Inspiration from a 99 year old
January 2nd, 2009
The other evening, my little one, along with husband and myself, dragged ourselves from a our daily routine, to hear a 99 year old psychoanalyst addressing our community on subjects ranging from fear and anxiety, maintaining a career for as long as you can, and dedicating ones life to caring for others. Her delivery was exceptional. Her purpose clear and focused. And she had the audience awe stricken. Many were grandparents. And ironically, she spoke of the beauty of treating 80 year olds to centurions as a gift to the profession. Wow!
Now my little one didn’t understand much. But she was able to glean from the audience, that this was a serious topic. She also picked up on the fact that most of us were grannies.
So why am I writing on this. Besides the fact that I’m a granny raising a child, I try to look for inspiration in all the right places. That includes, libraries, social groups, schools, religious institutions, and restaurants.
Yes, eating is what I call a learning, and yearning experience. It includes such delicacies as conversation with a loved one, sharing a smile, a snuggle, a break from routine, and a separation from the non-inspiration news that insinuates we can do nothing to get out of the doldrums. Eating is a way that can uplift and nourish the soul. It’s about choice. Choose well, and you can fortify. Choose poorly, and you can deteriorate.
As a psychotherapist, its music to my ears to hear an expert exude profundities on the professional healing that comes with therapy. In addition, it celebrates another aspect of life’s subtleties that comes with a “granny” who is well established , can still perform an incredible service to society. Too much has been written about the insignificant strides in the field of psychotherapy. It’s been referred to as many things, among it “psychobabble.” But one thing for sure, this “grannie” could be entrusted with the super-babble, and fine tuned hearing referred to as “listening “ to bring wellness.
Grandma Moses, Golda Meir and so many others bring a refreshing pride to aging. Particularly when it comes into the circle of life’s purpose. What is it that we still have to fulfill.
So for what reason would I be writing this. Many grandparents are struggling with the issues on the economy, the war, their own physical limitations. And then they are faced with “rebirthing.”Raising a grandchild.
For those of us who are blessed with this mixture of joy and sadness, we can revel in the words of this 99 year old.” “I can’t die, my work is not done.”
For me, I have an occasional ache and pain. Then I can’t wait to see my little one smile at all the things she’s learned in the day. I look at the community of friends, and relatives that have taken an interest in being part of our lives, and I see that she too is blessed.
And I realize, our job is not done.