The older we get, the more time we seem to spend visiting the nursing home or rehab centers or worse yet, attending funerals. Do you sometimes feel that way? It’s hard to imagine we are at the age when so many of our friends are sick or dying.
It’s been a rough week around here. When I get stressed, I tend to reach for my friend Peggie Shealy’s autobiography, Feeling Safe. I am always thankful that Miss Peggie wrote that book. It’s a wonderful way to keep her wisdom nearby!
And today, the quote that reached out to me was
“No one else can make you happy. The people you love may die or disappear. Life goes on. Maybe not in the same way, but it goes on.”
Or remembering that my dad always said, “Life is for the living.”
Miss Peggie was right. Life does go on. And my dad was right. Life is for the living.
So what is my solution? Well, for one thing, I will spend some time with my living friends this week and play with the grandchildren and laugh and enjoy life as much as possible.
Sound like a good idea?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfjD06aOxts[/youtube]
WebAnywhere is a free computer application that will read internet pages and your email to you. WebAnywhere does not require special equipment or downloads. In fact, in the privacy of your home, you can listen without earphones. If you use a public computer, you will want to use earphones.
This is helpful not only to the blind, but to anyone with low vision or with serious visual impairment.
I have been experimenting with WebAnywhere this morning. It is easy to use. Understanding and following is simple on one page. However, I found it difficult to keep up when I was quickly reviewing and making changes in pages. I think there is a learning curve to this. People who use screen readers, however, will find it quite simple to use. And very convenient.
Watch the video and then experiment a bit with WebAnywhere — and if you do not have low vision, please pass along this web address to someone who needs it.
George Carlin often gets credit for this post, but in fact, according to snopes.com, the author is unknown. However, the lessons in this one little article are good for all of us to read and re-read as we need them. Enjoy!
Do you realise that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we’re kids? If you’re less than 10 years old, you’re so excited about ageing that you think in fractions..
‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m four and a half!’ You’re never thirty-six and a half. You’re four and a half, going on five! That’s the key
You get into your teens, now they can’t hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m gonna be 16!’ You could be 13, but hey, you’re gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life …. . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony.. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There’s no fun now, you’re Just a sour-dumpling. What’s wrong? What’s changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you’re PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it’s all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn’t think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You’ve built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it’s a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80′s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn’t end there Into the 90s, you start going backwards; ‘I Was JUST 92.’
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. ‘I’m 100 and a half!’
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay ‘them’
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.. Never let the brain idle. ‘An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.’ And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
One of our most important jobs as seniors is keeping our thoughts about our health positive.
If we believe we are sick, and talk about sick constantly – we will be sick!
What do you say when someone asks, “How are you?” Just for this week, try answering positively. No one really wants to hear us complain about our aches and pains.
My husband always replies to that question with “I’d have to be twins to feel better!”
Maybe this week we can all come up with a “health positive” reply.
Oh, and it’s fun to make note of how people respond when you ask — How are you?
Enjoy!
Aging is not for sissies, but it does beat the alternative! I am determined to enjoy my senior years, aren’t you?
I am already fascinated by all the labels. Children have labels — infant, toddler, preschool, grade school, teenager. And then there are years you have no label except “adult”. And lo and behold, suddenly you turn 50 — you’re a baby boomer, a senior citizen, or “elderly”.
When we were in our sixties, a young doctor referred to us as “elderly”. We both laughed all the way home! What on earth does that mean anyway? I don’t feel “elderly”!
Labels! Who needs a label? I am alive and well and having fun! Yes, from time to time, I need a little assistance, and may even need more as time marches on, but as long as I am able, I will live until I die!
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