Five Things I’Ve Learned About Life from Working in a Nursing Home: Discovering the Treasures of the Golden Years

By Ana Lydia Peeks

This book is not scientific in nature nor is it heavily embedded with literature or references on the aging process. Instead, I share my reflections about themes that emerged in my work as a professional in a nursing home. At times, I will share my own experiences to illustrate a point.

This book is written as an invitation to guide readers to lift the veil into what could be viewed as a complex process—that is, the aging process. While we are all headed toward this developmental benchmark as we grow older; the path of aging influences us all.

This book is not psychotherapy, and residents are not identified as case studies. Rather, the aim of this book is for readers to reflect on the themes highlighted in each chapter. It is as if we are sitting together and exchanging viewpoints about the various thematic chapters in this book. In each chapter, I use metaphors to underscore my observations.

The book’s format is divided into chapters. Each chapter has a title and a subtitle describing each theme as a jewel. To understand this, picture yourself sitting in your favorite chair with a cup of tea and reading a chapter in this book. Questions poised in the chapters in this book are questions that I reflected on in my own discovery about aging, and thus, I feel compelled to share them with you.

Since a jewel is the subtitle of each chapter, why not experiment and develop your own treasure chest? There are numerous arts and crafts stores that carry boxes that can be decorated to resemble a treasure chest, as we all have the ability to be creative.

Further, as part of this process, consider choosing a favorite color or colors as your own personal jewel(s), place it inside your personalized treasure chest, and pour your hopes, dreams, and aspirations onto it. It is surprising what this process may reveal!

Even more, imagine having your own treasure chest, and as you raise the lid, a beautiful golden light emerges, revealing five sparkling jewels. As you read each chapter, imagine holding one of these beautiful jewels in your hand. As you study the jewel’s brilliance coupled with the themes in each chapter, it is my hope that you, too, will discover a treasure trove of jewels that embody the golden years!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984559968

Ana Lydia Peeks

Ana has penned the following books: “Traveling With Words- Stepping Off The Familiar Path”-Volume 1; “The Glory Book Of Art-Take A Stroll Down A Kaleidoscope of Color”; “Five Things I Learned About Life From Working In a Nursing Home-Discovering The Treasures Of The Golden Years"-Series 1; "Kenji and Ice Cream Are On The Move! The True Stories of Two Ordinary Dogs with Extraordinary Lives"; and, “Traveling with Words-Off The Familiar Path-The Final Journey”-Volume 11.

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Copyright © 2018 by Ana Lydia Peeks.

ISBN:        Softcover        978-1-9845-5997-5

            eBook            978-1-9845-5996-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Planting Seeds For Your Heart-Centered Garden

Art Work By Ana Lydia Peeks

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/15/2018

Xlibris

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Contents

Acknowledgments

About This Book

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Path of Aging

Chapter 2 How Language Influences Our Lives

Chapter 3 Shifting Our Perspective about the Bucket List

Chapter 4 Looking Through the Rear View Mirror and the Grains of Our Lives

Chapter 5 Objects That Tell Stories

Conclusion

About The Author

Dedication

To Jesus

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the residents of the nursing home with whom I have had the honor of having worked with. I acknowledge families, friends and significant others who daily pick up the banner of caregiving. I applaud all staff and professionals that work in nursing homes and lastly, I am grateful to my family, friends and colleagues who have supported my career.

About This Book

This book is not scientific in nature nor is it heavily embedded with literature or references on the aging process.

Instead, I share my reflections about themes that emerged in my work as a professional in a nursing home. At times, I will share my own experiences to illustrate a point.

This book is written as an invitation to guide readers to lift the veil into what could be viewed as a complex process; that is, the aging process. While we are all headed towards these "developmental benchmarks" as we grow older; the path of aging influences us all.

This book is not psychotherapy and residents are not identified as case studies. Rather, the aim of this book is for readers to reflect upon the themes highlighted