Green House Promise of Greater Things To Come!

I have an apology to make. I honestly thought the Green House concept was conceived to be the end all and be all of Culture Change, the bowing to the best possible end for our elders.

One thing that was said today in the Green House workshop in Birmingham energized both Jim and I. We don't have enough life left to worry about anything but doing the same thing Green House adopters in 28 states have done. We can't worry about the consequences of pushing the envelope on outmoded regulations that do nothing but create busy work for our hard working state HHS regulators. Our world needs to change. Our elders deserve nothing less.

That statement? "We're still evolving." Thank you, Robert Jenkins. Thank you, St. Martins in the Pines for hosting this informative session! The weather was fabulous! Thank you, Dr. Thomas, for getting this ball rolling!

I came away with a renewed sense of doing the right thing, of being in the right place at the right time. Of one goal. ONLY the best for our generation and the generations to come.

Jim and I discussed this before we stopped for the night in Nashville, to wait out a blizzard on the way home. We won't stop. We are going to push Culture Change from the rooftops. We are going to do whatever we can.

We will endeavor for the highest form of relief. Jim said to me at dinner, "They told us it wasn't much fun to be the first. The pioneers had arrows in their backs." He paused. "What were those three things that Dr. Thomas wrote in the book [In the Arms of Elders]?"

"Loneliness, Boredom, and Helplessness," I replied. "Yes!" he said. "I'm not going to stop! I'll make them hear the news. I'm good at that."

I am so blessed.

There's vision, and then there's MISSION

I am an avid follower of Dr. Thomas' blog, ChangingAging.org. Today he posted a call for more social networking revolving around Culture Change.

Most of you who know me, know that I am planning to build a community that includes as many of the tools and people and design as is necessary to make sure that people do not have to age away from the people they love, and need around them.

I plan to escape the winter snow of Nebraska in a couple of weeks, for sunny (? I can hope, this year) Alabama, and a Green House workshop. I am keeping at this project because I must. My heart is so full of the need, I don't want to see any more of the types of nursing homes that don't really want to consider themselves "home." They can call themselves "home" all they want... it doesn't make it without a true effort to restore the things their residents lose when they move in!

So, here it is...

Vision:

We affirm quality of life, in all stages of life. We will carry each other’s burden ~ together.

Mission:

We affirm quality of life, in all stages of life. We will carry each other’s burden ~ together. We believe quality of life includes these important goals for all our community members.

~ Maintaining a Healthy Spirit

~ Maintaining a Healthy Mind

~ Maintaining a Healthy Body

We will meet the challenges we face, knowing we can. Proper people, proper tools, and proper planning will make our community successful. To maintain a healthy spirit, we will recognize the value each community member brings to our community, sharing with each other the necessary tools for living and the necessary companionship to bless our hearts and souls. To maintain a healthy mind, we will ask each community member to actively engage in volunteerism, giving where we can to whom we can. We will engage each other in games and hobbies, enjoying each day to the fullest possible. To maintain a healthy body, we will ask each community member to make full use of the tools provided, sharing with one another the necessary community facilities for walking, stretching and strength. We will encourage and exhort each other in all these things.

Inspiration often comes from personal experience. I have two fond memories, both of whom passed away in 2009. My mother...












and my husband's aunt.


The memories of their smiles, their wisdom and their love for living will guide me well as I go forward!!