The last entry in this week’s “recent encounters” category is a simple one: a conversation about aging.

As luck would have it, I am surrounded by numerous people who are aging truly gracefully. They serve as models, as reminders how attitude can make a difference, as a life-line on those days where I throw yet another temper tantrum directed at my uncooperative body or the even less cooperative mirror…..

From my recent conversation I learned that there are now classes offered that help people like me to get their act together…..

One of those, Aging With Grace and Mindfulness, will be taught in October at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Led by a close friend and teacher extraordinaire, the course will help participants start and/or maintain a meditation practice and a positive outlook that will address the difficulties we face as we age. Topics will include resiliency, positive thinking, coping with chronic pain and finding purpose in life.  

For details you can call the MAC and ask for info about Class Number AEC115.

The reason I am plugging for this is twofold: for one, I believe that we are all – aging or not – exposed to a world where resiliency and positive thinking are needed more than ever, given the abundance of bad news. Secondly, when pain hits or other restrictions from illness and decrepitude set in, it is hard to shift from good intentions to the actual practice of positive thinking. Having a guide and a small cohort surrounding you with shared goals and efforts can be supportive.

My best in the moment-moments, are, alas, when I am traveling.  Being in the air, above it all, catapults me into happiness, partly because I am still able to do it. For today, then, I’ll try to recapture that feeling with photographic assistance. And then I’ll listen to a travel writer giving a TED talk about mindfulness while sitting still….. https://www.ted.com/talks/pico_iyer_the_art_of_stillness