Beatitudes Campus was created out of care and compassion and today our actions are proof of this fact. You are giving a beautiful gift in recognizing the health vulnerabilities, visible or not, that put your neighbors at risk. You are saving lives and preventing suffering through the simple act of wearing a mask today. Thank you for this.
We continue to do our mass COVID-19 testing of our staff across campus. On Monday, we conducted 277 tests and none were positive for COVID-19. We have decreased the number of COVID-19 cases to ten – three residents and seven staff.
Whether you have a one-time expense or need monthly assistance, the Resident Assistance Fund can provide support in the form of a scholarship to qualified residents so they can continue to live and thrive at Beatitudes Campus.
The Rev. Brad Munroe, the Executive Presbyter of the local denominational body of which I am a part (part of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A), has rewritten the Serenity Prayer for the 21st Century.
God, grant me the
serenity to accept that others
may misunderstand, misinterpret, and misjudge
my motives when hearing the narratives I speak,
the courage to listen with grace, humility, and compassion
for other’s motives when hearing the narratives they speak,
and the wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen,
always seeking charity, clarity, and conviction from all.
In a recent article, Brad writes about the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAR) which is a term psychologists use to describe the phenomena of attributing ill motives to others while assuming pure motives for oneself. For example, if someone cuts us off while driving, our first thought might be “What a jerk!” Conversely, consider the last time you were suddenly honked at for drifting into a different lane. You may have had an immediate alibi (e.g. the sun was in my eyes, my kids were distracting me) that explained your behavior based on a situation. You didn’t immediately come to the conclusion that you were an inconsiderate or incompetent driver. Because of the Fundamental Attribution Error, we tend to believe that others do bad things because they are bad people. We’re inclined to ignore situational factors that might have played a role.
A particularly common example is the self-serving bias, which is the tendency to attribute our successes to ourselves, and our failures to others and the situation. You might have noticed yourself making self-serving attributions at times. How often do we judge others harshly while letting ourselves off the hook at the same time by rationalizing our own unethical behavior? The Fundamental Attribution Error is so pervasive that I guarantee you will see it in action over the next week if you keep your eyes open. If we were to add up how many times the FAR is made in the meetings we attend, the gatherings we go to, the conversations with family and friends, we would likely find reasons why our life together needs an injection of “the courage to listen with grace, humility, and compassion.”
Some helpful remedies and things to consider are: watch out when you make generalizations and don’t be too quick to draw conclusions about the character and capabilities of others, assume the good will of the other person, and envision yourself in the shoes of the other person and imagine their challenges. Unquestionably, there are genuine jerks and incompetent people we run across in life. Given our inherent tendency to ascribe negative traits quickly, we will be better off by considering alternate explanations before we jump to conclusions. Those folks that are truly deserving of negative labels will have ample opportunity to validate our suspicions!
To serve others, one must be able to connect and listen. To serve others, one must show compassion and humility. To serve others, one must have vision alongside determination and hard work. All of these characteristics distinguish Leroy’s service and involvement in projects within our campus community and in projects benefiting the greater community and neighbors living near Beatitudes Campus.
These were the opening words of our very own Leroy Calbom’s nomination for Volunteer of the Year Award. For those who know him, you know this is so true! It was my absolute honor to be the emcee of the LeadingAge Arizona Awards Luncheon on May 24th and present the well-deserved award to Leroy!
As a past employee and now a resident, Leroy wanted to know more about the neighborhood and how he and the campus community could serve them. Through the Studio, he encouraged other residents to join him in meeting with the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Police Department, Department of Human Services, Area Agency on Aging and local neighborhood schools, churches and neighborhood associations to find out more. What emerged was that there were many intergenerational refugee families living within a short distance of the campus. When Leroy heard about this, he led a group of fellow residents and sprang into action. He met with the Mosaic Elder Refugee Program at the Area Agency on Aging, became a certified ELA (English Language Arts) instructor and persuaded his fellow residents and neighbors to join him. He persuaded me and other campus leaders to dedicate a room to hold ELA classes for refugee families, and further persuaded the campus leadership to use the campus bus to pick up refugees to bring them to class and take them back to their home. That’s the thing about Leroy – his quiet, unassuming demeanor is a powerful instrument of intentional leadership.
