Senior Moments Aren't Just for Seniors!

          Read these funny examples of momentary memory lapses and see if you can relate to any of them:

          - While sorting out the garage, a man spent 10 minutes looking for something
                    to tie a bunch of tie-wraps together.

          - A woman making chicken soup simmered the carcass for hours with lots of
                    vegetables. Then, when it was all nice and tasty, she grabbed a colander
                    and poured all the liquid down the sink. She just stood there for about
                    5 minutes, staring at the bones trying to remember what the next step in
                    soup-making was.

          - Sam recently went to a gas station near his apartment with the intention of
                    buying gas. It was a rare occasion, as he actually had cash (he normally
                    paid for everything on debit). He walked up to the station and gave the
                    man $10. Sam then proceeded to walk back to his car, get inside, and
                    drive away. It was several minutes later, on the highway, that he
                    realized that he hadn't actually pumped any gas. Sam was too ashamed
                    to go back.

          - A harried mom went to the bank and tried to make a deposit. The teller in
                    training said she couldn’t find the account. The mom began to get
                    irritated. I always seem to get the new guy, she thought. The mom
                    asked them to search by her name. Still nothing. Then the mom realized
                    she was at the wrong bank.

          I don’t think any of these hilarious incidents happened to senior citizens. Yet, more often than not, they’re characterized as “senior moments.”

It Can Happen to Anyone

Senior Moments: The Best is Yet to Come?

          For many years, society has said don’t trust anyone over 30. And even though those over thirty make up the largest segment of the population, the advertising media seems to eschew this significant baby boomer crowd. The senior population has historically been shoved aside and told “It’s all downhill now, baby! You’ve lived your best life, had the most fun, amassed your greatest wealth, enjoyed the most rewards life has to offer and had the best sex you’ll ever experience.” However, this is changing and advertisers are seeing the potential with the older crowd. More and more we hear comments like, “Sixty is the new 40 and 80 is the new 50.”

          If I ever doubted at 65 the best is yet to come, all I have to do is think about Louise Hay. This metaphysical teacher and motivational author is currently 86 years old. She was born into a poor and abusive family and ran away from home at 14. She dropped out of school and married at 15 and was pregnant at 16; she gave the baby up at its birth whereupon her husband left her for another woman. In the late 1970’s, she found she had cervical cancer but refused conventional medical treatment and began a regime of forgiveness, coupled with therapy, nutrition, and reflexology. She claimed in an interview that she rid herself of the cancer by this regime. While many would have boohoo’d that the best was nowhere in sight either then or in their future, she saw the positive and turned things around. She studied the New Thought works of authors and spiritual teachers including Ernest Holmes, who taught that positive thinking could heal the body.

          Louise Hay has, among many other things, written 27+ books on affirmations and the power of positive thinking to heal anything that needs healing, mind or body. In 1984 she established the Hay House Publishing firm and has worked with the likes of Deepak Chopra, Ester and Jerry Hicks, Oprah Winfrey and Wayne Dyer. Her bestseller, Heal Your Body, has sold more than 35 million copies around the world in over 30 languages. She loves to sing, dance, paint and sculpt, endeavors she didn’t even start until well into her 70’s. She is a true representation that the best is ALWAYS yet to come. There are many other celebrities like Louise in the news every day.

          While it’s nice to see well-known people who remind us that life can always be very fun and rewarding, I find it particularly heartening to personally know some seniors who epitomize the positive attitude that attracts more of the same, regardless of age. My friend Barbara was one of those people.