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PRACTICE - EDUCATION - SCIENCE
[KJW #095] Conversations With Remarkable Elders: About Health, Happiness, World Union and Integrated Medicine.
Robert Muller and Kathy Ward during the happiness workshop
at a Buddhist Temple in California.
Conversations With Remarkable Elders: Dr. Robert Muller
Kathy: Robert, what's on your mind this morning.
Robert: I have recently read several national newspapers and as never before I am totally surprised by the lack of meaningful information. It is only a reproduction of ideas but no progress. The invisible spirit of humanity has been totally eliminated from these newspapers.
Kathy: What can we do?
Robert: Become a missionary at the moment.
Robert: When I worked at the United Nations no meeting could begin without playing Ode To Joy of Beethoven with my harmonica. I can not resist not to play the harmonica. I was known at the United Nations as the prophet of Hope. Even if you don't have a harmonica have your own music of life and do not let anyone brings you down. Too many people have already died with their music inside.
 
 (here is Robert sharing his music with a family at a restaurant, and with a baby and two dogs while taking a walk at the beach with Barbara and I. Everyone welcomes his joy.)
Robert: I have thought about this idea, a machine next to my tomb that can play the Ode To Joy of Beethoven for 25 cents, the music I play with my harmonica. I also would like a second machine that can play some of my speeches for 25 cents.
Kathy: Robert, the Secretary General of the United Nations just told us that 60% of the world population lives with $2 a day. How can people afford 50 cents in these machines next to your tomb?
Robert: You are correct, I have to consider this seriously and I will tell Barbara, my wife.
Kathy: Is it okay if I download the Ode To Joy that you play with your harmonica and put it in my website for everyone?
Robert: Even better, what a great idea...
Links from www.goodmorningworld.org
Robert Playing Ode To Joy At Agape Unity Church To Great Applause And The Story Of How He Came To Be A Harmonica Player Kathy: There is a beautiful painting in your bedroom and I would like to know the story of it. Jesus appears next to the United Nations building in New York.
 Robert: This painting is a gift from a French artist. He gave it to me and told me... "here is Jesus himself knocking at your office window. If you could only have the heart to hear it and the eyes to see it."
Kathy: Robert, do you think that Jesus was a prophet?
Robert: I reject this idea because a prophet is a spokesperson who represents ideas. This representation is not universal.
Kathy: Is there a way to please everyone?
Robert: Well, when I do not focus on me, instead, I focus on the common good. Can you imagine how China would feel if I say that their God is not God. I prefer to turn this around and talk about the good in everyone and the possibilities that we all have to contribute. We need world union.
Kathy: Is the Arab community part of world union?
Robert: Yes, they are already integrated. It just occurred to me that we have already achieved world union. We seem to have reached that stage of human evolution. Only the unity of all can be the well-being of all.
Kathy: Now I have an idea for you Robert, please write an article about how the human family has already achieved world union.
Robert: Yes, I will do that and Barbara will help me.
Kathy: Robert, how is happiness therapeutic and healing?
Write down all the reasons why you are happy. Give more than what you have. If you are at service, you'll be eternally happy.
Kathy: Robert I want to open my heart and share my happiness with you too. Robert, thank you for being alive, for sharing your words and wisdom with the human family... and thank you for a being a magnificent elder. You talk about your tomb... what comes to my mind is you being part of the universe as a happy star. I can't imagine you in a box. I can imagine you as a shinning star in the universe. Poets look for stars to find inspiration and meaning. Those who wonder look at the stars for guidance. Many of us look at the stars to dream, get inspire and shape our dreams. For the spark on your eyes, today I can say that I met a shinning star on earth.
Thank you Robert for being you. KJW
Santa Barbara Buddhist Temple; Area Agency on Aging;
and Santa Barbara Mental Health Association
presented
"Most Of All They Taught Me Happiness"
Workshop in California, USA
(1)  (2)  (3)  (1) At the Buddhist Temple with Robert before we began the workshop. Robert took a few minutes to remember his friend and previous UN Secretary General U Thant. (2) Robert signing copies of his book "Most Of All They Taught Me Happiness." (3) Participants during the workshop.
Questions from the audience
Robert, do you meditate?
Robert: Every morning I momentanize. I have the feelings of the wonders of life. I listen to nature and I know that nature listens to me. Every morning I get into me again.
Robert, why did you chose the path of happiness?
Robert: Because life is divine. When I was three years old I used to go to a church next to our home and I will tell everyone, life is divine!!! Happiness is a kind of law and we can not afford not to be happy. Make every effort to be proud of being alive.
(1)  (2) 
(1) Robert and Barbara Muller during welcoming and introductory remarks.
(2) Participants enjoying very yummy lavender chocolates, a gift from Barbara Muller,
and a cup of green tea prepared by our dear elders at the Buddhist Temple.
