Birthdays

The pandemic has altered our lives, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that birthdays have not stopped. They still come around on a regular basis. We may not celebrate the way we did just a few months ago, but we still age and birthdays don’t let us forget.

There are countless sayings about age, for example that it’s just a number, but the one I like best is that the higher the number the faster it shows up. Those of us of a certain age can certainly feel that each new birthday appears to spring up faster and faster. What is scarier, however, is when your children talk about how old they are and your grandchildren bemoan how fast time flies.

In my family the age difference of siblings is wide. An older sister who married young has children who are now retired. A bit of a shock for me because I never imagined that I could ever become a retiree’s auntie!

Even if time seems to go faster as we age, we are all in the same boat and each day is a blessing. Birthdays should make us aware of the danger of rusting physically and emotionally especially in the current pandemic. A birthday is another chance to find new ways of living with zest without forgetting to laugh because a day when we have not laughed is a wasted day.

Even if my grandson no longer asks me if I am younger or older than 100, I can still take steps to one day reach that number.

                                      

 

 

 

 

BLACK CLOUDS

I find that these days so many people are feeling down in the dump, sad, depressed, with little energy. Of course, the big culprit if the pandemic. Since covid had shown up, like it or not, our lives and activities have been disrupted.

             Many of us have been unable to visit loved ones except through video connections, social activities have been reduced or are completely unavailable, travel has been drastically altered, many people have seen their jobs being put on hold for a while, and some of us had to isolate because we got sick or someone close to us did.           

            It’s no surprise that depression is rampant. We are facing an unprecedented challenge for which we were not prepared and it is changing us. But that does not mean that there is no hope. As posters everywhere remind us, there will be a cure or vaccine, and in time we will welcome a beautiful rainbow of hope.  

            In the meantime there are things we can do to chase away the black clouds, or at least make them less menacing. We have to remind ourselves to not focus on the negativity of that pandemic in our lives by concentrating on the good things we enjoy. As a friend of mine who has suffered from depression over the years puts it: Every night I make a point to identify three things for which I am grateful on that day like getting a phone call from an old friend, anything that shows me that I can still smile. 

            Wise words.   

            She says it makes her feel better and that now it has become a habit which chases away the black clouds, even the menacing ones coming from the pandemic.

 

 

Free to Remember

This November we are free to remember the sacrifices of those who served to ensure our freedom because they did serve. How often do we stop to think about all those who gave up so much for so many of us?

The first time I went to Europe some years ago, I visited two military cemeteries honoring fallen soldiers. The white crosses all in a row as far as the eye could see brought tears to my eyes. A cross for every young man who gave his life for the rest of us. We don’t often think of them but we should. And we should never forget the veterans who came home after giving their all for peace. We owe them an immense debt.

At the ceremonies honoring veterans, we see the dwindling number of older men who served in older wars, but we can’t ignore how many younger veterans there are these days. The ranks of young men and women who served their country in varied far-away places with honor keep growing. Let’s show them we appreciate their sacrifice. That’s the least we can do.  

This November, let’s pay homage to all those who ensured our freedom and make sure our children and grandchildren understand the importance of remembering and paying homage.

Lest we forget, lest they forget.

 

 

SMILE

We all know people who seem to be always going on and on about their problems, their operations, their kids, their aching joints, or whatever else is going on in their lives. And these days the hardship of the pandemic. These people seldom smile and seem to be always searching for the negative side of life.

And, it is not always easy to get away from them (like when they’re relatives) or to get them to change their ways, but it’s worth trying to show them life’s humorous side so they can smile. As my friend Colette says: I tend to bemoan the fact that I used to have a handle on life, but now I simply accept that it broke; sometimes I stop to think, and then I forget to do it; and you can be sure that whatever hits the fan will seek me out even if I’m hiding.

I can only commiserate. I know I still got it, but nobody wants to see it!

Grouches pull you down, and some of them are alive simply because it’s illegal to kill them, so smile. As Phyllis Diller said: a smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

And don’t forget what the old song says:

You must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worth-while

If you just smile