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Greetings Friends
Welcome to April's newsletter. We make special note here to thank our sponsors who have demonstrated their commitment to the quality of life of our elders through their support of James Kershaw's music programs.
This publication is about change being always present in our lives. For whatever reasons, many of us may be faced with change. Sometimes I like change. Other times it's drudgery, anxiety producing or confusing. Perhaps the distress of change takes up a lot of your waking hours. It helps me to let go, stretch and engage in some diversion. For this month I propose a perspective on exercising. A silent screen actor reached out in spite of what was happening around or within and he changed the world. Two individuals who found loyal friends can say their lives are not the same.
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Exercise is News
Pay an "expert" to tell you.
We live in an ageing culture and maybe we are getting the message that regular exercise is not a top consideration any more. The media seems to be teaching us how urgent it is not to miss opportunities to watch others exercising. Besides, sports are geared to the thirty and under crowd. Why should I bother? Apparently nothing could be further from the truth. Experts say that exercise is especially important the more we age. Exercise improves flexibility, balance, and range of motion for better mobility. Gentle exercise helps relieve joint pain and stiffness with arthritic sufferers. Exercise helps to avoid Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and is good for menopausal women. The sad part is that even with all the preaching it is still not enough to get people off the couch or away from their monitors. Who wants to exercise? I worked all day. Give me a break! Unlike this culture, most of the world's population uses the bicycle for all its transportation needs. Automobiles are a luxury. In these countries exercise is integrated into the life experience of its peoples so paying someone to pedal on his treadmill machine would be utter nonsense. It's also sad that it often takes some major crisis such as a heart attack and operation to get someone to change his or her life style. It's still easier to drive a few blocks to the store for a bag of milk, pack of cigarettes, etc. than it is to walk the distance. Who wants to do it the hard way? In North America everything you do and have is designed to maintain maximum comfort with as little unnecessary effort or stress as possible. If something needs an overhaul and you have money, it's always better to pay an "expert". That's after he's given you the news you don't want to hear.
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Actions Speak Louder. . .
"He was big. He was gigantic."
Charlie Chaplin (born 16 April 1889) was known as a person who "undoubtedly gave more entertainment, pleasure and relief to so many human beings who needed it the most". While the world was engulfed in turmoil Chaplin was copying his entertaining parents and soon performing with an international troupe of dancers. Identified with the silent movie era, his "tramp" role got him world wide attention. Chaplin believed that "action is more understood than words . . ." and he was even firm enough about that to avoid producing "talkies" all through the 1930's. With the rise of Nazism Chaplin produced films which addressed the problem of dictatorship, greed, hate, and intolerance in favour of universal freedom. As they watched these "deliciously subversive" works, immigrants in some countries could now laugh at the bumbling authority they feared. I'm trying to compare Chaplin's world with ours. If he came back and made more movies what would they be like? Perhaps we might compare him with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, or Mr Bean. Maybe not. Unlike the cynical style of Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, also silent movie actors, Chaplin was a meticulous painter of sentiment, while bringing forward a strong feeling of compassion and sorrow. Duke Ellington once said, "You've got to say it without saying it". That was Chaplin's trademark. |
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These Special Friends
". . . always there, eager to please, no matter what the person's state"
As she held one of our two cats in her arms my smiling wife commented that these animals are here to make us happy. It was her true feeling about the pets she loves and a sentiment shared by millions. However, owning pets is not all that rosy. Having a cat or dog almost always obligates the owner to contract the services of a vet. Fees vary and owners are basically paying the same as they would for an uninsured child. It would appear that many prospective pet owners are reluctant to commit. This is sad; especially with so many homeless pets. Keeping in mind the benefits, research discovered that loneliness is a more serious condition than heart disease or cancer and pets can be a source of love that addresses this problem; especially losses through death, illness, lack of social stimulation, self acceptance, and depression. Cuddles from a dog or cat ease stress and will even widen one's circle of friends. My wife talks to our cats in her own native Ukrainian. One can see she has an easier time teaching them than she does teaching me the language. Talking to animals might seem a little odd but it's really comforting and it doesn't matter what you say. It's the tone they understand. I began to notice that one cat would respond if I smiled at her. She would plunk herself down on my keyboard and when I yelled she would stare wide-eyed at me as if to say, What the heck is your problem? It stands to reason that a unique auditory stimulus must also have an equal if not stronger effect than a visual one. Now that our cats seem to have taken on human qualities, I'm getting used to them as permanent family members. Early cold mornings find them looking on supportively as I make my way from bed to door and a brighter day.
Thank you for your comments. I am always pleased to respond to your emails.
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photo:weforanimals.com
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 Music & Reminiscence
With Quality of Life in Mind
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