Where does the fear of being old and growing older come from? Does it come from health insurance companies, the government and even one's relatives and neighbors?
My mother-in-law just turned 90 years old. She has buried two husbands and one son. She has never traveled or exercised. She has never smoked or drank alcohol. She seldom swears. She is old now but when she was younger she seldom showed interests in outdoor activities for fear that something physically bad might happen.
She now has physical problems, and none are associated with outdoor activities. They are related to non-activities like sitting and watching TV, reading books and writing notes to herself. No activity relates to limited circulation. She doesn't worry about high cholesterol, chocolate overdose or high blood pressure. She suffers from all three.
She's mentally astute, sharp witted, and is always asking questions; where is my black pen? Why do I need the six outlet power strip in my room? Where are my pajama bottoms? Do you have my check book? I'm still in control of it you know! Where is the chocolate? Do we have any black licoric?e I don't feet well, can I have hot chocolate now with potato chips?
Yet, she fears having a bladder infection, incontinence and wonders why she is still living. She does not have and has not had any urges to live a full life outside of herself even at younger ages. She's had the money to do most anything but no urges because she would miss drinking or eating chocolate and watching depressing news on the TV, and besides something disastrous might happen to her.
Isn't the act of growing old disastrous?
My question is; why do some people, that have the resources, not live their lives because something disastrous might happen to them?
1 comments:
It seems such a shame not to do something for fear that something 'disasterous' might happen. And such a waste. But we all, I guess, place limits on what we are prepared to go out and experience. We all have our comfort zones. I would be inclined to say that you really can't go wrong with a life of books and chocolate, but living with the fear of something disasterous happening were we to venture outside those bounds, doesn't seem pleasant. Basing our choices on our fears doesn't seem right, does it? And yet, to differing degrees, we all do it. The trick is to be aware of this, and find the strength to do stuff anyway.
What I wonder is, does always choosing the safe option bring contentment? Can you actually be happy if you don't push your limits?
Great post Ben, thanks.
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