participate in a new activity that you haven’t tried before right where you live.
Try painting if you’ve always wanted to be an artist.- you don’t have to paint a perfect picture, all that is required is that you have fun and enjoy the process.
Read something you can completely get lost in.
Laugh – do something that makes you laugh.
Listen to music
Plant something or buy a new plant to enjoy.
Notice new things as you walk down the same streets
Watch a funny movie
And lastly, keep a daily journal and before retiring list one thing for which you are grateful;  one way you had fun and how many times you laughed..

“You can’t ever just sit back and let things happen. Never give in…Never, never think about your age, and keep occupied until the end.” – Mary Martin

Senior Living Insights By Ruby MacDonald

Is there really a secret to the secret or is the secret no secret at all? Senior Living Insights

November 21, 2008

empowered living – senior Living Insights

Is there really a secret to the secret or is the secret no secret at all?

By Ruby MacDonald

“A person who sets his/her mind on the dark side of life, who lives over and over the misfortunes and disappointments of the past, prays for similar misfortunes and disappointments in the future. If you will see nothing but ill luck in the future, you are praying for such ill luck and will surely get it.” – Prentice Mulford

This is the last in a series of three regarding this subject. As I’ve talked with various retiree’s about using this technique for changing our lives and getting what we really want, I am asked the same question many times:  “But don’t we have to take responsibility and do something besides ask, believe, and wait for it to come to us?”

The answer is YES, you must participate.  It takes more than asking and waiting. You must participate with your whole mind, body and soul. Don’t expect the universe to dump a million silver dollars in your lap simply because you asked. If it is realistic for YOU, it may come after you’ve asked, if you’ve made an effort to enter all the doors of opportunity that the asking has provided for you.

One of the other questions I’m asked is about age. Many people think that their age is a barrier to using these principles, but let me assure you that there is no age limit – it is only each of us who set those limits.  So now let’s go to work. I’ll explain how to use the principles in the book, The Secret, and in other motivational wisdom books such as those written by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Carolyn Myss, and many others.  Basically, only the words are different, the message is the same. The message is about THE LAW OF ATTRACTION – OR

— I attract what I think about all day long — Senior Living Insights

I know a man who is always pinching pennies, is always saying he can’t afford to do what his peers are doing, is always worried about where the next check is coming from – and when he speaks, he mostly comes from a negative place.  I ATTRACT WHAT I THINK ABOUT –. Yes, you got it. As you know, when you come from a negative place, the mind only hears negativity and works to produce more of what “we think about,” even though we may say we don’t like the cards we’ve been dealt.  But in reality we are creating that negative environment by our thoughts and words.  Do you remember hearing, “Change yourself and you change your universe?”

We can certainly apply the law of attraction to health. If we focus on our aches and pains (and who amongst us doesn’t have any?) our pains will increase, and we will talk more about them and they will get even worse. It’s not to say that we should ignore whatever is going on in our bodies; we need to take care of the problems with medication, exercise or whatever has been suggested or prescribed, but we don’t need to tell the world about it repeatedly, and keep complaining about the pain because that serves to reinforce the illness and produce more. Focusing on something positive opens the door to joy and happiness even though the pain is a companion.

Owen Waters, author of “The Shift: The revolution in human consciousness,” says “The state of regular, conscious thinking often contains self-limiting filters like skepticism, fears, or a lack of self-esteem.”  Sometimes we must work hard to break those habits of thought and change them to a positive way of looking at life, no matter what our circumstances may be. We may have pain or handicaps for the rest of our lives, but we must find some way to see life in a positive way so that we can live with joy instead of becoming bitter about life and hard to live with.

Abraham/Hicks say, “ You can get anywhere you want to be from wherever you now are. There is no place that you are that is too far from where you want to be. (There are no exceptions.) Just go there little by little, as you deliberately feel a little better now, and little better now. “

In reality, there are no secrets in life – just common sense. The laws of the universe apply. Plant weeds and weeds will grow. Plant beautiful flowers and you’ll have a joyful burst of color. I’d rather attract a bouquet of fragrant carnations, wouldn’t you?

