When I'm working, everything seems to be fine. It's orderly. But if I just hang around...It's another world....kinda like wandering. I'm only 64.
I have friends dealing with their parents. It tears their heart out.
Hey Sac;
The lesson is clear. One needs to remain engaged in productive activities. That is not to say,"work"...should be "play."
A generative, active lifestyle will often delay if not completely forestall mental and physical deterioration. IOW, metaphorically speaking, stay out of the lounge chair in front of the TV and find something you like to do, or always wanted to do, and do it!
We tend to forget how difficult some of our learning environments were. I found myself being very uncomfortable having to submerge my ego in order to learn something new. But it can and should be done, regardless of age.
Be well, be happy and above all, stay engaged with your life. /patronizing
Your last line really struck home with me. I am struggling, really struggling to deal with my dad’s failing mental and physical health, and greiving for the person he used to be. He promised himself that when he retired, he was going to take it easy after working so hard for so many years. Problem is, he quit everything, and all the joys of living. It breaks my heart to see him sitting there, unable to get up because he hasn’t tried to get up in so long, unable to experience laughter or joy or accept love because he is so completely focused on his own pains, both real and imagined.
And I pray, every day, most of the time in private tears, for a measure of kindness, understanding, and patience, when he says something hurtful. I pray NOT to be judgmental about the choices he made that I feel render him so weak and vulnerable, and I try to keep my suspicions to myself about the fact that part of the problem is doctors’ knee-jerk response to an elderly, complaining patient: to significantly overmedicate them. My dad would not thank me for interfering with his pill regimen even if I could prove I was right.
Sometimes the changes that are allowed to happen become irreversible with time; and that’s a lesson we all need to remember.