Growing old any way you like

Spent interesting weekend with the elderly in different formats, at church, eating and socially, phoning and visiting in residential care home. Looking forward to being an age when your memory doesn't matter, being messy is not an issue, having hearing aids are a necessary accessory, and knowing the past more than the present and being able to have opinions without having to worry what other think of you is just great! Observations I found were we are never too old to have fun and a good laugh see http://www.growingolddisgracefully.org.uk/ and
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/G/Growing_old.asp as examples.

As we enter a new ageing for all is normal, we should look to our 80-90 year olds as a testimony to what can be still achieved (a daily motion is a prize!!). Even spotted in the local news that there was a 90+ couple celebrating their 70 years together http://www.wilmslowexpress.co.uk/news/s/1065208_young_at_heart_couple_together_for_70_years really amazing!!! The oldest lady I knew was a Mrs W who nearly got to 99 this year. As the news report later said 'died peacefully in her sleep' although I often wonder if that really is the case.

My Voluntary Work 25th Sept 2008

Have had several voluntary work experiences since 2004 with people affected by cancer/terminally ill. Quite a number of them have passed away but the ones I spend time with really appreciate the support I give. I have letters from clients warmthly praised the work I do and the hospital/hospice I visit also appreciate the time I spend with their patients.

To undertake this work I have attended initially the induction training at a local cancer charity (2004), but also undertaken counselling skills course at Leicester University (2005), the five module MacMillan Cancer Supprt Certicate with Open National College Network (2006-7) and the Coaching Award in the Workplace with the Insititute of Leadership and Management (2008) all of which have helped with the patients I have supported. There is always more you can learn and this is possible through the Web (E-Forums, Groups, Emails).

I have now gone onto provide bereavement support for my local community and again this is very challenging work and need a special type of rapport/intuition and training.

I was very fortunate to attend a seminar by Bill Webster last year (2007) on Grief Support that added to my knowledge from the module on Loss/Bereavement from the MacMillan Cancer Support Certificate.

As to the future my client base is quite diverse and have a cohort of older people in the community that I visit and support.

NLP for beginners 24th Sept 2008

Well Wednesday evening 24th Sept 2008 found myself with 15 other people in a room at a local college to learn about NLP. I know a little having done coaching work and developed some NLP indicators in my workplace.

First feelings (yes the Kinesthetic part of me) mentally said 'what am I doing here?' when scanning the room with my eyes (visual) and then being asked why I am here by the tutor to which I replied (auditory) 'learn how to improve my coaching skills' with an animated smile and gesture of my arms I guess.

Introducations with the class revealed some with 'meaning of life' style questions, whereby others had more pressing health issues to conquer. Others wanted to hone up their 'people skills' and others just plain curious.

The map is not the territory opened up the dialogue followed by the big questions, 'what do we want?' From this course, our relationship, our work, our life?

Next an exercise we ask a colleague in the classroom what we want and talk about themselves. I paired with a guy who had worked with a charity for 19 years before being made redundant. We seem to have a similar outlook on life. I said I wanted knowledge so it would help me perform better with my coachees.

Second exercise was listen to music in three different way, visually, auditory and Kinesthetically, which showed a difference in the way we behaved. Visually I was walking round looking at the pictures in the room, auditory I was nearly stationary (had tweaky shoes) and focused more on the words of the music, and Kinesthetically I was sensing the mood of the song.

Third exercise a scenario involving a person at work who was very tetchy and getting upset. How/what would you do? Ideas in the four person group were 'suggest there are other ways of being', 'just chill out', 'just let her get worse'. The real answer is to examine the meaning attached to her behaviour. She was behaving because of a certain map of reality she holds. NLP is suppose to challenge the map and challenge the person's beliefs and ways of thinking.

Given some notes, and Learner Initial Assessment to study. No real homework just be 'more aware' use 'all five senses' 'be aware of outcomes' and 'what you really want'.

Have got several books for this course which are:-

• Neuro-linguistic Programming for Dummies (Paperback) by Romilla Ready (Author), Kate Burton (Author)
• NLP: The New Technology of Achievement (Paperback) by Steve Andreas (Author), Charles Faulkner (Author), and
• Coaching with NLP: How to Be a Master Coach (Paperback) by Joseph O'Connor

Overall the first session went okay. Interaction within class patchy and could be better. Hypothesis that there will some people drop out by the third week, see if I am correct.

new day 23rd Sept 2008

My first ever blog of the day Tuesday 23rd Sept 2008. Just joined the blogger.com to see what its all about.
Hope to add regular 'thoughts from Room U416' which I changed to be called 'inspire to aspire' as it sounds uplifting and positive rather than 'mulling over reflective' stuff.
Main view today is about the sorting out stuff for the start of the new academic term.

Picture to left shows me testing out new device for hypnosis!!!

Also about investigating the usefulness of an online survey website for students called

www.questionpro.com which can be used by students for project work.
I intend to use it for a survey so will let you know how I get on with it.