Seniors centre.

West Edmonton Seniors Activity Centre

My routines seem to have been established. I start with the morning walk - Ged being nice to me lately, waking me closer to 6 than 5 am. Right after the walk I have to take a shower. If I don't do it at this point, I have difficulty finding time to do it later. There was even one day that I had not showered at all! Brr!

After simple breakfast and listening to the news, while sipping my morning tea, I try to use the rest of the morning to do something productive - conceptual work (things requiring "thinking") or attending to things that are, in one way or another, unpleasant for me (mundane tasks, communicating about something difficult). In the afternoon, when my energy level seems to wean off, I try to do some errands.

Yesterday I checked out the local seniors' centre - out of curiosity and to promote my new AGE Program. First of all, I was impressed with how big the facility was. The second impressive thing was that their 2019 Fall Program Guide had ... 76 pages! There is a lot going on in this centre - art classes, woodworking, choir, creative drama, educational classes, such as learning another language, ballroom dancing, fitness instruction, group sports, yoga and meditation classes, games, birthday parties, and so on. Taking into account that this just one of 11 similar centers in Greater Edmonton, I shall conclude - the most wonderful Canada, you take good care of your seniors!

Things were somewhat slow at the front desk, possibly because of the slow computer system. Two ladies, ahead of me in line, appeared to be of my age. One was accompanied by her daughter, likely trying to help her mother to find something to do. Both of the ladies signed up for some activities right away. I got my membership tag for just $30 (a year), and, being short of time, just went to check on their contract bridge activity.

To my great surprise, their ACBL scored tournament must have had over 20 tables! This seems to confirm what some research suggested - bridge players tend to live longer! Possibly, because they have more time for their favorite activity, tease their minds to some effort, and stay connected to others.

The only problem for me was that most of the people in that room (picture on the right is just for illustration, not taken in this particular centre) were ... much older than me! Some appeared so feeble that they had difficulty keeping cards in their hands.

At this point a few unpleasant thoughts creeped into my mind -

IS IT MY HANGOUT? IS IT WHERE I BELONG?

These thoughts seemed to have triggered some anxiety in me - of getting "really" old, weak, and, I guess, by association, of dying.

This brought back to my mind some of the ideas of Leonard Orr, the founder of Rebirthing-Breathwork, also a long-time advocate for Physical Immortality. Orr used to say that hanging out with the "mortals" can be "dangerous" as it is hard to defend against "deathist mentality." As a part of his defense against the "death urge," so it seems, Orr has been with his third, much younger, wife.

Elvi and Leonard Orr

One could naturally argue that "deathist mentality" is not necessary related to age. I know quite a few people in their 60s, and older, who are quite vibrant, "full of energy and enthusiastic about life." They live active social lives, hike in the mountains, sail their boats, and so on.  At the same time, through my professional practice, I met many young people who had already appeared "dead inside," full of negativity, often suicidal, etc. 

Quite a dilemma - to play bridge in the local seniors centre or to take a young lover?

WHICH WAY WOULD YOU GO? :-)