Pleasure/Pain

September 23, 2018

(Involuntary) Simplicity

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Lifestyle, Pleasure/Pain, Soul Searchings

September 23, 2018

3 Min Read

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23September

In his classic Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life that is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich (Quill Books, 2010), social scientist and visionary Duane Elgin speaks eloquently about the possibilities of choosing to live simply. Hidden within the book and implicit in his further writings, though, is the idea that lifestyle simplicity may also be involuntary for many of us. At some time in theMORE...

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May 15, 2018

Renewing old congregations

By Bob Sitze

In Pleasure/Pain, Relationships

May 15, 2018

3 Min Read

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15May

  If you’re an (older adult) leader in an (older adult) congregation, you want your congregation to stay strong and vital. Here I’d like to share with you the possibility that your congregation could continue to exist—even thrive—precisely because of the presence and passions of older members. To say that another way: Just as fullness of years is possible for each of you personally, so thisMORE...

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May 3, 2018

Spirituality and chronic illness

By Bob Sitze

In For Caregivers, Mind/Body, Pleasure/Pain, Soul Searchings

May 3, 2018

4 Min Read

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03May

  For several years I’ve been working with an occupational therapist on the question: How could spirituality re-emerge as a vital part of this profession? This entry examines one part of that search: How might chronic illness diminish a person’s spiritual self? (Also implied: How might spirituality help diminish the debilitating circumstances of a chronic illness or disability?) SomeMORE...

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February 19, 2018

Hypochondriac or hyped self-care?

By Bob Sitze

In Lifestyle, Mind/Body, Pleasure/Pain, Words

February 19, 2018

2 Min Read

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19February

We senior citizens are besieged with too many well-meaning health warnings and directives! From TV commercials and pop-up ads for new pharmacological wonders to the omnipresent reminders from our friends at AARP, there’s more than enough information about how we can avoid large problems and take care of what ails us. This deluge of information can help and harm me. On the one hand, I soak upMORE...

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January 22, 2018

Up close

By Bob Sitze

In Mind/Body, Pleasure/Pain, Soul Searchings

January 22, 2018

2 Min Read

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22January

This blog is part of an ongoing series that answers an intriguing question: What might it mean for older adults to claim that they are still “fearfully and wonderfully made?” The next time you think your body is not all that amazing, try one of these ideas for an up-close look at yourself. When you’re finished with any of these tasks, you might find yourself regaining an appreciation of theMORE...

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January 19, 2018

In praise of slow

By Bob Sitze

In Lifestyle, Pleasure/Pain, Time, Words

January 19, 2018

2 Min Read

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19January

  I grew up in the maze of freeways called Los Angeles, and so learned the essential survival skill of driving over the posted speed limits. (I’m not suggesting this tactic for residents of other localities, in hindsight noting that this faster-than-righteous driving was a necessary practice that kept me from being run over by those driving much faster!) Now that I live on the outskirts of aMORE...

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January 12, 2018

Hands on! (for caregivers)

By Bob Sitze

In For Caregivers, Mind/Body, Personal Power, Pleasure/Pain, Soul Searchings

January 12, 2018

2 Min Read

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12January

  All of us—especially older folks—long to be touched. There’s a spiritual quality to touch. As Jesus performed miracles, he often touched the people he encountered. The biblical metaphor of God’s hand symbolizes more than God’s abundance, also revealing a God who’s close enough to touch you! A touch signals that a loving relationship is present. As a caregiver, you have an especiallyMORE...

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December 28, 2017

Full of (past) years

By Bob Sitze

In Current Events, Pleasure/Pain, Relationships, Time

December 28, 2017

2 Min Read

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28December

  One of my end-of-years practices is to find quiet time during the holidays for the purpose of reviewing the year(s) past, and for looking ahead to the coming year. (My future-imagining is dependent on joy- and gratitude-filled recollections of the past.) It’s one of the life rituals that I cherish highly. The lengthening string of my years stretches past easy recollection. As I siftMORE...

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December 27, 2017

Locker room talk

By Bob Sitze

In Lifestyle, Mind/Body, Personal Power, Pleasure/Pain

December 27, 2017

2 Min Read

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27December

  Okay, guys, listen up. There’s something we older men should talk about. Something we should be doing Yes, I’m talking about exercising regularly at our age. Let me remind you how this works. If we don’t exercise, our bodies and brains head south. (Ever heard of “use it or lose it”?) With too much weight, too little flexibility, balance or aerobics, we may be cutting years off our livesMORE...

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November 6, 2017

What’s still working?

By Bob Sitze

In Mind/Body, Personal Power, Pleasure/Pain, Soul Searchings

November 6, 2017

2 Min Read

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06November

This blog is part of an ongoing series that answers an intriguing question: What might it mean for older adults to claim that they are still “fearfully and wonderfully made?” It’s fairly easy to look at your body—and brain—and see what’s NOT working so well. (If you need help there, just turn on the TV and watch commercials that can inform you about infirmities that you didn’t know existed.) WithMORE...

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