In our ongoing effort to meert both mandates of “Connections”, informing readers about RGP services and promoting wellness by providing information on matters relevant to aging and health, following is an article by Sister Joan Budzik,CND, Coordinator of Spiritual and Religious Care, Providence Continuing Care Centre, St.Mary’s of the Lake Site.

 

SPIRITUAL ELDERING

 

When the word ELDER is used in our society, it is used as a noun, to refer to someone of advanced age, or of great wisdom.  When the word ELDER is used as a verb, a new insight emerges.  It is possible to say, however old we may be, that, "we are all eldering, moment by moment."  This means, that we are experiencing life, learning from life, distilling wisdom from our life experiences, and keeping these insights for our own use, as well as sharing with others what we have found helpful. 

 

Spirituality defines who we are as human persons.  It causes us to question, to dream, to journey toward the discovery of the meaning of life and the meaning in life.  Spirituality helps us to transcend ourselves, to go beyond self-absorption, and recognize someone or some cause as more important than our own self-gratification. 

 

Spritual eldering combines both these concepts, and is seen as an exciting and dynamic process, because the older we become, the greater is our life experience.  At whatever point we find ourselves in life, we are encouraged in our ageing process to consider ourselves as DEAR: an acronym which reminds us to maintain a healthy DIET, energizing EXERCISE, a positive ATTITUDE toward life, balanced with RELAXATION, to relieve unwanted stress.

 

Spiritual eldering is best described as a multi-faith, holistic model and vision of ageing, which affirms and nurtures persons as potential elders.  It encourages and teaches us to become more aware of the wisdom from our life experience, using it to benefit ourselves and others. 

 

Scientists tell us that in the past hundred years, we have doubled our life span.  The deep philosophical question that emerges is, "Why have we been given this extra time?"  Each person must answer this question for him or herself.

 

In spiritual eldering, persons are encouraged to keep a journal and to do a Life Review - a memoir of sorts, which can be used to highlight good and bad experiences, and to realize that many bad experiences have actually developed into good experiences.  It is an opportunity to forgive, and leave behind grudges, which have not harmed anyone but oneself. 

 

It is an opportunity to spend time in reflection; reminiscing, reviewing, re-evaluating, grieving and celebrating what has been, and, what one has been and has become.  It is an opportunity to face up to one's mortality, and to reconcile with the past, accept the present, and maintain a positive view of life, all of which helps us to achieve life satisfaction. We learn that although we can't change facts, our perception of facts can and does change.  We can harvest our lives to find all the blessings therein.

For many, there is a desire to share their accumulated wisdom, leaving a legacy for their family and friends, and perhaps mentoring someone in need of encouragement. 

 

The goals of spiritual eldering include:

 

§         learning to accept and celebrate age;

§         reclaiming and transforming our older years as a time of meaning and fulfilment;

§         learning to live more consciously, increasing autonomy and self-understanding;

§                     reaching into the past and exploring the successes and lessons from our lives;

§                     gaining a sense of aliveness and purpose from the acceptance of our mortality;

§         discovering and sharing our life wisdom  by finding ways  to transmit this to future generations;

§         helping to create a pro elder society.

 

 May you have a delightful experience of Spiritual Eldering.

 

Reference:

Schachter-Shalomi, Z. and Miller, R,  From Age-ing To Sage-ing

A Profound New Vision of Growing Older,Warner Books Inc., New York