Our retreat last Saturday really exceeded my expectations. It was so much fun getting to know my classmates and doing different community-building activities together. We met at the Martin Johnson House in the beautiful SIO campus early morning and started the day with some breakfast and ice-breakers. We then had lectures and discussions on different topics related to health, aging and urban planning. One of the activities we did that I really appreciated was the Life Course game. It was a very unique board game and it revealed to us how external factors such as socio-economic status can affect the course of an individual’s life.
Another activity I really enjoyed was envisioning how our lives would be when we are 80 years old. This activity gave us the chance to think about what we truly wanted for ourselves and what our priorities were. It was nice to learn about everyone’s hopes and dreams. Towards the end of the retreat, we walked down a nearby trail to practice mindful walking. It was very refreshing and calming to hear the sound of the waves, appreciate the beauty surrounding us and just be present. While we were at it, we also thought about how accessible the trail was. For instance, would someone on a wheelchair be able to use the trail? Or even an elderly person with joint pains? What kind of facilities would a 70 year-old person want in such trails? Thinking from these lenses is useful and important to analyze improve our built environment and make it accessible for everyone.
Overall, I had a great time at the retreat and I am really looking to our field trips and learning more about health and aging.
Another activity I really enjoyed was envisioning how our lives would be when we are 80 years old. This activity gave us the chance to think about what we truly wanted for ourselves and what our priorities were. It was nice to learn about everyone’s hopes and dreams. Towards the end of the retreat, we walked down a nearby trail to practice mindful walking. It was very refreshing and calming to hear the sound of the waves, appreciate the beauty surrounding us and just be present. While we were at it, we also thought about how accessible the trail was. For instance, would someone on a wheelchair be able to use the trail? Or even an elderly person with joint pains? What kind of facilities would a 70 year-old person want in such trails? Thinking from these lenses is useful and important to analyze improve our built environment and make it accessible for everyone.
Overall, I had a great time at the retreat and I am really looking to our field trips and learning more about health and aging.