When we were young, the great thing about summer was that we didn’t have school. Where I grew up, we ran through the fields, woods, and creeks all summer. It was a time for being with friends and enjoying the warmth of the season. My cousin and I, who lived near each other, would often meet on our bicycles and spend hours riding back and forth, going to the community general store, fishing in nearby ponds, or just having fun exploring.
Of course, there was always some work to be done as well: mowing yards, working in gardens, and general farm work. But the greatest memories are those created when having fun.
During our working years, we often spend so much time on the job and taking care of families that we forget to stop to have fun. These years seem to condition us to be so focused on “work” that we fail to give time to the things we love to do and the joy our hobbies bring us. As we age and things slow down a bit, it’s important for us to remember to enjoy summer as the season when we can be outside doing so many more things than the rest of the year.
Our community offers lots of activities for seniors to get involved in during the summer. Of course, there is always the opportunity to plant a small garden, container garden, or flowers at home. Picnics in the back yard or at one of our many parks are always a nice outing. Perhaps joining a friend for a picnic at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden would be a great way to enjoy a summer day. Nature walks at our local parks would be a good summer outing as well. Our family enjoys the occasional fishing trip at one of our local parks to spend some evening time together outdoors.
There is always something happening year-round at the Senior Community Center! As we plan for the summer, we are increasing our fun activities, our exercise classes, and our learning opportunities.
We recently launched our Senior Class education series, which offers a variety of classes with topics suggested by seniors who want to learn. These topics include genealogy, cooking, shopping on a budget, legal topics, real estate, healthy living, arts and crafts, music, technology, finances, container gardening, food preservation, and much more. These classes are taught by volunteers from the community with experience in the subject matter and are offered free of charge to seniors aged 60 and over.
Membership to the Senior Community Center is also free for all residents of Daviess County age 60 and older.
If you love to exercise, we offer yoga, tai chi, low impact exercises, SilverSneakers and other fitness classes. Dancing is another great activity enjoyed by many seniors, and we host two line dancing groups each week. Come visit us at 1650 West Second Street, make new friends, continue your lifelong learning, and enjoy your summer! Call 270-687-4640 to learn more. OL
