Thank you jimhd. I am learning to embrace solitude. My father loved Thoreau so I am reading his meditations. Your words echo his, I think. I volunteer at a local hospice, just reading and listening. Self pity does not exist there. A butterfly landing on the windowsill is cause for celebration. Makes my losses seem minimal.
Liked by John, Volunteer Mentor
Wonderful words of wisdom, thank you. As we speak my orchids bud is just starting to blossom…You never know!☺
Liked by John, Volunteer Mentor, thankful
There are times when nothing works. Succumb and ride it through.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
I’m glad you work with hospice. I was a volunteer visitor for several years with the local hospice, but I had to resign not too long ago because they made new guidelines and I didn’t want to make my service dog a therapy dog. My dog is always with me, and all the patients I visited looked forward to seeing her as much as seeing me. There were a few places my dog didn’t go because of other pets in the home, but otherwise I never had a patient who didn’t want to see both of us. I was sorry to have to give up my job. I enjoy visiting people. It’s good therapy for me, almost as much as for them.
Jim
Liked by John, Volunteer Mentor
I'm 87 & have had a very trying 6 mos – husband with broken hip & me with a number of coincident difficulties. And no – it isn't bad to go to where you find peace & comfort. You may want to add a few trusted friends to your mix of books & music & gardening. Wish I knew you – I'm in similar space right now – but not unhappy except when I can't get pain under control. (still working on that) Shalom Superwife.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
I just read this post again today. How grateful I am for this site when I get to it. Your posting in particular was very kind and had a little bit of the "Snap out of it!" moment that is instructive. I have been doing the battle of acceptance vs giving up for too long ( according to friends,lucky) and I take it seriously. I am learning too slowly! The measure of our value is not ten,twenty plus years ago. It is today. Today someone helped me, more importantly I managed to help someone else. Grateful to hear your voice.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, steeldove
I will leave this site today . At 59, as I watch my legs and hands disappear, I am retreating to my photography, few friends and meds. I have found that tramadol let's me lift my legs and klonopi n helps them both smoothly on a good day. I know I will be in a wheelchair 65 to 68. This is death . I will find what not I can til then. This site searches for solutions that do not exist. Goodbye Mayo.
@keeptrying
One of the many reasons this group is helpful is that sometimes you can’t help but smile!☺ Love your critter photo. I too tinker around with photography. There is something calming about doing a ‘still life’ of something you find in nature. If I can’t hike in the woods anymore, I can surely bring the woods to me. Photography also brings the element of surprise that you encounter in a hike. Nature is good medicine for the soul (I think.)
Liked by John, Volunteer Mentor, thankful