What have You Done For Us Lately?

You may have noticed that there are more of us older folk surviving to an advanced age. Better care and medical advances are improving the chances of surviving the challenges we are likely to face with advancing age. Many have overcome earlier threats we have faced in our lives that have winnowed the ranks of our contemporaries. But age is taking its toll. We are losing some of them every day, witness the obituaries we get to read.

When we read some of these obituaries we are astounded at the accomplishments that we did not know of. To most of us they were just old guys and gals that we had encountered in our community. What they did, what they were, however, has withered away to insignificance over the years. Their importance to us flowed only from what they meant to us in our day to day lives. It may have been so even for most of those who were very close to them. That seems to be the way things are. What appears to be significant for most of us today is only what people have done for us lately.

There seems to be an important lesson here to be learned. Being a curmudgeon, filled with feelings of self-importance, full in the knowledge of the earth-shaking deeds we have accomplished in the past; that is unlikely to be a winning strategy if we wish to continue being relevant to those around us.

I believe that most of us want to be relevant, no matter where we are in the space-time continuum. We who are older are faced with challenges in this respect that others may not be as concerned about. We no longer have a job. We may have already made a disposition of our assets.  Our children are all off and running, now middle-aged, with offspring of their own. Is there someone around who may be interested in what we might have to say? Are we older persons making a current contribution to our surroundings in ways that will keep us relevant?

Fate and the medical profession seem to be the only agencies who might consider a person like myself to be relevant. I am fortunate to still have an intimate partner, but we are few in number. I am among the more fortunate to have warm ties with my children, and their children. That has to be so important because we can continue to give of ourselves in real time. Too many of my contemporaries have not offered the emotional input and the effort to make that difference.  In these areas, and in others, what am I, what are you, going to do today to remain relevant?

What about the arena where our actions dictate the future of the world, an arena where I once felt I strode like a colossus? Well, I am active in a political party and I do join things from time to time. But I confess that, in my case, my objectives these days are more limited.

I don’t know what my contemporaries are doing, but I do have a plan. I’ve given up trying, singlehandedly, to steer the world in the directions I think it should go. I’m prepared to leave that to other actors, hoping they will do it well.

Lately I concentrate on putting on a happy face for those occupying my immediate surroundings. I may think the speaker before me has lost his/her reason, but I remain all sweetness. My partner, sometimes in pain, may give me the verbal back of her hand on occasion, but I take it as a test of my undying love and bear it in good humor (most times). I try to be friendly and upbeat with those I to meet, (and nearly always succeed,) giving a bit of myself to others.

I write an opus every week, uplifting if I can, material if possible. Then I share it with two hundred or so people. These crumbs of bread cast upon the waters may have unknown impacts. They may indeed be relevant to some of my readers. (I can dream, can’t I?)

I have been redrafting my published book of memoirs, with some new content and a new title. This time it is definitely going to be a best-seller, my memoir of a life fantastic. It’s bound to improve the spirits of old fogeys like me.

Be relevant, I say!