Nearly fifty guests braved the tail end of hurricane Ian on Saturday October first to enjoy a sumptuous brunch at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, a top retirement community in the region, while getting pointers from two renowned experts on aging.
Glenn Ellis, a health educator, lecturer, author, and syndicated columnist, took the stage first to talk about the cerebral aspects of aging; being “selfish” about staying healthy, both mentally and physically. “Aging,” he said, “has been redefined. We are living longer, we want to be independent for as long as possible, and therefore need to reassess our activities and lifestyle – what are we capable of today, not 10 or 20 years ago.”
He had the audience in stitches when he mimed out a “lighter” future – emotionally lighter by letting go of stressors in your life, and physically lighter as well. “Don’t keep carrying around those extra pounds,” he warned, “your knees, hips, and back will thank you.”
Following Glenn, Margit Novack spoke to the practical, literal side of senior transitions. Having founded Moving Solutions and essentially birthed a senior-focused industry specialization, her experiences give her a unique view of the typical obstacles and challenges seniors face – real and perceived.
Not surprisingly, she used many humorous and poignant anecdotes to illustrate her key point: get rid of “things” because you don’t need them to remember and honor those you loved. “Instead, share the stories of your parents with your children and those who come after,” she said.
Both agreed that finding purpose and community as we age is the foundation of creating a future rich with possibilities. “It is your responsibility to find new purpose and to find community,” said Margit. “You won’t like everyone, just like you didn’t like everyone in college. You’ll find your groups, your “peeps” – a walking group, a bridge group, a group for whatever your new purpose will be as you move forward. And a bonus point: statistics prove you’ll live longer.”
Guests received complimentary copies of Glenn and Margit’s latest books and toured several apartments and villas to see how Beaumont residents are able to customize their homes. The finishing touch, or coupe de grace of the event, was a boxed “super brownie” presented to each guest as they left – so much for a lighter future!
