Put Emotion on Hold

I am taking a break, for I have been thinking too much, about everything and things are coming unglued.

So this is my attempt to glue them back together again. In the grand scheme of things, no one cares who I leave my little treasures too, and perhaps I think too much, after all they are just things in the long run,

Like the ripples in the water in the photo above, I have never been good at keeping the lid on things. In some instances it served me well, but in this instance, it has not.

I will make every effort to keep myself busy. Do things from a list, do things for myself, and put the emotional garbage on hold.

I have to survive this period of my life, and to tell you the truth it will take my every effort to pull this off. When Art Linkletter said, growing old wasn't for sissy's, he wasn't kidding.

I see senior citizens every day, in my own neighborhood, and at the stores, struggling to survive this stage of life. They cannot afford to be emotional, they can't afford to feel sorry for themselves. They have to keep plugging. They have to make a craft out of how to survive. They have to have a plan.

Only some have family, others have family but they don't come to see them, others seem to have to fend for themselves, and have no one at all.

Basically, you have to keep your emotions in tact, and you are not afforded the luxury to feel sorry for yourself. You have to keep your eye on the ball to survive.

You have to find a way to get to your doctors appointments. Luckily we are still able to drive ourselves, well one of us are able to drive anyway. There are some that struggle. One lady in our neighborhood, we saw at the bank. She told us that she could not see well anymore, but she drove anyway. I told my husband when he came out to let her leave first, she couldn't see.

You basically have to apply your skills you have learned in life, as survival skills. Even if you have family, that stops by and checks on you, they have their own life to live, and you wouldn't want to be a burden on them. That could often be a one way ticket to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Bottom line, is this is the biggest challenge you will face in your life. When your body is failing you, and your mind drifts into forgetfulness, don't let that deter you. Fight back, with everything you have. Here are a couple rules that apply.

1. Never, ever feel sorry for yourself, and never call someone and complain.

2. When the time is right, get a medical alert necklace, that detects falls, and calls an ambulance.

3. You have paid bills all your life, allow a little extra to pay people to do things for you. Protect your independence at every turn. If it is as simple as paying someone to mow your grass, or vacuum your house, it is one thing you won't have to call your family to do, if you cannot do it yourself.

4. Find a back up mode of transportation, if you become unable to drive.

I wouldn't advise, you to do as my neighbor does, driving when you cannot see, but it works for her, anything that works, you should consider.

5. Make out a will, but do not fixate on the worldly things, that is emotional, and you should avoid that at all costs.

Live your life while you are here on this planet. No one said the Golden Years would be fun and without challenges. However, be glad you have experience to guide you along.

Many seniors suffer from lonliness and isolation. Don't fall into that trap. We have the internet today, and for every senior that is suffering from isolation, there is another one right there in your own town, or in a state far away, that is suffering too.

Reach out and find someone to talk to, share things with, and be your own advocate, with your own plan.

For now that is enough for me.

Thankfully, my husband and I have one another, and that is fortunate indeed.

Thanks for reading.