Laughter, Love and Lending a Hand - Seniors Living Life to the Limit
Why Are These Seniors Laughing?
Don’t these people know that life is a serious matter? Now that we are over 65 we should act our age and sit quietly and watch the world go by. We should stop all the frivolity and silliness and display a little dignity.
Not a Chance! We will NOT fit into a box that others design. We will be ourselves and we will be as happy as we wish to be. We will share this happiness and help others enjoy life. We are not going away without a laugh or a giggle!
Laughter is an excellent tonic and a very prudent way to manage tension and ease pain. These people are laughing, not because they have abandoned good sense and had a frivolous emotional outburst, but because they are truly enjoying themselves.
Three Keys to Living Life to the Limit
These young-at-heart seniors know that a little laughter goes a long way to making them feel young and connected to life. They also know that when they practice these 3 things they feel better about themselves, they feel better about those around them, and they love to share their blessings with others. These 3 things are:
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Laughing, making others laugh, and having a good time.
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Loving themselves and others, and showing this love in their speech and their listening to others.
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Lending a hand to their friends, neighbors and society - giving to others with joy and happiness.
Laughing Out Loud
1. Laughing out Loud Releases Endorphins
Laughing out loud, especially with friends, is one of the most practical and healthy behaviors we can develop. Laughter exercises our insides, (that’s right, our organs) by bringing more oxygen to the heart lungs and muscles.
And laughing releases endorphins (chemicals in the brain) that make us feel good for a long time after the funny incident.
Laughing along with a group of people helps us form friendships with others who may have similar interests as we do. Laughing with (not at) others makes us appear more at ease with ourselves and makes others feel comfortable being with us.
The Zimmers - Laughing at Themselves and Their Generation
The name Zimmers comes from the name of a wheeled walker made in Britain. In Europe, a wheeled walker is called a rollator. In North America, we call this mobility aid that seniors use, a walker or a wheeled walker.
In May 2007 a group of hilarious older seniors in the UK came together to form a rock band. They called themselves The Zimmers, taking the generic term for a wheeled walker in Britain. Through fun and parody they drew attention to the difficulties of growing old. One of their funniest videos is "My Generation". This is a take-off of "My Generation" by the The Who.
Oldest Rock Band in the World - Very Funny
This is the band that showed the world that you're never too old to rock...
Tim Samuels, a BBC documentary-maker, decided he should show just how badly old folks are treated-and ignored-in Britain. He finds a number of lonely old folks in apartments (some of whom haven't been outside their apartments for 3 or more years) and brings them together with record label owner Neil Reed and U2 producer Mike Hedges. But, best of all, Samuels manages to get access to the Beatles' old studio at Abbey Road (see map, below) where the Zimmers produced this fabulous video.
On a magical day, the 40 old people - who have no musical background - come together at Abbey Road to record their version of The Who's 'My Generation', with 90-year-old Alf belting out the lead vocals.
Overnight, 90-year-old Alf, 99-year-old Winnie, 100-year-old Buster and the rest of the band (with a combined age of more than 3000!), become a global sensation. This video is well worth watching.
Abbey Road Studios 3 Abbey Rd, St John's Wood, London, Greater London NW8 9AY, United Kingdom
Loving and Happy Attitude
2. Expressing a Loving Attitude
When we express a loving attitude, rather than a critical one, it is a lot like laughter – it helps us attract others to us rather than repel them. It helps us meet new people and it encourages them to want to spend time with us.
Expressing love does not mean being foolishly emotional or saying all those “soft and fuzzy” things people say on Valentine’s Day. Expressing love does not mean talking like a greeting card. Expressing love is a choice and it means speaking from the heart and listening from the heart.
People see us as being very interesting when we “express love” by listening to their stories with patience and respect, even when we have heard the stories many times before. Do we really have somewhere more important to be that we can’t take an extra moment to ask someone how their day is going – and then really listen to what they have to say?
There is a downside to all this friendly laughing and loving attitude business: you are going to be asked to spend time with people. They will look forward to your company. And, whether they ask for it or not, they may appreciate a bit of help some times, from you. They may ask you because you have shown them that you care. By showing a loving attitude and by speaking to them and listening to them with love, they will believe they can trust you. And it takes a lot of trust to ask someone for help.
Giving Freely and With Love
3. Lending a Hand
What we do when we want to give back to family, friends and neighbors is called “lending a hand”. When we want to give to society or to a favourite cause we may volunteer our time, our money, our talents. People who volunteer, or lend a hand, really do it to make themselves feel good as well as ensuring a need is met.
We all know that volunteering helps the recipient—and that’s great. But it also helps the giver live a fuller, more productive life. And that’s good too! People who give of their time and talents truly appreciate being appreciated, but it’s not necessary. There are many anonymous givers.
A volunteer does not want too many “Thank Yous”, but a smile is nice. When a volunteer is respected for the quality, uniqueness or kindness of their “gift”, it is a very healing and fulfilling experience for the giver. Being acknowledged for being who we are at heart is a special reward.
Take another look at the photos at the top of this article. See the huge smiles? These seniors are really enjoying themselves—and that’s a good thing.
Maralexa © 2013 Marilyn Alexander · Laughing Seniors: 7 wonderful, exciting and very interesting seniors, all personal friends of mine.
© 2013 Marilyn Alexander