Kyoto for Seniors

Kyoto captivated my imagination when two other Senior friends visited the city last year. It’s a trip to Japan’s history and an experience of its rich and unique cultural heritage.

We stayed in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese hotel, which was an experience of Japanese hospitality. A young couple with experience in Europe owned it and welcomed us like guests in their own homes. We arrived, and as usual, they received us with tea slippers and cleaned our suitcases before bringing them to our room. It is a regular practice in Japan, as in many other Asian countries, to leave your shoes at the doorstep and use slippers. Not only do you go the dirt from outside, but it’s also an expression of respect to the homeowners.

After the check-in, we went to our room, which was quite spacious for the three of us. The bathroom was big, so it was easy to move around, and the seating area provided a perfect place for us to hang out after a busy day. 

Our first outing was to a traditional Japanese restaurant. We wanted to taste Japanese dishes that we enjoyed in our own countries. To our delight, the restaurant did not disappoint us but brought us a taste of what truly is authentically Japanese. 

Our guide picked us up the next day to explore some of Kyoto’s famous attractions. We booked a tour just for us, and it’s very affordable because we shared the expense. For Seniors, I recommend this as you could go at your own pace rather than be catching up all the time with a more extensive group tour. We had a very knowledgeable guide who brought us to these famous attractions:

  • Araashiyama Bamboo Grove: A serene bamboo forest that provides a unique atmosphere for a peaceful stroll.
Bamboo Forest. Copyright: aesta1

  • U Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion): A Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, surrounded by beautiful gardens.
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha: Famous for its thousands of vibrant red torii gates that lead to the sacred Mount Inari.
  • Kiyomizu-dera: A historic temple offering panoramic views of Kyoto, especially during cherry blossom and autumn foliage. 
  • No Gion District: Known for its traditional wooden machiya houses and being the center of the geisha culture. Our guide brought us there and left us to explore the place. Geishas are walking the streets, but visitors can no longer take pictures with them as they’ve been harassed in the past, hurting them seriously sometimes. 
Traditional House. Copyright:aesta1
  • Nijo Castle: A UNESCO World Heritage site with beautiful gardens and historic buildings, including the famous “nightingale floors.”
  • Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion): A Zen temple known for its stunning gardens and a unique dry sand garden.
  • Katsura Imperial Villa: An exquisite example of traditional Japanese architecture and gardens, often visited through guided tours.
  • Philosopher’s Path: A scenic walking path along the canal with hundreds of cherry trees, gorgeous during spring.
  • Nishiki Market: A bustling food market with various stalls offering fresh seafood, local produce, and Kyoto’s traditional snacks.

We left days to explore the city and soak in its charm. Jaded with metropolises that look exactly like each other, Kyoto, with its traditional feel, gave us an experience distinct from visits to other cities. 

So, for Seniors thinking of going to Kyoto. Drop your hesitation and go. It’s easy to explore and quite affordable. 

Enjoy your time exploring Kyoto!

Tokyo for Seniors

Tokyo, the vibrant capital city of Japan, offers a captivating blend of modernity and tradition. While it is often associated with its bustling streets, advanced technology, and youthful energy, Tokyo has much to offer senior visitors.

Tokyo.Copyright:aesta1

But before embarking on your Tokyo adventure, research attractions and activities that cater to your interests and physical capabilities. Make a list of must-visit destinations and create an itinerary accordingly.

Look for hotels or guesthouses that provide accessibility features such as ramps, elevators, and rooms designed with senior comfort in mind. Because we visited immediately after the Covid lockdown, hotels went out of their way to make our stay very comfortable. Although with the Japanese predilection for perfection, you will surely get the best treatment in any hotel.

Many hotels also offer concierge services to assist with transportation and tour bookings. I suggest you take a guided tour of the city on your first day. It is not expensive to book a tour in your language; doing this on your first day gives you an idea of where you want to spend time during your visit.

