It is said that the body ages but not the heart and the mind. Oscar Wilde had said that the tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young!!!
Don't we feel the same way when we see a group of old enthusiasts getting together to effectively handle a social cause or taking up responsibilities to run an administration or simply walking at the park in the morning at 5km/hr!!!!
More than often we tend to ignore these indigenous beings who have shared both happiness and agony with life and have gained the invaluable experience over the years. While the Old Age homes are brimming with the old members of the families who have renounced their family or should I say have been renounced by their families, the young are facing roadblocks and tricky situations in many aspects of their lives not knowing what to do.
In India approximately 80% of the voters are 60 years and above who fall under the category of senior citizens. A psychological study says that since senior citizens don't have a say around their respective families at home, they always exercise their right to vote wherein they can at least express themselves...this shows how much we have ignored our elderly figures at home.
What these sweethearts need is attention and to be respected for their age...they are like small kids, the moment we take our eyes off them, they would crave for our attention and do all things possible to gain it back.
Sometime it is difficult to control their emotions, anger and thinking however if you treat them with the same affection, love, care and patience that you show towards your kids, its quite an easy task.
Remember they have given their life to us when we were kids and knew nothing. But what did we do for them? When we grew up with all the best education, knowledge and experience of life they offered to us to become what we are today, all we did was just ignore them declaring that they knew nothing about life and concluded what they did was nothing more than a mere responsibility which any parent would do!!!! And the moment there is a difference of opinion,we never hesitate to ridicule their thoughts and tag the situation as a "generation gap".
If you have watched 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai', you would have a fair idea. In the movie Atmaram's son grows out to become too posh for his father and his simplicity and sends him off to live in an Old Age home inspite of being the proud owner of a plush and spacious apartment. And sadly, the count of people like Atmaram's son is growing exponentially. We have become extremely modern and we hardly have time to sit by their side and listen to their share of the story. We feel that this exercise would be a total waste of time!!!
But what we do not realise is that it is not them, but us who need them more that they need us.
The most blessed are the ones who had their grandparents in their lives. A lot of us must have had some of the best moments with their grandparents. I am proud to proclaim that I am one of them. Right from the time I was a toddler, my Grand-ma has been my best friend. From tolerating my childish tantrums to making yummy snacks for me in the evenings to teaching me the first notes of sa-re-ga-ma, she's been there for me, all the time. It's been a few years that I have lost her and even today, I miss her....a looooot!!!
The senior citizens are an asset to their families as well as to the nation. They are the ones who really have been there and done that! Instead of leading perhaps a miserable life in loneliness they can be serve as the best resource to teach the underprivileged in the villages. Elders are the back bone of Indian culture as they are the link who pass on the legacies which has been followed by ages.This way they will not only find another reason to live and smile, they will feel that they are important to us and are actively involved in shaping the society as much as we are.
It is our responsibility to help them walk the final lap of life and help them touch the finishing line with a smile and satisfaction, make them feel that it was worth living a life for such a wonderful family.
Their one blessing can do wonders in our lives, a happiness which may not come even after becoming a billionaire!!!!
When they read her poem....the feeling was magical, everybody who read it instantly got a taste of LIFE!
Incase you have not read the poem, here it is for you.
" Crabbit Old Woman"
What do you see, nurse, what do you see?
What are you thinking, when you look at me-
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, I do wish you'd try.
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding the long day is fill.
Is that what you're thinking, Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who loved one another-
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at 20 - my heart gives a leap,
Recalling the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man is beside me to see I don't mourn;
At 50 once more babies play around my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young ones of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel-
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart,
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joy, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last-
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer
See Me....
By: Phyllis McCormack
Don't we feel the same way when we see a group of old enthusiasts getting together to effectively handle a social cause or taking up responsibilities to run an administration or simply walking at the park in the morning at 5km/hr!!!!
