Visit Me Daily on Twitter
Your Art of living
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Contact
  • Resources & Free Stuff

A beautiful long life

2/21/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo from The Hudson Hub Times
He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden.  --Plato

A few days ago our town lost its oldest resident, Ada Cooper Miller, who had turned 111 years old back in December.  Born in 1903 in England, Ada came to the United States as an infant and made a name and life for herself in Hudson, Ohio.  She graduated from Western Reserve Academy in 1924, married in 1927, ran a family floral business for 75 years, and served on the local school board for 40 years (20 of those years as its president). She retired in 2005, at nearly age 100 and spent the last few years in assisted care. Well into her 90s Ada was dancing, playing bridge, and doing floral arrangements.  It seems to me that there is much to learn from the beautiful woman's long and beautiful life.  

I recently read an article that cited a statistical report projecting that one-third of the babies born in 2013 could expect to live to age 100.  That is an astonishing number.  Many of us expect, or at least desire, to live to a quite elderly age.  So what does that mean in terms of how we live today?  How do we plan for a life that is not only long but also  well-lived?  These are the questions I find intriguing because they point to the importance of present action for future payoff.  

I also took a longevity calculator that put me at living to age 99.  With a few, and not very difficult, modifications that number could go up to 104. I'm not an expert on centegenarians, but Ada's life inspired me to do some reading on the subject. Additionally, I've been studying Ayurveda: the science of life/longevity, for a few years. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian health and life science that offers practical advice on managing our body/personality types and the daily challenges of our lives.  I've put together a few ideas on how all of us can improve our changes of joining the 100+ crowd.
  1. Keep your brain active (reading, puzzles, playing an instrument, playing games, studying something--anything!)
  2. Keep your body active: walk, lift, stretch and PLAY
  3. Eat sensibly and moderately
  4. Drink tea, especially green, but they are all good in their own ways
  5. Don't smoke, limit alcohol
  6. Sleep--get to bed early
  7. Manage your stress with meditation, prayer and yoga
  8. Maintain strong relationships
  9. Be involved in civics, service or community work--or a vocation that serves others
  10. Work, but don't overwork
  11. Get your check-ups regularly
  12. Brush, floss and tongue-scrape
  13. Maintain a positive attitude about your age 

Something that I didn't come across, but that I would add to the list, would be to seek out and enjoy beauty and accomplishment.  Listen to terrific music, go to art museums and galleries, walk in nature, read some form of poetry or spiritual work daily.  Inspiration is key to a life richly-lived.  I would also add to be wise and prudent, but not mean, in your financial habits. Overspending to keep up appearances or for immediate gratification won't help you if you do reach the centegenarian club!  I'd rather spend on experiences than things.  Travel to me is much more gratifying than expensive jewelry or clothing.  Small thoughtful gifts seem to always mean more to the recipient: a magazine you think they'll like or a piece of jewelry from a arts/crafts fair.

What will I be working on in the near future (so that I can enjoy a long future)?  I need to work fewer hours.  My work is cerebral, not necessarily physical, but it still occupies too many of my waking hours and too much of my energy.  I perhaps need to draw better boundaries, or to not worry so deeply about everything being done to its highest degree.  I would like to be reading more and having just received a 100 memoirs/biographies list from Amazon am inspired to start working my way through it.  I love memoir especially and want to get back to reading this genre.  I always learn so much in the process.  I cannot wait for nicer weather so that I can walk outdoors, but I'll continue to do indoor walking dvd's and practice yoga.  

Positivity is probably the most important thing for me to keep my eye on.  I don't want to be one of those older people spending my days complaining about how great things used to be and how lousy they are now.  It's an energy vacuum and a real turn-off.  
I turn fifty this year--the half-way mark.  I don't want to assume that it's all "downhill" from here. Rather, I want to look forward to more joy, deep gratification and connection with others.  I have a lot of living left to do and I want to do in the spirit of Ada Cooper Miller.  Inspired, engaged, feisty and full of gratitude.

