As you look around you by now hopefully you are looking at trees blossoming and flowers beginning to bloom. You are certainly not thinking of autumn. Alas, as enter these fabulous fifties and furthermore, our life stage is autumn…and it is a "good thing." We are now so worldly wise and if we have truly learned from our growth experiences we may have become more open to new information. This could lead to new ways of doing things...even change.

The change I will address in today’s column is taking care of ourselves beginning with our spiritual needs. People who identify as being of African decent often acknowledge that they are spiritual people on some level. It has been noted that the selection of a new Pope will involve the consideration of a Cardinal from Nigeria who has been rumored to have been a favorite of the late Pope John Paul II. As noted in the New York Times Sunday April 10, 2005, Africa has the fastest growing Catholic population. The article referred to the spiritualism that is simply a part of the “culture." Needless to say that term is used quite loosely but it possible that the myth just might have a grain of truth. Keeping all of that in mind, it is the issue of spiritualism and how it will enhance our journey as we go through the fifties and furthermore that I would like to encourage you to continue to embrace.

I recently attended a conference on Being Fearless sponsored by the Omega Institute. I must admit that it was truly enlightening. Many of the work shops challenged some of my traditional religious beliefs yet they were connected with successfully functioning people in the world as it is. The greatest thing was the emphasis on hope and positive intentions that is also found in traditional religious teachings. But, unlike so many of the more fundamental religions, there was no reliance on fear as the motivator. I would recommend that anyone go straight to the self help and psychology sections of a major bookstore and browse. There is so much good stuff that will add joy to your life. We can learn about Buddhism, Reiki, Acupuncture, Aryruvedic treatments etc. We can learn to do meditating, yoga, and palates. We can sign up for classes in things that we have previously felt were not for us. We will be pleasantly surprised to learn that God is truly everywhere. As I sat in a class with a 96 year old African American woman I learned the meaning of life-long learning. I somehow hadn't previously thought that that applied to spirituality.

Try something new in the spiritual realm! Why not have it all?

P.S. One thing that is good for you that is not fattening, expensive or illegal: a smile.

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