The ELA classes are embedded here at the campus. When Leroy was asked why he did this he responded with “Because they are us. Their story is our story. We are a nation of immigrants and immigrants are part of America’s founding story. Immigrants share the very values we hold dear – work hard, practice your faith, love your family and love this country.”
Please join the campus community on Wednesday, June 5th as we celebrate Leroy and his award during the monthly Town Hall meeting!
April is National Occupational Therapy (OT) Month and, as such, Success Matters would like to celebrate the culminating work of two wonderful OT doctoral students on Campus, Chandler Somers and Katie Holmes. The role of an OT has been described as a blending of science, creativity, and compassion, in order to help individuals live their lives to the fullest. While working on their doctoral capstone projects over the past four months, both Katie and Chandler have certainly exemplified these qualities, and we’re proud to share their accomplishments.
During their time on Campus, both Katie and Chandler have been revising and expanding the Success Matters Empowerment Platform in Plaza View Assisted Living. The Empowerment Platform involves a holistic interview to learn about residents’ unique backgrounds, interests, and hobbies. It also includes various wellness screens to provide residents with personalized strategies and recommendations to live a safe, active, and engaged lifestyle.
As part of her individual capstone experience, Chandler has just finished up leading and analyzing the efficacy of the Beatitudes Campus 6-week SAFER Stepping falls prevention course. This course is offered two to three times per year, and involves exercises targeted to improve balance, as well as discussion about potential fall risk factors. Chandler spent time researching current best practices for falls prevention, in order to provide background and evidence for the course. The data collected from participants across the 6-week program indicates that participants did, in fact, have decreased falls concerns and increased knowledge about various fall risk factors, including medications, vision, hearing, nutrition, and brain health. If you are interested in participating in the next SAFER Stepping course starting in July, contact Jessica at #16110 to get added to the list.
Katie’s culminating individual project involved creating and leading the workshop Tools for Stress-Free Living, an 8-week program focusing on the concept of resiliency and emphasizing the ability to find the positives despite adversity or struggles. Discussion and activities included heart-focused deep breathing, engaging the senses, exercise, reframing personal stories, mindfulness, and journaling to facilitate healthy coping strategies. The goal was to engage the participants on both an individual and group level, fostering growth, reflection, and reciprocal learning. On average, participants decreased their perceived stress levels by 15% over the course of the 8-week workshop.
Throughout each of these projects, Katie and Chandler made wonderful connections with residents and staff, explored practical and creative interventions for the wellbeing of older adults, and served as a valuable resource on Campus. Perhaps most importantly, they learned so much from their experiences with you all and are truly grateful for their opportunities at Beatitudes Campus.
If you would like to join Success Matters in thanking Chandler and Katie for their tremendous work, and wish them well in their future careers as OTs, please join us in the Plaza Bistro on Thursday, April 25th at 10AM for treats and refreshments.
We have had some leadership changes within the last few month in the Health Care Center as well as our Assisted Living and we are happy that the changes are familiar faces since we promoted from within.
The first change to take place at the beginning of January is Teresa Borton, RN became the licensed Health Care Administrator of our Health Care Center. Teresa began an Administrator in Training (AIT) program in April of 2018, completed the 6-month program in September, and then passed her State and National exams in November and December. Teresa, prior to her AIT program was our Director of Nursing since April of 2015. Teresa had always expressed an interest in Administration and we are pleased we could assist her.
Prior to joining us at Beatitudes, Teresa was the Director of Nursing at Grandview Care Center. Teresa became an RN, mid-career after spending over 20 years in the dental field. She shared that growing up she always wanted to be a nurse and she made that dream come true. When Teresa is not at work, she is home enjoying time with her husband, Steve. Teresa also is the proud mom to Danielle and Josh and the beloved Grama to Hunter and Dean who she shared are the “lights of her life”! Teresa loves coming to work each day to have the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.
