 | 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. |
Really, I don’t consider my friends or those I care for as being old or even elderly. They are who they are, and they simply happen to be a certain age. In fact, if we stop and consider, why would we not want to have friends, and those we enjoy connecting to, of all ages? How else do we even begin to understand what living life is like for someone who is at school, just retired, or even becoming frailer where they are needing that extra support.
One of the things that I love the most about my elder friends is how engaged they are with life.
It looks different for all of them, but for them it’s important that they remain connected to their communities and feel part of the whole.
I personally find them all very inspiring as I can see what is possible as we become older and how we can be as we navigate illness, death of family, friends and partners and how to accept gracefully what life presents. After all, we know that this will happen to us all, at some stage.
I love their frankness, stating it like it is – which I have to say cracks me up. We can often have perceptions around what it’s like when someone ‘is old’, but how often are they not correct? This is why I laugh when taken aback by one of my elder friends. They have just blown a hole in any limiting perception, opinion or thought I may have had.
Of course, this is not the case for all, which is why I like to observe those who are ageing in this way … to see what is possible.
When I am enjoying the company of my elder friends, there is nothing in me that fears getting older, and I am already 55.
I look at the richness they live (from within), I see that it’s very possible and know that I can also live that same richness, which in truth we can live at any age.
Therefore, richness is ageless as are my elder friends also ageless.
Jennifer S., Australia
If you enjoyed this article, you may also like to read:
Ageing – to be feared or lived?
One of the things that I love the most about my elder friends is how engaged they are with life.
It looks different for all of them, but for them it’s important that they remain connected to their communities and feel part of the whole.
I personally find them all very inspiring as I can see what is possible as we become older and how we can be as we navigate illness, death of family, friends and partners and how to accept gracefully what life presents. After all, we know that this will happen to us all, at some stage.
I love their frankness, stating it like it is – which I have to say cracks me up. We can often have perceptions around what it’s like when someone ‘is old’, but how often are they not correct? This is why I laugh when taken aback by one of my elder friends. They have just blown a hole in any limiting perception, opinion or thought I may have had.
Of course, this is not the case for all, which is why I like to observe those who are ageing in this way … to see what is possible.
When I am enjoying the company of my elder friends, there is nothing in me that fears getting older, and I am already 55.
I look at the richness they live (from within), I see that it’s very possible and know that I can also live that same richness, which in truth we can live at any age.
Therefore, richness is ageless as are my elder friends also ageless.
Jennifer S., Australia
If you enjoyed this article, you may also like to read:
Ageing – to be feared or lived?