A Reversal Of Roles

The continuing story of aging is one of loss. Not abruptly or all at one time, it is a slow, insidious process. The gradual loss of hearing and vision, a full night’s sleep, forgetfulness, and much more. Aging is, at best, a lousy, challenging time of life.  To want to be old or to look forward to being old are the thoughts and words of someone who is not there and likely many years away from being old.

Those who claim to be looking forward to aging are, at best, ignorant of the aging process or, at worst, living in fantasy.  How does anyone who has lived a challenging, creative life with its numerous ups and downs look forward to a sedentary life when once routine activities become uncomfortable or unmanageable?

Life is meant to be lived even as we age, and when we cannot do those relatively easy things, it signals the beginning of the end. We may see or feel what is slowly changing in us, and we can either accept this or choose to fight every inch of the way. 

Being close to 97, I refuse to cease being who I have been all these years. But truth be told, I am not nearly the person I was. Old photos are a stark reminder of that. Still, my resolve is unshaken.

Yet the reality is undeniable. Helping to make the day-to-day possible are the people who fill our lives and give us the care we need but have such difficulty asking for. They made it possible for us to move to our new place and to make it as much like home as possible. They have taken charge, from hanging pictures to separating the essentials from what we don’t need and much more.  They have undertaken all of these tasks we are unable to do.

To say we love and honor them seems foolish and light, considering all they have done for us. Our gratitude goes far beyond words; they and others need to know our love and appreciation for them and what they do.

Now, we are their children, as once they were ours. The role reversal is no accident. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Sy & Lenette

Author: Sy Ogulnick

Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows

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