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Some of Tokyo’s attractions that are worth visiting are:

– Tokyo’s Cultural Gems like Peaceful Gardens, where you can take a stroll through exquisite gardens like Shinjuku Gyoen, Rikugien, or Hama-rikyu. These serene oases offer tranquillity amid the bustling city, perfect for unwinding and appreciating nature’s beau- Historic Temples and Shrines like Senso-ji in Asakusa or Meiji Shrine in Shibuya, where you can experience the spiritual atmosphere, admire the stunning architecture and even partake in traditional rituals like washing hands and offering prayers.

– Tokyo’s Neighborhoods, such as Asakusa, where you can glimpse old Tokyo with its narrow streets, market stalls, and historic temples. Also, explore Nakamise Shopping Street, known for its traditional snacks and souvenirs. Go to Ueno, which houses several museums, including the Tokyo National Museum. In the Spring, you can relax under the cherry blossom trees. 

For upscale shoppers, head to Ginza, famous for its luxury boutiques, department stores, and gourmet restaurants. Enjoy window shopping, savour a cup of tea at a traditional tea house, or catch a performance at the Kabuki-za theatre.

– Tokyo Skytree. Ascend the world’s tallest tower for breathtaking panoramic views of the city. The observation decks are easily accessible via elevators with facilities for wheelchair users.

– Odaiba: This futuristic island showcases architectural wonders, shopping malls, and entertainment venues. The Rainbow Bridge connects it to the mainland, and there are accessible waterfront promenades for pleasant walks.

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For relaxation and wellness, explore these places:

– Hot springs: Experience the therapeutic benefits of Japanese hot springs, or “onsen.” Odaiba Ooedo-Onsen Monogatari and Spa LaQua are popular options that offer a variety of bathing facilities, relaxation areas, and rejuvenating treatments.

-Traditional tea houses: Indulge in the tranquillity of a traditional tea ceremony. Many tea houses provide tatami mat seating and are accommodating to seniors.

For ease in moving around the city, choose accommodations near Tokyo’s subway stations with elevator access, and always ask your hotel for the closest station to your intended destinations. Taxis are widely available. Look for taxis with “Universal Design,” as these are accessible for individuals with mobility needs.

Our Japanese friend assured us that most Japanese understand and can speak English but are hesitant. However, if asked for help, they are always willing to be of service.

During our visit, we used the subway and train system in Tokyo and from Tokyo to other cities in Japan, and we found it very easy to navigate. It’s very comfortable and always on time. The stations also have stores and restaurants catering to varied food preferences. 

For ease in moving around the city, choose accommodations near Tokyo’s subway stations with elevator access, and always ask your hotel for the closest station to your intended destinations. Taxis are widely available. Look for taxis with “Universal Design,” as these are accessible for individuals with mobility needs. Our Japanese friend assured us that most Japanese understand and can speak English but are hesitant. However, if asked for help, they are always willing to be of service.During our visit, we used the subway and train system in Tokyo and from Tokyo to other cities in Japan, and we found it very easy to navigate. It’s very comfortable and always on time. The stations also have stores and restaurants catering to varied food preferences. 

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Contrary to our expectation that Tokyo is an expensive place, we found that we could find prepared meals at Family Mart, Lawson, and other convenience shops that were tasty and inexpensive. Once in a while you could splurge and enjoy a Japanese meal in one of Tokyo’s famous restaurants.

You will enjoy experiencing Tokyo’s unique flavour and culture. The city welcomes Seniors and makes it easy for them to move around. We enjoyed our visit so much that some of us are returning this year. 

Three Key Things to Do in Your Senior Years

Fulfillment in Senior Years. Copyright: aesta1

Now that I am way back into my senior year, I have had a taste of what to do. Some things I did were fantastic, and some were failures. Some were memorable, and some I just erased from my memory. So much garbage, I have to tell you. But if we don’t try, we’ll end up sitting or lying on our couches and being entertained by K-dramas or other soap operas. 

After hours of this, I often ask myself, what have I done? 

