If you ask, many senior citizens will tell you that the secret to thriving in your golden years is to stay active.
Keeping both mind and body connected is just the thing for Gerry Peters. At 83 years young – “I say 38,” says a smirking Peters – you wouldn’t believe all of the things she gets up to in a week.
Starting with her feet, Peters walks anywhere she needs to get to, making a point to enjoy her surroundings. Some errands have her walking almost an hour away.
“You don’t need all of this extra equipment… and it’s amazing all of the things you notice, the trees, the flowers, and if I see somebody I always say hello,” she says.
Another activity that keeps her on her toes, Peters has always been an avid dancer, practicing forms like folk and line dancing.
“Any kind of dancing apparently keeps you going longer,” she says, describing how the body moves but the mind remembers the patterns.
“Like with square dancing you’re working with more people so you really have to pay attention so you don’t mess up your square,” she says. Assisting new dancers in the classes she takes is one way Peters loves helping.
Through the Askennonia Senior Centre, she participates in a number of classes to keep her busy: line dancing on Mondays and Wednesdays, weekly chair pilates, Circle of Friends, she is the convener for bid euchre on Wednesday afternoons, and helps in the kitchen on Fridays.
“Gerry is here five days a week…. She’s such a boost…and really is a pillar in this community,” says Askennonia executive assistant Melanie Rosie.
Since joining the Askennonia staff team last August, Rosie describes it as an “incredible environment,” explaining how staff direct newcomers to Peters, who then offers a warm welcome with introductions and tours.
“When I moved here 19 years ago, it was my lifeline,” says Peters.
She was living alone and without a car, so once she heard about Askennonia, it didn’t take her long to join. Almost two decades later, she connects that lifeline for others.
“I say to Blair, if you need something done ask me, but don’t expect me to do anything with computers,” Peters says laughing about her preferences. She describes the value of how volunteers help with what they excel at.
Conversing with her friends at the centre, the energetic octogenarian worries a little about society relying on computers and the rise of mental health issues. She describes with dismay a tendency for teens to walk and text, barely noticing others in their path.
“Get outdoors… and socialize more one-on-one,” the sporty Peters advises younger generations before they reach retirement age.
Outside of the Askennonia Senior Centre, Peters is involved with the local VON and sometimes drives over an hour away with a friend for more dancing in Flesherton.
Although she takes many classes, Peters recognizes that “it takes a special type of person to teach.”
Ultimately grateful for the talented leaders of the programs she participates in, her attitude is one more aspect of staying youthful in her prime.
“Take each day as it comes and live it to the fullest. Don’t judge people,” Peters suggests.
If keeping busy is a secret to vitality, Peters has it figured out, and her appreciation for the people around her goes hand-in-hand with her own volunteer work.
“She is a breath of fresh air,” Askennonia executive director Blair Randoph Flood notes.
“I can’t say enough about the people here,” says Peters. She is amazed by all of the activities on offer and how consistently people rise to the occasion, developing more programs and leading them.
The Askennonia Senior Centre offers a wide range of activities for retired community members throughout the week. More information can be found here, or by calling (705) 526-7609.
