Early in her retirement, Cindy Hirshberg and her late husband, Clark Wagner, had specific plans for living out their retirement years – travel America in their RV, pursue their shared interest in American history and have fun doing it. For nearly 20 years, she’s done just that and doesn’t intend to sit still anytime soon.
As an active member of Cedarhurst Unitarian Universalist
, Cindy Hirshberg helped spearhead the organization’s outreach program, from identifying community events to working with other members on displays for its event booth and establishing a list of event volunteers, including herself, to help increase awareness of the organization. She also served as a board member but recently left the position to focus more time on her latest passion, Braver Angels.
Braver Angels is a national civic group whose mission is to help bridge the political divide among people by holding workshops that foster discussions. Hirshberg learned of Braver Angels from attending a meeting at Carroll Lutheran Village and immediately found her place. As the blue co-chair for central Maryland braver angels, she works with other volunteers to plan events such as Walk a Mile in My News in which people of differing political beliefs are paired and assigned the task of watching and talking about each other’s news sources over several weeks, and then gather to summarize the insights each gained about how their views can be impacted by news sources.
Hirshberg was called to Braver Angels due to the deepening political divide in America over the last 10 years. “Somehow, at this chapter in our country’s history, it’s not just a matter of having a different perspective. Rather, people with differing viewpoints see each other as adversaries who are thought to be destructive to our country and its future.”
Hirshberg says that toxic politics have hurt her heart because she has lost several valued friends over political beliefs. She believes Braver Angels gets people talking again because it focuses on understanding how and why a person’s beliefs and opinions are formed and not trying to change those beliefs and opinions.
People used to be able to talk civilly about differing opinions and when appropriate, simply agree to disagree without any bad feelings. She wants to help bring those conversations back. “Our democratic republic cannot survive if we are not talking through the important topics of our day. Conversations that include a variety of viewpoints can bring forth the best thinking about how to solve difficult issues,” said Hirshberg, a viewpoint she attributes to President James Madison.
When she’s not organizing Braver Angels activities, you may see her pursuing her love for gardening, which can be seen at CUU and her home at Carroll Lutheran Village, where she says she is living the retirement lifestyle she wanted when she and her late husband started looking at communities. Carroll Lutheran Village met every one of their needs and desires.
Despite keeping herself busy in the Carroll County community, she finds time to enjoy life at Carroll Lutheran Village. She learned to draw and paint from classes in the community’s art studio and has even submitted one of her drawings to the community’s fine arts publication, Creative Expressions.
She attributes her exercise regimen to attending the community’s fitness classes, occasionally working out in the community’s fitness center and walking her dog, Dolly – also a senior resident at the age of 14.
While Hirshberg makes her self-proclaimed “the best meatloaf in the world”, she does take advantage of Carroll Lutheran Village’s Café or Zest, the community’s fine dining restaurant at least once a week. There she meets up with friends – either Carroll Lutheran Village residents, or friends from her old neighborhood or CUU – to catch up over dinner.
Hirshberg said, “In this part of life, people relationships are extremely important. They help you gain perspective on things. They help you talk things through. They help you look at things differently.”
Hirshberg moved to Carroll Lutheran Village to pursue the lifestyle she planned for herself and her late husband. Being bogged down with the day-to-day upkeep of her house was not supportive of that lifestyle. “You can mow your house’s lawn or clean the gutters, but that is definitely work and eventually you’re going to have to pay for someone else to do it for you.” Hirshberg said. Carroll Lutheran Village gives her the freedom and independence she wants.
Hirshberg is not just a part of the Carroll Lutheran Village community, she is part of the Carroll County community. Whether it be gardening, helping heal the political divide through Braver Angels or taking advantage of all that Carroll Lutheran Village has to offer, she is having fun and pursuing her passions.
Read about another resident, Jim Emmons, who keeps himself active by enjoying nature and more stories more about CLV’s wonderful residents and team members.
If you are a CLV resident or team member with a story to share, we would love to hear it!
