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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-08, Page 39Attitude can make BY JACK RIDDELL, M.P.P. Last week I wrote about the so-called "new North American phenomenon" of the elderly and their role in society. As I'm sure you are • aware, the subject of retirement age has been under discussion a great deal. Professor Parkinson, the author of Parkinson's Law, which ° proved that the amount of work done is in inverse proportion to the number of people doing it, has done a study on retirement ages. He found that mental powers and energy show signs of flagging at age 62 when the retirement age of a company is 65. Where retirement age is 60, people start to lose their grip at 57. When retirement age is 55, the decline begins at 52. In each case the gearing down begins three years before "retirement" age. How different is the rat.titude of the management executive who -said, "I am 57-years- old"and I don't know what I want to do when I grow up." Obviously, -he was having no problem with the' much talked about mid-life crisis. However, for many people such a crisis is very real. Nor is either sex immune. I am not speaking of physiological problems - but of career and lifestyle problems. "Where have I come from and where am I going?" people ask • themselves. For women, the dif- ficulties are frequently aggravated because they have spent much of their time being "wife and mother". They arrive at a stage of life when the young ones have fled the nest or are about to do so, and they have to take a new look at themselves and their place in the scheme of things. As recently as 1900, life expectancy of a female was about 48 years - now it is more than three score years and ten, and that mythical creature "the average woman" has no children of pre- school age after she has reached her mid -thirties. There used to be two cycles in a woman's life - pre -marital and the rest of her life, given over to marriage and child- rearing. Today, there is a third cycle, between the mid -thirties and the Goderich obits... • from page 10A one sister, Mrs. Mildred Donaldson of Stratford and one brother, Charles Stokes of Goderich. He was predeceased by one sister and one brother. Older people... • from page 16A number of years, these people have acquired tremendousknowledge, wisdom and un- derstanding, from which we can all benefit. They can contribute to the guidance and stability Farm news... • from page 15A potash. The soil test values indicate whether the soil is low, medium, high, very high or ex- cessive. Thus the farmer should test periodically to check the level of these nutrients. Excess levels of potash can tie up magnesium and actually lower yields. There's a great deal more that could be said on the test. The point we're making this time is that the soil test is a tool to be used by the manager in conjunction with his knowledge of his farm. It has limitations and often they are man- made. The test needs to be better understood by those using it and that's the reason for the aforegoing discussion. WHITE BEAN MEETING A bean program is planned for the Exeter Community Centre on Wednesday, March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The agenda includes production tips on varieties, planting date, crop rotation, N rates and hilling. There will be other presentations on anthracnose, breeding new varieties, root rot and marketing. If you're NEW IN TOWN and don't know which way to turn, call the cterthint(Vin, hostess at 524.9676 - You'll be glad you did. j which our whole society so desperately needs. But they cannot do this if they are segregated, "put out to pasture" or forced to be almost totally preoccupied with their - own basic needs. We have incredibly complex problems today. Enormous pressures are brought to bear on in- dividuals and, on governments. Just as we need the talents and abilities of 'our "young people, many of whom are frustrated because of high unemployment and lack of opportunity, so do we need the talents and abilities of our older citizens. Just as we must be careful that we do not turn off our young people, so we must be careful that we do not turn off our older - citizens. To illustrate this danger, I would remind you that in 1978, there was a Senior Citizens Week, for which the theme was "Reach Out". At that time many older people protested that the theme "Shut Out" was more ap- propriate. This whole question of retirement must be reassessed. We need the skills and experience of the people who are forced out of the labour force because of mandatory retirement policies. Early retirement provisions also have considerable efect. seventies or even later; when she can pursue her own interests, and so many women are using this third cycle - this gift of a new life - to meet the challenge of a career, rather than a job of work. For them, the ,patch - phase "Life Begins at Forty has a whole new meaning. For many of them, this time of reassessment and new beginnings is like a personal renaissance. There are innumerable cases of women who have carved out exciting and fulfilling careers for themselves at a time when they might well have succumbed to the so-called mid-life crisis. Some people have been able" to make it on their own. Others might have succeeded had they been able to get counselling and advice. Clearly there is a need for a proliferation of agencies or groups - voluntary or otherwise - to help people make this transition. People well past the mid-life have also made exciting new beginnings. There is one agency in Toronto called simply "Over 55". One of their spokesmen has stated A funeral service and committal were held at Stiles Funeral Home on Friday, March 2 at 11 a.m. The Reverend Ralph King officiated. