He looked a little embarrassed as he plopped it on my porch.
My friend remembered I mentioned wanting this, and when she saw one abandoned on the side of the road, she asked her husband to stop and pick it up. When they delivered it to my door and I saw it, he wasn’t expecting my reaction. I gasped in delight! An old tire! Fun craft projects danced through my brain. My friend understood completely, but I think her husband inwardly shook his head.
Reduce, reuse, recycle. I get excited when I find an old [insert whatever unlikely object here] which I can paint and plant flowers in. I recently discovered chalk paint, which is recommended for old wood. I don’t think a paint exists which is recommended for old tires, but I decided to try it. Several coats later, my tire, now cherry red, looked cheerful. I hauled it into the back yard, hung it on a plant hook and planted yellow hibiscus in it. Ta-dah!
Another way of looking at the “reuse” in the recycling mantra is to repurpose. That tire had one purpose for years until it didn’t function well for that purpose. Now it shines in its new purpose.
It works for people, too. And is incredibly important for elders.
What is the purpose of purpose?
When we look at eldercare, we often focus on safety, health, quality of life. As important as all this remains, purpose shoots to the top of the list. Quality of life isn’t just about tea parties and bingo but continuing to make a difference.
Is this possible for those with physical, mobility and even cognitive challenges? The answer is a resounding YES.
But first, why? Why does purpose matter?
As we age and our life experiences change, so does our purpose. At one time in my life, my purpose involved balancing three jobs and my family to help keep us financially afloat. It also involved making good decisions on behalf of my children as they grew. Later, my entire purpose focused on my career, and making a difference there. Each season of life brings a shift in purpose, but society’s belief has often been that purpose isn’t either important or even possible as we age.
We will look at possible later, but for now, why is it important?
Purpose, Physical and Mental health
You’ve heard of “giving up”? Someone comes to a place in life when pain and physical difficulties are so overwhelming that death seems like a friend. I’ve seen this, but it’s not so much “giving up” as embracing the next step.
That, however, is for the end of life. Although each day contains many physical issues as we age, those who embrace life and look for not only a reason to be here but a way to make a difference for others, thrive. They feel happier and have a positive influence on those around them.
Purpose decreases the chance of premature death and reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke. Psychology Today ran a study which proved this.
“For example, feeling that you have a purpose decreases your chance of premature death, according to a study of almost 7000 adults between the ages of 51 and 61. Amazingly, those without a sense of purpose were almost twice as likely to die in the four years of the study.
We need purpose, particularly as we age. How do we find it? And does this apply to elders with cognitive deficit?
Stay tuned!
1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/changepower/202002/9-ways-find-your-purpose-you-age
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