How Ebenezer can help with socialization, support groups and activities
 
For yours truly, just seeing the word isolation initially conjures thoughts of despair, loneliness and hopelessness. Hopefully, those thoughts are, with further examination and deliberation, extreme and need not exemplify a total picture of isolation, but rather just emotional snapshots. 
 
From time immemorial, people have been and still are social creatures. That's why we call the culture in which live, society. Regardless of the protestations of those who have even chosen to be hermits, living in self-imposed isolation, every human being cannot consistently or comfortably sustain life or healthy thought processes without at least some interaction with another human being. We have an innate need to communicate with one another, regardless of what thoughts or needs are shared. Thus, when the subject of isolation arises, there are multiple visions that also arise, but none, in my opinion, that require the most desperate or debilitating thinking or conclusions.
 
Without presumption here, I assume all human beings, at one time or another, have experienced a form of loneliness that propels minds to think in extreme terms that parallel isolation, leading to almost terrified thinking. The isolation, in most instances, is identified with being alone, feeling there's no one with whom one can express oft-times self-induced desperate thought processes and definitely thinking expressing those feelings will fall on deaf, or even mocking, ears. My comments are based on personal experience, as well as experiences of those I know whom no one would ever think experienced isolation or isolationist thinking. Negative thoughts are almost always self-made, fearing if they're shared with others, no one will really care, understand nor want to offer solace or help. In regard to Ebenezer, caring and help are parts of a permanent mantra dedicated to helping create better lives and more positive thinking for those who feel alone or isolated. 
 
Those blessed to have any connection with Ebenezer and/or its multiple services should know the help Ebenezer can provide to alleviate feelings of isolation and helplessness is available 24/7/365. Professional Ebenezer personnel are aware that people of any age experience extreme thoughts of loneliness. Again, thanks to part of Ebenezer's mission to provide the best possible senior housing and social experiences connected thereto, Ebenezer’s trained professionals can speak with any Ebenezer resident, or even potential resident, about why and how socialization is so necessary to enjoy a well-rounded life. That socialization includes interaction with support groups and uplifting activities. 
 
Without social interaction, isolation can indeed create much less of a life than we deserve, again of our own making. If you or others you know need to do so, please explore and avail yourself (or selves) of Ebenezer's genuine caring and proven solutions.
 
Thank you for reading Barry's Blog and please, if it applies to you, move from isolation to socialization, soon!

In my opinion (and the opinion of many), asking for help is one of life's most uncomfortable challenges. To some, including myself at more than one time in my life, asking for help paralleled the words failure, weakness or the inability to privately cope with difficult times, be they personal, professional, financial or any combination thereof, including transitional.
 
When a person lives a significant number of years (I'm 81), inner strength to overcome challenging times of transition from one life chapter to another has one riding an emotional roller coaster. Some of the ups and downs are almost too overwhelming with which to cope, but coping and overcoming any trepidation is within the power of each of us. I know that to be true and, possibly, maybe even probably, so do you. If not, there are people within the Ebenezer "family" with special skills who are available to help bring you to that wonderful emotional and mental epiphany and addressed more directly at the conclusion of this blog. I'll also illustrate some real life examples farther down this tome. First, however, in regard to financial stress, Minneapolis's own Mike Todd (nee Avrom Goldbogen, and Elizabeth Taylor's favorite husband) once stated, "I've never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation." Mr. Todd's whimsy can be uplifting, for almost no situation is beyond being happily resolved. Humbly stated, I'm a living example of that truth.
 
Another living example of helping make the transition from one stage of life to another is the example of working all one's life in one profession, then transitioning to "retirement". One of my very close relatives retired last February after 52 years working in the same profession. Retirement for her was tantamount to a bullet-train coming to an abrupt stop and not continuing down any tracks. She was unaware that the routines with which she had lived for over a half-century had also come to an abrupt stop. After one month of "retirement," she decided to work at least part-time in a totally different arena, but one with which she had considerable expertise as a customer. Now, following a few months of "getting used to it," she's very happy in her transitional life. 
 
In regard to my own transitions, they've been many. Very few have been easy, but most have led to positive outcomes I hadn't expected nor predicted. One of my favorite sayings in regard to our lives emanated from author George Eliot, (Mary Ann Evans) to wit: "It's never too late to be who you might have been." That saying has been an inspiration to me more than once, almost a mantra. Perhaps it resonates with you, too. 
 
One special path to coping with the world of transitions is being provided by Ebenezer's outreach specialists at all Ebenezer facilities, with numerous optional resources to help those in need navigate to the smoothest possible transitions to life's next stages, compassionately and intelligently. A form guiding you or anyone you know who may wish to explore Ebenezer's assistance in regard to life transitions follows this closing paragraph. Thank you for reading!
 

Belated Happy New Year. I hope it's the best ever for you and yours.
 
I love traditions, especially those that are "positives." Making New Year resolutions is one of my personal favorites, because, in my opinion, those resolutions annually keep attempting to glue us together, spiritually, emotionally and mentally. For some of us the resolutions dissolve within a few days, unfortunately, but written with a respectful smile here.
 
The dissolution of those well-intended resolutions is also part of the realization of our humanity and mortality. Traditions similar to New Year resolutions bring smiles, providing us with thoughts and actions onto which to "latch" as members of a civilized culture, as well as hope and a sense of stability we often need to get us through each day with as little angst possible.
 
Obviously, there are many pluses and minuses to resolutions and realization. The pluses are mostly on the resolution side of the ledger. Some include the usual annual pedestrian (but valid and important) "suspects,"  i.e., resolving to losing weight (for some, that's not a problem); developing or maintaining a nicer attitude toward everyone (not just a few); being more nutritionally aware and activating that awareness on a permanent basis; being perpetually thankful for all the blessings we often forget we have; having sustained respect for other peoples beliefs without abandoning our own and so many more not herein addressed. 
 
The realization side of the ledger presents the reality many of us face daily and increasingly as the years slip by, to wit: Even though many of us still "think young," the realization of our inabilities to be as physically active as in earlier years sometimes comes as an unexpected shock. On a personal note, because of surgeries, I can no longer safely participate in two of my favorite sports, Alpine skiing and tennis. The former afforded me the privilege to travel to and work in numerous locations producing ski films for television. The locations included Iran (twice, during the Shah's reign), Chile, France, Italy, Switzerland and Quebec. Some of the realities we face during the aging process are the fact memories can sometimes be our most treasured realizations.  
 
Because reminiscences of other New Year’s Eves would be germane at this time, two of my fondest memories occurred December 31, 1952 and December 31, 1953. Those were New Year's Eves one of my New York City high school pals (Charlie Brill) and I decided to learn what it was like to visit Times Square during that annual iconic event. To the point, suffice it so say, as two who were in the very middle of that crowd, if you wanted to fall down, you couldn't. We were packed like sardines, almost crushed, truthfully, but decided to have the same experience two New Year's Eves in a row. Realization: I could never do it again, at any age.
 
In my opinion, even though time marches on and our resolutions are important, the realization of achieving an advanced age is a daily blessing. Losing my younger daughter to ovarian cancer in 2017 at her young age 54 is a daily reminder for yours truly to cherish every living day. For whatever aches, pains and challenges arrive with "old age", age is just a number and, as the old adage reminds us, we're only as old as we feel or act. Just ask my wife. She will tell you I'm 81, going on four. Maybe it's actually three. 
 
Thank you for reading and Happy New Year, once again.
Best,
​Barry ZeVan