Bhanu starts every day the same way.
Before breakfast. Before joining friends for an art class. Before she even leaves her apartment – she prays.
“Prayer is very important in my life,” she says. “It gives me peace of mind.”
For Bhanu, prayer is a daily reminder to approach the world with kindness, patience and gratitude. It centers her before the day begins and helps her focus on treating others well and finding joy wherever she can.
That commitment to joy has become one of the guiding principles of her life – the pearl of wisdom she shares just by the way she shows up in her community every day.
Happiness requires participation
While many people spend their lives waiting for happiness to arrive, Bhanu goes in search of it.
She has built a life across continents, raised two accomplished children, pursued countless creative hobbies and developed a reputation among friends for her ready enthusiasm. Whether she’s dancing, painting, crocheting a blanket or sharing a laugh with her neighbors, Bhanu invites happiness to meet her wherever she’s at – and happily shares it with others.
“It’s important to find something that brings you joy,” she says. “Every person needs a little happiness in their life.”
For her, that joy often comes through music and dance. Years ago, she and her late husband took ballroom dance lessons. By her own admission, neither of them followed the instructor’s directions very closely.
“We both were off,” she laughs. “We did whatever we liked to do.”
The teacher eventually gave up correcting them and simply reassured the couple that they looked wonderful together.
Today, Bhanu still loves to dance. Recently, during a cultural celebration, she found herself on the dance floor representing her native India. Soon, other dancers joined in, turning the moment into a joyful community celebration.
For Bhanu, that’s the point. Dancing is fun, she says, but it also helps people connect.
Stay curious
Throughout her life, Bhanu has explored porcelain painting, acrylics, embroidery, knitting, crochet and countless other creative pursuits. Today, she attends classes, works on projects and looks for new opportunities to learn at her Manhattan senior living community, Atria West 86.
“I personally feel everybody should have a hobby,” she says. “If you have a hobby, whenever you are down or worried, you can fall on that hobby.”
If you don’t yet know what your hobby is, Bhanu says to just stay curious.
Change brings opportunities
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Bhanu is her ability to adapt.
After marrying, she moved from India to the United States, arriving in a completely unfamiliar country – new culture, new language, new home. Rather than retreat, Bhanu listened and learned. She made friends. She figured things out one step at a time.
It’s no surprise that Bhanu has been able to build a rich life, no matter where she makes her home. Because as she sees it, happiness isn’t something that you wait for, and it isn’t reserved for special occasions. It’s something you create through the choices you make every day.
In celebration of Atria’s 30th anniversary, we’re sharing Pearls of Wisdom from the wisest people we know – the residents in our senior living communities, who have navigated every chapter of life. Visit AtriaPearls.com to browse an archive of their advice and gather even more wisdom.
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