HOLIDAY BLESSINGS
Dear Friends,
I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. I am very quickly hopping into Christmas mode. (Wait..... I guess hopping is not fitting but rather SKATING into Christmas. )
I've encountered some who (like me and many others) were dreading and feeling so isolated and missing things from our previous life before Thanksgiving. I was fortunate though because after some staff became aware, they offered some options for us. A small group of us are baking our own stash of home made cookies to give as gifts and share with each other. I've also been trying to help encourage others (as they do me) Our activity director has become a good friend and has made sure I come to help them decorate in a few days the main atrium. I cannot wait.
I do grow a bit tired of a few friends who cannot try to appreciate what we DO have but spend EVERY WAKING MOMENT pissing and moaning (please forgive my mouth, but that is what they do. )about every little thing. Some I was once closer to, but as I stand back and see they are never going to change their mind or their outlook, I spend less time with them. When I do, I just try to focus on humor. We do all have a sense of humor (Thank God) It's just sad to see them so miserable the rest of the time. (Several have pointed out it is not MY JOB to make them happy)
On a silly note, please say some prayers for me as I am once again being stalked around this place. (Would it be too much to ask that his battery for his chair loses it's charge before lunch?) LOL Just kidding, (Forgive me Lord)
It seems "Donald Duck" has decided that once again I am an easy target. He has been after about 3 of us to recruit for his "Pinocle Class" The other 2 are quicker with excuses than I , plus I try to be nice. Now when I go down for meals, I pray he does not see me or that we don't have a free seat because he wheels on over and asks if he can join us. I never sit alone because he ALWAYS joins me. Yesterday one of us and myself were there and we were expecting the other couple but they did not come. I actually cringe when I hear his chair wheeling around til I see him settle somewhere else. (There is also another woman who I dread .... I hear her cane and struggling breathing.)
I do still try to be a good person and be nice, but when they can be too much or condescending it is difficult. (I sometimes think HE is up there with a small chuckle as I am forced to try to be more patient... both with people and results.) I do still continue to speak up if someone is mean to another. There is no excuse for that.
I wish you all the chance to sit back with friends and truly see what we do still have to be thankful for (as well as other opportunities and achievements we did have throughout our lives) And may we all find some peace in our minds and our hearts (especially while such chaos in this current world). I believe if we spend all our time focusing on how horrible and frightening many are trying to make our country and this world then we will become more frightened, anxious and the NASTY, EVIL will win .
Love and hugs til I check back, Kim
Replies
good hearing from you Kim....hope I get a box of cookies,....I will send my address (chortle)...hugs bill
Big hug Kim!
I'm glad you have the opportunity to bring light to the lives of the grumblers. In some cases, the world probably hasn't been very kind to them. It's true that it's not your job to make them happy or change their mindsets. But, kindness and positivity can make a difference in ways that aren't always visible.
It's really good to hear from you. Have a wonderful holiday season. Hugs.
Hi Kim, VQ, so good to hear from you. You sound happier. I have found in life that there are always negative or difficult people. I had a great women's bookclub since 2019 but I had to quit it in 2025. The ladies got so negative, so political. I stayed way too long so that when I quit, it was a major heartbreak. I was blinded by a few friendships in the group, but most have now left the group as I have. Now I realized the brain executive functioning decline in most of the women who stayed in the group as it shrunk and I became more and more unhappy.
The thing about we older folks is that many have some kind of brain thing, called executive function decline, if not flat out dementia. This means our brains stop making the best decisions or we have more and more negative personalities. This man in the wheelchair is just another older adult whose brain is not working the best. If you try to think of him this way, it is a brain disorder of some kind, then maybe you can find less anxiety around him. Your idea to only eat with other folks at the table is a good idea.
Negative people are just negative people. It is not our job to make them happy. It is our job in life to chose happiness every day, even the hard days, if we chose happiness today, we do feel better. I have a little plaque I got on Amazon that says "I Think I'll Just Be Happy" and I read it every day.
You bring positive and thoughtful to us here on DS. Thank you for being here.
Hello Kim:-)