Conscious Aging Class
Day 1 – Myths, Lies and Truth
Opening Treatment, Intros
Music – I’m Here to Remind You – David Ault
Introduce myths and lies and fears about aging
(If Toni not present, play 1st video)
Play Pat Carrington’s first audio – 24 min.
Discuss Feelings about Aging – focus first on
Positive and then on fears
Do Fear to Faith Exercise
Affirmative Prayer
Day 2 – Myths, Lies and Truth
Music: Have No Fear from Art of Peace by Elaine Silver
Reports on Fear to Faith
Explain EFT
Watch EFT Documentary or shorts from YouTube on EFT
Do EFT with Pat Carrington’s 2nd audio
Closing Treatment
Day 3 – Life Review
Music: Turn, Turn, Turn
Talk about types of Life Review
Show scrapbook- encourage creation…
Start Journaling with 12 major lifechanging Events
First 3 journal exercises from Intensive Journal work
Ie. Ahha moments; flesh one out; introduce dialogue if time
Day 4 – Life Review
Music: I’ve Had the Time of My Life—from Dirty Dancing
Roads Taken and Not Taken
Dialogue with Circumstance of Aging
Day 5 -Spirituality of Aging
Music: You Can Relax Now – Shana Noll
Use WHO AM I meditation video
Discuss Identity Loss as we age
Exercise for finding ESSENCE of what you loved to do and can no longer do (Aging includes its share of reverses, losses and sorrows. What makes the difference is our attitude about them. If a bad knee means we can’t jog anymore, we needn’t despair; we can take up swimming. If we lost money in the recession, we can cherish what we still have. If we become ill, we rejoice when we recover.)
Dealing with Health Challenges – Dialogue with the Body
Day 6 – Spirituality of Aging Continued
Forgiveness – talk about what may have come up in doing Journaling exercises and then do a ritual or exercise on Forgiveness
Gratitude.
Music: Michael Feinman’s “Grateful”
Gratitude Letter. Sit down and write a letter to someone who has exerted a positive influence in your life but whom you have not properly thanked. This can be a teacher or a mentor from your past, a grandparent, or anyone else who helped you in some way. The letter doesn’t have to be long, but make sure that you’re specific about what the person did and how it affected you
.Generosity. offers many tangible methods to cultivate a generous spirit. Among these is a contemplative exercise from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that allows us inwardly picture recipients of our generosity and direct
May all beings be peaceful.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be safe.
May all beings awaken to
the light of their true nature.
May all beings be free.
– Metta Prayercompassionate feeling toward them.
Day 7 – Preparing for Future
Music: Jerry Florence’s Remember Me
Show the 4th video
Dealing with Future
Listen to Famous Eulogies
Write your own Epitaph
Write your Eulogy
Day 8 – Closing Class
Music: I Hope You Dance
Discussion on what’s changed; what to think; what to do
Curiosity. Curiosity is an important attitude to cultivate as we age. There’s a tendency to hunker down in our old familiar routines. It’s good to resist that temptation. Physical exercise grows new muscle, mental activity grows new brain cells, emotional engagement lifts the spirit. Curiosity keeps us young; we need to cherish it. If you see an interesting ad for a wildlife class, consider taking it. If you go into a bookstore, try browsing in sections you don’t usually visit. If you haven’t seen a friend in too many years, reach out. Children are naturally curious, and we can be too.
Talk about Volunteer Activities
Music: The Learning Journey