Previous Story
Humor makes life longer: expert tells man’amko
|
Posted on May 24 2009
Dr. Janna Wilgus is pretty sure the older citizens of the CNMI are a funny lot and for her it’s just the right attitude for seniors who want to enjoy life.
So when she spoke before over a hundred man’amko at the Conference On Aging Friday at the Raraina Dining Room of Aqua Resort Club, Wilgus made sure she traded jokes with them throughout her speech.
“The key ingredients to enjoy a longer life is to live with humor because humor is a reflection of a good attitude,” says Wilgus, who was the keynote speaker of the event, which is part of the observance of Older Americans Month/Mes Man’amko/Maramal Tufeey.
Wilgus gave the man’amko some tips to stay healthy and its benefits to older people both physically and emotionally.
“I told them that I also learned a lot from them saying I observed that this is a naughty group of young people and sorts of jokes like that after all it must have been true that laughter is the best medicine,” she said.
Wilgus emphasized to them the importance of exercise to keep them healthy and with humor, she said, it improves health.
In his message, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial stressed the important role the senior citizens play in the Commonwealth.
“In our traditional cultures, in both the Carolinian culture and Chamorro culture, we place great emphasis and respect on our man’amko, our valuable citizens, important members of our community with much to offer and much wisdom and experience to impart on our younger generations,’ Fitial said.
Secretary of Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Cecilia Taitano Celes urged to continue to be respectful of the elders, cherish the moments of opportunities to listen to their stories, heed their words of wisdom and enjoy the time with them not only for the month but carry on into the future.
Acting Director of the Office on Aging Rose DLG Mondala said the theme of the conference “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow” reminds all that “we should live to the fullest and endure what we have now so that the days to come will be a better one.
