Create your own joy in old age

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ri, resident of Rach Gia ward, does charity work at the zero-dong kitchen. Photo: MI NI

Young people often sing “sometimes want to be alone but afraid of loneliness” but only the elderly can truly understand loneliness. Because young people have many options for entertainment, have many social relationships or take advantage of being busy at work to fill the loneliness and anxiety in life. But for the elderly, when they are quietly on the other side of the slope of life, they have fewer choices due to limitations in health, social connection, psychology…

Loneliness is a serious public health problem that can negatively impact the physical and mental health of older people, leading to serious consequences. Loneliness can be associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, etc. To escape loneliness, many older people choose to connect with people around them, join entertainment clubs, travel , etc. to find joy in life.

Every day, after dinner, around 6 p.m., Ms. Le Thi Nhung (66 years old), residing in Chom Sao hamlet, Hon Dat commune, goes to the meeting place with the sisters in the neighborhood to play music to practice health exercises, sometimes dancing, and recently she also converted her yard into a pickleball court for everyone to practice. Ms. Nhung said that when she was young, she worked hard, took care of her children, and had no time for fun and entertainment. Now that she is old, she cannot do heavy work, just stays at home to cook and clean, which is a bit sad. “I joined the Chom Sao hamlet Elderly Association to meet many sisters of the same age, connect to establish a health exercise club to practice every day. When there are sports events, competitions, or any movement launched in the hamlet, we all participate to see that we are useful to society and not behind the times. Thanks to that, I have many stories to tell my children and grandchildren, and we often exchange and understand each other,” Ms. Nhung shared.

Life in urban areas is often more hectic than in rural areas. In the morning, children go to work or school, leaving little time to chat with the elderly in the family. If they stay at home waiting for their children and grandchildren to return, time passes very slowly, the elderly are lonely and have many negative thoughts. Ms. Pham Thi Thuyen (65 years old), living in Rach Gia ward, does not want to become a burden or a worry for her children and grandchildren, so she finds joy for herself. She and a group of elderly people in the area established a volleyball club, a health club, a folk dance club... to practice every day to maintain health and create a joyful atmosphere. On weekends or in the summer, her group of friends organizes trips, parties, cultural exchanges...

Ms. Thuyen shared: “We think that when we were young, we worked hard and took care of our children and grandchildren, so now we have to live and explore our own passions. I participate in cultural, physical and sports activities to help maintain physical health and relax my mind. My children and grandchildren have to endure a lot of pressure in life, so I think connecting with people who share the same interests of living happily and healthily is a way to help my children and grandchildren feel secure and focus on work and study.”

At the age of 75, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ri, residing in Rach Gia ward, chose to participate in charity activities to both help society and find joy in life. Her husband passed away early, Mrs. Ri lives with her daughter, her husband, and her grandchild. Currently, her grandchild works in Ho Chi Minh City, and her daughter and her husband also work all day, only seeing each other briefly at noon, in the evening, and on weekends. “My children and grandchildren are filial and take good care of me, but because of work, I often stay home alone, going in and out alone, so sometimes I feel very sad! I am old, in poor health, and have difficulty walking, so I cannot go far by myself. I mainly stay home and make friends with the TV. For more than a year now, there has been a charity kitchen near my house. I have participated in helping out to the best of my ability, thanks to which I have met and talked to many people, felt comfortable, happy, and life has more meaning,” said Mrs. Ri.

The elderly can find many ways to escape loneliness, but the most important is the companionship, understanding, and sharing of family members. The family's care is a great source of encouragement to help the elderly feel not forgotten, so that old age can still be a beautiful and meaningful period of life.

MINI

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tu-tao-niem-vui-tuoi-xe-chieu-a469334.html