Every picture tells a story

 We are all getting older, and I find it interesting that the way we think about ageing, the advancements in science and health have actually changed the way we age. We also live in a visual society, as Rod Stewart said, “Every picture tells a story don’t it?” So, how are the elderly portrayed in the media through the images we see. Retiring from the labour force has given so many people the time and resources to get out and explore the world. Travel to far-off destinations, or even getting to know their own corner of the globe better, is a goal of many when they quit working. Is this active lifestyle shown in the media, or do we see stock images of seniors sitting playing cards, or sitting in the mall?

Why do we not see images of our generation heading to airports, travelling in high-end RVs, relaxing on exotic beaches, and exploring iconic destinations. But also show the process of planning a trip embracing the latest technology – browsing travel sites on a tablet, booking tickets using a smartphone, or travelling using the latest apps.

In fact, retirement isn’t even defined as it used to be. So many people are continuing to work part-time well past the “traditional” ages, or are using retirement as an opportunity to start second career, volunteer or seriously pursue a former hobby. To quit working a day job is now very different from withdrawing from the workforce so show this age group continuing to actively contribute to society.

 Key to all of the above is being able to maintain a healthy lifestyle including diet, exercise and healthcare. Does the media show imagery where the “elderly” participating in yoga classes, running in organized races and taking a hands-on approach to managing their diets and health?

Do the media show examples of older individuals getting regular health screenings, keeping their vaccinations up to date, taking medications and supplements or using the latest technology to monitor and track their own health are needed across the age spectrum?

Many of my age group use technology to stay connected with extended family and friends which is another positive aspect of ageing that can easily be shown in the media. Older relatives moving in with younger family members to help out instead of moving to a nursing home is a big trend that is still underrepresented in images. Age-restricted, continuous care or assisted living facilities have grown immensely in popularity and offer alternatives when living at home is no longer possible or desirable. There are more positive images of seniors in the media than there were a few years ago. If we want to reduce ageism in our society, a place to start is to look at the images we use to portray seniors. If they are negative, we need to call out the media companies and if they are positive, we need to give positive feedback. Change is not easy; it starts one pixel at a time.

Ode ro a golf ball

 My thanks to George and the original author for this

Had William Wordsworth been a golfer, he would have written something like this about a golf ball !

In My Hand I Hold A Ball, White 

\And Dimpled, Rather Small.

Oh, How Bland It Does Appear, 

This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By Its Size I Could Not Guess, 

The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.

But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,

 I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same, 

Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.

It Rules My Mind For Hours On End, 

A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

 It Has Made Me Yell, Curse And Cry,

I Hate Myself And Want To Die.

It Promises A Thing Called Par,

If I Can Hit It Straight And Far.

To Master Such A Tiny Ball, 

Should Not Be Very Hard At All.

But My Desires The Ball Refuses, 

And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,

And Even Disappears Before My Eyes.

Often It Will Have A Whim, 

To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land, 

Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.

Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul, 

If Only It Would Find The Hole.

It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup, 

And Swear That I Will Give It Up.

And 

Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow, 

But The Ball Knows ... I'll Be Back Tomorrow

There is always anohter way

 There's always another way. Always. We sometimes think that we are trapped in our relationships in our jobs, in our own drama, but when that happens, we have to remember that there is always another way. The problem is that we become trapped in our thinking and our ability to see another way becomes limited.

It is not easy to change thinking, each of us has our own personal paradigm that defines who are and how we see the world. A change in basic assumptions has also been used to describe a profound change in a fundamental model or perception of events. A shift in thinking can be a paradigm if in our thinking we believe that an important change has happened and our usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way of doing and thinking.

When we undergo a paradigm shift, we may reject everything we believed to be normal and what we believe we have in common with others in our group. Normal may mean a coherent system of rules, which once we make a shift we reject these norms and this can be unsettling for us, but once we realize that we can change then we are no longer trapped.

After silence comes the music

 "After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music" Aldous Huxley

If you are sad, happy, frustrated, depressed, angry you can find music to either keep you in that mood or help you change the mood.

Music has been around for millennia. Before the written word, we had music to allow us to communicate. Music has evolved over time and has brought the composer and the listener, closer and closer to “expressing the inexpressible.” While music is an escape for some, for others music has also proved itself to be a fitting answer for those moments when the inexpressible enters our life. However, this doesn’t mean that’s music is always the answer.

Every once in a while music stops me in my tracks, and I hope it does for you from time to time. It is not the music by itself but the events going on around me that the music enhances. When music adds to the event, I find it amazing! Hearing the right music at the right time could be life-enhancing and even life-changing.

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.  Victor Hugo