The second change in Health Care Center management is Suzanne McLaughlin taking over as the Director of Nursing. Most recently, Sue was the Director of RAI (Resident Assessment Instrument) which oversees the process for submitting resident assessments to Medicare for payment. This is a very detailed process and Sue even holds a certification to ensure the RAI’s were submitted accurately and timely. Medicare and the Office of the Inspector General have been auditing and tightening down on skilled nursing facilities for unnecessary overpayments from Medicare. Beatitudes has not been found to have any unnecessary overpayments. For a couple years prior to her transfer to the Director of RAI position, Sue was our Assistant Director of Nursing supporting Teresa as the Director of Nursing. Now these two are back together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. There is no relationship in skilled nursing as trusting and strong, or as necessary as the Director of Nursing and the Administrator. Sue and Teresa have worked together for years and balance each other well.
When Sue is not working, she, too, is spending time with her love, Steve. Sue also shares her love with her 4 children, 5 wonderful grandchildren, her crazy puppy, Louie, and her 2 furry felines, Stewart and Oliver. Sue will likely retire within the next couple of years to Minnesota as she has another important job awaiting her there as Gramms. Sue said the Beatitudes has been her favorite place of all to work because “of the kindness, caring, compassion and friendliness that embraces our campus.”
The third and final change for our Health Services management team is that of Zeus Del Rosario becoming the Director of Assisted Living and Memory Support. Zeus was hired as the Nurse Manager in September of 2018. We soon found out that Zeus’ compassion, leadership and relationship building was what we were missing in Assisted Living and Memory Support leadership. Zeus completed his Assisted Living Manager certification training and became licensed by the State of Arizona in February. Zeus has made great strides in his couple of months of day-to-day operations and residents and families have expressed how impressed they are with him and his leadership. Prior to coming to Beatitudes, Zeus worked as an LPN in skilled nursing and long-term care as well as his family has a group home in Gilbert, AZ.
Zeus grew up in a Filipino family-oriented culture which “respects and treasures our elders, which I believe is what influenced my drive to be in geriatric care.” When not at work, Zeus enjoys playing basketball, baseball, soccer, football and working out and he is a big comic book fan, especially Marvel comics.
In closing, I would like to share how proud of Teresa, Sue, and Zeus, I and the Administrative team are. These three have chosen stressful, highly regulated jobs and are on call almost 24/7 and they do it out of love, because they love our residents, our staff and our mission. I would also like to thank the staff, residents and families that support Teresa, Sue and Zeus as they work to fulfil our mission daily. Please know that they are there to assist you, answer questions and provide resources as needed. Please join me in congratulating Teresa, Sue and Zeus in their well-deserved and hard-earned promotions.
Happy Lent!
Join us for some delicious pancakes on Tuesday March 5th, 8-10AM, in the Life Center as we keep the old custom of using up all the fattening ingredients in the house before the beginning of the Lenten fast. Ash Wednesday follows on March 6th. Ash Wednesday has, for centuries, been a day for Christians to have our foreheads marked with ashes as an acknowledgement of our mortality, and to reflect in penitence for our mistakes. Residents and staff are welcome to receive the imposition of ashes and spend some time in prayer and contemplation in the Life Center, 8:00AM-12:00PM, or at the regular Rosary gathering held at 10:00PM in the Plaza View Lounge. During the forty days (excluding Sundays) which follow Ash Wednesday, we journey together through the season of Lent. The intention of this portion of the year is for us all to make a conscious effort to focus on turning our hearts and minds back towards God. Sometimes people do this by practicing a little self-denial and self-discipline, perhaps by giving up a favorite food or treat as a reminder to focus instead on our spiritual nourishment. A favorite family story of ours is how my brother (aged around 6 at the time) was asked by the priest following church what he was giving up for Lent. Without hesitation he replied, “school”. A good attempt, but not quite in with the intended goal of opening the doors of our hearts a little wider to the deep riches of faith.
