Blog No. 233: Old Age: Anything but Boring, Meditation for Beginners, Mark Nepo Poe

Old Age: Anything But Boring Young at Heart Chorus

Who says we are too old--too old to dance, too old to sing, too old to enjoy hard-core music? I've written about the Young at Heart Chorus before--out of Northampton, Massachusetts, since 1982 this soulful and anything but boring chorus of 70+ year olds have been entertaining crowds around the entire world with their versions of hard rock and punk rock tunes. I love their rendition of David Bowie's Let's Dance, their version of the classic Led Zeppelin tune Stairway to Heaven and their wild interpretation of the Ramones famous I Want To Be Sedated. You will never think of those three songs in the same way again! If you want to see more of them, there is a whole documentary on them from quite a few years ago but it is still available on Amazon.

And while we are on the same subject, here are a few photos of my friend Carolyn Doelling, who after a full career in philanthropy, became a model at the age of 73 determined to show that older women can be passionate, colorful, beautiful and proud rather than ignored and invisible...She is succeeding!

Click image to read an article about Carolyn

Meditation for Beginners

Click iimage to access this free 21 day meditation journey

I do not at all claim to be an aficionado of mediation--I come relatively new to the practice but I thought i would share this Deepak Chopra/Oprah Winfrey 21 Day Journey to Perfect Health Series that I listen to on youtube. I am not one that likes a guided meditation--I prefer the silence and I think their series' are good for beginners because they walk you through and take the mystery out of the practice. It starts with Oprah saying a few words, introducing the theme of the day, and then Oprah passes it on to Deepak, who goes deeper into a brief lesson. And then he shares a mantra and guides you in reciting it a bit and then leaves you in silence for 10-15 minutes, beginning and ending with a soft bell. There are many other of their series available on youtube as well of various themes such as "Get Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life"and Creating Peace From The Inside Out. Emptying your mind is always a good thing, especially these days! I try and do it at least once, if not twice a day...

Mark Nepo Poem

Click image to read more about Mark Nepo’s new book

Image Courtesy o the author Mark Nepo

This Slow Quick Dance. by Mark Nepo

After everything has gone wrong,
after what we believed would never
break has broken, something gives
way and, against all despair, a sliver
of light reaches us like dawn through
the night window to lift our sorry face.

No one knows how this works, but
we are stirred to step out of our story
and reach beyond all the warnings
to ask for love one more time.
This can happen in a second: when
I pick up the book you dropped, or
as a stranger asks if I’m ok when
she finds me staring into traffic.

This excerpt is from Mark Nepo's new book of poems, The Fifth Season due to be released on July 15, 2025you can You can pre-order your copy today through the retailer of Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, etc. using this link here.

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 52” x 52” sold

Charity of the Week:
American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.