So, today, my mind wandered into some things seniors like me can do, and my thoughts, assisted by online research and whine from my other senior friends, came up with these.

Some may think these all require resources you may not have. You’re in for a surprise at how much of these you can enjoy for less money or free once you put your mind to it. I almost forgot where I was. Here they are:

Take care of your body.

Exercise, eat healthily, hydrate, and see your doctor regularly. The dollar signs are showing in your mind $for Pilates Courses, Yoga, Acupuncture, Massage, or Chiropractors. Yes, these cost money, but some can be paid for by your insurance, especially if you have your doctor’s referral. Many of these exercises will not cost you money.

For a week, I had been looking at a card from a chiropractor who promised that he could change your posture as it affects your health. I planned to give the clinic a visit. But as I lay on my couch browsing what I could watch, I considered what YouTube could offer. I was surprised at how many chiropractors provide tips on how to work on your posture. I focused only on those I could do in my lazy state of no exercise. I did the exercise not regularly but only on times when I remembered and wherever I could do it. After about two weeks of doing these, I was surprised at my change, so I was encouraged to do it more and look for other exercises I could do. 

It is not simply the exercises but also the food we ingest. Shall we talk about these? Once, I baked a cake, and since I was alone, I ate it all. And I’m not even an expert baker. Sweets, baked goods, and so many favourites tempt us as we’re at home, and the fridge and the pantry are only steps away. Now, I buy fresh and dried berries and place bowls in front of my couch, so I often reach out for them and forget to search for other snacks. 

Hydrate. Often, we need to remember to drink water. A whole morning can pass without me drinking water. Of course, dehydration leads to other problems like dry skin leading to eczema, or even more severe than this. To remember, I place two glasses of water in front of my couch, and once I finish one glass, I replenish it, so each time I look at these glasses, I drink. 

Sometimes, I laugh when I think of doctors’ and dentists’ visits as the starred activities in my calendar. Such appointments competed with meetings and conferences in the past. Now, they are the highlights of our week. Well, go for it.

Improve your mental health.

Losing our memory is often a concern at this stage, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. When I talk with my friends, loneliness comes up. Several seniors complain they need someone to talk to, as many live independently. I have Alexa to harass, and each time I tell her something to do, I have a smile on my face. 

You have to be more creative in finding ways to socialize. We are lucky now that we are connected. You can talk to friends and other family members online if those close to you cannot see you. Pursue a hobby and join clubs around this. Read books and enjoy the ups and downs of the characters. You can learn from them how to handle life’s challenges. 

Make sure you get enough sleep. Try to spend time with nature and with funny people. Watch comedians you like and laugh. There’s nothing like laughter to make your day. 

Treat yourself to something you love. You have overworked yourself in the past. Now is the time to be kind to yourself. Go and have an affogato. Watch your favourite actor or actress. Buy yourself something nice. Go to a spa.

Feed your Spirit

Expand your consciousness each day. Travel and explore new places. Meet new people. Engage in new activities. Try new food. Let its flavours wake up your taste. Go beyond what you’ve always done. Try meditation. Join classes and get transported to a world beyond your senses. 

Over and beyond these, be yourself. Do what feels good to you, what brings you joy and fulfillment. You are unique. Don’t be a copycat. Appreciate what your friends do and what is happening to them, but know you. Only You knows what will be good for You. Your Senior Years are your biggest bonus. You can do whatever you want now—no boss to break you in, no child to care for, and no more fears about looks. So, go and make your senior years your best.

Anger As A Valid Emotion

The other day as I was walking back from my trip to the pharmacy, I saw a man take his shirt off and hit the pole with it several times until he got exhausted, shouting simultaneously. The words were incoherent, but the anger was palpable. It was a sunny morning and many people were walking so I was not afraid. I was a bit concerned. 

