Age Esteem begins when we are children.  Research at Yale University and the American Institute on Aging indicate that the attitude that we have towards age and older people as children influences how we ourselves age.  Children who are raised with a positive attitude and relationship towards older people age better and more healthfully and tend to live longer.

The relationships we have with older people, the language we hear others use to describe older people, and the images that we see illustrating older people will impact our whole life and even contribute to our longevity.

Age esteemers have a positive attitude toward aging.  They embrace it with age esteem.  Age esteemers value, admire and respect age and tend to live longer, happier lives.

Bonnie Fatio

Carolyn Flowers, 58

When I hear the word Age Esteem what comes to mind is age that doesn’t feel like age.  Although you’re aged, you still have some of that youth in you.

My own concern with aging is to think that somebody will have to take care of me.  I don’t want anybody to ever have to take care of me.
Carolyn’s Tips:  Stay busy:  always learning, always looking for ways to make improvements.  Giving of myself.  I think if you give of yourself you feel good about yourself and when you feel good about yourself you’ll age more gracefully.  I think that whether you’re young or whether you’re old you should always know what your passion is.  You can’t go wrong if you are doing what you’re passionate about.  It’ll keep you young.

Carolyn Flowers is regional manager of the YWCA’s of Southeast U.S.

The childhood tongue twister, “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” has a philosophy to it.  If you picked a peck of peppers and ate them, you would be very healthy indeed!  For peppers have a powerhouse of nutrients for the AgeEsteemer’s body.  There are green, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers and smaller chili peppers.  The lovely little vegetables are tempting to the eye in their shiny coats.  They may be eaten raw or cooked, stuffed and baked, boiled, broiled, fried and mixed with other vegetables such as eggplant, zuchinni, and tomatoes as well as adding a hot spice to  food.

Bell peppers are loaded with vitamin C, fighting off cancer, eye diseases and even conditions such as Alzheimer’s.  Chili peppers, which are very hot, are good for unblocking clogged up lungs and bronchial tubes.  The compound that makes them hot acts as natural aspirin. In addition, when added to food they speed up the metabolism, thus enabling the burning of calories. One interesting study shows that they do not destroy the lining of the stomach nor do they cause ulcers.   Venture out now and pick a peck of peppers!

Grandma Nature

This little white flower with its intoxicating scent is along, with the rose, a prime component of most perfumes.

Its main property is combatting stress.  Used in aromatherapy it helps to alleviate anxiety and provide relief with a massage or bath of the essential oil.  One study has shown that it is more effective than lavender for bedtime relaxation and sleep.  Also skin conditions are improved with the use of its oil.

In addition to emitting a beautiful scent, it can relieve the pressures of the day!  A wonderful secret for age esteem.

Grandma Nature

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.

Planting sunflower seeds with Grandpa

Last year’s sunflowers are already enjoying a new beginning.  Their precious seeds are being planted and a whole new cycle will begin.  And thus they continue to live on and on.

Bonnie Fatio

The sunflower eventually fades and dies.  It’s leaves dry and its color dulls.  But even then it has a beautiful lesson for us.  Not only do we hold its beauty in our mind, but the sunflower continues to live on in multiple ways.

• Sunflower oil for cooking,
• Animal feed,
• Bio diesel fuel
• Healthy, tasty sunflower seeds, and
• Cleaning toxins from the environment.

Bonnie Fatio

Sunflowers are majestic.  They shine like a reflection of the sun.  And like people with age esteem, they become models for others.  They are looked up to as something of beauty and wonder.  They share many lessons with us.

• Keep your face to the sun.
• Stand tall.
• Share your pollen (wisdom, talents, skills)
• Continue to grow throughout life (learn and stretch your thinking).
• Shine forth with your inner beauty.

Bonnie Fatio

It always puts a smile on my face to see fields of sunflowers in bloom.  They have such a generous attitude.  The sunflower not only shares its beauty as it lifts its face to the sun as though laughing with joy.  – It also provides a landing field for all kinds of airborne insects from bumble bee to butter fly who in turn spread the flower’s pollen.

This is easily understood by people with age esteem.  Age-esteemers also have an attitude of generosity.

• They focus their thoughts on the sunshine, the positive.
• They shine with inner beauty.
• They share their joy of living, and
• They spread their pollen of wisdom.

Bonnie Fatio

The sunflower is beautiful! – Not because it is perfect, but because it shines with a natural beauty both in the sunshine and the shade.  In fact, the sunflower brightens any setting.  It raises its head with confidence and brings a happy glow to the world.

Age-esteemers bring their happy glow to the world as well, as they find ways to brighten the days of others.

Bonnie Fatio