McConnell Center News: Ageless Dreamer Foundation makes wishes come true

Posted: July 18, 2007

Sunday, June 24, 2007

McConnell Center News: Ageless Dreamer Foundation makes wishes come true

Copywrite used with permission from Fosters Daily Democratnday

By JOANNE DODGE

Ageless Dreamer Foundation

"A dream is a wish your heart makes."

Deep in the heart of all of us is a dream, a secret wish that too often stays tucked away. At an early age, we were told that dreaming and wishing was a waste of time. We had to be practical and while being so, many of those secret wishes were ignored. But, have they been forgotten? Have you heard yourself or your parents saying, "I'm too old for that," or overheard a senior friend, say "That's just too silly," or, "I wouldn't know how to do it."

Those very reasons are what has made the Ageless Dreamer Foundation a reality.

When we are younger, most of us have the resources — time, transportation, money, and health — to pursue our own interests. That individuality doesn't disappear when any or all of the resources are gone. Too often activities are designed to be cost effective serving one "composite old person" rather than the individual needs and talents.

But there is a penalty for settling for the mundane, for not dreaming and hoping.

It dulls the senses and reduces life to daily concerns of the body and alienates people from the wonders and beauty of the world around them.

What a wonderful challenge to ask the elderly to dare to dream. "What if ... " what would you love to do? If you had transportation for an outing, where would you go? What would you want to do, see, eat?

Anticipation of the event is energizing, sharing an adventure with a friend and talking and thinking about it afterward may help people consider other possibilities in life.

On Tuesday, May 22, Foster's Daily Democrat featured the story of Lura Johnson's dream — to ride on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to celebrate her birthday.

Many people would see that as impossible — but not the Ageless Dreamer Foundation and Seacoast Harley Davidson. Johnson's dream did come true and her daughter said, "Several people were so moved, they had tears in their eyes."

An activity director expressed it well: "It does not matter how old one is, we all dream. Sometimes we have it within ourselves to make dreams a reality. When we don't have that, for whatever reason, it shouldn't mean that those dreams die. They just need a little help from a friend."

Last year, Alice Loring and her husband Winthrop, residents of the Riverside Nursing Home in Dover, shared a dream to visit once again their old home in Berwick, Maine.

The Lorings have been married for 67 years and during that time have shared many wonderful memories.

The Ageless Dreamer Foundation made their dream come true by driving them, in a vintage convertible, to their old home where they shared a picnic lunch on the bank of a river.

These are but two dreams fulfilled by The Ageless Dreamer Foundation.

It is nice to know there is an organization in our community that is making a difference in seniors' lives, one dream at a time.

The Ageless Dreamer Foundation seeks community support through financial donations or donations of volunteer time. To donate or volunteer, visit www.agelessdreamer.org or call 953-0006.

Related Link:

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007106240271