Plenty of older people feel they’re living in an apocalyptic world. Many are afraid that, depending on the outcome of the next election, the world as we know it will no longer exist. There is no sure evidence that things will turn out one way or another, and that uncertainty has us frazzled. Additionally, whatever the outcome, there may be civil unrest regardless of which party takes control.
If life as we know it changes in the coming months and years, we need to remember that many of the things that give us pleasure and joy will remain. It’s important to acknowledge that life offers an abundance of goodness and hope and joy and fellowship regardless of any frightening condition or ‘…ism.’
If it all goes to hell in a handbasket:
The contagious belly laugh of a baby will still crack us up.
Butterflies will still flit through our day and, in some cases (mine), remind us of someone who wishes to say ‘hi’ from the great beyond.
The smell of freshly mowed grass will still have us recalling days and evenings playing outdoors with only each other, sans electronics, to entertain.
Sex and companionship, if we choose them in whatever form they take, can still bridge the gap between togetherness and being alone.
Great horned owls will continue to sit on their eggs and their babies will hatch in about four weeks.
Accomplishments of kids, myriad other family members, and friends will continue to fill us with pride … just by having known the hard work gone into it/them.
The smell of bread will still calm us and harken back to our childhoods.
Silly and sacred entertainment alike will fill our souls to bursting.
Cultivating our sense of curiosity can still bring us the exciting discovery of a ton of things we get to learn for the first time.
Great big, puffy, clown-like clouds will drift through most of our days.
Gratitude for the simplest of things, like clean water to drink and farm fresh veggies to eat will remind us of simple satisfactions and the earth’s abundance.
At least one of our good senses (hearing, seeing, tasting, feeling) will help take over for those senses that have vanished with age. It’s all about compensating, baby.
Memories will still exist to channel us into joy or sadness, whatever we desire and feel we can handle at the moment.
If it goes to hell in a handbasket, we can applaud ourselves and each other for making it to here and for standing as tall as we can to face forward … together … to meet any challenges. We won’t let fellowship fade away. And we won’t let those standing next to us fold under the pressure.
You are more resilient than you know … still.