Morikami Makes Columnist’s Bucket List

It’s a time of resolutions for almost everyone, and luckily for us, a columnist for one of the local newspapers, the Sun-Sentinel, made the Morikami one of his “bucket list” resolutions.

For those who are not familiar with the movie, The Bucket List, (all three of you need to rent it), it’s a tale of two unlikely friends, who meet in a shared hospital room and learn they have months to live, due to terminal cancers. One is filthy rich and played by Jack Nicholson; the other is charmingly dignified, played by Morgan Freeman. They compose a list of things to do before they “kick the bucket,” hence the title.

It may sound hokey and maudlin, but it’s not. It’s inspiring, thoughtful and funny.

For columnist Michael Mayo, finally visiting the Morikami Museum, which had been in his neighborhood and on his “to do” list for a while, was a worthwhile achievement. Click here to read his thoughts on his visit: Mayo on January 3, 2010.

And for all of the Morikami fans who live within driving distance, but haven’t stopped by in months (or years), we invite you to add a stop to your 2010 resolutions. If “travel to Japan” is on your bucket list, the Morikami counts. Really.

Happy New Year!

Beating Holiday Blues One Step at a Time

Most people know that although the holidays are normally a time of connecting with friends and family, spending money you don’t have and eating food cooked with lots of butter and sugar (yum!), it can be a trigger for great loneliness and depression.

It can be a time when, as others are celebrating, people are missing loved ones who can’t come home or have passed away. Some are simply alone, feeling isolated.

One of the terrific things about living in South Florida is that when others are shoveling snow, we’re still basking in sunshine. So it couldn’t be a more opportune time than October for the Morikami to reintroduce its Stroll for Well-Being series.

It’s a chance to sign up for a major diversion from holiday blues with scheduled walks through Roji-En. A specially developed journal, designed to enhance the experience, is used as a guide and a means to record personal thoughts through the 12 themed garden strolls. There will be three meetings with the journal’s author, an associate professor at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University.

An explanation about the program will be provided during the first meeting (Oct. 20); the second one, which will take place halfway through the program (Nov. 17), will be used to answer any questions that may appear during the first few walks. Finally, the last meeting (Dec. 15) will take place at the end of the program and will include a discussion of experiences.

The cost is $95, which includes a one-year Origami Morikami membership, or $40 for Morikami members. Consider it an early gift to yourself or someone else if you or they need another reason to feel upbeat this holiday season.

For more information and registration, please go to www.morikami.org or call 561-495-0233 x 235.

Seniors Stroll the Roji-En

Strolling off sadness

Last week, The Morikami was featured in El Paso Times, (Texas) for the work it did with Florida Atlantic University’s School of Nursing. Together, the two institutions invited seniors who suffered from various levels of loneliness and depression to walk the Morikami’s Roji-En gardens. The participants’ depression was alleviated after the study on par with doing targeted art therapy for their illness.

I think it’s kind of easy to see that walking in beautiful surroundings, taking in nature and enjoying the company of others would make anyone feel better. Glad to know I’m backed up by measured scientific studies…

Yesterday Today Tomorrow blooms in the Roji-En. Photo Credit: Michiko Kurisu, who's father Hoichi designed the gardens