#Vortex: An infinite abyss of space where time stops all together. Can be compared to a black hole, any and everything in close proximity gets sucked in and can never come back out”.   

Some would suggest retirement to Florida is like being “sucked in”. Indeed, it is the peculiarity of living in a Southern Climate; time stopping for us mostly gray hairs.  Folks casually enjoying the weather and their opportunities to engage in recreation (indoors and outdoors).  The sense of nothing but ourselves ageing as the days all begin to swirl together and life marches on – wait something has changed…

Months ago listening to a Sunday Sermon, the Minister was discussing how the mind wants to conserve itself and in doing so relies very much on routines, generalizations and opinions.  Imagine that our mind creates this master template, where all inputted information must fall within and conform to our predispositions, attitudes and prejudices.  This channeling of information reflects our mind’s tendencies and it is how we respond or fail to respond to stimuli.  There are significant benefits in constructing the mental template: it conserves energy, it is more efficient and generally we can predict outcomes due to our wisdom and experiences.  For example; We Americans, culturally have a natural instinct to trust others; this facilitates a positive functioning society as we are not always “looking over our shoulder”, but evils lurk on the perimeters and this innocence invites peril.  However, if we lived our lives suspect of everyone around us, all the time, we would always be completely exhausted, unproductive, unimaginative and develop misanthropically with a paranoid personality.  Fear would strangle us in all interpersonal relationships.

#Theory V:  “represents the Vortex of Declining Mediocrity. It is the downward swirling negative psychological pull, which is apparent in all organizations, especially those that have just gone through a downsizing, a non-productive re-engineering phase, general mismanagement or other traumatic negative experience to its staff. It attracts everyone in its path, and some immediately fall into its grip leading to a downward performance cycle because they are comfortable with its false sanctuary…………….”.James Carlini

Herein, today, we find ourselves and the great society to which we have everything invested in, suffering an unthinkable calamity.  A Viral Tsunami, so powerful that it will forever impact us and our loved ones. Forthwith a shroud of death and sadness blankets contemporary life.  It is stunning to me as I sit here with my doors wide open; feeling the warmth of the sun, the coolness of the sea breeze and the view of the unrestricted thriving natural habitat; whereas on another parallel level; my family, friends and society are facing a cultural blizzard; literally fighting for survival; physically, socially, financially and spiritually.

My friends our Personal Template, regarding life in America, is shattered, free falling before our ageing eyes.  Our Society, both behaviorally and objectively will be changed, forever.  Our children’s world will be different.  This event will impact them, certainly as dramatically as World War II shaped our parents values and insecurities. 

Avoid becoming part of the downward spiral, which undoubtedly will become the “great sucking sound” of the “OK Boomer” population, once this storm has passed.  I encourage you to choose to be strong in every way possible.  Practice your faith, stay physically healthy, use your knowledge, influence and wealth to help build a better world.  It will be uncomfortable to move outwardly from the Vortex of our Ageing, into becoming a positive influence in the breathing new life and hope into our offspring.  But moving, with grace and speed, offers those around us a viable future.  Be ElderStrong and gracefully – get up with vigor and become one positive messenger in love and trust.

By acknowledging our Christian Values, may we find spiritual motivation to assist each other in what may turn out to be a Long Winter of Cultural Angst. And do our part in making sure that we, our loved ones and our community once again “Flourishes”.

My friends our Personal Template, regarding life in America, is shattered, free falling before our ageing eyes.  Our Society, both behaviorally and objectively will be changed, forever.  Our children’s world will be different.  This event will impact them, certainly as dramatically as World War II shaped our parents values and insecurities. 

Avoid becoming part of the downward spiral, which undoubtedly will become the “great sucking sound” of the “OK Boomer” population, once this storm has passed.  I encourage you to choose to be strong in every way possible. 

“Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off”.     Proverbs 24:14

It is August 1962 and a bunch of young boys are enjoying the summer heat. Some are swimming at Phillips’ Pool, in a pond or even in a river. Others work in their families businesses just to keep the family going. I’m camping in Dilly Dally Valley, hanging out with my brothers and friends, smoking corn silk, shooting squirrels, frying blue gills and maybe drinking beer. The lucky guys are enjoying female company at the Covedale, in a park, or anywhere they can (living in the Mack this idea is still only a dream but obviously percolating). This was our summer of contentment and recreation, rarely did one travel to a vacation destination given the size of most Catholic families.

