Page 56 - Sonoma County Gazette Janaury 2019

New Year’s Restitutions!
I’ve always believed that New Year’s Resolutions were just dolled-up, fun, wishful thinking—usually about something needing improvement. I noticed that not much would change; the Resolution usually faded away in a few weeks or months—like the strains of Auld Lang Syne and the fireworks.
Jan 10 , 26, Feb 14, Mar 24, Apr 23 ~ Welcome to the Village ~ Learn about aging better together. Meet Village members and volunteers at an information mtg. FREE, Village Network of Petaluma, 955 Petaluma Blvd. South, Petaluma, 707-776-6055, VillageNetworkofPetaluma.org, info@villagenetworkfopetaluma.org
Jan 11, 18, 25 ~ Senior Ballroom Dancing ~ each Friday with different Great Bands each week. $9, 1p-4p, Finley Auditorium Community Center, 2050 West College Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-543-3737, Billie Erkel
Jan 19 ~ Does Long-Term Care Insurance Make Sense for You? A panel of experts on pros, cons and considerations on whether long-term care insurance is for you. Free, 2:00p - 3:30p, Petaluma Library, 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma, 707-776-6055, VillageNetworkofPetaluma.org, info@VillageNetworkofPetaluma.org
(No. It’s not a typo.)
Restitutions are not only much easier to follow-thru with than Resolutions, but you are way ahead of the game because you already have the information you need, you know what was right or wrong, you know the details and there are no secrets. Restitutions are easy to identify, to define and are personal and familiar.
A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. This FREE 8-session program for seniors focuses on preventing falls. Includes chair exercise. Matter of Balance Managing Concerns about Falls. Free, donations gratefully accepted. This nationally-acclaimed program includes group discussions, mutual problem-solving and safety strategies, exercises and a home safety evaluation. Each two-hour class explores practical strategies for preventing falls and simple exercises to improve strength, coordination and balance. Classes are offered throughout Sonoma County. Courses are FREE, with a suggested donation of $20 for materials, and no one is turned away. To register: djacoby@schsd.org or (707) 565-5936.,
Jan 9 ~ Feb 17 ~ Rohnert Park Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A, Rohnert Park. Eight Wednesdays @ 3–5p
Jan 25 ~ Mar 15 ~ Cloverdale Senior Center, 311 N. Main Street, Cloverdale Eight Fridays @ 1–3p
Jan 30 ~ Mar 20 ~ Vintage House Senior Center, 264 First Street East, Sonoma Eight Wednesdays @ 10a–noon
Feb 18 ~ Apr 8 ~ Vintage Chateau Senior Apartments, 333 N. McDowell Boulevard, Petaluma. Eight Mondays @ 10a–noon
Apr 4 ~ May 22 ~ Windsor Senior Center, 9231 Foxwood Drive, Windsor. Eight Wednesdays @ 1–3p
Restitution is a tricky concept. What’s needed for restitution is usually obvious, not obscure or obtuse. The better we become with self-examination, the clearer the concept becomes.
I spent a few hours with my old friends Oxford and Webster (...we’re on a first name basis), and the investment was more challenging than I expected. One important thing I learned was that “Restitution” as a concept suffers in the same way that the concept of “Confrontation” suffers. They are immediately assumed to be NEGATIVE.
Over many years, with many small business clients, those uncomfortable with “confrontation” saw it only as a negative process, associated with anger and disapproval, and always punitive. Coaching and teaching positive confrontation was definitely an adventure!
“Restitution” also (with few exceptions) was/is usually associated with fault, recrimination, payback, guilt and numerous other mea culpa’s.
Webster, Oxford and I take exception! While both concepts include negative potential, there are numerous situations where “Restitution” speaks loudly to positive opportunities.
