Wanted you all to see this. Thanks, Uncles Les, for the email pics and letter. Sorry about the spacing, but I don't know how to fix it! Grrrr.....
Wellness Center
Member Spotlight
Helen Bowman
She is one of a growing number of older adults who have been
defying the stereotypes of the elderly. At 91 years of age, Helen Bowman
is every bit as healthy, active and fulfilled as her younger peers. Perhaps
one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, Helen is most certainly a
servant above all else. Listening to her story, you undoubtedly will find
yourself surprised, amazed and inspired by the life she has lived.
Helen grew up in Lebanon, PA, where she says as a kid she spent a
good deal of time staying active at the playground. As she explains it, a
director would supervise playground activity and organized events such as
swimming, crafts and basketball for the children. The winter months were
always full of ice skating and sledding for her and her friends and thus there
was never seemed to be a lack of activities for Helen to participate in as a
youngster. Junior and Senior high school was Helen's time to shine as a star
basketball player for her team. As a junior she helped lead her team to win
the championship and later served as their captain and during the summer
played basketball for her church team. Keeping active was never a chore for
Helen, it was more of an innate desire.
While she never really had much encouragement from her parents to
pursue her activities (her father died when she was a baby and her mother
when she was 13 years old), Helen was naturally inclined to invest her
interest in her wellbeing. During her last years in high school and thereafter,
Helen had thought about attending college to become a physical education
teacher because she loved physical activity and wanted to impart its
importance on others. Unfortunately at the time Helen didn't have the
means to pursue a college degree, but she never let that fact slow her down.
As a mother of four, Helen spent her years raising her children to be healthy
and active, always encouraging them in their physical endeavors be it
football, basketball or cheerleading.
Over the years Helen has definitely come to appreciate the benefits of
being physically active. Although she constantly battles with arthritis in her
back, arms and hands, Helen has found that the exercises she commits
herself to today helps to take the edge off the pain. She explains "I know if I
don't keep going I will end up in a wheelchair. Exercise has made and kept
me physically fit and limber." It sure has! Helen has not looked her age for
years, but it is her dedication to exercise and her busy volunteer schedule
which has kept her looking so great.
Based on Helen's daily schedule, retirement is not for the faint of
heart. Aside from her home duties, Helen has been dividing her time
between such volunteer activities as delivering mail, chapel duty, the beauty
shop (which she recently had to leave to due lack of available time), and
helping in laundry, where she occasionally spends up to five hours. While
many may read this and think "wow, she overextends herself way too
much", remember, Helen thrives on this type of schedule. She does joke
however that "while I don't sit much, it is becoming more attractive."
Helen is quite content with her physical fitness today, in fact she is
proud of it and rightfully so. "I have friends who are amazed at what I do at
my age and that makes me feel very blessed with my overall wellbeing. My
goal is to just keep up my health." To help do just that Helen attends the
Wellness Center three times a week, participating in the Water Aerobics
class and Total Body Toning class. Having felt the benefits of exercise first
hand, Helen is on a mission to encourage those she cares about to get active
as well. "I spent a good deal of time trying to encourage my sister who is
two years older than I to attend her physical therapy after she fell. I wanted
her to understand how beneficial exercise is to regaining strength vital for
walking and avoid future falls and eventually she listened to me. I tell my
friends the same thing about daily exercise and how rewarding it can be."
Who would have thought a 91 year old would be physical fitness' biggest
champion?
When others would probably have used their age as a reason to give
up on their activities, Helen has made it a reason to continue. After all
staying active has rewarded her in good health and has allowed her to be
emotionally, mentally and socially fulfilled. Her reputation precedes her and
her joy and kindness is contagious. Those who know Helen are certainly
blessed for it and if you haven't had the pleasure, keep an eye out, she is the
one masquerading around campus in some sort of holiday garb, extending
her hand wherever she can.