Suppressed Anger. Copyright: aesta1

I went on with my walk home and drove to the cottage. My thoughts returned to that man’s anger in the lake’s quiet. Slowly, I was down into my depths, and I felt the rage as well. Persons, events, and memories flooded my mind, and I understood how much anger I repressed and denied in my life. I could hit a pole, too, like that man—more than a hundred times. 

Going back to my childhood, I felt anger but never got a handle on my feeling. I remembered my mother asking me why I was happy in school and with my friends, but the moment I arrived home, I got angry and vented my anger on anyone or anything.

I never thought about it then, or maybe because, at that time, I did not have the answer, so I let it slide. Looking back, my teachers and classmates had a say in my performance. My teachers rated me, and my classmates voted in classroom elections. My parents and people at home did not. So, in school and outside of the house, I pleased people. I was outstanding at pleasing people. I was a model student and topped everything, but something nagged inside me.

Maybe, because I was a second child and tried to get more attention, I hated home because my elder sister, the firstborn, was there. I resented this without anyone noticing it, or maybe they saw and recognized it as normal behaviour in a second child.

After years of this anger, I became an expert in hiding my anger from others. I hid it as my pride would never allow me to let others know that anything hurt or affected me. No way will they get such satisfaction. But the outbursts came, often at people I expected to understand me. Of course, they didn’t, as I had never expressed how I felt. Outwardly, I was an achiever, so nobody thought of the feelings I had as a second fiddle. They only saw the pride and wanted to deflate the inflated ego.

Sometimes, these outbursts would come at the most unexpected times. A word or comment could trigger it. After such strong emotions, my husband would say, Eow, where did that come from? 

Now, I am seriously taking the steps to acknowledge and accept this anger. 

Anger was inside me, ignored or denied for many years. I grew up in a culture where you do this. You are encouraged to keep to yourself negative emotions for harmony within the family and the more extensive group the family is part of.

Acknowledging anger started my liberation. I accept it as a valid emotion responding to what threatens or hurts me. It no longer has a hold on me. I have a handle on it.

Silver Laughter: The Transformative Power of Humour in Seniors

Humour. Copyright: aesta1

When my 70-plus-year-old friends and I go on long trips, we always ask our funny friends to sit by us. You know why. We overlook the time when we keep laughing.

Humour brings joy, alleviates stress, and enhances our social connections. I only wish I have this sense of humour. Sadly, when the Angel of God distributed this gift, I was not around. Still, I am here to share how humour can benefit Seniors.

Here are a few:

  1. Laughter boosts mood.
    Humour and laughter release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals. Seniors who engage in humour and laughter experience an improved mood and increased happiness.
  2. Stress relief.
    Aging can come with challenges, but humour can be a stress reliever. Finding humour in everyday situations helps seniors cope with stress, lighten their outlook, and maintain a positive mindset.
  3. Social connection.
    Sharing laughter and humour strengthens social bonds and fosters connections with others. Simply sharing funny stories with friends can create a sense of camaraderie and alleviate feelings of loneliness or isolation.
  4. Mental health.
    Humour stimulates the brain and promotes mental agility. It improves cognitive functioning, memory, and creativity. Activities like solving puzzles, playing games, or watching comedy shows can be mentally stimulating and entertaining.
  5. Perspective and resilience.
    Humour helps seniors maintain a sense of perspective and resilience when facing challenges. It allows us to find the lighter side of life and approach difficulties with a positive attitude.

It is, however, essential to note that humour should always be respectful and sensitive to individual preferences. What may be funny to one person might not be to another. When using humour with seniors, it’s essential to consider their cultural background, values, and personal circumstances. Otherwise, it can break relationships.

How Do We Integrate Mindfulness into Our Lives?

Still Nature Scene. Copyright: aesta1

In the previous post on mindfulness, I focused on mindfulness and its benefits for us, Seniors. This post will outline mindfulness techniques we can easily incorporate into our daily lives to cultivate a greater sense of present-moment awareness and well-being. I included here the ones that I have tried to practice:

1. Mindful Breathing

Paying attention to your breath is a fundamental mindfulness practice. You can do this easily while doing your everyday chores. All you have to do is to find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and bring your attention to the sensation of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. Become aware of the rise and fall of your abdomen or the feeling of air passing through your nostrils. Whenever your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breath.

