Today in class, some of us presented the book entitled Happiness is a Choice You Make by John Leland. We had an enriching discussion about happiness even at an old age. When my group mates were presenting, they were emphasizing how happiness is something that should be approached individually and should be determined by what I value most. This got me reminiscing about how the road to happiness is a never ending journey, and that there are ebbs and flows that can impact our wellbeing. This presentation was a positive reminder that I should be more attentive on what is happening at the moment rather than incessantly worrying about the future. For me, I am someone who likes to prepare multiple options just in case my main plan does not go according to plan. This book gave me the realization that constantly worrying and being anxious about an unknown future is futile. I felt a bit more relieved when I heard this, but in the back of my head, I am still struggling to let go and enjoy the moment. For me, the most impactful part of this presentation was the discussion component. The last question in our discussion on “at what point do you honor your loved one’s wish for DNR over your own desire to keep them alive” was sobering. It had me thinking about my mom and how we do not have really serious conversations about these topics. For me, it’s a bit difficult to have these talks because we’re not really that close, and even though I still love my mom, I don’t know how to navigate through these uncharted situations. I tried to hold my composure throughout this discussion because my classmates shared some emotional stories that had me thinking about my own life. I’m glad that we were able to get a break because that’s when I just let go and released the tears that I was desperately trying to hold back. Today’s class was a reality check for me, and it got me thinking about sensitive topics that I don’t normally think about on a daily basis.
This week, the class went to La Casa Manana to continue the LEG series and speak with more seniors. Before we went into the facility, though, we had a brief time to meet up with our HAP groups to work on our projects. I’m glad that we got the chance to meet with our colleagues because we were able to debrief on our projects and figure out the next courses of action.
During our time together, we were able to get into contact with our partner at the West Senior Wellness Center to confirm some details and logistics. This was a good opportunity for our group to work on the project because it allowed us to contact Tim from the Center so we can get updates. Also, this time was a good time for our group to look over our project goals and make sure that we were keeping up with the tasks that were assigned. When we went to La Casa Manana, we spoke to the elders about their lives at 20 years old. We also spoke a little bit about our lives at 20, but we were more keen on hearing about their stories. A few of us got to meet Bob and Karen, a happy couple who’s been married for over 50 years and has no children. Listening to them speak was quite inspiring. As pilots, they had the privilege of traveling to 91 countries, flying celebrities, politicians and high-profile clients and started a nonprofit to help children. Bob and Karen look like they’ve lived their best lives. It seems like the world was their oyster, because they had a lot of freedom and got lots of opportunities to step out of their comfort zones and find new adventures. The most interesting story they shared was when they owned a mountain lion as a pet. I was so shocked when I saw the pictures of the mountain lion in their house. Bob and Karen provided us with lots of captivating stories that left me with more questions to ask them should our class return to La Casa Manana again. This week, the class went to the Bayside Community Center to attend an event called “Life at 20”. This was a good opportunity for us to get to speak with more seniors about their lives, and we all got to share a part of our lives at 20 years old. At first, we were waiting for quite a bit of time outside because there was a Zumba class going on, but eventually, we went in. During our time at the Center, a few of my classmates and I spoke with Tammy, a sweet, kind woman who immigrated from the Philippines. She told us her story about how she worked for someone who owned an antique shop. Her job at the antique shop provided her with lots of unique experiences that have become forever ingrained in her memory. One of the most interesting experiences that I took from our talk with Tammy was her encounter with the former first lady of the Philippines, Imelda Marcos. She told us about how she thought she never would have gotten the chance to meet her if it were not for her job making her go on a work trip. Also, she talked about how her job experience allowed her to go on work trips, all paid for by her boss. Tammy talked about how her boss wanted her to travel the world and see different things outside of the Philippines. As she talked about her life experiences, it had me in a reflective, reminiscent mood. Her life experiences provoked me to think about what I want to do in the future, and how I want to make the next chapters of my life the best it could possibly be.
And… we’re back. It’s week 1 of Spring Quarter and our class is getting ready to work on our projects for our Healthy Aging Projects (HAPs). Before we workshopped on our projects, we spent a bit of time getting reacquainted with one another, reflecting on what we did during our Spring Break. Then, it was time to get down to business.
We wasted no time getting into our groups and discussing our HAPs. I’m working with Maria, Amena, Chloe, Nicolette, Alisa and Emily on a beauty salon project for seniors to relax and appreciate their natural beauty. I wanted to incorporate my passion for fashion (haha, see the rhyme there?) into this project so others can feel their best selves. This meeting was quite productive because we all have a desire to provide a luxury treatment to the seniors of the West Center. To be completely honest, this project seems quite daunting, but I believe that our group will be able to manage the logistical aspects of this project. I love this project because it allows us to be tactical urbanists; we’re creating a low-cost and temporary project to benefit an underserved community. Moreover, I love how we have the potential to transform the West Center into a temporary beauty salon where seniors of all identities can relax, feel pampered, and simply have a good time. By the end of this project, I hope that this small-scale intervention can provide inspiration to other groups who strive to better the lives of our senior communities in San Diego. Additionally, I hope that our seniors will be empowered to appreciate their natural beauty and feel more confident with the idea of healthy aging. |
Joey UyWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
June 2019
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