We are in the thick of summer, where vacation, events, travel, and longer days give us many opportunities for fun, laughter, and connection. The annual W.C. Handy Festival is happening in my neck of the woods, and the husband and I got a chance to walk to our main street to hear some fabulous music by local musicians and hang out with our neighbors. The older we get, the more we realize how important it is for us seasoned citizens to take advantage of movement, as well as times of laughter and smiles, which are often hard earned the older we get. It was so fun seeing people of all ages getting their "Uptown Funk" and dance on "All Night Long."
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Last Friday, an assisted living facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, organized an event for its seniors, which allowed them to not only beat the heat, but make connections, and feel like kids again.
Young at Heart, is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
A lively summer celebration unfolded at a senior living community in Tennessee, where residents put aside their walkers and embraced a day of fun and laughter with a giant slip ‘n slide.
The annual Ride ‘n Slide event at Adams Place in Murfreesboro transformed the community’s lawn into a hub of excitement. A large tarp served as a giant slip ‘n slide, with the Murfreesboro Fire Department ensuring it stayed wet and ready for action. Residents were assisted by firefighters and members of the Middle Tennessee State University football team, who provided support and encouragement.
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Adams Place has done this event for seniors since 2021, in partnership with an organization called Senior Helpers, and a number of other corporate sponsors. Of course, the Murfreesboro Fire Department is there to ensure first aid and safety for the seniors and volunteers. The TSU Football team even include their cheerleaders, who cheer on the seniors as they take their slide adventure. What a grand opportunity for seniors, some of them wheelchair-bound or with dementia or other health issues, to get their adrenaline pumping, and awaken a part of themselves that may have seemed dormant or no longer within reach.
We all need that.
Among those eagerly participating was Mike Mitchell, a resident and Army veteran with a long career as a Church of Christ minister. As he approached the inner tube, he encouraged himself by saying, “I can do this. I’m a soldier, I can do this.”
For many attendees, the occasion provided an invaluable opportunity to escape daily challenges and revel in pure enjoyment, even for those living with conditions such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease. The event highlighted the uplifting power of community, as noted by one of the MTSU football players who said, “Being able to help them up, it’s a blessing just to make people’s day, make them happy.”
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The smiles on these senior and volunteer faces say it all. More communities should make an effort to do this.
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
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