“I AM WHAT I THINK ABOUT ALL DAY LONG“

Senior Living Insights

http://www.seniorlivingsolutions.com

WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR LET THERE BE HOPE – Senior Living Insight

November 20, 2008

WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR LET THERE BE HOPE  St Francis/Assisi     Aug 06

By Ruby MacDonald

Several times I have related that a thought is the first step in creating both the healthy and unhealthy emotions we live with. It takes but a simple persistent negative thought to lead to despair. Dr. Wayne Dyer, author of There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, says, “Despair is an attitude, experienced in the mind. It is a way of looking at a life situation and feeling hopeless.” He adds that there actually is no despair in the world. You cannot bring home a bucket full of despair; there are only people thinking despairing thoughts. “Despair itself is a mental process that sizes up and views a situation as awful,” says Dr. Dyer. Once we see despair as a mental attitude, we can remedy it by beginning the process of bringing the hope that will dissolve the attitude of suffering. Hope is also a thought. Hope is a vision. Despair is darkness. Hope is light. Hope is on the higher end of the energy scale that brings health and happiness; despair and gloom is on the lower end of the energy scale that makes us vulnerable to illness and depression. It clouds our thinking. We cannot see in the darkness.

In order to cope with despair, we must learn to stand back and in affect, detach ourselves from what is happening, or take on the attitude of the observer so that you can “look in and see the despair” as though you are another person seeing you. This detachment gives us the power to change our thought pattern to create hope and a higher level of energy. The higher the level of energy we can create, the easier it is to find the spiritual solution to our problems since God is peace, hope and love.

As we grow older, often the optimism we held about life turns to despair for many reasons. Loneliness, illness, grief, and more, can overwhelm us.   Gloom and despair may come from our attachment to the feelings that life is unfair, or we blame others for our sorrows, or we feel we are not understood. These equate to self-pity and self-loathing. “Despair allows the sufferer to suffer in comfort”, says Dr. Dyer. Often we despair over what or who is missing in our lives. We have been conditioned to think, “I am what I have, what I do, and what others think of me.” Yet if we listen, God’s voice will whisper that none of these things bring happiness. If we listen we may even hear Him say, “I am your only source of peace. I am the spiritual solution to all your problems related to attachments.”
To bring light to darkness, practice doing the following every day: 1) Refuse to dwell on thoughts about the problems in your life but rather on all there is to be grateful for even if it is one tiny thing. In time your list of blessings will become more evident. 2) Practice being an appreciator of beauty; strive to see the beauty in everyone and everything. 3) Read about those who have overcome darkness in their lives such as Helen Keller & Christopher Reeves.  4) Send out thoughts of love to those around you and immediately replace thoughts of resentment/disturbance/criticalness, with love. 5) Keep your thoughts centered on light and what you want, rather than on dark and what you don’t want; visualize your body as well and whole, do not reinforce any illness by thinking about it or discussing it habitually.  6) Go outside into the day light when thoughts of darkness overtake you since light dissolves darkness. 7) Practice purification by drinking pure water, eating pure foods, and keeping your thoughts pure. Repeat to yourself daily the following:
AS I THINK
SO SHALL I BE

Senior Living Insights by Ruby MacDonald

“You gotta live every day like it’s your last” -Frank Sinatra – Senior Living Insights

November 17, 2008

“You gotta live every day like it’s your last because one day you’ll be right.” Frank Sinatra

While Tom and I, Tim and Suz and friends were moored off the New Zealand coast one evening, listening to my all time favorite, Frank Sinatra singing many of his popular hits, we made a point of listening carefully to the lyrics. We found that they contained some pretty wonderful messages for our lives that triggered a lively discussion. Ole Blue Eyes may be gone but his spirit certainly is alive in our daily lives through his music.  As you read these words, think about them and what they either do or can mean to you personally.

IF YOU’RE YOUNG AT HEART
Fairy tales can come true
It can happen to you
If you’re young at heart
For its hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you’re young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams
And life gets more exciting with each passing day
And love is either in your heart or on its way

Don’t you know that it’s worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are its much better by far
To be young at heart

And if you should survive to 105
Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive
Then here is the best part
You have a head start
If you are among the very young at heart. – (Music:Joseph Myrow, Lyrics: Mack Gordon 1946)

We asked everyone aboard what they thought it meant to be “young at heart” and thus this month’s column was born.

