Coping with age & serious illness. Anyone positive want to share?

@nycmusic
Dear @nycmusic, yes, growing old with medical conditions is confronting and challenging. I have 2 medical diagnoses, one of which is terminal. I have never been an important or world-changing person, but when I look back on my life my greatest achievement is raising four children, all of whom are now adults and decent, compassionate human beings. Our lives go through many changes, and old age is yet another stage we have to come to terms with and make the most of our lives as they are now. You speak of sunrises and sunsets. I, too, find myself taking joy in the little things in life, things I didn't notice when I was rushing around living an active life. This morning one of my adult sons dropped in before work to bring me a cup of coffee from my favourite cafe. That has made my whole day. We can still reach out to others with a phone call or a greeting card. I lost my husband 4 years ago, but I realise that we are each on our own journey, and it is important to do what little we can to appreciate each other, and live life one day at a time. I hope you ae feeling better today. I am in Melbourne, Australia, but through the magic of the internet I can reach you and wish you a joyous and peacful Christmas, and good health and happiness in the New Year. @ellu

@jofree
Hi @jofree, I have replied to your posts before, but have been neglectful because I have been busy with Christmas preparations. My mother is 95, still well, and at Christmas the whole family (about 15 of us) gathers at her home for Christmas Lunch. Of course the children do all the cooking! This year several members of our family have experienced severe medical challenges. I wonder whether all of us will still be together next year? It might be my last Christmas because of my terminal diagnosis, but I try to live each day as it comes, and notice and enjoy the little things in life, like the balmy early summer weather (I am in Australia), the riot of flowers and blooming trees, the kindness of family and friends, the smiles of neighbours and strangers in the street as we wish each other a happy festive season. Last week I went to a performance of Handel's "Messiah", with full orchestra and choir. It is a long piece of music (about 3 hours) but absolutely divine. It embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
As my friend and I were exiting the concert, the first news started to come through about the terrible massacre in Bondi, which I am sure has been in the news in the States as well. Why can people with different faiths or beliefs live together peacefully? Let us live one day at a time, and think of how we can do little things to make a difference to other people and our
communties. Wishing you all (and everyone out there) a happy holiday season, and best wishes for good health and happiness in the New Year.
@ellu

@ellu thank you for the wonderful letter reminding us there is much we can still do, share and enjoy…one day at a time…how nice to meet you here….and i wish you all the best for the holiday season and the new year…here in NYC we celebrate the winter solstice—the days will now slowly become longer !

@gravity3
Dear @gravity3 , I don't have time to reply to you post (I am supposed to be somewhere else right now!) but I want to encourage you to be accepting of your New Normal situation, and try to live one day at a time. Take the time to enjoy the little things in life, your family, friends, the beauty of nature and the night sky - notice little wonders which we didn't notice when we were young and rushing around living busy lives. Try to involve yourself with others in your community. I have found my local Probus Club to have many enjoyable activities, and at 72 I am
making new friends through Probus. One thing I have learnt is that doing little things for other people - like greeting and smiling at the driver on the bus or even a stranger in a cafe -
can life your spirit and theirs. We all travel our own roads in life, it is satisfying to acknowledge and support fellow travellers. Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday season, and good health and happiness in the New Year. @ellu

Hi, I was happy to see your post. We have several things in common or so it seems. The first is we try to make the most of each moment of the day and to reach out to others. Your Jacaranda trees sounded beautiful. I stopped to look up a photo of them and they are breathtaking. Enjoy one for me No, they don't grow here so I will admire them from a distance. I'm sorry that you have the two medical diagnosis and that one is terminal. It's often sad and frustrating to feel our minds be aware and wanting to do many things but our bodies fail us. I love that you send cards to others and reach out by phone. Your care is touching and admirable. I'm glad that you do it and others are being blessed by your actions. I wish that I could sit and just listen to your wisdom and insight. Do you have family or friends that you write it down for and share it with? If not, then I'm certain other people will listen. If you desire I will swing over and send you a private email so that we can write more. If you don't want to then it's fine. I know that life around you is busy and you have several things going on. The main thing is to take care of yourself and your health to the best of your ability. You have a shining love and light to share. I'm proud of you. Have a blessed day.

@ellu I alway have a reason for tomorrow. Gardening. Planning for next year. Going to the supermarket. Small things count.

@ellu more good words ! Thank you ! I like to think of ‘the chain of goodness’—-doing simple considerate things for others, getting passed along and then getting passed along, etc. —adding warm smiles for many by the end of a day… it does add up.

@wdytys
Thank you for your reply: It is always, always and in all ways that I am reminded know one is ever really alone. Your added comment, "for a stranger or anyone who you can help," gently reminds me to be alert for any service opportunity.
Sorry for the delayed reply: I hope your path is wide and your thoughts are pleasant. The best in the new year.
Jofree

@ellu
Good morning ellu,
It is great that your still sending positive messages out. May your Holidays be filled with inspirations and may your pleasant and comforting messgage keep flowing. The best to you and yours in the New Year.
Jofree

@jofree
Hi @jofree, and others reading this message,
I hope you had a joyous Christmas, and wish you good health and much happiness in the New Year. Last Sunday a friend and I attended a performance of Handel's " Messiah" - it a long piece of music, a celebration of the nativity, and it is beautiful with a full orchestra and choir. Just as my friend and I were leaving the auditorium, we started hearing people talking about the massacre on Bondi Beach which had happened while we were enjoying the music. What can I say? I don't understand the world and human beings. Such beauty, and such terror. What sort of legacy are we leaving our children? What can we do?
On a brighter note, my children and I went for dinner at a restaurant overlooking Federation Square, a large public entertainment place in Melbourne. There we saw gathered several hundred Jewish people, come together to mark the loss of Jewish people at Bondi and express their determination to celebrate the Jewish religion and way of life. It almost brought tears to my eyes. Yes, there is oppression and bigotry in our society, but we must fight against it and treat others with respect and compassion. We can not tolerate acts of violence and terrorism
against others with different views. I am not Jewish (non-practicing Lutheran), but everyone has a right to their beliefs, as long as they are not hurting others. What a sad way to end 2025.
I hope that 2026 will bring peace and prosperity to us all, and we remember to do unto others as we would have them do to ourselves. Greetings from Australia! @ellu