Attending the Commission on the Status of Women with the World YWCA at the United Nations is an intergenerational experience, and an energizing one!

Women of all ages from the entire world share real life experiences in preventing, overcoming, and striving to eliminate violence against women and girls, discrimination, and racial injustice while promoting equal access to education, decent work, finances, health care, safety, political opportunities, decision making and dignity.

The intergenerational commitment to sharing these issues at each age and working together to promote women at every stage of living is essential to making this happen.

Look at your life at your age today in the environment in which you live. Imagine that

• You have no pure water. You walk for hours each day to carry the infected water that you do find.
• You are unable to attend school because your mother is ill and you must replace her to work in the home.
• You denied decent work opportunities or advancement in the workplace.
• You risk violence and rape on the path to school.
• You do not have access to health care. The nearest infirmary is three hours by foot.
• Your parents arrange for you to marry while you are still a child. You have no choice.

This may be difficult for you to imagine or it maybe the way life is where you live.  Either way it is important for discussions and solutions to be intergenerational.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Fatio spoke to the Paying Forward Club in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom at Pebble Creek, Arizona.  People in the Paying Forward Club give of their time and talents in multiple ways.  They also provide a list of places in need of volunteers.  Bonnie’s talk was on the theme  “Aging and the benefits of volunteering”, sharing research, stories, tips and techniques with active audience participation.

“After hearing Bonnie whatever I look at, I’m going to look at it in a positive way.  I think at our age we can look at the people in our life and say “I don’t need that person in my life anymore.”  That gives us power.   It was wonderful to hear Bonnie.  She really spoke to me. Ginette, 63

“I’m going through a rough transition.  I’ve recently retired and I feel like I have this whole part of life ahead of me.  I’m not sure what I want to do with that.  Bonnie’s talk was a good motivator and inspiration that has given me a lot to think about.” Grace, 58

“We get such negative thoughts on a daily basis… bombarded with what a “bad time” this is. I really identified with Bonnie, especially where she said to replace the negative thoughts I have with something positive.  I think all of us are guilty of being self-critical, but it’s time we divested ourselves of that language and replace it with something else.” Carol, 65

Galerie Chausse-Coq
presents an exposition of watercolors by
Helen Drew
with the participation of
Madame Zita Burgy
7 december – 23 december 2010
Vernissage the 9 december from 6pm.
Galerie Chausse-Coq
Arcade rue Chausse-Coq 16
1204 Geneva, Switzerland
www.helendrew.com

Helen Drew is a friend and model of Age Esteem.  I hope many of you will be able to view her work.

Bonnie Fatio

Japan is the second oldest society in the world, and fastest aging.  But many Japanese are now growing old and dying alone.  Despite a culture that heavily emphasizes respect for the elderly, 3.86 million Japanese seniors are now living alone, many of whom are separated from or ignored by their families.

Where Japanese families traditionally lived with three generations under the same roof, that has become less common in the country’s crowded cities, especially as seniors now often live long enough to see their great-grandchildren.  There’s not enough space for families to live together any more.

The government expects that within five years, more than a quarter of its 127 million citizens will be 65 or older.

Global Action On Aging newsletter

An Australian study tells us that people who give priority to their partner and children above professional success are happier in life.  Bruce Headey, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne indicates that focusing on one’s social success and material belongings can actually stand in the way of greater satisfaction in life.

Your choice of partner is also important.  The study shows that women are most happy when their partners participate in family life.

Not enough people actually sit down to ask themselves what makes them happy and then do what they can to make their lives happier. So ask yourself

• What makes me happy?
• How can I build more of this into my life?

And then act on your answers!

Bonnie Fatio

Do you choose how you act or react when an unexpected situation arises? – or – Do you normally accept the situation and suffer the consequences?

Your happiness may depend on how you answered.

In a recent publication of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they presented a study run over 25 years in Australia which shows that happiness is based on choice and the life goals that each of us sets.  Happiness is greater for those who know how to choose than it is among those who simply accept life as it happens.

We may not be able to change what happens, but we can choose how we react to what happens.

Bonnie Fatio

Bonnie Fatio will be speaking at the YWCA Southeastern Regional Conference in Miami, Florida on September 17th.

The YWCA is a global movement of 25 million women and girls working for justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and the environment in 125 countries.  Age esteem is important in the lives of those within the YWCA movement regardless of age.

There is a new breed of millionaires – and there will soon be a lot more of these millionaires.  Will you become one of them?

These are not cash-rich people.  They are time rich, those who live a million hours.  This means that they are living 114 or more years.

Today there are about 300,000 people who are validated to be at least 100 years old, and by mid century this number is estimated to grow to about 3.4 million.  There are 75 supercentenarians, meaning that they are 110 years old or more, living in the world today.  Their documents leave no doubt that they are indeed the age they are said to be.

The longest documented life is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875–1997), who died at age 122 years and 164 days. Kama Chinen, born May 10, 1895 in Okinawa, Japan, is now the oldest living person in the world.

As we continue to live longer it will become even more important to age healthfully with Age Esteem

Flying Lighter

Since AgeEsteemers are among the millions of travelers who fly, I can’t resist sharing this information concerning efforts being made to diminish costs, economize on fuel and eliminate as much CO2 as possible.

Each pound that can be avoided saves money and energy.  Companies like Swiss Airlines has introduced what they call ecological piloting, reduced the number of spoons on board, and is looking to install lighter seats.  All Nippon Airways has a different approach.  They ask passengers to go to the restroom before embarking in order to lighten the load for takeoff!

A 100 year old doctor is still delivering babies in Georgia, USA.  He has delivered over 16,000 babies since 1947 when he began his practice.  It seems that everywhere he goes he is greeted by someone who he helped bring into the world.

What is his secret?  Being passionate about what you do!

Other people who have celebrated 100 years of living have shared the same important age-esteem traits.

• Purpose, meaningful activities
• Contact with others of diverse ages
• Keep moving
• Continue to learn and to exercise their mind
• Positive attitude