Last year, Pope Francis offered a list of ways which we can fast, and by doing so grow deeper into our relationship with God and each other. 1. Fast from hurting words and say kind words. 2. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. 3. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. 4. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. 5. Fast from worries and trust in God. 6. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. 7. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. 8. Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy. 9. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. 10. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. 11.Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Ultimately, for Christians the penitence and fasting of Lent should be a preparation for the celebration and joy of Easter. Fasting is not about misery, self-punishment and joylessness. The fasting goals of Pope Francis make that clear to us all. However it is only possible to truly rejoice in the feast, when we have truly experienced the fast. And so, I wish you not only a happy Lent, but a holy Lent also.
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with love and joy. I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all of you for making Beatitudes Campus the wonderful, spirit-filled community it is. Your warmth and compassion for each other is inspiring. Your wisdom has taught me so much about living life to its fullest. You have blessed me with the lifelong gift of your friendship. Thank you!
Now that 2019 is upon us, many of us have resolved to change some of our “bad” habits and replace them with “good” habits. How did the tradition of New Year’s resolution even start? Some 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians rang in their new year by making promises to the gods in hopes they would earn good favor in the coming year. They often resolved to return borrowed items and get out of debt. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus. During the Middle Ages, knights would renew their vows to chivalry and uphold the values of knighthood by placing their hand on a live or roasted peacock.
Things have come a long way since then! Modern new year’s resolutions became “a thing” in the 19th century. The first recorded use of the phrase “new year resolution” appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813.
The tradition of making resolutions at the beginning of the year certainly can put a lot of stress on us – especially if we don’t keep them. Every year, in some way or another, I resolve to be a better person, get healthier, work less, save the world, become smarter, be more philanthropic, become more spiritual, engage more in the world around me – whew – what a tall order! And what a lot of pressure! By the end of the year, I usually haven’t fulfilled all of my resolutions in the way I imagined I would in January. Sometimes life doesn’t quite go the way I planned it to go. But by bending with the winds of change, I adapt to changing circumstances. But even then, that sometimes means I don’t accomplish my New Year’s resolutions. What if I could just lighten up a bit and allow myself to live each moment of every day fully – rather than pressuring myself and forcing change and feeling bad when the change doesn’t happen?
So, this year, my “un-resolution” is to resolve to get out of my own way and trust that the better version of me will come through when it’s ready to do so. I am hoping that taking time off from forcing change through new year’s resolutions will open new doors of discovery for me. And I’m excited! 2019 is going to be the best year yet – a year of incredible growth and evolution!
May the new year add a new beauty and freshness in your hearts.*
Gifts arrive on birthdays, at Christmas, on Hanukkah, anniversaries, retirements and on so many other beautiful occasions throughout our life’s journey. We celebrate great events and individuals who are extra special to us by offering something of ourselves in the form of a gift that reflects our gratitude and appreciation. Some of you might have figured out that I try to send a birthday card of appreciation to all of you and begin writing them just before the new month. Not a card goes by that I do not find myself reflecting on what a gift to the Campus, and to me, the particular individual is to whom I am writing. We give gifts, but the greatest gift is not the gift itself but the giver and receiver themselves. They make for the true treasures in life. And, like all gifts, with time, they are all meant to be shared and that is what makes our Campus so beautiful. The sharing is abundant!
As the Holidays approach, and as much as gift giving is on many of our minds, it is a strange phenomenon whereby individuals forget just what an amazing gift they genuinely are. This time of the year can be especially painful for the ones who just cannot see the truth and beauty about themselves. In that we shine when it comes to gifts that keep on giving, I want to encourage you to make an extra special effort to keep an eye out for a neighbor who might very well be struggling and needing a special word or a little affirmation from you.
You are a gift! There might not be a more perfect time than now to share the gift you are by inviting someone you have not seen for a while to join you for dinner or a Campus event. Or when you notice that fellow resident a few tables down eating alone consider checking and seeing if they might be open to some company. They will be gifted by the amazing individual that is in you and I am willing to bet you will receive a beautiful gift in return in the gift they are as well.
