Sharon’s community
Amazing Seniors!
I am blessed with the most amazing seniors in my life, my husband’s dad and Grace, “the aunt,” my husband’s godmother. Both are 91 years young, can have their challenges, and still live life to the full. They both live in the same city as my family and we see them quite often. What incredible role models they are for me.
The last time Grace the Aunt, whose joyful laugh is so infectious, came over for dinner she stated that she had decided to live until 120 years old. I was so impressed. My goal has been to live until I am 108 years old. Well, I am seriously considering a new goal.
A while ago, Grace shared a story with me about a visit to the medical lab in her area for the regular blood tests required for her annual checkup. When the receptionist asked her age as she checked in, Grace told her that she was 90 years old. The receptionist said something like, “Oh my goodness, would you like to sit down?” Grace shared that she felt quite insulted by that comment. She takes her dog for a walk every day and often hops on the bus or train near her place and goes pretty well anywhere in the city. At that time, I knew that she had already stated the goal to live to 100 years old. Maybe this encounter led to her reconsider her goal.
Dad decided in February, that he wanted to find out more about what I teach in my Sound Wellness workshop. Always curious, he likes to learn new things or try out something different. Well, I was a little nervous. I realized later, that I had a mixed bag of many preconceived notions about his generation and seniors in general. His presence in the workshop challenged every one of them. What an incredible opportunity for me to become aware of a bunch of incorrect perceptions I didn’t know I even had!
The people registered in the Sound Wellness in February were a small group of some pretty incredible women. When Dad found out that all of the other participants were women, he was a little nervous. Fortunately, my husband also attends the workshops to help out with the technological aspects, so Dad had some masculine company. It didn’t take him long, though, to become comfortable with this group. At the end of the weekend, he said, “I think I did alright with the ladies.”
He took part wholeheartedly in the experiences including listening to many examples of music, toning his chakras and playing the Tibetan and crystal bowls. His favorite experience was the singing crystal bowl sound bath and playing the singing crystal bowls. He liked the crystal bowls so much that, after the weekend, he asked if it would be possible to get a bowl for him. That was easy and now he enjoys playing his bowl every night before his goes to sleep. He says he finds it very relaxing.
The picture of Dad with the group is below along with some of the most incredible smiles I have ever seen.
This experience, for me, made me acutely aware of the universal appeal for music and sound. The human being is so wired for sound no matter where we are on our journey through life. It brings us joy, sadness, strength. I could go on and on. It heals us at levels we are just beginning to realize. As long as humanity has existed on this planet, music and sound has been our communication from the depths of our souls. Hearing is the first sense to develop and the last to leave us at death. Sound surrounds us, informs us, disturbs us, comforts us, balances us, heals us.
Sharon's blog: Sound Sense: www.sharoncarne.wordpress.com
Sharon Carne
March, 2009
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