Connect
← Return to How do you accept change as you age?
Discussion
How do you accept change as you age?
Aging Well | Last Active: Nov 7, 2020 | Replies (277)Comment receiving replies
Hello, Featherstep 1, thank you for your reply to my post. Actually, I am a empath and enjoy my alone time and I choose not to have any friends except online. I do have 3 friends that all live out of state that I have known for 60+ years each and still stay in touch but I don't share a lot of my life and whats going on in it with them. They all have more than their share of problems and they certainly don't need mine too. I rely on my online forums like this one to be heard. I also belong to a prayer group as a pray warrior and to an Empath group. Other that that I am seldom outspoken on any of my personal issues. I am basically a happy person. I have 8 grandchildren 4 grown and 4 younger, I have 7 great grandchildren that are my very breath that I breathe. All are reasonably close except 1. My great-grandchildren range in age from 2 years old to 16 years old. 6 boys and 1 girl. I very often have 1 of the older boys at my house, age 10, 12 years. They help me a little around the house and are a true joy to have around. My only great-granddaughter looks just like her grandma ( my daughter ) which was killed 5 years ago. My daughter always wanted a granddaughter but only had 4 grandsons when she died. Kylie was born after her death along with another grandson. Sometimes, I look at Kylie and I can't really say anything, I just smile and thank God that my daughter lives on through her. While it's true I spend most of my time alone or with one of the boys, I am far from being lonely, Two things that I have never felt is loneliness or boredom, just lucky I guess since I hear they are both pretty bad feelings. Yes, you're right, taking care of ones health needs to take a backseat to nothing. I do try to take care of myself and right now I need to loose about 30 lbs of belly fat. I have been having some shortness of breath and my Dr. feels it's due to the belly fat being so high. I am trying to stick to a KETO diet and while I've only lost 3-4 lbs, it's a start. I feel very blessed , unloved sometimes but very blessed. So no real complaints here. I hope to hear from you again. thanks again... Jeanie
Replies to "Hello, Featherstep 1, thank you for your reply to my post. Actually, I am a empath..."
@jeanie26, Until your post on 7/23rd stating you are an “empath”, I’d never looked for more information regarding that term. I seem to be a magnet for listening to others’ troubles and have long been accused of being "too sensitive".
I’ve always imagined that my highly sensitive (hsp) nature stemmed from early events beginning in childhood. However, much of what this article addresses has long been true for me as well: https://www.learnreligions.com/traits-of-empaths-1724671
Until middle age, I was confused and perplexed that others did not feel nor respond as deeply to others or situations as I. While this trait makes me an excellent listener, confidence keeper, and caregiver, it also becomes a burden because if another is hurting, I hurt too.
Empathy can be both a blessing and a curse. Most consider me an extrovert because I meet people easily and love to communicate. However, those who know me best know that personal privacy and times of solitude are a necessity.
Because I can be easily overwhelmed and too immersed in the problem sharing of others, I work at setting boundaries. I seem to pick up nuances others don’t register. I wish I were more adept at “rolling with the punches”. I seem to take things harder and ruminate over them longer than most others I know.
Your post sent me on a new adventure and I am grateful for insights and confirmations of what I experience but hadn’t known there was a label for. Thank you.
@jeanie26, I'm just rereading your post and sending you condolences on the tragic loss of your daughter. What a gift your grands and great grands are in your life and what a blessing that you can be with them often.
I just want to add that it is really nice to meet another who never experiences boredom. I do occasionally feel a spurt of loneliness but that passes quickly. So many I know complain of boredom and the need for constant companionship. Solitude and simple pleasures may make me boring, vbg, but I am very content and celebrate a quiet environment with as few outside stressors as possible.
Recent events have led me to "overload" so stopping again all news media exposure and withdrawing from communications of which I feel vulnerable and uncertain will help restore my happier equilibrium.
And if you decide you have some extra pounds to spare, please feel free to send them my way, ok? Smiles
Connect
I am sorry that you lost your daughter.
A beautiful way to look at your granddaughter. Your daughter left you a precious gift. She lives on through this little girl.
In a way, we have lost our daughter. She lives far away.