I recently presented to a wonderful group of south Cowichan seniors on my 7 Pillars of Happiness. We all had a great time discussing happiness and why it’s important to think about and practise it (but not chase it!) at any age.
And I made a new friend at this presentation too! Terry. Great fellow! From the moment I arrived and sat down (beside Terry) he seemed like such an easy person to talk to. It was as if I was supposed to sit next to Terry. We started to connect immediately.
Terry shared a couple stories about his career, and how he was drawn to educating and helping others. We all had lunch together and we had great conversation at our table.
As I started my presentation on Pillars of Happiness and started talking about the first Pillar — growth and learning — Terry shared with us a story about how he recently started playing the piano. He said it was something he always wanted to learn how to play. He felt he was always drawn to it, but never started until recently in his 80s. He mentioned to our group about how he was loving learning the piano. I applauded Terry’s courage to push out his boundaries because he was a perfect example right there in the presentation of continuing to learn and grow, lifelong. It was as though Terry was planted in my audience!
But wait! That’s just the first awesome happiness example from Terry in that 30 minute presentation!
I go on to bring up one of the most fundamental pillars — gratitude. I talk about how people who express gratitude (even just to themselves) daily experience more positive emotions, fell more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. Our discussion leads into the idea of “putting things out to the universe”, which I believe is more related to allowing and seeing opportunities that already exist, and Terry mentions to the group that he has always wanted to ride a Harley motorcycle. Well wouldn’t you know it, one of the ladies sitting at the same table as Terry says that she has two Harleys sitting in her garage that haven’t been used in a few years — just waiting to be ridden! We marvelled in that moment about how that dream of Terry’s got a huge step closer in an instant! No doubt Terry is thinking more seriously now about going after his motorcycle licence.
The happiness presentation carried on and concluded with the importance of keeping (and building!) great relationships lifelong, and being engaged in life.
The south Cowichan seniors group participants that invited me out for lunch and a talk are all great examples of building relationships and staying engaged lifelong.
And I’m so grateful that I got to meet all of them, and make a new friend in Terry, who I think I’ll invite along to future presentations! Terry, we’re hitting the road!
Chris Wilkinson is the owner/GM for Nurse Next Door Home Care Services for Cowichan and central Vancouver Island. For questions or a free in-home caring consult call 250-748-4357, or email Cowichan@NurseNextDoor.com