KU School of Social Welfare Interdisciplinary Aging Practice Class Cohort of 2023 and Sarah Jen (Instructor)
Title: What’s Worth Knowing & What’s Worth Doing
Topic: Lifelong Learning
The following are two collectively created poems from a class of social work students. The poems were created on our final day of class. Each line represents the learning and/or insights of an individual student, but collectively, they communicate what we have learned over the course of the semester and what intentions we are setting for the future.
About aging, I have learned…
That I have more plans arranged for my death
than I have for the next year of my life.
Aging means change
Everyone ages differently
Money isn’t as essential in older years as I previously thought
People can be at the same age in life
but have different goals and beliefs
We remain the same people we have always been
with self determination
the importance of decision making
autonomy
that never changes as we age.
It is a whole life process that we
are experiencing every day
It is okay to age
think about legacy and what you are leaving behind
There are so many life moments to experience
and as you get older, it’s nice to look back at them
Give space for stories
Aging looks different for everyone
Aging should be celebrated and enjoyed
Aging is unpredictable, but beautiful.
-
About myself, I have learned…
My view of aging and previous understanding and
where they are now are very different
I have learned
I will continue to have the same values for all of my life.
I am not as different from who I was 16 as I thought I would be
I have learned how deeply connected to my family I am
I want to intentionally plan ahead and discuss my hopes with my family as I age
There’s many aspects of aging and death I’ve grown to fear over the years,
but now feeling more comfortable with these ideas
I have noticed my own discomfort and am learning to
acknowledge it and let that discomfort help me to grow
I can be present and work through my worries
It is okay to have uncomfortable conversations
I can live a full life even though half of my life is likely over
I have learned to give myself grace
I am strong
I am continually shaping my own aging future
-
As we age, it is worth knowing that…
Aging is inevitable. Embrace it!
No matter what you’ve done in past,
it has brought you to where you are today
Things will change and that’s okay
Regardless of how we age and the challenges this presents,
It’s finding a purpose or a sense of belonging that makes all else irrelevant
Don’t focus on the number, but on the experience
Experiences are more important than things
You are never too old to make a positive impact on the world!
Almost everyone will be part of the aging community at some point,
what will you do with that information?
-
What’s Worth Doing
I am setting an intention to…
Think about my actions and whether or not they match my goals and intentions for living what I consider to be a meaningful life
To connect with people of different generations
Take more time to understand my oldest relatives before passing judgment on them
Be present and aware of the gifts around me
Slow down, listen for meaning, engage with each person as much and best as I can
To engage with and appreciate the older adults in my life
To practice unconditional kindness
To try to achieve all of my goals in the time I have left
Discuss my aging future and what I want it to look like with family members
Have the uncomfortable conversations, with my children and grandchildren, about what I want for end of life care
Not to judge decisions of other aging adults
To live in the moment
To value my time
Be purposeful in my clinical work with aging clients
To think about my own aging and plan my time intentionally around it.