Happy Holy-Day, A Celebration of Life... any R.S.V.Ps??? Dear Kathy: I like your newsletter and I read it often, when I am not bed-bounded. The information you provide is such a positive inspiration for me and others. My letter is not too long because I can not write or see well anymore, but I would like to share my thoughts with your readers, especially because on thanksgiving and the upcoming "holidays" sometimes can be hard for seniors to be thankful for. As you know the holidays to us, seniors in retirement communities, are not what they used to be. Especially if we are not able to be with or to spend quality time with those we love, family or friends. It is a little tougher until we realize that the people we care for are always with us-in our hearts and minds. And just as they're with us, we are with them.
The days we can't spend together physically, we can still take time to remember them fondly… making phone calls, performing acts of love in their name, sending cards or letters helps us and our loved ones. Also, no matter where we are there are many people around us that can be our new friends.
Special places, music and people might help the mood, but the celebration, happiness and love comes from within ourselves. The challenge is to find it there-a state of mind, a positive attitude. It's easy to use a holiday as an excuse to be sad or edgy. I've been there. Our challenge is to celebrate every day, not only the holy-days as special. Life is a precious gift, whether we're in a retirement community, hospital or at HOME with the people we love.
Ever since my wife died, two years ago, I have planned a celebration every day. Kathy, you wrote in one of your newsletters, "if there is not a holiday today or this week, then create one but live and have fun." Every day is a holy-day, a celebration of life. You're invited. Any RSVPs ???
Fondly, D.D. (87 years of life)
Has An Elder Ever Change Your Life For The Better? Share your story with us and all our blog readers. Write to us in English or Spanish: wel@worldelderland.com
 In the quietness of my heart...
Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in United States, is a feast celebrated every year to give thanks for; blessings, sorrows, opportunities, experiences, reverence for nature and its miraculous gifts, for our brothers the animals that live with us nurturing each other...
This Thanksgiving I would like to give thanks for our dear elders in the world. I can not imagine how this planet could go on without our elders. Let's pause, acknowledge and cherish their presence, contributions, their visible and invisible energy and love.
Our planet earth is habitated by people like you and me. There is enough spiritual power within ourselves. We need each other and we have each other... life is in balance! KJW
How integrated medicine, designed to treat the whole-person, not just an illness, is helping co-create better health, happiness and better quality of life for elders and caregivers.
Today we know that medicine is more than just a physician-patient relationship. There are competency-based evaluation tools that nurture and co-create a wholistic and comprehensive plan of care to better help our elders and caregivers in their journey of whole-person-centered wellness.
The benefits of education and practice of integrated medicine are; patient empowerment, some of the treatments are natural, therapists provide the 3 Ts: "touch, talk, time", and it focuses on body-mind, emotional and spiritual wellness. Also, the healer can be the patient.
The direct observation (DO) and treatment plan (TP) are invaluable components of a whole-person-centered wellness program. Family members and health care providers need to develop better communication and better practices centered in prevention and management of "compassion fatigue." Effective and realistic measurable goals need to be discussed and implemented.
Integrated medicine stimulates cooperation between alternative medicine practitioners and conventional investigators. Major research areas are; cancer, neurosciences, cardiovascular disease, aging and musculoskeletal disorders.
Join me next time as we explore and share better practices and interventions about how integrated medicine helps co-create healing and better health for everyone.
 Peace be with you!
Reflections...
Who am I? What do I want to make out of this life?
How can I nurture my whole-person?
What in the universe is better because of me?
* * * * *
Please send inquiries, requests for programs, speaker and consulting services with WEL, World Elder Land or Kathy J. Ward to connection@kathyjward.com Peace be with you!
Kathy J. Ward, MA, MS, CTRS, ADC, CGP, CALA Universal Peace Ambassador, Cercle Universel des Ambassadeurs de la Paix - Geneva Switzerland President of WEL, World Elder Land Holistic Health Practitioner and Consultant President of ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy Therapeutic Recreation Consultant
National Assisted Living Administrator Certified
Member of the European Federation of Older Persons
Board Member, Activities, Adaptation and Aging Journal Author National Alzheimer's Association Speakers Bureau Love Ambassador - Florida, USA Member of the World Poet Society - Greece Ambassador of Happiness For Elders - Connecticut, USA Cell: (240) 393-5456
© Copyright 2007 Kathy J. Ward. All rights reserved.
No part of KJW blog or KJW websites: WEL, World Elder Land, ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy, BWCA, Better World Community Adventures, may be reproduced, totally or partially, in any form or by any means, without the written prior permission of the author. The use of our materials in KJW websites, conferences, group presentations, publications or network computer system is prohibited without the written prior permission of the author. The use of proposals presented and discussed during individual meetings by WEL or KJW is prohibited without the written prior permission of Kathy J. Ward. There can be a civil penalty for a person or organization that violates KJW copyright.
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