It is every day of the year that Beatitudes Campus excels at sharing and caring for one another, but the Holidays allow us to be even more sensitive and compassionate creating a community where everybody belongs and is unmistakably valued.
You are a gift! And there is no greater gift than sharing yourself to uplift another. Enjoy the Holidays. *
‘Tis the season to surround ourselves with friends and family, count our blessings and enjoy the excuse to overindulge in food. It is a time to take inventory and acknowledge all that is good and sweet and right. It is about celebrating presence but sometimes what this season is marked by more than anything else—is absence. Pastor John Pavlovitz writes: “Surrounded by noise and activity and life, your eyes and your heart can’t help but drift to that quiet space that now remains unoccupied: the cruel vacancy of the empty chair. The empty chair is different for everyone, though it is equally intrusive. For some it is a place of a vigil; the persistent hope of a prodigal returning, of a severed tie to soon be repaired, of a long overdue reunion to come. It is a place of painful but patient waiting for what is unlikely, yet still possible. For some, the chair is a memorial; the stark reminder of what was and no longer is, of that which never will be again. It is a household headstone where we eulogize and grieve and remember; a face we squint to see, a hand we stretch to hold, a voice we strain to hear. This may be the first time the chair has been empty for you, or you may have grown quite accustomed to the subtraction. Either way it hurts.”
I know that hurt as do you. My father died twenty-one years ago on November 25th, so when my family gathers around the Thanksgiving table every year we are acutely aware of the empty chair which he filled. The holidays are supposed to be filled with celebration, joy and peace but often they have a way of magnifying loss; reminding us of our incompleteness, our lack, our mourning. The lessons that the empty chair teaches us are about living in the moment and being thankful for what we have, and about growing through our struggles. Sometimes we acquire that wisdom and find that healing in our own way and in our own time and sometimes we don’t. Life is unpredictable and messy that way. In some way during the holidays, we all sit together gathered around this same incomplete table and one thing we can offer one another is our compassionate presence in the face of the terrible absence. Pavlovitz suggests that “in this season each of us learns to have fellowship with sadness, to celebrate accompanied by sorrow. This is the paradox of loving and being wounded simultaneously.” May we each make peace with the holidays and the empty chairs.*
Getting to know each other is probably one of the greatest opportunities we have at Beatitudes Campus. This includes discovering the histories of neighbors and learning about the staff who are here to serve you. As we get to know each other, parting becomes more difficult as we grieve and miss some one we grew to appreciate. It affects you and it affects staff as well. The longer someone is with us, the closer we get and the more caring we can become as we uncover what makes them smile, the passions that drive them, the sorrows they may be experiencing and the dreams they are climbing toward.
I have heard a million times how much residents miss a particular staff person when he or she moves on from our Campus. That is one of the major reasons why retaining our staff is a number one priority for us. We hire the best of the best because we know they will serve you caringly and with love and compassion. For the last two years we have concentrated on doing all we can to create an environment where coming to work at Beatitudes Campus is not for just a paycheck, but a chance to be part of a community which will bring joy and a greater quality of life than one could have ever imagined.
Did you know, though, that administratively we have just a small part to play as compared to you the residents? Because we care, we routinely check with all of our employees to see what brings the greatest satisfaction to them as they serve our community. Do you know what the one response that came up over and over again more than any other when asked “What types of things make you feel most valued and appreciated? Their pay check? Their benefits? Their managers? Those do play a part and they are important. But believe it or not – that those only came up two or three times in the comments.
“When people say thank you”, “When the residents tell me and my coworkers how good of a job we do on the carpets”, “Praises for good work”, “Appreciation”, “That smile from a happy resident”, “When people go and eat and say “that food was bomb!”, “Having a resident tell me how much I helped them when they didn’t know what to do or who to ask for help”, “I feel appreciated when people say ‘he did a good job!’”, “When the residents say I do a good job and smile”, “When my hard work and minor details are noticed and not taken for granted”, “Being complimented/praised when doing a good job”, “Getting compliments about work”, “Acknowledgement of work”, “When the residents tell me how much they love me”. Those are just a sampling of the number one responses.