First of all, let’s begin by discussing what it means when we don’t stay young at heart:  All too often we focus on the number of years we’ve lived and give the number permission to dominate our lives, either by mimicking aging role models, or living by preconceived ideas about aging that society has handed to us.  It’s easy to forget that times change and today we are far younger than our parents were in their aging years.  If we do focus on the number of years we’ve lived, too often we use our age as an excuse to get stuck in one time zone and live in the past. Or we think we’re much too old to do certain things such as dressing more youthfully, trying a new hair style and since we’re simply afraid to try new things, we limit/deprive ourselves of being young at heart. We stop dreaming. We get stuck. Fairy tales fade away.

“For its hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind, If you’re young at heart”

On the other hand, those who remain young at heart seldom use their age as an excuse. If anything, they use their age as a springboard because they know it’s now or never and they’d better get with the program if they’re going to have fairy tales come true. They live each day to the fullest—as though it’s the last, as ole Blue Eyes said.

Those who are young at heart are not afraid to risk doing something new and different, whether it is a new card game, traveling to an unfamiliar place, or ordering something new on the menu. Or perhaps it’s a new trendy hairstyle, or daring to have our hair colored (men and women), or wearing a bright new color that makes us look alive and ready to explore life.

To be young at heart is to be limitless – that is, there are no limits set, no boundaries to which you will not cross because of fear, or risk, or age.

The young at heart feel ageless. They don’t look in the mirror and concentrate on the road map that has planted itself on their faces. They are proud of their wrinkles, knowing they’ve worked darned hard to earn them. Instead they look in the mirror and see a face that has sparkling eyes, smile lines, and a mind filled with positive attitudes that nourish a sense of enduring adventure. They still buy green bananas.

The young at heart are timeless. They don’t make plans according to the number of years they’ve lived. Their time-line is open. They can bend. They are open-ended to new ideas as the times change, and know that change is what life on this planet is all about.

The young at heart aren’t afraid to dream. They set realistic goals and watch them come true, one at a time. They know that they must have something to look forward to each day, something that is filled with hope for tomorrow. It may be as small as knitting a scarf for someone, or as large as taking a trip to a place they’ve always wanted to see on the other side of the world, or in the next town, or in the garden. There are no size restrictions to dreams and we can have any kind and as many as we want. So what are you waiting for?

Fairy tales can come true. It can happen to you – if you’re young at heart.

Newly Revamped Agenda Offers Senior Citizens the Retirement Cruise of their Lives Without Having to Set Sail

November 10, 2008

The recently bolstered activity schedule at the Chateau Senior Living Community proves that life’s Golden Years really do happen in retirement.  With new activities like art, dance and tai chi classes, retirees can experience life aboard an exciting and luxurious cruise ship, and all while on land.

(PRWEB) November 10, 2008 – Designed to give seniors the ultimate luxury retirement experience, Chateau Senior Community has added an array of new classes and activities to its active cruise boat-like events lineup.  The unique retirement community prides itself in offering an opulent, entertaining atmosphere as found onboard Royal Caribbean Cruise line ships, but tailored specifically for retired seniors.

In the midst of their gourmet food menus, fun activities, spa services, shows and cocktail hours, the Chateau Senior Community found a way to give their residents even more to celebrate.  Original and new events, meant to inspire exuberance, have been introduced to an already diverse regiment.  Senior tai chi classes, chair dancing, live theater (music and dance troops), art classes, cruises on the San Francisco Bay, senior dances, monthly gourmet fine dining brunches, a New Life Senior Forum, and much more are now available to community residents.   Seniors can even take part in new Conductorcise classes, where members get to exercise while simulating conducting a large symphony orchestra. 

Assisted living for seniors doesn’t have to be monotonous or dull; in addition to the new listing of activity options, each of the Chateau Senior Living Communities, the managers individually teach a special interest class every week in order to bond with residents on a deeper, more personal level.  Seniors are welcome to join their friends and peers in scrapbooking class, news and politics forums, old stories group, The Sunshine Gang which visits residents in the hospital, the Good Cooks network, hymn sing, Bible study, computer skills, balance and fitness class.

