Healthy Attitudes

Posted by Connie Newbauer Dec 13, 2006

On what has become a weekly outing at the Veterans Administration Hospital (VA) with my father-in-law, I couldn’t help but look around the room at the faces of those waiting to be seen. Extraordinarily, patients could be easily divided – by facial expression and body language alone – on those waiting to die and those dieing to live.

I believe the root of these dispositions was planted in childhood. An old hymn has the words in it: you can tell much about a man by the way he dies. The longer I live, the more true these words become.

Some families are bustling with life, almost exuding health and happiness – regardless of wealth: It is an unsung mantra that obstacles – all obstacles – health, employment challenges, budget restrictions, etc. are to be overcome by persistence.

Others seem to revel in their misfortune, becoming victims of circumstance, tossed about the waves of life not unlike a tiny sailboat in a storm. Needless to say, this second little boat has little hope for survival.

What is life to you? Do you look forward to your aging years with the promise and hope of a new horizon, or dread the physical limitations and obstacles your human body may place in front of you? What are you modeling for your children when adversity confronts your family? Being awash in chaotic anxiety breeds fear in children.

In so many instances, I was much stronger because of my children. They actually helped me become stronger by my having to act strong and assured. Facing fifty, I can now say the children have raised an independent mom who is not afraid to face any challenge put in front of her! In return, I believe my children have learned not to fear a few raindrops!