National and World news was primarily being delivered via the Enquirer and Post and the Catholic Telegraph. My focus was on the Cincinnati Reds; Vada Pinson, Jim O’Toole, Bob Purkey and the team. Desperately trying to collect the baseball cards of the star athletes. I had an awareness that some great issues confronted the country both domestically and internationally; the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Cold War and Civil/Voting Rights were becoming a significant national issues. In 1962 laws still existed that prevented African Americans from voting. In 1961 the first American soldier died in Vietnam. During this same time period, feminism was finding it roots (I was to become a beneficiary of the sexual revolution is so many ways). Medicare did not exist, the family and community took care of the disabled, the elderly and the impoverished. Notwithstanding these issues, I, along with many of you were looking forward to that day after Labor Day when we would become a student at Elder. The anticipation was overwhelming, we would now be part of the tradition and spirit that embodied the school.

Issues were difficult then but seemed solvable. We believed that with talent, perseverance and Judeo-Christian values anything could be accomplished. We embraced the inaugural address of our new (Catholic) President John F, Kennedy, in which he spoke these words;

“The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”        

It is now over Fifty Years later and we find ourselves on the same doorstep of the human conditions; poverty, fear and disenfranchisement. These issues exist in spite of all the amazing technological advancements. A wounded soldier is no longer rehabilitated, but “restored”, with fully functional artificial limbs. An older adult is ambulatory because of a mechanical hip.

Heart stents enable (implanted less invasively) one to live a fuller life. Technology assures us that we have the opportunity to be entertained whenever we wish, whatever our interests. And of course we are always accessible and in touch via smart phone wizardry.

Perhaps this dependency upon the machines and robots so prevalent in our daily lives, has influenced our judgement and our connection to one another. Apparently we have come to rely on and believe in the notion that machinery can fix whatever ails us.   Consequently and perchance because of our reliance on hardware, many believe that the machine of government, the nation-state, is capable of fixing these pervasive human conditions and the bigger government becomes the more it can fix.

However our experiences over the past fifty years belies this notion and gives deeper meaning to Kennedy’s words about the subjecting oneself to the “generosity of the state.” Have human conditions improved?   What and where are the achievements after almost fifty years of; the war on poverty and drugs? Have city’s infrastructures improved, explain East Price Hill? Are we more secure today because of government, if so, why are so many people packing a gun? These are just some of the complexities and colorization of present day national issues.

Maybe it requires that technology and government be subservient to human interaction, with more reliance on each other and less on machinery. Encouraging and promoting civil discourse between those people of goodwill and faith whose influence is from the “hand of God” and not from the handout of government? This also is a challenge that needs to be conquered.

Graywashing

Graywashing, is defined as “the act of misleading consumers regarding any purported age-associated benefits of a product or service.” For example; an advertising campaign that promotes the idea that by using a particular product an older adult will become vivacious because of its special qualities, when in fact it is a routine product with the only difference being the color of the packaging. There are of course an endless number of ads across the media spectrum that target older adults with claims that are very questionable. Many of the messages that the older adult hears is that if you are not youthful you need to be fixed and the fix is outside of yourself.

However there are far more insidious and demeaning effects from these sophisticated advertising campaigns. Graywashing creates a diminishing backwash by minimizing the older adult’s value. It is an assault on self-esteem and the feelings of self-worth. Just last week I received an E-Newsletter from my Medicare Insurance Provider, which probably some of you received as well. The E-Newsletters’ topic for the month was about being happy. Below is the banner that appeared on the top of the page as an introduction to the topic on happiness. As reproduced the Banner was highlighted with a bold blue graphic as follows;

   challenge Yourself:  

Blow some bubbles.

“Relive some of the fun of childhood and pick some bubble liquid at your Local dollar store or other retailer. Work on taking deep breaths in, filling your Lungs with lots of oxygen, and blowing it back out. See what kinds of pretty (and temporary) artwork you can make in the air. Better yet, invite a friend of any age to join you and share some happiness.”