Created more than 20 years ago by owner Tom MacDonald, the unique Pleasant Hills, California-based Chateau Senior Community was born out of a desire to make the “sunset years” of our lives memorable and fun. 

“I was looking at possible retirement solutions for my mother,” MacDonald says. “Developing a cruise boat-like experience on land was my goal, but what was more important was pairing the fun of cruise boat living with reliable senior care services that my mother and other aging adults would need.”

The result became today’s fun-filled and trustworthy Chateau Senior Community, a place that MacDonald is confident when he leaves for the night, his residents are well taken care of.  “Not just three meals a day,” he says, “but housekeeping, laundry, doctor, shuttles, and even medication management if needed.”

With all the new and exciting courses and activities onboard at the Chateau Senior Community, it’s no wonder some residents have chosen to stay for more than 19 years. “If there’s a time to get pampered, it is when you’ve become a senior,” MacDonald says. “When you’re done working hard and raising a family and are finally ready to take care of yourself, we are here for you.”

For more information on the Chateau Senior Community, please visit www.TheInsideReality.com or call 877-468-9773.

About the Chateau Senior Community:

Since Chateau Senior Community was founded in 1986, MacDonald has become a true pioneer in the senior assisted living cruise concept.  “The Fall Prevention Program,” “Diabetes Management Program” and other community award winning programs promote wellness and prevention awareness about senior citizens.  MacDonald says that he and his team are always striving for the next thing, the new approach to living longer and living healthier.

Media contact: Francesca MacDonald

Phone: 877-468-9773

EMPOWERED SENIOR LIVING

November 6, 2008

 “BECAUSE I CAN”  

By: Ruby MacDonald

Recently our daughter Shannon moved to this area from Bend, Oregon.  I watched as the movers unloaded all of their “treasures” from the large moving van into the house. I became fascinated with one of the movers as I watched him work. It was obvious he wasn’t a kid, but he was lean and muscular and worked harder than the eighteen year old mover. Curious, I asked the 75 year old man who was checking off the items if he knew the man’s age. He shook his head and then shouted over, “Hey, Jim, how old are ya’?”

“Eighty-two” Jim replied as he kept working.  My other daughter, Deb asked, “Why are you doing this kind of hard work?”  His reply was the stimulus for this article.  “BECAUSE I CAN,” Jim replied with pride, “Keeps me moving and healthy.”  He kept walking towards the van as he talked to us.

I know a lovely lady who is in her late 90’s who also lives that philosophy. She has created and still turns out beautiful raku pottery, lives in an upstairs condo and remains an independent woman.  BECAUSE I CAN!

Perhaps some of you remember the artist known as “Grandma Moses” who became famous for her country scenes and earned the title of “Grandma” because she was in her eighties when she began painting. BECAUSE I CAN!

On the dark side of aging, I once knew a perfectly healthy, strong woman, who at the age of 55, proclaimed herself “old” and took to her rocking chair. She rocked away each year of her life only to become a grouchy, lonely old woman who lived to be 101, and no one wanted to be around.  I am thankful that I knew this woman – for she has been my inspiration to remain youthful in my attitudes and lifestyle and to remember that AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER that tells us how long we have had the privilege of living and hopefully serving in some useful way.

Of course, the opposite of BECAUSE I CAN, is that old worn out phrase on which we frequently lean.”  I CAN’T.”  How often do we use that phrase as an excuse to grow older in place instead of exerting just a little more energy  to do something different, new, or a bit more difficult — BECAUSE YOU CAN!?

Here are some things to try this week: An exercise class – how about the new “ConDuctorcise” class everyone is talking about with great excitement?  When was the last time you made the effort to talk to someone you didn’t know and made a new friend?  How about helping a new resident to integrate into your community?  When was the last time you went on one of the many outings that are offered?  Or tried a new craft?  As I look over the monthly calendar I see enough activities to keep a person in the “I CAN” ATTITUDE for a lifetime.

Tonight before you retire, I’d like you to think about some of the things you have been telling yourself that you can’t do.  Now take a piece of paper and write a note to yourself and leave it where you will see it the first thing in the morning.  Write down at least one new thing that you will do to start or improve the ‘I CAN ATTITUDE.”  And have fun and be proud of yourself.

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