Blog

Hiking Again

November 17, 2020 by Rx0puqi Leave a Comment

Despite the weather getting chillier hiking continues in the northern part of New Castle County, and sometimes into Pennsylvania. Yesterday my wife and I went out with a group of hikers from the Osher Academy of Lifelong Learning to Yorklyn, near Hockessin. The weather was superb. Everyone wore masks and kept at a safe distance.

Next week will be the last hike of the Osher Academy folk, until January. Jack Sanders of IVW has been hiking weekly, so if you don’t want to wait for January, send an email to the IVW Google Group and tell Jack you’re interested.

Below are some recent photos from the Osher Academy outings.

T’ai Chi for Veterans

November 17, 2020 by Rx0puqi Leave a Comment

FREE TAI CHI FOR VETERANS is a new Federal program from the Veterans Administration Community Care Network (or VA CCN), an organization dedicated to providing Veterans with all their VA Hospital benefits right in their own community. On September 12, 2019 the FREE TAI CHI FOR VETERANS program went live in Delaware and IVW member Jessica Lewis is currently the only authorized instructor in the state…JOIN A GROWING NATIONWIDE COMMUNITY IN EXPERIENCING THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE!

Jessica Lewis, T’ai Chi for Veterans Instructor

Tai Chi is an evidence-based, simple, and DRUG-FREE treatment option for PTSD, depression, chronic pain, suicidal thoughts, and much more…this program has no age, physical fitness, or coordination requirements plus with just a few modifications all 20 movements can even be done from a chair! Loved ones are welcome to accompany their Veterans. To participate in these free classes (either online or in person) visit www.SculptUrLife.com/free-tai-chi-for-veterans for more info or just call Jessica Lewis, Accredited Instructor and VA CCN Network Provider, at 302-593-5005 for any assistance (AND A ZOOM PASSWORD!)

In warmer weather sessions are held outside. You can also connect by Zoom.

The Beauty Is In Us

July 23, 2020 by Rx0puqi Leave a Comment

Al Mills, an Iraq veteran and IVW member, the captain of IVW’s writers’ group, and a candidate in Wilmington’s upcoming City Council election, just published this encouraging poem. He gave me permission to share it. — Tom

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Beauty Is In Us
We the Beautiful

Wilmington, it’s been a few strange and stressful weeks- with more to come.
In the middle of it all let’s not forget how beautiful strong and resilient we are. My Wilmington, my city,

True human interaction we are missing -because of social distance.
Let’s Distance ourselves from the daily blues of dreadful news, while being more social with our hearts.
I’m not able to hug your neck, but allow these words to hug your soul,
And remind you of our good rather than just another day of death tolls.
Remember that love and life haven’t stopped.
See some good in the world like how much the pollution rate has dropped,
with hundreds of thousands fewer cars trucks trains and planes releasing emissions.
So even as we practice social distance – take a moment to notice and witness.
Make some tea and sit on your steps.
Inhale / exhale release some stress – take a deep breath –never ever air this fresh!
The Beauty is in us – We the Beautiful
We are Wilmington- We are one
prepared for all things to come.
So even when the commander-in-chief takes the warning as a joke, tells the nation it’s a hoax, we are Wilmington – doing our part,
With our mask & gloves on, standing 6 feet apart, but can still feel the closeness of our hearts.

Try and limit all the noise from the pandemic:
Go for a walk , a bike ride, work out to relieve some stress.
Read a book , paint a picture , learn to play chess,
Call your mother / sister or brother,
FaceTime with the grandkids, laugh at life, remember the happiness, the way we live.
Laugh at elementary school pictures,
Play a game – write a poem – read a scripture,Dance / laugh have a video chat with the whole family joined in,
Then watch the smiles begin,
Play board games, bond, connect, use this time together to come together.
Remember kindness must always live in our hearts.
Make sure all the children have what they need for their online learning to start.
Husbands talk to, listen and respect your wives. Parents try not to be overwhelmed with this uncertainty and your kids, because they are just being kids. So encourage them, give them words of hope and praise,
Help them make sense of these difficult days.
Let’s keep a cool head and stay positive.
Remember to lean into your faith and trust your prayers,
Because the Beauty is in Us
Wilmington the Beautiful

The Beauty Is In Us

Be Safe – Be Strong – Be one
Be Beautiful Wilmington!

Delaware Veterans Making Art

February 28, 2020 by Rx0puqi Leave a Comment

The Veterans Art Ops Program, located at the Art Studio of the Absalom Jones Community Center, 310 Kiamensi Road, Wilmington, has been running every Thursday evening in 2020, and is attracting new members. Guided by the skilled instructor, Jane Quartarone, veterans have been experimenting with various media: pencil sketching, acrylic paints, and most recently, water color.

Of those, the most difficult for newcomers is water color. Knowing how to mix the colors to get the hue and shade you want and how much water to use on your brush takes loads of practice! Some classmates learn faster than others. We are all gifted differently after all; but there is no competition and lots of support, both from the teacher and colleagues. Painting with water colors takes concentration, patience, and a good sense of humor, all of which help veterans coping with stress and varying degrees of physical pain.

The Art Ops curriculum is quite flexible. Jane starts each class with some instruction on a given topic. Then, students are invited to work on what they want to when they want to. Once the class settles in, Jane circulates among the veterans, guiding and encouraging each one in whatever she or he is striving to accomplish.

Photos on this page show that veterans are surprising themselves by what they can accomplish. The best benefits, though, are camaraderie and just having fun playing with pencils and paint. If you’re a veteran, join us! Sign up here

New FREE T’ai Chi classes for Veterans

January 11, 2020 by Rx0puqi Leave a Comment

In the last decade alone literally thousands of studies have proven meditation is good for the body and the mind. But if sitting still for more than a few minutes doesn’t work for you, or if you simply prefer a more active form of meditation, you might give T’ai Chi a try.

You may have seen older folk practicing T’ai Chi in a public place. It looks something like a martial art, but it’s very gentle. So gentle that it’s a great way for seniors to stay mentally sharp, limber, and maintain balance but it’s also good for anyone’s mental and physical health, regardless of age.

T’ai Chi is an evidence based treatment especially useful for depression and post traumatic stress; and programs are sometimes offered in VA hospitals. Recently, however, the Veterans Administration Community Care Network partnered with Taijifit, LLC to create a new nationwide set of community-based FREE T’ai Chi classes specifically for Veterans. Interfaith Veterans Workgroup member Jessica Lewis is currently Delaware’s only accredited instructor. All T’ai Chi practices are related yet Jessica teaches a particularly fun style called T’ai Chi Chih with only twenty easy-to-learn movements. You don’t need to perform them in a certain order, nor do you need to perform all of them in one session. So, you can learn T’ai Chi Chih at your own pace and fit it into your schedule easily. Like other forms of meditation, it doesn’t work if you don’t do it, so a regular practice is advised.

The brief video below gives you a taste of a T’ai Chi Chih class.

Remember that Veterans are now eligible to take these classes for free! Contact instructor Jessica Lewis for more details.