Artfully Yours, 
Lisabeth





0 Comments

Black history month: josephine baker, parisian sensation

2/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
February is Black History Month and I'd like to spend the month exploring some of the famous African-American figures of jazz.  Josephine Baker was one of the first pioneers of the music and of a new style of entertainment.  I first came across Josephine many years ago when I was perusing my school's cd collection and decided to check out an album showcasing her music.  Because she beganperforming in the 1920s and 30s, the music has the odd cadence and distorations that all such historical recordings do, but I was still intrigued.  She seemed to possess such "joie de vivre" and energy.  Then I learned about her performances in Paris nightclubs.  For those who think Madonna or Lady Gaga is outrageous, they should check out Josephine!  Known for her frank sexuality, extravagant and inventive costumes, and energetic dancing.  She truly embraced showmanship.  Bare-legged and bare-breasted, she captivated French audiences with her seemingly exotic beauty.  

Though Josephine was American-born, her opportunites in the states were limited due to the racial prejudices of audiences.  Parisians were anxious to enjoy something new, but it should be noted that the racial element was part of what appealed to French audiences.  She was brought overseas to perform in La Revue Negre, a show designed to highlight tribal black colonial culture.  Posters featured caricatures of blacks complete with oversized lips.  Though the graphic art of Paul Colin (who became one of Josephine's lovers) made her famous with its irresistable allure, it also sexualized her.  That being said, Josephine seemed utterly comfortable in her skin and exhibited no shame.  I even watched a clip of a performance from 1974, at age 68, where Josephine sported a skintight turquoise jumpsuit with an enormous plumed headpiece.  She looks absolutely ageless and still quite sexy.  She died the following year of a heart attack.  

During her sixty-nine years, Josephine lived an adventurous life.  She married, and divorced, four times--but always supported herself.  She set Paris on fire with her entertainment and sang most of her tunes in French.  She participated in the French Resistance, delivering secret messages written in her sheet music, and entertained troops.  She loved children and pets.  The poster above shows her cheetah, Chiquita, one of many exotic/unusual pets she owned.  She also adoped twelve children, of a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.  She called them her "rainbow tribe" and took great pride in showcasing how a family could encompass all sorts of traditions lovingly and happily.
Picture
Josephine made her home overseas, but did occasionally come back to the United States to perform.  In the 1950s and 60s she became particularly vocal about racism and got into a verbal/print back and forth with journalist Walter Winchell.  Winchell claimed to be for racial equality and as a Jew spoke out against Nazis, however he also supported Josephy McCarthy in his anti-communist witchhunt and found himself on the receiving end of numerous slander/libel claims due to his nasty habit of childish name-calling when he disliked someone.

Toward the end of her life, Josephine performed at Carnegie Hall where she received a standing ovation. She truly valued the love and acceptance she felt from her American audience, but it is a bit sad that she had to wait so long to feel that way.

Lessons from Josephine's Life:
  1. Sometimes environment really is the problem.  I'm not a big fan of the "geographic cure" (too many people place false hope in a change of locale meaning a change of life).  However, if you are in a toxic environment then you cannot do your best work, or be your best self.  If your household, workplace, place of worship or club environments feel unhealthy, then you need to figure out how leaving or changing those places may be what is needed.
  2. Be bold!  Josephine relished her strong, sexy body and shook that banana skirt with confidence. Sometimes you just have to put it all out there. That boldness and bravery carried through to her contribution fighting the Nazis. 
  3. Fight when the time is right.  The 1920's and 30s didn't offer Josephine an environment to try to affect racial change, but the 1950s and 60s did. Sadly, sometimes you have to bide your time.
  4. You can create a family.  Through adoption (children and pets), through friendships, and fostering. 

Enjoy the clip below and perhaps check out some jazz music this month.  It's our American arts heritage and it owes much to the contributions of black musicians, writers and performers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUbUaBwLnMA

Artfully yours, Lisabeth
0 Comments

    Lisabeth Robinson

    I have been an educator for 20 years.  I create, I play, I guide and I grow.  I want to share that with you too!

    Archives

    February 2021
    July 2020
    April 2020
    August 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Anthropology
    Art
    Art Of Living
    Beauty
    Healing
    Healthy Living
    Leisure
    Literature
    Organization
    Poetry
    Renewal
    School
    Seasonal Living
    Seasons
    Self Help
    Self-help
    Self Improvement
    Self-improvement
    Spring Cleaning
    Travel

    RSS Feed

      join our email list for blog updates!

    Submit
Proudly powered by Weebly