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EXPRESSIONS PONDER THIS! Nobody Said it was Going to be Easy

By Hazel Rosetta Smith

Aging is a fact, not a dooms day in retrospect. Like anything else that we want to hold onto, it takes diligent determination to age healthy and gracefully. If it is true that youth is fleeting, it may be because we do not count the days until they become undeniable years gone by.

The best wines are highly regarded and priced because the grapes have a little age on them. Crock pots simmer meat to succulent tenderness because of slow cooking. We can participate in the management of our body’s aging process into full maturity by slowly and wisely maintaining a steady partnership of mind, body, and spirit.

The late Dr. Johnnie Coleman, Minister and Founder of Christ Universal Temple in Chicago was known for teaching people how to live better lives. I Hazel Rosetta Smith

was privileged to meet Dr. Coleman in 1990 and her words continue to resonate in my mind today, “It works when you work it.” The principle mandates for Dr. Coleman’s teaching was an understanding of the power to create a long productive life, built on a daily practice of healthy renewal through spiritual consistency and perseverance.

My 101-year-old grandmother, the late Margaret Howard Banks, often said to me,

her inquisitive granddaughter, “Chile, you’ll understand it by and by.” I always thought her words meant when I reached heaven, the Lord would reveal the mysteries of life. Now I am blessed to be in the third quarter of my life finally getting an understanding of those words. By and by is upon us right here and right now, every day, just look around.

Looking back with fond memories of the countless blessings that have come my way, I remember with great pride, watching my granny enjoying life one day at a time, spreading her wisdom, sharing her love and laughter, praising her God unapologetically. She never complained, simply exclaimed, “Age is just a number written in God’s book, assigned to each of his children, designated as the time allotment for the fulfilment Dr. Johnnie Coleman Margaret Howard Banks

of his purpose.”

Margaret Howard Banks opened her eyes at the break of dawn every morning speaking the same words, “Thank you, Jesus.” Nothing was taken lightly or for granted, from bathing to dressing, to breakfast preparation, there was always thanks given all day long. She stretched her arms to strengthen the muscles, she walked every day for blood circulation, and she read God’s good book out loud every evening to challenge her comprehension and strengthen her voice.

Someday something will ache and no matter how much we try to ignore or deny it; it will be the result of the wear and tear on the limbs that have carried

our body through many storms. When the back gets weary and sitting too long does stiffen joints, we can pull on our strong commitment to be a conqueror and rise to the occasion.

So, nobody told you aging would be easy. The charge is to expect the unexpected and be open to change, for it will surely come. As birthdays accumulate with numbers that seem to surprise even you, do not hesitate to remind yourself you are important, you are uniquely created. It would be inappropriate for you to think anything other than, you deserve to have an active, fun-filled celebration of life every day. What you choose to do is up to you. [Hazel Rosetta Smith is a journalist, playwright and director for Help Somebody Theatrical Ministries, retired former Managing Editor and Woman’s Editor of The New York Beacon and current columnist for Harlem Community News, Inc. Contact: misshazel@twc.com]

COMMUNITY CITY PARKS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES LIMITED OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR NYC YOUTH IN PARKS THIS SUMMER

City Parks Foundain the sciences. This season CityParks Play: Tennis tion kicked off its the curriculum will focus & Golf will offer free sports 2020 free summer on bird-watching, canoeing, instruction for young New sports and environmental conducting science projects Yorkers this summer. Our education programs last or doing service, Regis- tennis programs include our week for young people in tration is still available at Citywide Aces Program NYC. The programs, run- cityparksfoundation.org. where advanced junior ning on a limited basis and CityParks Learn: players receive free spe- adhering to city recom- Coastal Classroom will cialized training in a small mended safety regulations, offer6th – 8th Graders les- groups, and the Lacoste Ju- have resumed outdoors sons about our city’s wa- nior Tennis Academy tour- in parks across the city. terways now – August 6, nament training program. CityParks Learn Environ- in-person at Kaiser Park Our golf programming will mental Education programs in Coney Island, Brooklyn take place exclusively at the include CityParks Learn: from Monday – Wednesday Junior Golf Center, a com- Green Girls Empowered (10am – 1pm) and distance prehensive training facility by ING, Coastal Classroom learning remotely Thursday offering free instruction and and Learning Gardens. 10am – 1pm. Science-based practice for youth located CityParks Play Sports pro- activities coupled with in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. grams include: Citywide recreational opportunities Registration is full and now Aces Tennis, Lacoste Junior such as fishing, seining and closed. Tennis Academy, Junior bird watching will be fea- Also new to 2020, City Tennis Tournament Series, tured this summer, allow- Parks Foundation is work- and the Junior Golf Center. ing students to experience ing with the Fresh Air City Parks Foundation has our waterways as their own Fund to offer “Fresh Air also been chosen to host backyards. Registration is Open Spaces” a combina- Fresh Air Fund summer full and now closed. tion of free sports and recre- outdoor programs for youth CityParks Learn: ation programs to kids, ages enrolled in the program. Learning Gardens will 12 - 15, including tennis

CityParks Learn: offer a select small group and track, bird watching, Green Girls Empowered of high school interns plant lessons and more. The by ING Summer Institute the opportunity to apply Fresh Air Fund program will offer 6th – 8th graders a skills gained during their will be hosted in three ses- chance to study dynamic ur- apprenticeship in a re- sions, each two weeks long ban forests now – August 6, mote work opportunity at Marine Park in Brooklyn, Monday – Thursday (Two in our own run gardens Pelham Bay Park in the sessions: 10am – 12pm, focused on environmen- Bronx and Forest Park in 1pm – 3pm) in-person at tal and food justice ad- Queens. Socrates Sculpture Park in vocacy, NYC communi- For more information Long Island City, Queens. ty nutrition and access, about City Parks Founda- Green Girls are encouraged and career readiness. tion’s 2020 summer pro- to realize their potential to CityParks Learning Gar- grams, please visit www. create change within their dens are open and located CityParksFoundation.org natural environment and in Brooklyn, Queens, and learn about future careers the Bronx.