It is you, the residents, who make life so good for our employees. You never know who is having a bad day, suffering a deep loss, on the brink of crying inside, struggling with whether this is the right place for them, and it is your words of appreciation and showing that they are valued that can make all the difference in the world.
This is your community and ultimately the staff that are here, all 450, are here because of you. They might be able to get paid more somewhere else, but they are here because of you and the way you appreciate them and value them. You heard it straight from them.
People leave for all sorts of different reasons, but please know the more you care, recognize, acknowledge and appreciate the people around you, especially the staff, you make a huge difference in their lives and increase the joy they experience when coming to the Beatitudes Community.
That’s a lot of power that each of you have! You can make a difference in who chooses to work here or see their work and themselves as valued, simply by showing that you care about who they are and the work they are doing. The more you do this the more we will have people begging to come to work and to live here, and for longer and longer times.
So now that I have your retention, just know you are an amazing part of this community with the power to transform lives whenever you touch a life with a kind word or smile.*
How could I believe my eyes? Men and women- many of them young adults -embroiled in violence – state troopers behind armor- pictures of swastika emblazed-confederate flags- wherever I turned on TV – internet -airwaves- the same scene bombarded me. Is this the democracy, land of the free and home of the brave, where I grew up singing about our “sweet land of liberty”?
A kaleidoscope of emotions engulfed me: anger, agony, fear, aching for the victims. I yearned to share my feelings. On the internet, I read that many communities were already planning prayer vigils, most to be Sunday evening, August 12. Late Saturday night I decided to email a few resident friends who hold concerns similar to mine about shifting values and priorities for our nation. I invited then to join me Sunday evening at 6:00 for a time of reflection and prayer. Sunday morning I notified our Spiritual Life staff about my intentions, and Chaplain Andrew Moore announced the vigil at our Campus Vesper Service. During that service Chaplain Andrew used this prayer, which speaks of our desire to overcome evil with love.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne. Amen.
At 6:00PM on that Sunday evening, nine residents gathered to share reactions and seek guidance in responding thoughtfully to the terror in Charlottesville. Barbara Glenn read to us a message just received from Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray. She was the minister of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Phoenix until her election in June as national president of this denomination. Here is a portion of that email entitled “Love Showed Up Today in Charlottesville.”
‘Today was a tragic day. We came to Charlottesville to bear peaceful witness but were met with hate and racist violence. My heart has been broken, and I am deeply troubled by what is happening in this community and cross this country. This morning faith leaders went to Emancipation Park to block the entrance and prevent the Unite the Right rally from taking place. The message was clear – to stand with the community to say that hate has no place here. The white nationalist protesters we faced chanted Nazi slogans between sexist and homophobic slurs. And they had automatic weapons, paramilitary uniforms, and clubs….They had their guns and shields. We had our songs, our faith, our love. And we had each other.’
And here on this campus we have each other. Our reactions to changes in this nation will vary. As we respond to the steady stream of “breaking news,” may we seek to understand divergent views. May our love for justice and peace leave no room for hate.
Guest Author this week is Rev. Dosia Carlson, Beatitudes Campus Resident
Liaison is Rev. Andrew Moore, Associate Chaplain of Spiritual Life
Donald F. Fausel
Nov. 22, 1929 – June 12, 2017
For this article, I’d like to share one written by Dr. Don Fausel, one of our residents who passed away last week. Don was a man of great insight and wisdom which you will find as you read his thoughts on “What’s Your Ikigai?”—Peggy R.
“It’s never been easy to be a human being! We have always had to wrestle with strong and painful fears. Now, if we face ourselves honestly, or if we merely eavesdrop on the secret murmurings of our heart, isn’t this what we discover—that one of our basic fears, the fear beneath many fears, is the dread of being nothing, of having no real importance, no lasting worth, no purpose in life. It is precisely to this fear of being nobody, having no worth, that our Judeo-Christian-Humanitarian ethic reminds us that our basic value is not something we achieve in competition with everyone else, but something we gratefully accept along with everyone else. We need not become important, we are important. We need not become somebody, we are somebody. No matter what others may say or think about us, or do to us, we are somebody.