More than often we tend to ignore these indigenous beings who have shared both happiness and agony with life and have gained the invaluable experience over the years. While the Old Age homes are brimming with the old members of the families who have renounced their family or should I say have been renounced by their families, the young are facing roadblocks and tricky situations in many aspects of their lives not knowing what to do.
In India approximately 80% of the voters are 60 years and above who fall under the category of senior citizens. A psychological study says that since senior citizens don't have a say around their respective families at home, they always exercise their right to vote wherein they can at least express themselves...this shows how much we have ignored our elderly figures at home.
What these sweethearts need is attention and to be respected for their age...they are like small kids, the moment we take our eyes off them, they would crave for our attention and do all things possible to gain it back.
Sometime it is difficult to control their emotions, anger and thinking however if you treat them with the same affection, love, care and patience that you show towards your kids, its quite an easy task.
Remember they have given their life to us when we were kids and knew nothing. But what did we do for them? When we grew up with all the best education, knowledge and experience of life they offered to us to become what we are today, all we did was just ignore them declaring that they knew nothing about life and concluded what they did was nothing more than a mere responsibility which any parent would do!!!! And the moment there is a difference of opinion,we never hesitate to ridicule their thoughts and tag the situation as a "generation gap".
If you have watched 'Lagey Raho Munnabhai', you would have a fair idea. In the movie Atmaram's son grows out to become too posh for his father and his simplicity and sends him off to live in an Old Age home inspite of being the proud owner of a plush and spacious apartment. And sadly, the count of people like Atmaram's son is growing exponentially. We have become extremely modern and we hardly have time to sit by their side and listen to their share of the story. We feel that this exercise would be a total waste of time!!!
But what we do not realise is that it is not them, but us who need them more that they need us.
The most blessed are the ones who had their grandparents in their lives. A lot of us must have had some of the best moments with their grandparents. I am proud to proclaim that I am one of them. Right from the time I was a toddler, my Grand-ma has been my best friend. From tolerating my childish tantrums to making yummy snacks for me in the evenings to teaching me the first notes of sa-re-ga-ma, she's been there for me, all the time. It's been a few years that I have lost her and even today, I miss her....a looooot!!!
The senior citizens are an asset to their families as well as to the nation. They are the ones who really have been there and done that! Instead of leading perhaps a miserable life in loneliness they can be serve as the best resource to teach the underprivileged in the villages. Elders are the back bone of Indian culture as they are the link who pass on the legacies which has been followed by ages.This way they will not only find another reason to live and smile, they will feel that they are important to us and are actively involved in shaping the society as much as we are.
It is our responsibility to help them walk the final lap of life and help them touch the finishing line with a smile and satisfaction, make them feel that it was worth living a life for such a wonderful family.
Their one blessing can do wonders in our lives, a happiness which may not come even after becoming a billionaire!!!!
A few days ago I was reading a beautiful article on Facebook about a lonely old lady who was admitted in a hospital for a long time before she passed away. Soon after a nurse had found her belongings and in them found a poem written by her during her stay at the hospital. Many thought that she was nothing more than a piece of flesh and bones and did not grieve when she was no more.
When they read her poem....the feeling was magical, everybody who read it instantly got a taste of LIFE!
Incase you have not read the poem, here it is for you.
" Crabbit Old Woman"
What do you see, nurse, what do you see?
What are you thinking, when you look at me-
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, I do wish you'd try.
Who seems not to notice the things that you do
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.
Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will
With bathing and feeding the long day is fill.
Is that what you're thinking, Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still!
As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of 10 with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters, who loved one another-
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,
Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at 20 - my heart gives a leap,
Recalling the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home;
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my man is beside me to see I don't mourn;
At 50 once more babies play around my knee,
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing young ones of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I've known;
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel-
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart,
But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells,
I remember the joy, I remember the pain,
And I'm loving and living life over again.
I think of the years all too few- gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last-
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer
See Me....
By: Phyllis McCormack
