SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
WRITTEN BY KARA HARPER, HEALTH & WELLNESS PROGRAM COORDINATOR
When I asked Cindy where she’d like to meet, she suggested Fulton Yards Coffeehouse. Though I had never been there before, the moment I stepped inside, it felt both familiar and cozy. The space was newly renovated, with modern light fixtures and books thoughtfully arranged on the window sill. Cindy was seated by the window, sipping her coffee, and greeted me with a warm smile.
As we began talking, she shared how she had been involved with the book club that promoted the very books displayed in the window, as well as her personal connection with the coffee shop. Right away, I could tell Cindy is someone who deeply values community and loves to immerse herself in it. We decided to move our conversation to the back patio, where we could enjoy the beautiful weather. Here’s what I learned from our time together.
Cindy first joined our community in 2019 as a member of 55 North. Newly retired and searching for a new “go-to” place, she was initially hesitant about joining a seniors' group. However, she soon realized it was time to embrace this new chapter of her life. She got to know the other members and found them to be “wonderful people.” She reflected, “It was my first group like that in retirement, of older people, and I found it to be a good component to my life.”
Cindy’s background is rich with diverse experiences, including working for the U.C. Department of Family Medicine, writing for Ohio Magazine’s Diner’s Digest column, freelance writing, serving in the Justice and Peace Office at Comboni Missionaries, and helping others craft their resumes. Now, she enjoys participating in book clubs and is a member of the College Club of Cincinnati. Cindy also graciously shares her writing talents with us by proofreading our Health & Wellness newsletter every month.
When I asked her if there was a word or two that describes the thread running through all her varied roles and experiences, she thoughtfully responded, “Recognizing other people's innate skills, just being perceptive about people and having a good exchange with them. You build a friendship on that, and then whatever matches up with them—if I have resources, they have resources. That's the fun part. My freelance writing, business and marketing PR was called Ideafinders, and that’s what I am. My one word would be ‘idea finding.’ I like brainstorming. It intrigues people, and it also helps them get beyond the humdrum—you can help them dream a little bit.”
I shared with her how inspired I was by her continued involvement in the community, even long after “retirement.” Cindy reflected, "I'm trying to find an inspired niche again. People my age—we're 70 now—don’t need resumes, but we need to know what we've done is worthy. We're still worthy, and we still have opportunities. It saddens me when people see it as a dead end, like they’re done now, but they do have something to bring. I don’t know exactly how I could help them find those gems inside them. Maybe it will take more informal discussions to find out who we are."
Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY offers a wide range of health and wellness events and activities, both virtual and in-person, for older adults and seniors. They are designed to foster community, create connections and keep seniors engaged with their peers and their own wellbeing. View more about this program and check out upcoming engagement opportunities here!