Celebrating the older person

Saturday was the International Day of Older Persons.

In our youth-obsessed world, it can be easy to forget the wonderful gifts that age can bring . Many of us end up embracing instead the glass half-empty attitude that “old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative,” to quote French entertainer Maurice Chevalier.

So let’s buck the trend!  Let’s recognise and celebrate the many contributions that older people make to the community, and let’s discover how to make the most of the second halves of our lives.

The library, as usual, has much to offer:

• discover resources in our catalogue on how to help your body and your mind age well;
• explore websites of interest to older people in our Internet Gateway;
• find community groups, clubs and continuing education classes in CINCH, our directory of community information;

And, above all, don’t forget “with mirth and laughter [to] let old wrinkles come” (thank you, Mr Shakespeare!*) by enjoying some “age-appropriate” humour.

Make also a note in your calendars to attend the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Expo on Monday 10 October.

The expo will be hosted by Age Concern Canterbury, with support from the Christchurch City Council and Papanui High School.  It promises to be a fun day combining information about services for older adults with free entertainment, including cooking demonstrations by MasterChef runner-up Jax Hamilton.

Library staff will be there on the day, so come and have a chat and discover the myriad ways in which we can help you enjoy your “golden years”.

*The quote is from The Merchant of Venice.