DO you start your conversation with “how are you” when you are you talking with a senior person?
Do you really want to inquire as to their health and are you prepared for the answer?
Sadly, over time and as you get older, more and more things are going to get you down .
Most conversations these days are from people, close friends, who weren’t even aware there was an issue, until something drastic occurs, jolting us out of our complacency.
When younger there is much to take up our time and therefore talking of illness, in most cases is rarely referred to in that context.
However, as you age and multiple things seem to go wrong, one tends to refer to them more often.
Whereas holidays and trips away, a picnic or cruise or two, playing sport, going out with friends and partying were once a lifetime ambition, now the old body is slowly deteriorating, contact sport wears you out too much and those nice alcoholic drinks are damaging our liver.
Don’t feel like parties or dancing much, it all gets too hard.
I think that there is a difference between truly asking “how are you” and just a greeting with a standard reply “I’m good” or “not bad”.
Maybe they don’t want to talk about their ailments in particular, or they think that you would not understand their plight and therefor prefer to let ‘sleeping dogs lie’.
There are people that want to know how you are genuinely doing.
Not to sticky beak or to pry, but have a genuine concern for your wellbeing. Wouldn’t it be a terrible thing if no one cared about one another.
No one thought to ask and you were going through an enormous lifestyle change.
Different times, changing attitudes, many seniors can tell you stories of their growing up but now and particularly with the advent of the computer, how many young people want to listen?
Too busy living life, not understanding the changing times seniors have been through.
Too busy with their phones, that everyday item that consumes the willingness to speak with one another, to communicate.
As our community gradually gets older, we will live longer, find cures or at least be able to control some things with better drugs, maybe work longer in more meaningful jobs, helping others to live life to their full potential.
There will be more and more walkers and scooters in our shopping centres as time goes by.
You may have already seen an increase already.
People are varied in their thoughts and communication.
Are you happy to talk about some of your problems?
Why not tell people how you really are feeling, maybe talking to someone helps to alleviate some of your anxiety.
