Independence

It’s only been 10 days with the cast on, but already I can appreciate how valuable independence is. Freedom to get in your car and drive to the shops for a few groceries, or to have coffee with a friend, or just to drive aimlessly for a change of scenery. This is the freedom that is taken away from the elderly when they become too infirm to drive themselves, or become a danger to other motorists simply due to the lessened capabilities that come with old age. What a devastating thing it must be to have it snatched away from you with no hope of retrieval.
Having to depend on others for your transport is not a question of calling on their kindness. There are very few people who don’t have most of their time already pretty much accounted for and no matter how close the relative or dear the friend, they are entitled to a feeling of imposition when asked to travel some distance for an unspecified length of time. It is a great opportunity for growth of the soul to be of service to others, but we remain bound by the ego no matter how hard we fight it; it’s part of being human. And there is nothing worse than being beholden to another, which often holds back a call for help. So any act of kindness, no matter how begrudging, will benefit the giver and the receiver.
We should bear this is mind when we come across a situation where such service will be immeasurably appreciated by someone in need, and particularly the elderly. After all, we are on the same path and will have to rely on the kindness of others at some stage. We are all one.