Blog No. 233: Old Age: Anything but Boring, Meditation for Beginners, Mark Nepo Poem

Old Age: Anything But Boring Young at Heart Chorus

Who says we are too old--too old to dance, too old to sing, too old to enjoy hard-core music? I've written about the Young at Heart Chorus before--out of Northampton, Massachusetts, since 1982 this soulful and anything but boring chorus of 70+ year olds have been entertaining crowds around the entire world with their versions of hard rock and punk rock tunes. I love their rendition of David Bowie's Let's Dance, their version of the classic Led Zeppelin tune Stairway to Heaven and their wild interpretation of the Ramones famous I Want To Be Sedated. You will never think of those three songs in the same way again! If you want to see more, there is a whole documentary on them from quite a few years ago but it is still available on Amazon
and I highly recommend it!

And while we are on the same subject, here are a few photos of my friend Carolyn Doelling, who after a full previous career, started anew and became a model at the age of 73, determined to show that older women can be passionate, colorful, beautiful and proud rather than ignored and invisible...She is succeeding on her mission!

Click image to read an article about Carolyn

Meditation for Beginners

Click image to access this free 21 day meditation journey on youtube.

I do not at all claim to be an aficionado of mediation--I come relatively new to the practice but I thought I would share this Deepak Chopra/Oprah Winfrey 21 Day Journey to Perfect Health Series that I listen to on youtube. I am not one that likes a guided meditation--I prefer the silence and I think their series' are good for beginners because they walk you through it at the beginning and then are silent—and they basically take the mystery out of the practice. It starts with Oprah saying a few words, introducing the theme of the day, and then Deepak goes a bit deeper into a message. And then he shares a mantra and guides you in reciting it and then leaves you in silence for 10-15 minutes, beginning and ending with a soft bell. They offer other meditations on various themes such as "Get Unstuck: Creating a Limitless Life" and Creating Peace From The Inside Out. Emptying your mind is always a good thing, especially these days! I try and do it at least once, if not twice a day...

Mark Nepo Poem

Click image to read more about Mark Nepo’s new book

Image Courtesy of the author Mark Nepo

THIS SLOW QUICK DANCE

by Mark Nepo

After everything has gone wrong,
after what we believed would never
break has broken, something gives
way and, against all despair, a sliver
of light reaches us like dawn through
the night window to lift our sorry face.

No one knows how this works, but
we are stirred to step out of our story
and reach beyond all the warnings
to ask for love one more time.
This can happen in a second: when
I pick up the book you dropped, or
as a stranger asks if I’m ok when
she finds me staring into traffic.

This excerpt is from Mark Nepo's new book of poems, The Fifth Season due to be released on July 15, 2025. To pre-order your copy today through Barnes & Noble, click here.

And some important advice this morning from Robert Reich:

(Hope he doesn’t mind that I am repeating it here from his substack):

What is our moral responsibility as citizens of the United States when the President of the United States moves to deploy thousands of American soldiers against us?

Trump signed a memo late yesterday ordering 2,000 members of the National Guard to be deployed in Los Angeles County after federal immigration agents in riot gear squared off with hundreds of protesters for a second consecutive day.

Trump’s action is extreme although technically legal. Title 10 of the United States Code allows a president to federalize the National Guard units of states to suppress “any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy.” In a presidential memo, Trump said, “To the extent that protests or acts of violence directly inhibit the execution of the laws, they constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”

Why is he doing it, and why now?

Because Trump can’t stand to be humiliated — as he has been in the last two weeks. By senate Republicans refusal to quickly enact his so-called One Big Beautiful Bill. By Xi Jinping’s refusal to back down on trade (and restrict shipments of China’s rare earths, which American industry depends on). By Putin’s refusal to end the war in Ukraine. By the federal courts pushing back against his immigration policy. And, now, by insults and smears from the richest person in the world, who has a larger social media following than does Trump.

So what does Trump do when he’s humiliated? He deflects public attention. Like any bully, he tries to find another way to display his power — especially over people whom he doesn’t consider “his” people.

He has despised California since the 2016 election when the state overwhelmingly voted against him.

And what better Ground Zero for him to try out his police state than Los Angeles — a city teaming with immigrants, with Hollywood celebrities who demonize him, and wealthy moguls who despise him?

He is calling out the National Guard to provoke violence. As California governor Gavin Newsom said, “that move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.”

Exactly. Trump wants to escalate tensions. He wants a replay of the violence that occurred in the wake of the George Floyd murder — riots, mayhem, and destruction that allow him to escalate his police state further — imposing curfews, closing down parts of Los Angeles, perhaps seeking to subdue the entire state. And beyond.

Please do not give him this. Don’t fall into his trap.

We cannot be silent in the face of Trump’s dictatorial move. But we must not succumb to violence.

What is needed is peaceful civil disobedience. Americans locking arms to protect those who need protection. Americans sitting in the way of armored cars. Americans singing and chanting in the face of the Americans whom Trump is drafting into his handmade civil war.

Americans who do not attempt to strike back, but who do what many of us did during the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements — peacefully but unambiguously reject tyranny.

A humiliated Trump is the most dangerous Trump. But he will overreach. He already has. And this overreach will ultimately be his undoing.

As long as we keep our heads.

May we look back on this hellish time and feel proud of what we did.

Be strong. Be safe. Hug your loved ones.

—Thank you Robert Reich for your good advice and for keeping us strong…

Painting of the Week

Pam Smilow, mixed media on paper 52” x 52” sold

Charity of the Week: American Civil Liberties Union

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About The Author

New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow, began writing the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.