In my books and lectures, I like to focus on aging GRACEFULLY®.
G – Goals. Having a goal or purpose in life
R – Roots (DNA). Understanding your genetic makeup and the risks/benefits
A – Attitude. Having a positive attitude and being grateful
C – Companionship. A connection to others
E – Environment. Eating, exercising, sleeping and listening to your physician’s advice
Father’s Day is a chance to show love and appreciation for fathers of all ages in our lives … the patriarch of the family, the son who recently became a father, a husband, or a brother. While it’s easy to mail a card or spend the day together with family, there can be a deeper meaning to the day.
When you think of these men, are they living GRACEFULLY? Have they been putting off a life decision, like deciding if it’s time to move to an assisted living facility? Are they suffering from an illness or condition and are in need of encouragement or action? How is their mental or emotional health? These are the moments to grasp tightly and recognize that the men in our lives may need more than a card or gift this Father’s Day, they may need us – the spouse, child, parent, sibling, or friend to reach out beyond what’s expected.
The families with the most success are the ones who communicate with each other, the ones who are involved in each other’s lives, beyond a card on Father’s Day.
As men, sometimes we are guilty of bearing the weight of the world on our shoulders instead of relying on family and friends for support. I’ve listened to patients tell me stories of how they’ve been suffering or holding back telling a spouse or child that something is wrong. I’ve also watched families come together because one person finally reached out to the other for help. Part of the aging process revolves around the “child” becoming the “parent” and coming to terms with the responsibility of caring for mom or dad.
The families with the most success are the ones who communicate with each other, the ones who are involved in each other’s lives, beyond a card on Father’s Day. These are the families who pay attention to the small details. So use Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to serve as reminders of how blessed we are to celebrate such wonderful people and what we can do to make their lives richer and fuller.
To a long and healthy life!
