Archive for December 2009
Hope, Optimism and Aging
Holding onto the attitudes embodied in my two neologisms is not easy. At times it is much easier to embrace pessimism, “the doctrine that reality is essential evil.” Certainly, there have been and may yet be times when life and reality feel this way to me. What I have come to realize is that [...]
Hope, Optimism and Aging
Several days ago I attended the health planning meeting of a friend who is in a long-term care facility. The conditions at the facility have been very irksome and trying for him, and, given my experience of the setting, his perception is not distorted. The meeting was arranged to discuss a move to another setting [...]
Gratitude – Part 5
Now that you have had time to think about what makes you experience gratitude and thankfulness, consider toward “whom” you feel grateful. This festive season of the year may be an ideal time to give this gift of gratitude to the person who comes to mind. I have selected another exercise from the work of [...]
Gratitude – Part 4
Two weekends ago I met a well-known New York songwriter, John Bucchino, who was in Boston for a performance of his work. One song from his many, “Grateful,” struck a real chord for me and it has become a song to which I return repeatedly to meditate upon gratitude. Because you may find it also [...]
Gratitude – Part 3
Why don’t you try what Berlin suggests in his song, count your blessings. Use the following exercise over the next two weeks and see if your satisfaction with life and general happiness improve. The exercise is taken from Martin Seligman’s research on positive psychology that is summarized in his book, Authentic Happiness: Using the [...]
Gratitude Part 2 – Count Your Blessings
Those of you who read my first blog on gratitude, dated Sunday, November 29th, may wonder what gratitude has to do with ContemplAgeing. Let me explain. Gratitude is not only at the heart of spirituality in many religious and spiritual traditions. It is also pivotal for healthy living and aging. This connection and conclusion were [...]