Sunday, December 14, 2008

Welcome to the Center 4 Positive Aging Blog!

The Center for Positive Aging has really been a wonderful adventure as we have been carving out the niche of midlife and beyond as a focus versus the Center only being for older adults. The Center has been a joy with large community involvement and many positive results. We have been blessed to partner with some fabulous people and organizations: AARP Illinois, Women’s Bureau U.S. Dept of Labor, IL State Treasurer’s Office, Brookdale Senior Living, Lisle Chamber of Commerce, DuPage Workforce Board and the Trust Company of Illinois. Together, we have touched many lives. We have been drawn to the topics of financial security, positive aging, and employment strategies for the mature workforce. It has been an amazing time of movement.
When thinking about Positive Aging, I wanted to share this topic about impact and meaning in life. This morning when I was in church at Faith in Aurora, IL, the message was “How do I make an impact?” I have heard some people midlife and beyond say, “Is this what my life was supposed to be at this age?” Although we may be measuring our lives against the expected, prescribed normal standards of our culture, we must always ask, “Do I feel good about my impact on the world?” We are not all destined to be world leaders but our lives definitely impact those who we love and our local communities. Perhaps, it is not that we are to create major peace talks or find the cure for cancer, but to know our small gesture, our personality, or our actions make a difference. You are part of the wonderful mosaic of this world. When you come to the question, “Is this it?” look around your life and know your piece of the mosaic matters. The little things make a difference.
The Center’s web site is www.nl.edu/positiveaging/