Hello Folks,
We certainly have had a good stretch of nice, varied weather. Just enough rain and dew to help the gardens. Yesterday I joined friends for a late afternoon dip in the Sunday River. Cool and refreshing on a hot, humid day. I often reminisce about how I took my children to the covered bridge on lazy, idyllic days; as we filed down over the embankment I would warn them about the slippery rocks and the nearby poison ivy. 50+ year olds now, with grown children of their own, and I still feel compelled to protect all of them.
I suppose we never stop nurturing what we hope to preserve and see flourish. I think of children of all ages, wild and domestic animals, gardens and forests, and both long-standing and emerging friendships and family ties. We also nurture the institutions that support our communities’ well-being, including schools, houses of worship, medical facilities, and public safety services. The Bethel Area Age-Friendly Community Initiative (AFCI), Rotary, the Outing Club, the RePant project, the 4-H Youth Hub, and other local volunteer-run nonprofits play an invaluable role in supporting individuals and strengthening the broader community.
We all are invited to have a place at the table. To be a spoke in the wheel. A leg of a stool. You get the picture.
AFCI could use your support in helping our older citizens to stay in their own homes, in their own neighborhoods. Like you, we would like to see people of all ages flourish. An “age-friendly community” is for all ages. You probably have noticed on our monthly “Events of Interest to Older Folks and Their Families” includes social opportunities that are designed for people of all ages.
We need more volunteer drivers to ensure that every older adult who requests a ride can receive one. Unfortunately, we must decline some requests because we do not have enough volunteers. Please reach out to: melindaremington@yahoo.com or by leaving a message at the AFCI Tel.#
207-824-4444.
I would like to share a reflection I wrote today:
This week I caught a sweet exchange between 2 women as we were finishing up our group stretching exercise session at the pool. One woman had complained of pain in her rib cage area from doing yard work the day before. We had all noticed her discomfort and that it had limited her normal robust participation that morning. We did feel bad for her and said we were sorry to see her experiencing twinges of pain.
At the end of our hour-long session, I noticed a fellow swimmer move closer to speak quietly with her. I could not hear their conversation, but I saw the woman stand behind the ailing lady. She preceded to hold her two hands, palms flat, on both sides of other’s rib cage, about three to four inches away without touching. They stood silently as one cared for the other. She was offering a Reiki treatment to help ease her friend’s pain. After about five minutes, they spoke to each other. Had that “non-touch” ministration helped? I learned through my own questions to them, “What was that?” that both women were skilled in Reiki. Interestingly, neither had known about the other’s training.
What I witnessed in those short minutes was someone showing compassion and then demonstrating care by offering what they could to help someone else. She did not just say she was sorry. She offered a possible solution.
The woman with the healing hands was led to offer the gift of her time and skill. The other woman humbly accepted, with thanks.
Think about how each of us can demonstrate compassion and care to anyone in need, whether the situation is large or small. We might bring a meal to a sick neighbor, listen patiently to someone who is grieving, help a stranger carry a grocery bag, or simply offer a kind word to a person having a difficult day. We can also practice humility when others care for us by accepting their help and saying a sincere thank you. Which comes more easily to you: offering help or receiving it?
Please consider volunteering with AFCI.
