‘Go places and do things’: Building a good life

by Alexa Ten Eyck

A loved one frequently shared some simple advice for finding a good life:“Go places and do things.”

The idea is gentle but powerful: A good life is not imagined in a single moment; it’s built by new experiences that encourage engagement with the world.

The five insights below present some discussion of this idea. Together, they highlight how building a good life is possible in the Stockbridge area.

Build belonging: A good life begins with belonging. A warm welcome through simple conversation, acknowledgment, or an invitation fosters this sense of belonging. These actions promote psychological safety and help individuals build lasting connections that enrich daily life.

Stay connected through local traditions: Local traditions bring continuity and strengthen ties across all ages of a community. Ties formed at seasonal celebrations, community gatherings, and annual events reinforce an individual’s identity within the community. They create opportunities for connection and help individuals stay rooted in something larger than themselves.

Find comfort in meaningful interaction: Sharing a meal remains a powerful way to find comfort through connection with others. Moments gathered around tables, filled with conversation, seasonal dishes, and familiar faces, provide meaningful interaction that reduces isolation.

Bring balance through lighthearted fun: Balancing responsibilities with joy is crucial in building a good life. The burden of responsibility often leads to playfulness being overlooked in adulthood, yet it plays an essential role in one’s emotional well-being. Creative activities, themed gatherings, or lighthearted celebrations bring ease and resilience by softening life’s rougher moments.

Seek out small adventures: Small adventures refresh the mind by lifting the spirit. Exploring new places provides relief through a change of scenery, encouraging new thoughts and conversations. Trips to new places can stimulate curiosity and foster a sense of connection to the world.

The real connection is the Stockbridge Area Senior Center

Insights like those listed above are fostered at the Stockbridge Area Senior Center (SASC). In pursuit of its mission to help families in the Stockbridge area, SASC is guided by these insights to accomplish the following endeavors:

Some of the places we go:

• Lugnuts ball game day trips
• Cornwell’s Turkeyville day trip
• “Misery” play outing

Some of the things we do:

• Fundraising: Pancake breakfast, membership bonanza, rummage sale, and golf tournament.
• Creating awareness: Speaking on the radio at SAESA’s radio station business gathering and entering a downtown Halloween light-pole contest.
• Engaging with the community at A Day in the Village.
• Bringing generations together by hosting events like a Halloween costume contest.
• Creating wholesome moments by passing out candy at the Town Square trick-or-treat event.
• Providing shared meals and gathered moments three days/week and hosting a Thanksgiving dinner featuring a craft show.

Together, these insights and accomplishments represent new experiences that build a good life in the Stockbridge area.

Circling back to the original idea: A good life is not imagined in a single moment; it’s built. Built through new experiences that encourage engagement with the world, or in the words of a loved one, by “going places and doing things.”

Photos provided by the Stockbridge Area Senior Center

Alexa M. Ten Eyck is the president of the Stockbridge Area Senior Center (SASC)—a great place to spend time. Visit stockbridgeareaseniors.org or call 517-480- 0353 for information.