Joy of Ageing - Relationships

RELATIONSHIPS – AN INTRODUCTION

2/12/2022

There are two things in life that are certain and from which we cannot escape – death and relationships! Most of us have a myriad of relationships as we move through life. We invite you to find the gems in these articles from our writers, and to explore what is available to us when we bring the magnifying glass to our responsibility in all our relationships.

TERRORS OF THE TELEPHONE

1/12/2022

As a child, teenager and young adult I lived with a deep distrust and disturbance at the mere thought of the telephone. Whenever it rang, I reacted nervously and endeavoured never to be the one to answer the shrill ringing as it was very rarely someone calling for me, and then I would have the task of trying to locate one or other of my parents.

HAVING ELDER FRIENDS

1/9/2022

I have some beautiful relationships with people who are in their 70’s and 80’s. My role as a nurse has me caring for those who are in the same age groups. In fact, whether nursing or not I really enjoy the company of those who are elders in my communities.

THE GOOD GIRL

1/8/2022

I have joyfully watched my son and his partner bringing up their two children, and find delight in the way they all interact with one another. With the introduction of modern technology, it has given them freedom to explore life and not always be bogged down with the rigors of day-to-day living as my parents were.

IN CELEBRATION OF BECOMING AN ELDER

1/5/2022

How a photograph of an elder woman had me pondering on my relationship with my own ageing.

A request from the Joy of Ageing website asked for permission to use a photograph taken recently. The subject heading read ‘Your amazing photo!’

LETTING GO OF FAMILY CONSCIOUSNESS

1/3/2022

Artist: Bernadette Curtin

Last week I was unwell. I’m generally not at ease with being unwell and find it difficult to settle and surrender. However, being unwell often brings insights and a deepening as I connect with what is behind the particular illness or body discomfort I’m experiencing. This time the insight came to me when I was sharing with others a particular family dilemma I was facing.

DEEPENING INTIMACY

1/12/2021

Artist: Joseph Barker

Joan and Susan first met around fourteen years ago at a Universal Medicine Retreat and many things have changed in that intervening period amongst which is the passing of the years and the cycles of life. Susan would have been 62 years and Joan 66, and in retrospect there is a very different feeling and energy now than there was then. Being in one’s sixth decade feels considerably different to being at a time when the eighth decade is not too far away or as in Joan’s case is only a month away.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CELEBRATIONS

1/12/2021

To begin my story, I felt to look up the definition of what ‘Celebrate’ means. This excerpt is taken directly from the Cambridge dictionary: “To take part in special enjoyable activities in order to show that a particular occasion is important.”

For most of my life family celebrations have not been a source of enjoyment.

ENCOUNTERS WITH STRANGERS

1/12/2021

Have you found yourself in conversation with a perfect stranger recently? Where the connection that is made in an instant is deeply personal and trusting?

Recently I have had three such encounters, and each of them touched me deeply. It is such a privilege when people open up in conversation, and it goes much deeper than superficial chat.

CELEBRATIONS

1/11/2021

Birthday celebrations were big in my family, but not something I have been big in celebrating. My mother made it all happen. Three of the family had birthdays in the one week, first me, then my father then my brother. Mum would bake each of us a cake, with icing, candles and all, and the birthday person chose the menu for the evening. To say the least I was a bit over birthdays by the end of the week.

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RELATIONSHIPS – AN INTRODUCTION

TERRORS OF THE TELEPHONE

HAVING ELDER FRIENDS

THE GOOD GIRL

IN CELEBRATION OF BECOMING AN ELDER

LETTING GO OF FAMILY CONSCIOUSNESS

DEEPENING INTIMACY

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CELEBRATIONS

ENCOUNTERS WITH STRANGERS

CELEBRATIONS

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