As we grow older and become less able to function physically or mentally as we did in our younger years, we need to remind ourselves, that we are still somebody, with the same dignity and worth, with the same God-given inalienable rights. Sometimes, when we’re not able to do a lot of the things we used to do, when our body is failing us and our short term memory is not as good as our long term memory, it’s hard for us to accept the fact that we are somebody worthwhile. That’s why it’s particularly important for us Elders to periodically ask ourselves, what is my purpose in life?
Several years ago, I discovered a Japanese word that captures the importance of having a positive attitude and purpose in our life. The word is Ikigai, (pronounced ee-ki-guy) the Japanese word used to describe why I get up in the morning, what my sense of purpose is. I love the word Ikigai! I like saying it! I like writing it! Ikigai, Ikigai! I think it was the beginning of my interest in happiness. I realized if you don’t have an Ikigai, you’re not going to be happy. I was even more impressed with the origin of the word and its application for us elders. Researchers have identified what they call Blue Zones. These are areas throughout the world with a high percentage of centenarians; places where people enjoy remarkably long full lives. Their lives are not only longer, but physically and mentally, they are more active than elders in other areas of the world. National Geographic’s, Dan Buettner, has traveled the globe to uncover the best strategies for longevity found in these Blue Zones. One of those areas is the Japanese island of Okinawa. It was there that he discovered that one of the characteristics for a long healthy life was having an Ikigai. To a resident of Okinawa, Ikigai can be anything from tending their vegetable garden, taking care of great grandchildren, to walking and exercising every day. Whatever it is that motivated them to remain involved, they give credit to their Ikigai. After years of research Dan Buettner concludes:
“One of the biggest revolutions in thought in our time is the changing of emphasis from physical health to mental health in connection to longevity. The effects of negative stress and ‘inflammation’ are cited more and more frequently as the cause of early death and lowered quality of life. One of the most important methods for counteracting that is Ikigai, a sense of purpose. … Ikigai is something that brings joy and contentment. It fills a person with resolve and a sense of satisfaction in what they are doing. Most of all, it brings happiness.”
In our own way, we need to seriously consider identifying our own Ikigai. We need to know and follow our values, passions and talents–and to share them by example, on a regular basis. It might be by living our lives, with our physical and mental restrictions, as a legacy for our grandchildren or great grandchildren, or showing compassion for those in need, who are less fortunate than we are. Whatever we choose to do, it’s our Ikigai. So what is it that gives your life a sense of worth? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Since I retired, my major Ikigai for the past five years or so has been writing. To paraphrase the French philosopher, Descartes, “I write, therefore I am!” What’s your Ikigai?
There are many reasons we should honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy. Not only was he a transformational spokesperson for nonviolent activism during the Civil Rights Movement, he was an inspirational leader whose legacy continues to help pave the way to inclusion which we hold near and dear to us here at Beatitudes Campus. He was a visionary who was persistent, who knew when to push forward and when to pull back, and was someone who knew how to show compassion to those very people who were fighting against him. Below are a few excerpts from Jeff Goins’ blog entitled 5 Lessons from MLK on Living, Leading, & Communicating at http://goinswriter.com. Jeff blogs what many of us think and feel:
“Martin Luther King, Jr. left us a legacy, teaching us as much through what he did as what he said. Maybe more. One of the many lessons Dr. King exemplified was the effectiveness of a life lived out loud, one in which a person’s words and dreams are backed by considerable action. He showed us our lives must be lived intentionally and without regret, that words mean something and we must speak up in the face of injustice. He taught us that it is one thing to say you have an idea and quite another to act on it. And the man’s courage still inspires millions of people today.
I’m glad Dr. King spoke up and then acted. The world is a better place because of it.
Telling the truth is dangerous
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
There is nothing safe about being honest, nothing comfortable about doing the right thing. If anything, when you are committed to saying what needs to be said, it will likely get you into trouble. But the fruit is worth the pain. You’re the one who has to decide this, though. Choose wisely before opening your mouth, and be aware of the consequences. Because as with MLK, this may cost you your life. But of course, if you don’t speak, it could cost you something far greater.
