Making Great Memories that Last a Lifetime!


November ushers in shorter days, colder weather, and the start of the holidays; and many of us spend more time entertaining at home.  Thanksgiving kicks-off the season and is the perfect time to connect with family, friends, and our community. 

Since the earliest civilizations, people have given thanks for the annual harvests.  In America the tradition of Thanksgiving began in 1621 in Plymouth Rock with pilgrims giving thanks for their bountiful harvest.  While the majority of us do not live in farming communities any more, Thanksgiving is a widely celebrated holiday in the U.S.  We gather together with loved ones to honor our country and give thanks for our many blessings.   The holiday is a time to celebrate tradition and to create new, lasting memories. 

When surveying older adults, researchers found that lasting memories are typically the most meaningful ones such as getting married, the birth of a child, or taking pride in completing a difficult challenge.  They are the kinds of things that inspire us, help us feel awe, and give us happiness. 

There are things we can do to help ourselves, our children and loved ones create more positive lasting memories.  Authors Chip Heath and Dan Heath explain that “peak moments are essential to a happy life and that we could take steps to create more of them at work and in our personal lives.”  One suggestion is to take an event and turn it into an extraordinary experience by paying more attention to it such as the first day of school, starting a new job or retiring after a long career.  Even negative memories can be turned around if we make a point to view the episode in a more positive light by recognizing the lessons we learned.  Overall we should learn to celebrate and appreciate the things we do well and take pride in them. 

Elevating and building relationships provide the most happiness and an easy way to do this is to vacation together, attend reunions, and share holidays.  Strong bonds are also built during times of struggles such as the unique kinship of soldiers. 

Most importantly remember that lasting memories can be made doing little things together like watching the big “game” or helping friends paint a new home.  To feel more a part of your community, volunteer for meaningful projects such as cleaning up local parks, participating in fundraisers, or serving others.  Working together on worthy projects is a great way to build lasting memories with our children or grandchildren as well. 

The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Jordan Creek, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself the finest senior living Des Moines-West Des Moines area offers.

Source:   https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_make_everyday_moments_extraordinary



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