Dear Members and Friends,
Once a month I receive a newsletter from Meaningful Ageing Australia. I don’t have any idea how I first learned of this organization, but each month I am inspired by, and my heart is warmed by it because one of the greatest joys of my calling is visiting people who’ve lived a long time.
Check out this link: https://seemeknowme.org.au. If you don’t have a computer, call me. I’ll bring mine so we can watch it together. It’s 3:25 minutes of inspiration to watch and share.
The video and the words that follow demonstrate why these visits are so inspiring. Meaningful Ageing Australia recently had a special event it called A Cup of Tea and a Slice of Cake.
Surely a nice cup of tea, a slice of cake and good conversation is one of the best things in life? If you agree, you’re in good company. Over 250 people joined Meaningful Ageing Australia for High Tea as part of our See Me. Know Me. Campaign. The campaign is designed to encourage older people to reflect, and talk, about those things in life that are meaningful to them.
Joining us in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart were plenty of enthusiastic older Australians who enjoyed a traditional High Tea with us. We invited people to use our See Me. Know Me. Conversation Starters to get beyond the mundane. From the more superficial to the deeper questions of life, there was a lot of animated conversation, plenty of laughter, and even a few tears, as people opened up for the first time about things. “I’ve never told anybody this…” was not uncommon.
If you are in touch with groups in the general community, please spread the word about See me. Know me.
I knew of a church where six high school-age people spent their summer interviewing older members of the congregation. The kids eventually wrote brief biographies and produced a film about their summer and their relationships with the older members. Stereotypes about older people disappeared and the talents of younger members were affirmed.
How I wish I could clone myself and See You. Know You. more.
With gratitude,
Terry
he/his/him
P.S. The November issue of First Press is available on our website www.fpcmarion.org