Looks good except when you read the text: Really…..work on taking deep breaths in….of all things … oxygen? Create some artwork…… and by the way……pretty…… is………… “temporary”! What…. share some happiness …..seriously?   Did a young copywriter who thinks that older people are easily entertained and mostly feeble author this? Or did an older adult with a very pessimistic view of the future prepare this copy? Apparently this is how they think older adults discover and experience emotions.

Hence for those of us on Medicare, what exactly is the message of this Banner? Is this sincerely meant to be a physical challenge? To me driving to and shopping in a store for the bubble liquid would be far more challenging. Or is this about being creative and imaginative? I was unaware that blowing bubbles constituted artwork, and if I were that aware, would I not know bubble art is only temporary? Finally is this about playfulness … maybe so; but if I invited someone to blow .. bubbles while offering them this same advice, would they ever visit again? Positioning this activity as a personal challenge underscores the fallacy of stereotyping older adults: that we are easily entertained, that our expectations of what can be achieved are so low and that we are physically and mentally incapable of any serious and lasting goals.

Aging does not preclude one’s interest in engaging in meaningful life’s task. Ashley Montagu a renowned Cultural Anthropologist definition of health is, “the ability to love, to work, to play and to think soundly.” These are ageless activities and it is within this framework that one finds feelings of self worth and the desire to provide service to others. It is probable that it is within this context we become awash in happiness.

According to Montagu, scientific data supports the concept of “Neoteny”; meaning that we humans are not meant to grow old but to grow young.   We are in a “developmental process” our entire lives. As like a child, older adults remain inquisitive, adventurous, creative, playful and physically active. This may be why sometimes when we look in the mirror and do not recognize that person looking back at us, it is because the person that we know internally speaks to the spirit that has always been within us and is unchangeable. Unquestionably, outwardly our features mature but inwardly our light is strong and does not dim.

For marketers or anyone else to suggest that older adult’s life challenges and emotions are so inconsequential that it can be bottled in bubbles, is offensive. Each and every day we older adults are uniquely situated to craft meaning into our lives and those we touch. It is the tapestry of spiritual wealth and love that offers us the best opportunity to write our own story and to imprint an indelible fingerprint that improves the future. This my friends, is a healthier and permanent brand of graywashing.

“Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old and some never grow so.” Tyron Edwards

Fighting, seeking and working for emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health offers us the best opportunity to experience happiness and realize heavenly rewards. To be healthy is a journey requiring great strength; for the passage is more like a serene countryside road often filled with potholes, detours, stops, starts and ever changing conditions. This journey will test our skills, perseverance and values.

To be healthy requires a conscious commitment to personal, family and community welfare. Andrew Weil M.D. speaks of the positive psychology of mindfulness; which is being attentive and focused on ourselves while recognizing how the outside world is affecting us. Mihaly Csiksgentmihalyi the author of Flow, a national bestseller, discusses the importance of controlling our consciousness and thereby controlling the quality of the experience.

Being productive and feeling competent, having a sense of control over the outcome of one’s affairs and connecting with others in the environment is the foundation of all health and happiness. In the book True Competition the authors speak of what they believe is every person’s goal, that being to feel Competent in Life, In Control of One’s Affairs and Connected to Others. Possessing and acting on these characteristics makes us strong and forceful and is the mechanism by which we overcome emotional, mental, physical and social challenges.

As guardians of our culture it is essential that we battle to remove the impediments and barriers that may prevent us from realizing our sense of purpose, strength and ultimately our health. And, perhaps the colossal obstacle to our health and happiness is – We. “Changing the way we age,” is a new dynamic that is beginning to take hold across the land, and the International Council on Aging is spearheading the concept. Our society is rapidly aging. Therefore it is important for us to be mindful of how we take care of ourselves and it requires us to reconfigure our institutions (business, government and social) in order that these provide both the facilities and policies that encourage involvement by older adults. Opportunities for an aging population in the work force and in the pursuit of leisure activities need to be advanced. It is, in many ways a spiritual quest, wherein heavenly rewards await by connecting us with each other in the present as well as in the future.