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 109 held a memorial service at the funeral home on Thur- sday evening, March 1 at 9 p.m. . Interment was in the Maitland Cemetery. MRS. EDITH KATHERINE BAIRD Mrs. Edith Katherine Baird of Maitland Manor Nursing Home in Goderich died in Maitland Manor after a lengthy illness on Wed- nesday, February 28 at the age of 95. She was born on August 34 1883 near Welland, Ontario to Christina (Martin) and Norman Alexander McLellan and lived there for ,18 years. On December 31, 1910 she married John Roy Baird in Hamilton. He predeceased her in 1960. She w,as an adherent of Knox Presbyterian Church, Goderich and- a' Life Member of the Red Cross in Woodstock, New Brunswick. She is survived by two daughters, Margaret Murray of Toronto and Mrs. Donald (Janet) MacRae of Goderich.; two grandchildren and two great-grandsons. A funeral, service and committal were held at Stiles Funeral Home on Thursday, March 1 at 4 p.m. The Reverend G.L. Royal officiated. Interment was in Fenwick, Ontario. Established 1876 McKILLOP -MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY HEAD OFFICE: 10 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ONT. Mrs. Margaret Sharp. Sec. Treas. Ph. 527-0400 FULL COVERAGE Farm and Urban Properties Fire, Windstorm, Liability, Theft ' Various Floater Coverages Homeowner's, Tenant's Package, Composite Dwelling DIRECTORS AND ADJUSTERS Ken Carnochan, R.R.N4, Seaforth Lavern Godkin, R.R.111, Walton Ross Leonhardt, R.R.N1, Bornoholm John McEwing, R.R.N1, Blyth Stanley Mcllwain, R.R.#2, Goderich Donald McKercher, R.R.N1, Dublin John A. Taylor, R.R.N1, Brucefield J.N. Trewartha. Box 661. Clinton Stuart Wilson, R.R.N1, Brucefield 482-3354 527-1877 345-2234 523-9390 524-7051 5271837 482-7527 482-7593 527-0687 AGENTS James Keys, R.R.N1, Seaforth 527-0467 Wm, Leiper, R.R.01, Londesboro 523-4257 CALL AN AGENT OR THE OFFICE, that firms are indeed moving with the times with respect to more mature workers. "They're taking a different view of older people now and we're seeing people in their, seventies being productive in all fields." Research and debate on the role of older people in society is receiving world-wide attention. David Hobman, director of Age Concern England, said recently, "When people retire, we give them a watch - the cruellest symbol of all, for the one thing they are likely to have too much of is time." So much depends upon attitude - our attitude to our own age, and the attitude of society generally to the older people within that society. In this latter connection, ageism has been described as the most prevalent kind of racism. As to our own in- dividual attitude, so many people are afraid of growing old. The first grey hair is cause for alarm. As someone once said, "By all means, if your hair turns green or blue; run to the doctor - that's cause for alarm. But grey hair is no cause for alarm. Be proud of it - wear it like a badge of honour." Don't let it affect your self-image or your lifestyle. Youth is more an at- titude of mind than a time of life. It's enthusiasm, joy, imagination, courage. It's a spirit of adventure, a deter- mination to live life to the hilt. Sir William Mulock, Chief Justice of Ontario, died in 1944 at the age of 100. On his 95th Birthday, he spoke to a very distinguished group of people, gathered to celebrate this event. His remarks at that time inspired . his audience. People in their forties, fifties and sixties found themselves taking a whole new look at their own lives because of what he had to say. "I am still 4t,w.ark, he said, `"with rriy hand to the plow, and my face to the future. The shadows of evening lengthen about me, but morning is in my heart... The testimony I bear is this: that the Castle of Enchantment is not yet behind me. It is before me still, and daily I catch glimpses of its battlements and towers. differer- GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1979—PAGE 17A things of today - books, flowers, pictures, nature and sport... The best The rich spoils of my memory are mine. Mine, too, are the p-r`ecious thing of all is friends." Warm both hands before the fire of life, he urged. Live fully and happily. Make good passage of time. friends and cherish good memories. Scorn the IF YOU THINK TOBACCOALCOHOL AND.DRUGSARE BAD'IORYOu IMAGINE WHAT THEY'RE DOING 'TOY0UR UNBORN CHILD. As parents, you can reduce the risk of having a mentally retarded cold -by developing'proper dietary and lifestyle habits during pregnancy. To get all the facts, see your doctor. Many forms of mental retardation can be prevented. — Your child's health and well being depend on it. For more information, Write for a bobklet on the Prevention of Mental Retardation. rig OS .i'i>.rOL' S f T6 in. Write to: Mental Retardation Prevention Queen's Park `� y Toronto, Ontario V4 V M7A 1E9 °I,J Ontario Keith Norton, Minister of Community and Social Services William Davis, Premier BUY NOW! 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