A Film For Age Esteem – Quartet

Quartet is a delightful film that openly addresses, with humor, the trials of growing old.  Directed by Dustin Hoffman, now 75, it stars a quartet of age-esteemers: Maggie Smith 78, Billie Connolly 71, Pauline Collins 73, and Tom Courtenay 76.

Together they prove that age is not for sissies (famous quote from Bette Davis).  At the same time they prove that how you live your age is your choice.  They each choose to live it manifesting many of the traits of age esteem.

• There is still room for romance and love.
• You are meant to share your talents at every age.
• Passion for what you love to do continues to drive your actions.
• Relationships with friends of all ages remain key as we age.
• Growing old is a continuation of life and living.

No, age is not for sissies.  Choose how you want to live your age.

Bonnie Fatio

A Film For Age Esteem

Note: Our film critic, Neptune Ingwersen rates this film as *** Very Good.  I would add an extra star as a film for Age Esteem.  – See tomorrow’s blog to know why.  »  Bonnie Fatio

Quartet  ***  A legend of cinema known for his versatile acting, Dustin Hoffman proves  quite capable as first-time director of this sweet, moving and amusing tale of aging opera singers in a seniors’ home somewhere in England. One could mention that the luxury of the surroundings and elaborate meals are unrealistic or that the script is somewhat formulaic, but the pleasurable warmth and familiarity of a story graced by Maggie Smith as a diva, an incorrigible Billy Connolly and the adorable Pauline Collins of Shirley Valentine fame make up for any small glitches.

Neptune Ravar Ingwersen

GO! 

Yesterday you learned to use your internal STOP sign to eliminate negative thoughts and expressions in order to grow our age esteem.

Let’s take it a step further.  It isn’t enough to simply stop our negative thoughts.  We need to also replace them with something positive.  A positive thought or expression is uplifting and moves us forward.  Negatives are like weights that hold us down.

Now that you have used your STOP sign to eliminate negatives that creep into your language, it is time to replace those negative words and expressions with positive thoughts and words.  Just as the streetlights turn from stop to go, so will your thoughts.

• Each time you catch yourself using a negative expression such as “I can’t”, STOP!
• Now GO! Transform your words to make them positive.  “I could never learn to use these new fangled phones” becomes “I will learn to use my new phone’s multiple possibilities”.
• GO! with your new positive vocabulary until it becomes second nature.

You will soon find that you have a whole new attitude that enhances your age esteem and your life will become happier.

Bonnie Fatio

STOP!

How many times do you stop automatically when you see a stop sign?  You don’t even think about it.  Your reaction is automatic.  You stop!

Wouldn’t it be great if we had little stop signs that would flash in other aspects of our life?  I’m thinking of a stop sign flashing when negative thoughts come to mind such as “I am too old for that; I am not good enough; I am too skinny or fat”.

And what about those moments of procrastination when we put something off until later or talk ourselves out of purchasing something we can afford and that would make our lives easier or more pleasurable simply ‘because’.

Let’s add lack of self-confidence while we are at it.

All of these are the antipathy of age esteem.  You can learn to erase these negatives from your life and to grow your age esteem.

• Picture a STOP sign.  Use the one pictured above as an example.
• Every time you catch yourself saying something negative either out loud or in your mind, picture the STOP sign.
• Stop that thought!

It is as easy as that.

Bonnie Fatio

Emmanuelle Riva, 86

In the United States the world of cinema is honored by the Oscars.  In France they are honored with the Césars.

This year Emmanuelle Riva received the César of best actress at age 86 proving that there is no limit of age when it comes to shining through your talents.  She starred in the French film Amour written and directed by Michael Haneke.  Amour was also awarded an Oscar as the best foreign language film.

Bravo Emmanuelle Riva for shining with age-esteem on the big screen as a model for each of us!

Rain, Rain Please Stay!

Rain, Rain don’t go away,

Stay and sprinkle on our day!

It is NOT always funny

To have it HOT and sunny.

So, even though our shoes get damp,

And our hair “shades” like a lamp’s,

We can sparkle in a shower,

Moisturized like some rare flower!

Rain, Rain, please rain awhile,

It will moisten up my smile,

Glisten all my radiant beams

And lubricate my Age Esteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

By The Sea

This poem is written by the sea,

The sky is blue, oh lucky me!

The ocean waves at those on shore,

The beaches shine, my spirits soar.

The “sea ne’s the same for young or old,

Its loveliness is manifold.

And so can you at best be “sea n”

When practicing your AgeEsteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Time

We live in a country of time,

With watches and hall clocks which chime,

We fill every minute

By duties within it,

While the Alps, standing still, stay sublime!

Sometimes it is best to just STOP

And lay down your schedules (and mop!)

Now is important, not when,

Try to Be, not one who has been!

Decide to wind down: stay on top!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

Take Pride In Your Own Age Esteem! 

One, two, three, four,

What ARE you waiting for?

Five, six, seven, eight,

Enjoy life; it’s not too late!

Nine, ten, eleven, twelve,

“Dig” each day – Dare to delve

Into and on, way past thirteen…

Take pride in your own Age Esteem!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®

At first we fell for Bonnie

And her beautifell new theme,

Then it befell our bodies

How to practice AgeEsteem.

We fell into a new approach

Of facing fellow peers.

How awfell it is to reproach

The bountifell new years!

Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®