Even though I attended this course last year, I didn't have a chance to report on it until now. The lessons learned are timeless, titled "The Art of Aging: Three Secrets to Making Today the Best Day of Your Life,."
The two-hour workshop was presented by L. Andrew Morgan at the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library. It was a Well & Wise event sponsored in partnership with the Howard County Department of Citizen Services and Office on Aging.
Currently the marketing director at Vantage House, Morgan has also been coaching and teaching personal development for the last 20 years. With the help of technology, he coaches 12 clients, including one in the United Kingdom. He also did a show, "Your Life Without Limits" on News Channel 8 Live.
His motivation came during his young life from his great-grandfather, who lived to be 103. He learned from his great-grandfather to have a can-do attitude and to always stay active. He said that there are those who can and do; those who can do but don't; and those that can't and won't.
Morgan helped the nine senior attendees to assess their S.T.A.R. qualities (Strengths, Talents, Abilities and Resources). He encouraged us to overcome negative beliefs about aging, which may limit us from pursuing meaningful activities.
Other topics included increasing self-confidence and clarity of purpose and discovering the secret to feeling a sense of accomplishment every day. The bottom line action is to replace our ineffective habits with effective ones and to manage change and transition in our life.
Using real life lessons Morgan learned during 18 years of work with older adults, his course shows participants how to reconnect, reenergize and refocus on priorities during their retirement years. Morgan said that many of the lessons came from residents of Vantage House, a full-service senior living community in downtown Columbia. Morgan said that Vantage house residents are engaged in every aspect of the community, from cultural activities to volunteering and even continuing to work full- or part-time. He also said that they are enjoying lives filled with purposeful pursuits.
Morgan talked about flow. He said that when we watch a world-class athlete, that's flow. The athlete is in his flow channel, where his skills and challenges are both high. Not using all the skills we have creates boredom and anxiety. So, if you are bored, you need more challenges; and if you are challenged, you need more skills.
Morgan stressed the importance of maintaining energy. Make sure you get the sleep, nutrition and exercise you need
According to Morgan, routines rule our lives; that is the brain's way of being efficient. However, there is no conscious thought to routines. Changing routines is not easy and not comfortable, but it is important for our brain to be free to think. Having positive people around us is important. Share your gifts and talents with someone else.
For instant inspiration, Morgan recommended going to growingbolder.com (www.growingbolder.com). It is a site that offers "hope, inspiration and possibility." You can read about an 88-year-old competitive gymnast, or a 96-year-old man who published his own memoirs, or a 50-year-old Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.
Doris Haddock, now deceased, has been an inspiration to Morgan. At age 89, she began walking from California to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness of campaign finance reform. She walked 10 miles a day and arrived in D.C., after 14 months, at the age of 91. Haddock had walked 3,000 miles.
In summary, the three secrets to make today the best day of your life are: 1) Assess where you are; 2) Identify areas you want to change; and 3) Doing, every day.