People use “themes” for lots of things: designing a child’s room; planning a wedding; setting the tone for a meeting. A theme is the unifying idea. It gives a consistent feel to the design or event. Using a theme gives guidance for all decisions concerning the event. For example, using a “jungle” theme for a child’s birthday party helps you know what decorations to buy and, more importantly, what not to buy.
Themes are not only for specific events. Individuals sometimes use personal themes for their lives. Leslie Charles, motivational speaker and author of several books, is a true believer in the use of themes. She describes personal themes as creating “a unique window on your world; a special lens that offers a consistent way of perceiving and interpreting what happens.” Examples of her personal themes include: “Year of Transition”; “Year of Fulfillment”; “Year of Reinvention”. She writes that it was during her Year of Exploration she decided to “explore my potential as a writer.” In the following year – her Year of Adventure – her first book was published. Her Year of Lightness helped her to maintain her perspective in the heat of the media blitz following the published book.
Many organizations use themes to motivate and focus their missions. Since 1949, Rotary International has used an annual theme to point the direction for the upcoming year. Examples of past Rotary themes include: “Live Rotary”; “A Time for Action”; “Follow your Rotary Dream”.
Ardmore Village has traditionally used an annual theme. Our upcoming theme for 2010 will be “Celebrate Living”. Over the next 12 months, we will keep this theme in mind as we work to celebrate something each day.
I recently had the opportunity to watch one of my favorite old movies: Harold and Maude. It is a comedy with a dark theme — death. Harold is a young man, around 17 years old. After being mistakenly reported as killed in a school chemistry lab accident and after seeing his mother’s reaction to the news of his death, he becomes obsessed with death. To get a rise out of his mother, Harold begins acting out outrageous death scenes and regularly attending funerals of people he does not know. This fixation on death is unwavering until he meets Maude, a 79-year-old lady who has a spark of life about her. She spends her time painting, posing nude for sculptures, tending to her plants and collectables.
Maude and Harold talk about life – about living. Harold says, “I haven’t lived, but I’ve died a few times.”
Maude says, “A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They’re just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance. Get hurt even. Otherwise, you’ve got nothing to talk about in the locker room.”
Maude really knows how to live. She helps Harold to live too. At the end of the movie, as she is preparing to really die, Harold begs her to stay alive. “Maude, I love you!” She responds, “Oh Harold … That’s wonderful. Go and love some more.”
Now that is real living, which is what we try to do and are doing at the Ardmore Village. This next year, we plan to do as Maude encourages us to do. We are going to celebrate living.
— Provided by Ardmore Village, a senior resident and activities community
www.ardmorevillage.com
