My 92 year-old mother goes to my sister’s for dinner most nights but otherwise she’s been spending her days alone in her own home.  Of course, she receives daily calls from my brother and me as well as frequent calls from several of her grandchildren.  Despite bouts with sciatica pain, and various other woes that her elderly body is afflicted with, her voice is usually upbeat.  During a recent conversation, we discussed how to maintain healthy dispositions especially during these unprecedented times of seclusion.  

She said, “When I start to feel my spirits lag, I change my focus to something else that I can do something about.  I don’t want to go down a dark hole that could be difficult to climb out of!  Often, it’s just a matter of busying myself with a chore that requires concentration and the next thing I know my spirits are up.”

After she returned home from Florida last month, she self-quarantined for 14 days.  In relaying an incident to me over the phone during that time she mentioned that “… and the phone rang while I was putting on my makeup…”  I didn’t hear the rest of her account because my brain was doing flips, thinking Wait! Wait! Wait!  Self-quarantining means you won’t be seeing anybody!  

“You’re still putting on makeup?” I asked in amusement.

“Yes,” she replied matter-of-factly, “I’ve noticed that I feel better when I do.”

She couldn’t have seen me grinning on the other end but I’m sure she heard it in my voice, “Good for you Mom!  I’m so proud of you for doing whatever you need to do to keep your spirits up!”

Like most of us, Mom doesn’t like change.  When what happens is out of her control, though, she navigates it so well.  Her example of adapting and coping when there aren’t many choices has served her well over the years and I pray that I, too, can handle the unexpected and unpleasant with such ease and grace.

~Zanne
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