2. Body Scan

This technique involves systematically bringing awareness to different parts of your body. Starting from your toes and moving upward, gently scan your body, noticing any sensations or areas of tension. As you do this, keep a non-judgmental awareness of each part of your body. Allow any feeling to be present and be present to it. Do not try to change any of them.

3. Mindful Observation

Choose an object or element from your surroundings, such as a flower, a piece of art, or a scene in Nature. Direct your attention to that object and observe it as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Notice its colours, shapes, textures, and any other details. Engage all your senses and fully immerse yourself in observing that object.

4. Walking Meditation

Walking meditation is a way to practice mindfulness while moving. Choose a quiet space and amble, paying attention to each step and the sensations in your feet as they make contact with the ground. Feel the energy from the ground under your feet. 

Notice the movements of your body and the environment around you. If your mind wanders, gently guide your attention back to the sensations of walking.

5. Loving-Kindness Meditation 

This practice involves cultivating love, compassion, and kindness towards oneself and others. Start by sitting comfortably and bring to mind someone for whom you have warm feelings. Repeat phrases such as “May you be happy, may you be healthy, may you be safe” while genuinely extending those well-wishes to that person. Gradually expand your circle of well-wishing to include yourself, loved ones, neutral individuals, and even difficult people. I often light a candle for the person I want to send love to.

6. Mindful Eating

While eating, take a moment to slow down and fully engage your senses. Notice the colours, smells, and textures of your food. Chew slowly and savour each bite, paying attention to the flavours and sensations. Be present with the entire eating experience, from the moment you pick up your food to the moment you finish.

Remember that mindfulness is a practice, and it’s normal for your mind to wander during these exercises. The key is gently bringing your attention back to the moment without judgment. As you integrate these techniques into your daily life, you’ll gradually develop a greater sense of mindfulness and present-moment awareness.

Embracing the Present: The Gift of Mindfulness for Seniors

Practicing Mindfulness

Isn’t it wonderful to be fully present to someone or something? It’s a moment full of magic. Mindfulness is a powerful tool to cultivate a resounding presence, enhance well-being, and find joy in simple moments. It offers you a doorway to engaging with life fully, embracing each day with gratitude and awareness.

Ages ago, a missionary sister from Africa told us how the locals she was living with in Kenya would come to visit and stay for hours, just being there. We don’t do these visits. When nothing happens for even a few minutes, we get anxious. We can’t even wait in stores.

For Seniors, we have the time to spend with those we love, with something we enjoy or are curious about. So, this is our moment to be more mindful and look at people and events with patience and appreciation. But what is mindfulness?

1. The Essence of Mindfulness: Living in the Present Moment

The key to Mindfulness is to be present in the here and now. It is embracing each moment with curiosity and non-judgment.

I was talking with a friend who is now in her 80s, and we acknowledged that we immediately make judgments. Instantaneously, we do. We were programmed to do so.

Mindfulness cultivates a deeper appreciation for life’s simple events and for people we encounter everyday. Each person is unique and every event is full of meaning.

2. Cultivating Emotional Well-being: Nurturing Inner Harmony

Mindfulness can support emotional well-being in Seniors. It offers techniques for recognizing and managing emotions, cultivating self-compassion, and fostering resilience. As we transition to being alone or be neglected, we need ways to manage our feelings and our ways of being with everyone especially with people around us.

It includes mindful breathing, body scan meditation, and loving-kindness meditation to promote emotional balance and inner harmony.

3. Enhancing Physical Health: Mindful Movement and Self-Care

Mindfulness promotes physical health and vitality for Seniors. Mindfulness encourages gentle movement practices, such as mindful walking, chair yoga, or Tai Chi, to improve balance, flexibility, and overall well-being. 

