Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
May 2016
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How to be a writer at any age By Warren Adler
I always wanted to be a writer. Ever since I was conscious, I felt that inexplicable pull to tell a story, to create a scene, to leave a reader wanting to know what would happen next. When life’s responsibilities came knocking, i.e. I had a family to support, my career as a published author was put on hold. However, I knew that nothing would block the path to my dream: to be a full-time writer in control of my career and destiny.
Older Americans Month
I had a late start as a published writer, at 46, and since then I’ve published more than 50 works, including The War of the Roses, which became the nomenclature of divorce worldwide and turned into a box-office hit. Having been in the creative ballgame for nearly half a century, I have seen the various reincarnations of the publishing industry.
At Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, we’ll celebrate the month with our new Inspire Your Heart with Art series, which will focus on activities to stimulate creativity. We’re also forming a walking group to encourage healthy group activities. And there are additional plans in the works, so be sure to check your weekly activities calendars for new additions.
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For more than 50 years, the contributions of older adults in the U.S. have been recognized every May during Older Americans Month. President John F. Kennedy established the observance in 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging us all to pause and pay them tribute. Since then, Older Americans Month has evolved into a celebration of older adults’ ongoing influence in all areas of American life. Spearheaded by the Administration for Community Living, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency stages activities throughout the month to raise awareness about important issues facing older adults and to highlight the ways that they are advocating for themselves, their peers and their communities.
The theme for Older Americans Month 2016 is “Blaze a Trail.” According to the Administration for Community Living, this theme “emphasizes the ways older adults are reinventing themselves through new work and new passions, engaging their communities, and blazing a trail of positive impact on the lives of people of all ages.” OLDER, continued on page 2
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Consider what older adults have done in the years since 1963, when only 17 million Americans were age 65 or older. Now, the number Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Lawrence Presbyterian Manor is more than 44 million, according Lawrence Presbyterian Manor to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s ON about 14 percent of the population. ON About 22 percent of men 65 and older remain in the workforce, as do 14 percent of women.
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Many older Americans continue to serve as leaders in our economy, politics, the arts, business, and much more. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr. Is 69. Actress
Rita Moreno is 84. And Ruth Bader Ginsberg, at age 83, has been a Supreme Court Justice for nearly a quarter of a century. While Lawrence Presbyterian Manor provides quality senior services guided by Christian values year-round, we will use Older Americans Month 2016 to focus on how we can support and learn from older adults in our community who are leading and inspiring others, and how we might follow their examples to blaze trails of our own. Find out more about the observance at acl. gov/olderamericansmonth.
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PROJECT Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Christie Patrick, executive director Angela Fonseca, marketing director To submit or suggest articles, contact afonseca@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. LawrencePresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters May 2016
Life is better when you’re surrounded by friends. If you know of friends who are interested in the independent living or assisted living lifestyle you enjoy here, providing their names could lead to rewards—for both of you. Pick up a referral form in the marketing office. *Certain restrictions apply. For complete details, contact the Marketing Office.
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everything is gone with the flicker of Self-publishing was my way of taking a screen, be happy that your work is garnering attention. Make sure your back control of my own destiny. name is spelled right. Folks often tell me that I’m the oldest working writer they know. 3. Mind your morning rituals The truth is: I don’t know how to and stay informed. stop. I work on novels, articles, blog posts and maintain contact I wake up every day at 5 a.m. and with fans from around the world write until 10 a.m., after which I every single day. I hope my insights read the various news outlets. below and my optimism inspire you to persevere through struggle and Read the news and the world’s continue on your writer’s journey. happenings around you. Inspiration and enlightenment come from 1. Do not overanalyze. current events. Gaining a new You can think something to death perspective never hurt anyone. The and never get anything done. truth is, most times, stranger than Keep moving and don’t look back fiction. too often. I find it boring to be constantly looking back. The future 4. Write at least 100 pages is much more exciting. before you decide to scrap a novel. 2. Never take rejection of your work to heart. Don’t be so quick to toss work to Rejection is an inevitable part of any the trash heap. Get to know your characters and story, but also know dream you pursue. I’ve been told when to start anew. “no” many times and never took it seriously. It may be impractical, I write what I want and I never unwise, foolish, pure madness, but repeat myself. Writing the same if you truly believe in yourself, your talent, your ideas, your calling, your book over and over would bore me. personal mission, why not, as Lewis Each novel I’ve written is a different Carroll wrote, “go on until the end, story, a different tone and genre. and then stop”? I hope that my insights inspire you or reinvigorate your zest for this My first novel wasn’t published strange and phenomenal path that until I was 46 years old. Ignore we’ve chosen, or more accurately, insults and negative, unproductive feedback. In today’s age, where that has chosen us. WRITER, continued from page 1
Friends and Family Picnic Residents and family members: Make plans to join us on June 11 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor for our annual Friends and Family Picnic! The fun takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the covered parking area. We’ll have great food for lunch, fun activities, a silent auction, and live music by Junk Yard Jazz. Additional parking is available at the First Baptist Church in the east parking lot.
“Mothers hold their children’s hands for a while, but their hearts forever.”
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To all of our mothers at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor,
Happy Mother’s Day Lawrence Presbyterian Manor
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Support Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America with a gift to the Good Samaritan Program. We’ll add another balloon to the bouquet and residents will see how much you care. Donate online at: PresbyterianManors.org/How_To_Give or stop by the front desk to make a gift.
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Community Matters May 2016
Independence Day holds memories Independence Day marks the middle of summer and holds many fond and patriotic memories. Do you have a memorable Fourth of July story to tell? For seniors, maintaining independence is important to quality of life. How do you maintain your independence while living on a senior living campus? What did you gain by moving to the campus? What surprised you about campus life? If you’ve got a story to share about independence, contact Marketing Director Angela Fonseca, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters. Like us on Facebook