Talking with our group editor a few weeks ago, I remarked how most of the articles in the paper were concerns of doom and gloom.
Things like cost of living, housing, rents, food, electricity, safety and health and insurances costs rising. Not a lot to smile about.
She admitted that there were not that many good stories around.
Back in August 2021, I was invited to write a seniors column from a seniors point of view, telling it as I see it through my eyes.
I asked whether there were any restrictions on what I could write about – the answer was, “nothing that can get us sued”.
There have been many and varied stories, which concern and affect seniors lives today.
Some you may have liked and appreciated, others may have hit a little nerve, maybe something you don’t wish to be reminded of.
But this is life!
There aren’t many people who you can confide in and tell them all you feel. Maybe for fear of losing that friend, or just because it may be embarrassing to you. So, you bottle it up and I’m sure there are a lot of people who would like to talk about things close to their heart, to friends, but can’t.
Men especially, do not talk about personal things. Meanwhile the ladies can talk about their bra straps or underwire hurting and how they are glad to take them off at the end of a day. Or what clothes they bought recently.
Back in my childhood, there was very little to laugh about – World War 2 was ending and people were slowly getting on with their lives.
Trying to find happy stories would be hard for any newspaper today. But it’s probably a time when we can maybe look for the good things in life.
Our families are one avenue we can grab hold of, even if all around you is doom and gloom.
Coming out of Covid times and looking back, maybe this forced isolation turned us all into different people. When once we joined in with other groups, now we would rather stay home.
There was a time as kids, it was unwritten then, but you spoke only when spoken to. It was a sombre affair.
We went out, often alone, with the proviso that as long as we were home for tea and it was still light.
Today it’s a different story, and I think we must thank the kids for this.
Their outgoing nature, their take on life is a lot different than a lot of seniors can remember their childhood.
Today they have the world at their feet, they can do anything and go anywhere they want.
I’m sure my grandchildren are the same as yours.
There is plenty to talk about and laugh at the adventurous spirit among them.
So maybe times are a little tough on some, this passes, we just must weather this period in our lives till good times roll round again.
