I recently presented on my 7 Pillars of Happiness to a wonderful group of South Cowichan seniors. We all had a great time discussing happiness and why it’s important to think about and practice it (but NOT chase it!) at any age.

And I made a new friend at this presentation too. Terry. Great fellow! From the moment I arrived and sat down (beside Terry), he seemed like such an easy person to talk to. It was as if I was supposed to sit next to Terry. We started to connect immediately.

Terry shared a couple of stories about his career and how he was drawn to educating and helping others. We all had lunch together and we had great conversation at our table.

As I started my presentation on the Pillars of Happiness and started talking about the first pillar – Growth and Learning – Terry shared with us a story about how he recently started playing the piano. He said it was something he always wanted to learn how to play… he felt he was always drawn to it but never started until recently, in his 80s. He mentioned to our group about how he was loving learning the piano. I applauded Terry’s courage to push out his boundaries because he was a perfect example, right there in the presentation, of continuing to learn and grow, lifelong. It was as though Terry was ‘planted’ in my audience!

But wait! That was just the first awesome Happiness example from Terry in that 30 minute presentation!

I went on to bring up one of the most fundamental pillars – Gratitude. I talked about how people who express gratitude DAILY (even just to themselves) experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems.

Our discussion moves into the idea of “putting things out to the universe” – which I believe is related to allowing and seeing opportunities that already exist – and Terry mentions to the group that he has always wanted to ride a ‘Harley’ motorcycle. Well wouldn’t you know it – one of the ladies sitting at the same table as Terry says that she has two ‘Harleys’ sitting in her garage that haven’t been used in a few years … just waiting to be ridden! We marveled in that moment about how Terry’s dream got a huge step closer in an instant! No doubt Terry is thinking more seriously now about going after his motorcycle license …

The Happiness presentation carried on and concluded with the importance of keeping (and building!) great relationships lifelong, and being engaged in life.

The South Cowichan Seniors Group participants who invited me out for lunch and a talk are all great examples of building relationships and staying engaged lifelong.

I’m so grateful that I got to meet all of them, and make a new friend in Terry – who I think I’ll invite along to future presentations! Terry – we’re hitting the road!

Tawnya and Chris Wilkinson
Nurse Next Door
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