Okay, all you grumpy old folks out there—gather around and listen up: There are now scientific studies that might be hopeful about our basic temperament! (And because you’re a curmudgeon, you know there’s plenty of other research to dispute the following facts….) Here’s a summary of some recent research findings: • The marriages of optimists are more likely to deteriorate. • OverconfidentMORE...
This is true for one simple reason: I didn’t make any! (Before you accuse me of Pharisaical self-righteousness or smug self-satisfaction, know this: Integrity is not my strongest attribute, temptations consider me an inviting refuge and my self-control sometimes resembles a dog trying to ignore squirrels.) I CAN crank up my hypocrisy to extreme and dangerous levels, though, when I readMORE...
All of us—especially older folks—long to be touched. There’s a spiritual quality to touch. As Jesus performed miracles, he often touched the people he encountered. The biblical metaphor of God’s hand symbolizes more than God’s abundance, also revealing a God who’s close enough to touch you! A touch signals that a loving relationship is present. As a caregiver, you have an especiallyMORE...
If you’re a caregiver for an elderly family member or friend, you’ve probably looked for helpful resources for this work. As you may have discovered, helpful materials—on the Web and elsewhere—come from governmental sources, caregiving companies, medical providers, bloggers and not-for-profit enterprises. It’s not the lack of resources that you encounter. In fact, the opposite is true: TheMORE...
The hard questions (For caregivers) As we extend ourselves into the lives of elderly persons, we’re bound to come to the point of needing or wanting to ask hard questions—about car keys, end-of-life matters, ongoing well-being or submerged feelings. This entry includes some observations about how to frame and offer those questions effectively and lovingly. A framework What might make a questionMORE...
Two of our family’s most-treasured possessions are family history books. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always know the legacies of my mother and mother-in-law, both strong, determined women who—with the assistance of other family members—created these cherished volumes. If you are considering this possibility, let me encourage you with these few observations: • Begin theMORE...
This blog is part of an ongoing series that answers an intriguing question: What might it mean for older adults to claim that they are still “fearfully and wonderfully made?” My family doctor is insistent that I stay healthy. His mantra is simple: “Bob, you’re responsible for your health, not me!” I leave any visit with a collection of recommendations about what I can do to correct a problem orMORE...
Although I can’t quite trace its derivation, the idea of having “skin in the game” is one of those colorful colloquialisms that speaks volumes. There’s something elemental and raw in the idea of having so much of an interest in something that you invest your (literal) skin in its success. This expression sometimes describes the kind of commitment that goes beyond intellectual assent. InMORE...
The dystopian side of me always looks for help from my hopeful side: One part of a full life might just be the old things and old skills that don’t seem to have a place in today’s world. You may have plenty of both! Your home may be the safe haven for outmoded stuff that seems to have only nostalgic value. For example, your written family history, high school slide rule, typewriter, cast ironMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.