On Aging
When I was in junior high, our typing teacher had us cover
the keyboard so that we would memorize the letters’ key arrangement. He must have had us saying the letters to
ourselves, because TO THIS DAY when I go to spell a word, occasionally I find
my fingers silently moving according to the letters on my keyboard. I do this out of habit, so you probably wouldn’t
notice it. I barely do anymore.
Teachers definitely have a lifelong impact on their
students!
In addition to my “air” typing, I am concerned because I
have to recall so many passwords throughout the day. I expect one day they are all just going to get
jumbled up in one big mess and eventually, when I no longer need them, I will
probably still have them running through my brain, for no apparent reason. I wonder if I will start reciting this mixed
up mess out loud.
Whoever takes care of me when I am old may find my curious
ways, well, curious. I know there will
be a good reason for them, but nobody else probably will.
Facing aging can be a challenging thing. Our bodies sometimes turn against us in
unexpected ways, in ways we have little control over. I said to my husband just the other day, “When
did I have to start paying attention to how I go up and down stairs? To think
about my movements? When did that
happen?” Seems like overnight I had to
start paying more attention to my movements.
Never had to do that when I was twenty.
I read an interesting article that talked about how to
handle this sort of stuff, and they said people should not compare themselves
to how they were when they were younger.
A helpful way to gracefully age is to accept what comes at you and do
the best you can to take care of yourself.
But most importantly, a different *article, had this key
advice:
“Continue to find meaning later in life.”
"Part of the challenge of aging gracefully is that you
have to continue to find things that are important to you.” Illinois psychologist Mark Frazier, PsyD
“Without meaningful goals, "You get into this whole
attitude of 'Oh, my gosh, this woes me. My memory's going, I'm slow, all I do
is go to wakes and funerals . . . If you don't have important things out in
front of you, there's enough about the aging process that is not positive and
you can get caught up in what you don't like about it." Mark Frazier, PsyD
The fact is, everyone ages, and the question is, “How are
you going to handle it?”
In all of this, it is key to remember that every single
person has dignity because they are made in the image and likeness of God, so
no matter how limited they may become due to aging (or otherwise), we have a
responsibility to love and care for them without regard to their ability to
contribute or make any kind of a return.
We must love unconditionally.
Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net
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