The first person you need to convince is yourself
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
MLK often spoke about the importance of believing in yourself before trying to convince others to do so. He knew that if we doubt ourselves, so will others. He also knew human beings cannot act according to their identity until they believe it about themselves. In the field of creative disciplines, we see this to be especially true. “A writer is a writer when he says he is,” says Steven Pressfield. There’s something about the power of declaration via our voices that forces our hands to act. This may be the most important lesson Dr. King taught us: we are what we are when we decide to be it.
May we honor MLK’s memory by boldly being and believing who we are, then acting on it.”
You look around the Campus and many residents are walking their dogs or have pictures of their cats on their doors. Have you ever wondered why this is so important to them? There is so much you can learn from pets and they are great companions.
In the past 18 months, I’ve experienced the loss of two long time companions – Bonnie & Clyde. Two Labrador Retrievers that came into my life at 4 months old – rescued from a family that left them when moving out of a subdivision. The unconditional love these two had for me was overwhelming at times. Bonnie was my “howdy” dog – always social and wanted to meet and sit on the lap of any new person. Clyde was my protector and watched to see what people were doing around me to see if I needed to be rescued. I often wondered – like that recent movie – what they did when I left for work.
As puppies, I know they chewed everything and dug wonderful holes anywhere and wanted everybody nearby to know they were there by constantly barking when outside. What I learned from them once they matured, was so valuable that I wonder why everybody doesn’t have a pet.
What I learned:
Anytime we jumped into the car for a ride or destination like the woods or lake, they were so excited – couldn’t stop wagging their tales and yipping.
Ok so this was not so fun for me but they learned about the chewy texture of the irrigation sprinkler lines, the view without that tree branch, that they couldn’t dig all the way to China no matter how hard they tried, and what is inside that squeaky toy?
It never failed that the culprit for any damage, was the one that avoided me when I got home. But you deal with the deed and then bring them all in for a hug – not much you can do when it is several hours old anyway.
Caring for an injured animal completely tears you up and you want to do anything to make them well. And one that has had surgery and depends on you to be patient and kind with the healing is so grateful once it’s over.
Bonnie was so good at this and helped me to get over some shyness around new people. She was the epitome of “never met a stranger in her life” – everyone was welcome and a friend
The brother and sister bond that my dogs shared was easily opened up as a family unit to me. They would watch out for me and each other just like a great partnership. They even welcomed other dogs into our home for temporary shelter
It’s easy to always be nice to people and pets and hold in your anger or disappointment, but it’s better to work through it with discipline. Then everybody knows where they stand. I learned early that setting a routine helped the dogs understand when play time was and when it was serious time. They got to a point of anticipating the next activity because of the routine and finding comfort in it as well.
Wow – this is a big one. The two of them could easily sense when I was scared or upset or sad and rendered whatever support they could. This is a powerful reason most people love their pets.
Much like the point above, Bonnie was so good at cuddling with me when she sensed I needed it and me for them. Clyde would stay close to me and roll over for a belly rub – he was a sweetheart. After Bonnie passed, we got a new companion for Clyde. His name is Shayne. Clyde and Shayne were great companions – each understanding the other.
In his final days, Clyde went on a cross country adventure. My mom and I traveled by van to Illinois and back. He had a cozy place in the back seat to lay and was so sweet and good the whole trip. He had hip dysplasia and couldn’t get around very well and I knew leaving him with someone while I traveled would be a lot to ask. He was a trooper and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share that experience with him. A good friend once told me that your dog would rather be with you than staying behind and she was right.
I hope you can see what a wonderful experience it is to live with pets. It is a rich life with plenty of life lessons. If you have the chance, find one that you can love and provide a good home. Yes you have to be there to feed them, take them to the vet, pick up the droppings, and find a sitter from time to time – but so worth it.
I couldn’t imagine the past 14 years without them and now I have a new companion, Shayne, for some new adventures.
