Ah, the Senior Years!

I passed through different stages of my life – from childhood to adolescence, to adulthood and now to the senior years. Maybe the busy demands of growing up took away the time for me to reflect on the passage from one stage to another. But when I reached my senior years, I have reflective observation of younger ones relating to the senior citizens and the senior citizens relating to the younger ones.

My sensitive observation of the love shown to the older people and the contrasting behavior of some, made me think of putting in print my observations more to help the younger ones know how to deal with the seniors especially their homes.

The younger generations relate using their current and past experiences in dealing with others including the senior citizens. Hence, their judgment is colored by this. For example, when some seniors would take time to stand, younger ones express impatience expecting the seniors to be as fast as they are. I will cite other similar occasions later.

My dear brother and sister seniors, may this write-up make our lives a bit lighter and happier.

Then came the senior year!

If feeling tired is the most significant description of senior years, mine came only when I was in my seventies. This means that the feeling of tiredness could come at different age to us. For others, it may be earlier than age sixty, and others after age 60. What about yours?

Since I retired at age 68, when I felt the tiredness at seventy, I told myself to listen to my body, do what it dictates to me and do not feel guilty if it is telling me to rest. I say this because for all my life, I felt invigorated just working that resting seemed not to be my need. It was only when I reached my seventies that I take my nap. It was alien to me before. I only took my nap before when I have colds and this did not happen yearly. In fact, several times a year I joined wakes or worked overtime without any sleep, and I still go to school and work for the whole day without taking a nap.

At age 68 when I was home and felt sleepy, I slept. Just to feel no longer sleepy after a nap, is comforting enough.

The signal to sleep is yawning. What if this happened in a meeting? A sip of coffee helps drive away sleepiness. Half a cup does the trick.

You feel sleepy? That’s just in your mind!

When I was in the grade school, my Lola (sister of my grandfather), often said that she was tired. Every time she stood up, she would groan of pain. Almost every time I heard her complain, I also heard my auntie and cousins tell her that the pain is only in her mind. At that time, I felt there seemed to be wrong with the statements made by my auntie and cousins. Now I know.

When I started to feel the pain whenever I stand from squatting or kneeling, I know the senior years have arrived. This is the admonition I give to the younger folks whenever I have the chance. (Ma. Iris Melliza)