Which brings me back to my affinity for New Year Restitutions” over New Year Resolutions. Restitution can be “...an act of restoring; the restoration
of all things and persons to harmony; restoration of something to its rightful owner; restoration of a person to a former position or status; or, the act of restoration of a thing or institution to its original state or form.” (Webster)
Rides to Medical and Social Services Appointments ~ Call to arrange rides - FREE for members of the Cloverdale Senior Community Center, 311 North Main Street, Cloverdale, 707-894-4826, cloverdaleseniorcenter.com/, Elizabeth elizabeth@ cloverdaleseniorcenter.com
Wow.... Just those few actionable Restitution ideas can easily send one thinking of personal opportunities... Whereas, New Year Resolutions are too usually about stuff we would (or should?) be doing anyway! You know: stick to the weight loss diet plan, stop smoking, spend more time with the kids, clean out the garage...
Sebastopol Area Senior Center 167 N. High St.Sebastopol, 707-829-2440, sebastopolseniorcenter.org
Jan 3 ~ TED Talk - The Bridge Between Suicide and Life - by Kevin Briggs
If you like big ideas and lively discussions, join our TED Talks Group. Free for
members / $5 for non-members, 2p - 3:30p.
Jan 7, 14, 28, Feb 4 ~ IDIE with Tess Lorraine - Investigating your choices - Educate yourself on all aspects end of life in an intimate and interactive setting. 16 classes. $8 per class members / $10 non-members, Mondays 2:30p-4:30p.
Jan 11 ~ Clearing Clutter - Clearing Clutter Support Group facilitated by Debora Farrington. Members $10, Non-Members $12, 10:45a- 12:15p.
Jan 17 - Jan 24 ~ Lighten Up - a natural path to healing depression, anxiety, and insomnia. 2-part series, Register by Jan. 7. 1p-3p, 10:45 AM - 12:15p.
Jan 25 ~ Let’s Talk Cannabis - Biodynamic and Regenerative Cannabis. Learn about the benefits of consuming Biodynamic and Regeneratively farmed cannabis. Members by Donation, Non-Members $5, 2:30p - 4p.
Blood Pressure and Glucose Screening - 3rd Thursdays, 12-1 p.m. *when volunteers are available. Suggested Fee: $3 Wisdom Counts Member; $4 Assoc.Members
Rides To Appointments ~ If you are 60 and over, live in the West County and need help getting to medical and social service appointments, call our Volunteer Driver Transportation Program five business days in advance of your appointment, and we’ll do our best to get you where you need to go. Call Dean Brittingham, 707- 829-2440 or emaildean@sebastopolseniorcenter.org.
Thinking about our expectations—just because December 31 rolled into January 1 for a new calendar year—brought to mind something my 10 year old son asked me years ago: Mom? Am I supposed to feel different just because yesterday I was 9 and now I’m 10? Because, I don’t!
We really don’t feel much different when the old year rolls out and the new one rolls in –but we try to! Resolutions are part of that, and no harm done. Nothing appreciably changes, although we try for new beginnings, all around us; we intend positive changes. I am not suggesting the abandonment of Resolutions; just suggesting a tweak!
Advancing age can cause one to look back and kind of review one’s path from time to time. It’s surprising to notice some things you view differently now that you were so sure of at some point back then! Then there are the woulda/coulda’s (don’t spend a lot of time on those!) On the other end of
the spectrum, advancing age can also get you thinking about the wisdom of making Resolutions that don’t take into consideration old knees, the need for naps, endurance, the wanna factor, and the slim chances of follow-thru, etc.
New Year Restitutions seem friendlier somehow! You have what you need, there’s no mystery, and a lot can be handled these days right from the recliner. So, Happy New Year! If you decide to go with Resolutions, just don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Zoë Tummillo is a Business & Marketing Consultant/Trainer/Commercial Writer, dba COMMUNICA- TION CONCEPTS, in private practice since 1974. In addition to Commercial work, she writesSenior Momentum: A Series of Situations; “Pieces of My Path. essay memoirs of growing up first-generation Italian American; andSenior Momentum: Front And Center!. Email Zoë at writingservice@earthlink.net
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Ping Pong Every Thursday, 10am-1pm. $3 for seniors, $5 for non-seniors.
Wed., Jan 23, 7pm: Evening Ping Pong Sebastopol Grange, 6000 Sebastopol Ave, Hwy 12, Sebastopol, sebastopolgrange.org