Living in an Old Folks Home, as I do, it's impossible to avoid aging. In the years I've lived here other inmates noticeably age. Death, too, is a frequent visitor. When I entered the OFH I was the average of residents, I wonder how I fit now.
Our Norwegian friend, Berger Hareide, sent a New Year's greeting. In it he comments on his own sense of aging, though he's quite a bit younger than I, isn't everyone? Then he includes this quote which I find very helpful.
"Writing about ageing the Danish theologian Theodor Jørgensen does not see what one has to leave behind as a loss, but “'as a door that opens to something new. Every day is no longer a day taken from our life, but a day that is added to our life as a gift. Then we do not focus so much on what is taken away from us as we age, but more on what is still given to us.'" Berger goes on to say "And one of the things that is 'constantly given to us' is the value of contact with family and friends."
Yea and verily I say to both statement and key to a happy life is living with that kind of gratitude. One of the gifts of life in the OFH is being under the same roof with good friends. In addition, there are many 'friendly acquaintances' here.
Takk for alt,
Al
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