Institutional Rehabs are not places you want to spend a lot of time. In the past year I have been a visitor, caregiver more times than I care to count. Most of the work there is positive and done for the right reasons, the need unfortunately is huge but at times these facilities can be dehumanizing, nauseating, frustrating and depressing. From Kalamazoo, to metro Detroit to Foley, Alabama I have made visits to support, aid and encourage my loved ones and others. Most notably my mother and step-mother. I also have had other family and friends who this year needed rehabbing of some sort or another. From cancer, fractured bones to broken hips and hearts in need of repair. In addition in Kalamazoo I volunteer at a hospital where my work space just happens to be near the re-hab unit. I have been witness to all these folks working on ways to get better.
There has been a certain amount of recovery from heartbreak in our family this year as well and I will not delve into specifics here but note that emotional rehabbing is another form of coming out of a tumble, fall or crash that requires maybe not physical therapy but some type of recuperation of the soul. We can overcome these obstacles and be stronger with conscious work and time.To say it requires patience and understanding is an understatement.
My time spent with my moms, visiting them in rehab is done out of love and devotion. Helping them to heal in a time of need is a gift to the giver as much as receiver. The time Mary and I spent in Alabama not only involved my step-mom but we assisted my father for a couple of weeks with driving, meals, shopping, etc. I could and someday may write a whole short story of that time we spent with him; caring for him and sharing in Beverly's recuperation and our trip getting back to Michigan. Laughs, tears, frustrations but lasting memories were made over the 3 weeks we spent together. Like the midnight scramble down the stairs with my dad and his walker for a false alarm fire drill. The time spent with them, of course, priceless.
Our country, our world is facing a challenge of our collective restorative abilities. Our aging democracy in in rehab. It is in some constant state of healing or so we need to believe. Can we work it out? I think we must first look within and find our own peace before we can know for sure what action as individuals we can take to "take a sad song and make it better", (thank you Beatles). Creativity in a time of uncertainty should be an everyday goal.
Of course we hope the holidays put us in an inherent search for kindness, giving, The season makes us anxious to seek the perfect, and the goodness in ourselves and others. Let it be a solid something that lasts longer than a couple of days.
Leonard Cohen in his passing, left us some words of wisdom for times like these, during the longest days of the darkness of winter solstice, hope does spring. from his song Anthem,
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
May you find your light, ☆
Sreno
December 2016
There has been a certain amount of recovery from heartbreak in our family this year as well and I will not delve into specifics here but note that emotional rehabbing is another form of coming out of a tumble, fall or crash that requires maybe not physical therapy but some type of recuperation of the soul. We can overcome these obstacles and be stronger with conscious work and time.To say it requires patience and understanding is an understatement.
My time spent with my moms, visiting them in rehab is done out of love and devotion. Helping them to heal in a time of need is a gift to the giver as much as receiver. The time Mary and I spent in Alabama not only involved my step-mom but we assisted my father for a couple of weeks with driving, meals, shopping, etc. I could and someday may write a whole short story of that time we spent with him; caring for him and sharing in Beverly's recuperation and our trip getting back to Michigan. Laughs, tears, frustrations but lasting memories were made over the 3 weeks we spent together. Like the midnight scramble down the stairs with my dad and his walker for a false alarm fire drill. The time spent with them, of course, priceless.
Our country, our world is facing a challenge of our collective restorative abilities. Our aging democracy in in rehab. It is in some constant state of healing or so we need to believe. Can we work it out? I think we must first look within and find our own peace before we can know for sure what action as individuals we can take to "take a sad song and make it better", (thank you Beatles). Creativity in a time of uncertainty should be an everyday goal.
Of course we hope the holidays put us in an inherent search for kindness, giving, The season makes us anxious to seek the perfect, and the goodness in ourselves and others. Let it be a solid something that lasts longer than a couple of days.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
May you find your light, ☆
Sreno
December 2016
8 comments:
Well said dear Brother, well said....
The break, the tears, the anger, the help, the determination, the healing, the laughter & finally the success. All done in community, together. Thank you!
As always . . .
Eloquently spoken ole boy.
Peace, Love & Inner Strength . . .
Thank you for sharing Bev.
Thank you Bev, Billbro and Sis for sharing.
Right on my brother, ring that bell...
Many truths in what you've said, Steve. Cohen's lines are so welcome at this time. Thank you m
Many truths in what you've said, Steve. Cohen's lines are so welcome at this time. Thank you m
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