4. Sharpening Cognitive Abilities: Focus and Mental Clarity

Mindfulness practices can support Seniors’ cognitive health and mental clarity. It improves focus, attention, and memory through mindfulness-based exercises Engaging in mindfulness practices stimulates mental agility and improves overall cognitive abilities.

Some Religious Sisters practice “presence de Dieu,” during which they ring the bell at specific points of the day and then recollect themselves. It makes them focus on what is essential in their lives in the midst of activities.

5. Nurturing Social Connections: Compassionate Interactions

Mindfulness enhances social interactions and fosters deeper connections through mindful communication techniques that promote active listening, empathy, and understanding.

It also includes practices for cultivating gratitude and appreciation for loved ones, fostering meaningful relationships, and contributing to a sense of community.

6. Cultivating Self-Care Rituals: Moments of Stillness and Reflection

There are some mindfulness exercises that you can incorporate into daily routines, such as morning rituals, mindful pauses throughout the day, or evening reflection practices. Start with creating a tranquil space at home for meditation, relaxation, and self-care.

Sometimes, I light a candle and send a friend or a family member loving-kindness wherever they are and whatever they do. It makes me present to the person.

Mindfulness is a profound gift that you can embrace to bring a sense of calm, clarity, and contentment to your life. For Seniors, practicing Mindfulness can cultivate emotional well-being, enhance physical health, sharpen cognitive abilities, nurture social connections, and create moments of stillness and reflection. When fully present to someone or something, magic happens. Give your senior years more magic.

A Seniors’ Day Out

We’re all in our 70s, about 33 of us, going for a day in a city famous for seafood. We mainly wanted to eat a whole array of seafood, a favourite for this group. We grew up in the same town and went to the same grade school and high school, so there is a camaraderie among us brought about by years of growing up. Now, we are growing old together. Though some of us live in other parts of the world, we try to be home in our village, and when we are around, we get together as much as possible. 

Today, we were off to Roxas City, about three hours from our place in Iloilo. We decided to go early as most of us woke up early anyway. So, at 5 in the morning, we gathered in our town center, and there, two vans provided by two in our group waited for us.

Off we went, and one of the valuable tips I’ve learned is to have a bag of jokes to entertain everyone in the van. You will have so much fun. To energize the group further, bring a collection of old songs. Download it on your phone. They will remember their old days when you play the songs and enjoy singing along with the recording. More stories will come out of their memories. Make sure you have your battery pack. 

When planning this trip, most of the group who had been there before told us of some of the challenges they encountered. These guided us in our choices of restaurants. Knowing that most in our group were diabetic, many brought snacks, so there was enough food and drinks in the van. 

We only planned for lunch but seeing how early we arrived in the city, we proceeded to a restaurant on top of a hill big enough to accommodate us and serve breakfast immediately. We found one attached to the Convention Center. It was raining, and they immediately prepared the table and food for us because they had enough staff. Some staff even carried umbrellas for those in our group who braved the drizzle to take pictures.

The hilltop Cafe Terraza ended up as the perfect place for us. We enjoyed our breakfast and rested a bit while the others went to take pictures. Many started bringing out their pills and randomly sharing stories around the table—a great start to our day.

The restaurant for lunch, Coco Veranda, is on the beach, and you can enjoy watching the waves as you eat when the weather is fine. The weather prevented us from doing this, but it did not diminish our fun in being together and enjoying each other’s company.

Days before we left on this trip, we contacted the restaurant manager of the chosen place and outlined the dishes we wanted to enjoy. Also the time we wanted it ready, so when we arrived, they were prepared for us. After they’d served the food, silence reigned as we delved into the different seafood dishes. We had fun tasting some of our favourites and some unusual dishes. 

The trip is complete with picture taking. We are advancing in age, and a few pass on each year, so we enjoy each other’s company when we can. 

We saw the oldest bell in Pan-ay and went to Banika market, where they sell the best-dried fish. More picture-taking and buying, activities we always relish and do with gusto.  

