It Is Never, Ever Too Late
Get well wishes
Are welcome words indeed,
They sound almost delicious
And satisfy your needs.
How swell to be remembered
With cards and plants and food,
Cheer dwells in one’s heart chambers
And quells more somber moods.
Fare thee well oh injured “mal-mate”,
Go on a mending spree!
It is never, ever too late
To be well as well can be.
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem
An Experience In Age Esteem
Age Esteem abounded last night at an annual event in Grand-Saconnex, one of municipalities of Geneva, Switzerland when they awarded the “Mérite saconnésien”. It is a ceremony to award local citizens for the outstanding contribution they have made to the local community or to the world.
My dear friend Heli Bathija received this award for her work to save babies in Afghanistan. Heli is a medical doctor who retired from her career at the World Health Organization several years ago. Retirement gave her the opportunity to redirect her energies and experience to new areas of interest. One of these interests led her to found Hope For The Babies (HOBI).
The idea is simple, yet life changing and life saving. The mortality rate of newborn babies in Afghanistan is extremely high. This is for two reasons: 1) Mothers usually give birth at home in disastrous hygienic conditions. 2) Hypothermia. The babies die from the cold.
Dr. Bathija’s prevention was simple. Offer warm sweaters for the babies of mothers who come to the local health centers to give birth. It results in the mother giving birth in more sanitary conditions and the baby is kept warm.
Since Dr. Heli Bathija had lived and worked in Afghanistan, she had good contacts to make this happen. But where would all those sweaters come from? – From knitters, of course! So she set out to find women and men who knit, beginning with the knitting club in her own community. Today she has knitters in many parts of the world, including France, Canada, U.K., Finland…as well as many people contributing wool and money to help it happen.
Heli Bathija is a living example of age esteem, proving it is never too late to launch a new idea or to make a lasting difference. Through her age esteem she is enhancing the course of lives, not only of mothers and babies, but also of people who knit with a purpose – to give a fair chance to a newborn.
At this same ceremony, the knitting group of Grand-Saconnex also received the “Mérite saconnésien” for their outstanding contribution through the knitting of countless sweaters, blankets and bonnets for the newborns in Afghanistan. Without these dedicated women using their creative talents, Hope For The Babies may not have taken off in such a dynamic way, stimulating interest from other like groups.
Here, too, Age Esteem was evident since the knitters were elders in the community. Their leader, in light green in the above photograph, is 92 years old. She, and the other women in this group, are beautiful models of age esteem. It showed through their energy, relationships to others in the community and their commitment to making a difference.
Bonnie Fatio
The Doctor’s Advice
“You have brittle bones”
the doctor said,
(in very somber tones)
“but years ahead
to be a bit more positive
and optimistic every day,
you’ve verve and joy with which to live,
and Age Esteem along the way!”
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®
Keep A Healthy And Active Mind
A nagging worry as we age is, “Will I be able to keep my mind in tact, or will I lose my memory?”
It is true that dementia becomes more prevalent as we age. However, there are many ways we can act to keep our minds and bodies healthy and active. The poster in the photo above arrived in my mail from the Alzheimer Association of Switzerland. Their mailings are useful with suggestions that are easy to implement immediately.
Here are the 7 Golden Rules for a Healthy and Active Life from their poster.
And remember that laughter is the best medicine!
People with age-esteem keep their minds and bodies healthy and active, and they laugh often!
Bonnie Fatio
Leg Health To Enhance Age Esteem
It is easier to feel good about yourself at the age you are and to glow with age esteem when you are healthy. – And healthy legs are important to your overall health.
You can do much to prevent varicose veins and keep your legs healthy.
Age-esteemers know it is important to care for their legs.
Grandma Nature
It’s Tennis Time!
It’s Tennis Time
For one and all.
(I hope this rhyme
Is “on the ball”!)
Deuce or love or match or set,
Challenges are “on the Net;”
Played with lobs or stunning serves,
Be a winner, live with verve!
Some games are lost,
And others won.
This “ball” is tossed
For champions!
Courts are clay,
Or sometimes green,
But Your next play
Is Age Esteem.
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®
Geraniums For Healthy Aging
Geraniums are soon to be planted in many of the window boxes of mountain chalets in the Swiss Alps. They are beautiful and full of color. Did you know that they are also beneficial for healthy aging?
Geraniums known also as pelargoniums, produce oil, which is a natural antiseptic to be used for cuts and bruises. Geranium oil also improves circulation and can reduce blood pressure.
In former times geraniums were used for treating sore throats and sinus conditions.
When you age with age esteem you know that it is beneficial to pamper yourself. When adding the geranium flower and petals to a bath, the scent of the steam enhances a feeling of well-being and reduces stress.
Grandma Nature
Private Transformation
Public transportation:
A wonderful invention!
Private transformation
A marvelous prevention
For all the woe of aging. –
So try to strive for changing
The one you might have seemed
Were you not Age Esteemed!
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®
Light Up With Age Esteem!
While watching fireworks in the night
(Like jewelry in the sky)
I think “Oh, what a lovely sight:
Those sparkling fireflies.”
You, too, can be aglow in Life
And shine, crackle and gleam;
Just rid yourself of any strife,
Light up with Age Esteem!
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®
Growing Old With Age Esteem
One Key to Life
(as we are told)
Is aging best by growing old.
Growing wise and staying bright,
Being strong and showing might.
Spend your years by growing UP!
Fill to brim each daily “cup”!
Grow, not old but ageless, and
With Age Esteem you’ll be just grand!
Written by Alexandra Taylor for AgeEsteem®
