Increasingly baby boomers are being faced with challenges we knew were inevitable and yet when the inevitable is upon us the reality is often very different than what we thought it would be.
Some boomers are handling the challenges with grace, dignity and acceptance while others are resisting every step of the way.
Aging parents are a fact of life; one we cannot escape. However, how we handle the various situations that are a part of caring for aging parents, which at times can be extremely challenging on many levels (emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially), will reveal much about one's character.
No doubt, if we were to design the scenerio of our parents aging and transitioning we would never want our them to suffer in any way, but sadly they do. I believe our responsibility is to do what we can to lessen the suffering by stepping up to the plate and moving in the greatest space of love we possibly can.
Is it not our priviledge to return the love and care we were given in our formative years? Is it not our honor to respect our elders by not questioning why this is happening to us, but rather to question, "How may I serve?"
Many boomers are on a spiritual quest. One would be very hard pressed to not agree that being in service to our elders is truly one of the most spiritual experiences we will ever have.
May you answer the callings with grace you are given as your journey through your spiritual enlightenment.
What are your thoughts on taking care of our elders? Please leave your comments.
Hi, Kathleen!
I do not consider my parents to be elders yet... but still, I had to take care of them way sooner that I thought I would!
Not only my father passed away in 1998 (at the age of 54), after an 8-year fight against leukemia... but my mom is a 3-cancer survivor (and she's not even 65)!
As an only child, I feel it is my privilege to return the love and care I was given in my formative year. And for this reason, "How may I serve?" is definitely the question I ask myself when it comes to take care of my mom.
Namaste,
Chantal
Posted by: Chantal Beaupré | February 26, 2010 at 07:33 AM
Kathleen,
You are right on target here. I have spent many years taking care of my parents. My father passed away several years ago from multiple myeloma and my mother is a breast cancer survivor.
It is difficult sometimes to be caught in the sandwich generation of taking care of kids and parents at the same time, but I believe that by setting an example of caring for my parents with love and grace, that someday (hopefully not anytime soon!) my children will return the love and care to me in the same way.
I hope your Mom is doing ok today.
Best regards,
Lisa C. Decker
www.DivorceMoneyMatters.com
Posted by: Lisa C. Decker, CDFA | March 07, 2010 at 09:44 AM