THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
The Senior
Adult Years: Are They the Best?
Robert Browning, English poet,
in "Rabbi
Ben Ezra," wrote these often-quoted lines:
"Grow
old along with me,
The
best is yet to be;
The last of life
For which the first was made."
Can we really consider
retirement years
"the best" of life? Much of it can depend on attitude. After working
that magical "30+ years" or even more at a career, unless one
prepares for the changes retirement brings, he/she may find a sense of
vacancy
and purposelessness entering life. Retirement years, for some, are
considered a
time when life's work is finished and the person is no longer useful to
himself
or those around him.
Right attitude can mean that the
retiree
embraces the years remaining in life. Retirement years can be a
challenge, a
time to pursue new interests, to travel, engage in hobbies, do
neglected work
around the house, make new friends, volunteer at jobs that will benefit
people
and the community. Even these retirement activities can become
overwhelming if
"personal time" is not woven into the fabric of retirement lifestyle.
The possibilities are limited
only by one's
perspective. The senior citizen can determine to make the last of life
the
best, as Poet Browning declares, or he can shrivel away in some
self-inflicted
"pity party." A choice is involved, and the option to be productive
and active is being taken by many senior citizens today.
Because of advances in geriatric
medical
care, retirement income, and opportunities for continued learning,
senior
adults can be fairly healthy, economically independent and mentally
productive.
Awhile back my husband and I were at Duke's
Hobbies are another benefit of
retirement
years. I talked to a woman recently who was excited about her church's
senior
citizen group of ladies who meet weekly to piece quilt tops and quilt
them,
using patterns passed down for generations. The "quilting bee" is
reminiscent of early pioneer days when women enjoyed the occasions to
help each
other "quilt out" a covering they would give to a new bride or use to
add to the store of handmade quilts to keep a family warm in harsh
winters. At
senior citizen centers now and in some church groups, the "quilting
bee" is becoming popular, providing opportunities for camaraderie,
friendship and productive work.
For those unable to do their own
driving to
sites they would like to see and activities they would like to engage
in, there
is help for them. "Golden Clubs" offer many opportunities for guided
tours and access to dramas or other entertainment.
For those who like to read or
write,
community organizations of reading clubs and writing groups are fun and
invigorating. These help to keep the mind alert and looking forward to
the next
meeting.
Poet W. B. Yeats had some advice
for
seniors: "When you are old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by
the
fire, take down this book." Each day should find the mind stretched and
the imagination unfurled through reading.
Perhaps one of the greatest
benefits of
retirement can be strengthening of family ties. If one is fortunate
enough to
have family, children and grandchildren (and even great
grandchildren!),
special times with them can be a wonderful blessing and create memories
for all
involved.
Some may say I've looked at only
the
"best scenarios" of retirement in this article. What about illness?
Debilitating diseases? Pain, discomfort, seemingly endless trips to the
doctor,
the hospital-all a part of retirement years? I am not so naive as to
disregard
these. I know from personal experience that we deal with all of these
challenges in retirement years. But again, attitude and how we face
these
challenges of illness and eventual separation from a beloved mate enter
into
how we manage. There is a supernatural strength for every day. The
attuned
senior knows that God's help and strength are just a prayer away.
All the years of a senior
citizen's life
accrue to an apex: "the last of life for which the first was made!"
With right choices and proper attitude, the best can, indeed, yet be.
c2006 by
Ethelene Dyer
Jones; published Sept. 28, 2006 in The Union Sentinel, Blairsville,
GA.
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
[Ethelene Dyer
Jones is a retired educator,
freelance writer, poet, and historian. She may be reached at
e-mail edj0513@windstream.net;
phone 478-453-8751; or mail 1708 Cedarwood Road, Milledgeville, GA
31061-2411.]
Updated August 8,
2009
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