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

@maggie76
Hi, Maggie. There are over 600 Area Agencies on Aging in the US—all 50 states, DC, and the territories. Florida, where I live, has 11, so you should be able to find one in your region, wherever it may be. They are mostly funded by the Older Americans Act, but state funds and grant funds (I used to write proposals to funding agencies) are often part of the mix. Let me know if you have a hard time finding a AAA and I will try to help. Bette

@artgirl2 thank you, I am working on not being depressed and having a positive attitude knowing that God is in control

@bettes , Hi Bette, I live in South Carolina so I will search and see if I can find one. Thank you for writing back. I'm 83 and have a lot of Ostero Arthritis, had back surgery and 2 knee replacements. I have a group called Catawaba Dept. Of Aging and they provide me with transportation 7 trips a yr. They say I don't qualify for anything else because I have a daughter living with me
I am grateful for the transport..

I am 83 and love to chat so if interested write me back
Maggie

Area Agency on Aging I believe is what you meant to say. Yes, they are a great resource!

@happilyalive
Hello happilyalive,
I have been absent from our Connect blog for about six weeks so I apolgize for commenting so late. "Every second counts and so we strive to make a difference in each of those seconds." Your reference pertaining to resilency, hope, determination and trust is powerful advice toward maintaing ones mental health.
My gal and I endured my colon cancer in 1999, I was 54 years then and now I am 80. Following the first surgery which removed my entire colon, some large intestine parts and left me with a colostomy. After that, we experienced 11 surgical procedures to "unblock" my intestines by removing the radiation enteritis. It was close to two years before we felt normal again. However, our attitudes carried us through. Itwas what it was: you just sink or swim. We chose to swin and in the third year of recovery, we purchased two, three wheel recumbent bicycles. From then and through another recovery for my triple bypass, we ride every day weather permitting. Not counting the 6300 miles of cycling when we were in school, we now have ridden over 7,893 miles since 1999.
Yes your saying is so true and we appreciate your sharing it with us. One minute, one hour, one day at the time. If your alive your living and regardless the struggles, we like the alive part. Kepp on keeping on.
Best this year, Jo free

@gramham I'm sorry for your situation, but I understand. I'm 72, a little younger, but I've gone through some rough times with my body, cancer. My faith still holds me strong, and since my husband's family was Jewish, I have been immersed with a very different culture for 37 years of marriage! It has been an incredibly interesting life for me. My husband was a born again believer in Yeshua (Jesus, the Messiah) HaMaschiach Ben Elohim (Son of G-d). Yet his family was still Jewish non-practicing due to something that happened because of their religious leaders, she wouldn't say what. But I believe our influence had an effect on them, although it was mostly unspoken. His mother asked many questions about our faith, but I never knew if she believed. I have had many conversations with other Jews who had questions because of my faith. I was never preachy but lived a quiet faith. My husband went home 4 years ago this month 2/21/22. It was a hard transition for me in life. That's another long story for another text. G-d has been faithful to me to be my husband, and used my brother to help me get through it. G-d is awesome!

@gravity3
It does not matter which ball hits the ground first, the most important factor is to keep on
pressing forward. All men die, very few live, at our age, (75), I’ve seen a vast portion of this
world, fortunate to have a marvelous family, and harbor no regrets. Regardless to the physical
ailments, one must never allow self pity to consume the mind; otherwise, the body will surely
hit the ground. Recognize your blessings, and allow peace to guide your daily life.

@red53 You named his faith but did not name your own faith so it is somewhat hard to understand all you were trying to say.
Your Mother in Law was very good to show interest in you and your faith. That does not always happen. However it may come in time through good action and acceptance through the years.
As with many people they become non practicing in the faith they were brought up with for various reasons and then due to other reasons they find their way back to it for various reasons. What counts is good behavior, actions and therefore live and let live.

So that you understand where I am coming from and why I asked what I asked.

I was raised in a home with my Mom being brought up in the Catholic Faith yet because she lost her Mother at age five she knew very little about her Mother's early life in Lithuania . My father with his Mother and sisters escaped from Russia to immigrate into the United States. My grandparents were orthodox Jews. I so appreciate the memories I have of my grandparents practicing their traditions. My father, who did speak Yiddish when interacting with his parents: my grandparents; and his brothers did not practice and participate in a daily or annual way in Judaism. Like many people in different religions they just stopped practicing daily and annual traditions etc. for no special reason. What was important to me was seeing how good they were in caring for all family members, be it there own children/family or their brother and sisters family and as well outsiders from all walks of life.
Yes, faith and religion are personal and a quiet faith through actions are most important.
Each should be able to practice their own faith without fear or tensions. How beautiful it is to show and teach family members that people through their good actions is what counts.
I would imagine that is what you were inferring.

@jofree and other friends:
I have been absent for several weeks after a severe chest infection (common in ALS) and two weeks in hospital. I am feeling better day by day, and re-discovering and enjoying the everyday simple pleasures in life. As I write this, I can see the sunshine streaming through the window, and the bright green of the trees (it is summer in Australia). How marvellous is the beauty all around us, the taste of a fresh cup of coffee in the morning. I am lucky that my ALS symptoms are still mild, and I am able to sit around cafes with friends and get to the occasional concert, movie or play. If you are feeling down or distressed as you read this, please take a deep breath and try to think of all the good things in life, past and present. Old age has its issues, but it teaches us how to live a less stressful life, and spend our limited energy wisely. Thinking of all the people in the world facing the same challenges,
@ellu