We all enjoyed the trip, and the group wants to plan another soon.

A Senior’s Memory-A Poem

The tremendous power
Of memory unearth
Life’s incredible wealth
Fill the minds of Seniors

A Senior Reciting Rhodora

I thought of my friend,
Who recited Rhodora
A poem we learned when
In high school

That night my sister and
I searched the internet for all
The classic poems we’ve learned
Through years of literary exposure

Longfellow, Emerson, Gray, Allan Poe
All came to mind
With Shakespeare’s sonnets too
Even Flanders field inserted itself

Words came back
More to my sister than me
She has always been the literary
In the family

And feelings came as memories claimed
It made me wonder why some I remembered
And others I could not
Like the poem Rhodora
Our friend recited

Our minds are tricky,
Playing with our memory
Some things we remember and
Some we forget

Indeed our memory we treasure
As Seniors think they start fading more
But it’s because our memories of yore
Crowd our minds with so much lore.

Revisiting Your Roots

I used to visit my home province, but only sometimes and only for short periods. Thus, I couldn’t explore the changes since I was a child growing up in this place.

Revisiting Your Roots. Copyright: aesta1

This time, I decided to stay on for four months, and after a month, yes, it took me a month to settle down and fully appreciate the experience of being a local again, not just a foreigner visiting another place.

Even inserting back into my family again, knowing the new members and seeing the growth in each one is a bit baffling. Sometimes, it is hard to comprehend how some people can change so much, but they do. The dynamics have changed, too. It is interesting to watch and find out what role I can play, especially in celebrations they have done without me for many years.

It used to be that I was only visiting, and everyone tried to accommodate me, knowing that I would be gone in a week or two. These days, it is different. I am putting down roots again, which shows continuity. I am reestablishing relationships to which I have not given any attention for years, knowing my former friends and relating with them again. I have changed, and they, too, have changed. It is interesting how this plays out.

Some have detached themselves from the group, but many try to be part of the interaction. We visit each other and organize activities to bond once more and refresh our memories of things we used to enjoy. Some have passed, and we hold masses for them lest we forget. It is sad because, at our age, we face our passing daily.

We had our Christmas party this year, and I hosted it, but each one brought food. It started at nine and ended at 5. I thought at first, what are we going to do? Time was even lacking for other things we wanted to do. It’s as if we were in high school once more.

Those who had not attended other previous celebrations enjoyed themselves so much that they promised, from now on, to be in all of the gatherings. They had so much fun that they wanted to experience it again. We forgot ourselves, and we were children in the playground of the past, playing, shoving, dancing, singing, showing our talent, and taunting each other. We were together our whole childhood but lost touch after high school graduation.

The years of building a career and raising families have left our relationships without attention. Only when the kids had grown did we find time to connect again. This connection strengthened when we saw each other at our golden jubilee, 50 years after graduation from high school. Many of us had not seen each other or talked to many.

Strengthening these connections gave us so much joy that we tried to gather whenever there were occasions to celebrate or gather. We always find reasons, of course, especially when some who now live in other countries come home. These were occasions to connect, celebrate, and share whatever we had, even around snacks in the afternoon.

Gathering of friends. Copyright: aesta1

These occasions always lead to reminiscing about our childhood days, what we remembered and what news we received about our classmates and friends. We often learn about the families in our town since childhood. Some information brings joy, some pain, and others, sorrow, but whatever they are, they are always welcome. If the persons are around, they will get congratulated, praised, reprimanded, or sternly talked to, depending on what is shared.

Because we grew up and knew each other’s families, we feel free to react to the sharing as in a family circle. We could be brutal among friends who have grown up together because we are secure in our care for each other. It is such a comfort to be with people one could be one’s self.

Our roots are solid. We belong to the same town knowing the same families. We knew each other’s families and shared our joys, frustrations, and pains. Going back to one’s roots is a very comforting experience. If you still need to do this, start now.