The Best Way Out is Through

aug 15
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I am sometimes sad; upset with the hand I was dealt. I feel as though I can’t catch a break. It seems the whole world is against me, and I wonder what I did to deserve any of these challenges.  I try not to judge, but sometimes I do. I try not to compare, but sometimes I do. I know I’m always preaching about moving forward and taking on new experiences, not living in fear. But what I fail to discuss is how difficult it is to get back up after being knocked down again and again. Often, I bounce right up, but not always. Whenever I feel the pity party coming on, I repeat motivational mantras. There are days that no matter what I try, my eyes well up with tears, and I ask the universe, “why me?”

We all have our own paths. Some of us take the road less traveled with all its uncertainty, and some follow the path of others. I often say I keep in shape because there is no elevator when taking the” high road” everyone advises. A long flight of stairs awaits, and sometimes it’s interminable, but I climb them. Atlas had to carry the world on his shoulders or be crushed, so who am I to complain? I’ll tell you who I am – a mere mortal, not a Greek god! I simply want to achieve peace in my modest world, and I sometimes fail and feel unbalanced.

“No good deed goes unpunished” is a familiar saying because it can feel true. Doesn’t it always seem like smallest favors take up much more time but are rarely followed by a simple thank you? I find myself climbing those interminable stairs to stop from shouting, “I’m the good guy here. I was trying to help!” Just recently, I offered a ride to a lovely elder woman, and when I went a different way than ”her way” she began shouting at me. Was I quiet? Yes. Did I want to remind her I had offered her a favor? Yes. But instead, I climbed the emotional and interminable stairs.

I am moving forward. I am living the best life, and I am feeling blessed and grateful. However, there are days, sometimes consecutively, when I feel as though there is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no doubt that if you stay in your comfort zone, you won’t be challenged as often. I, and all of us who wish to move forward must remember that whatever comes our way, there is a solution. It might not be immediately visible, and that’s when the tears sometime come. Once the pity party is over, I dry my tears with one of my favorite mantras, “The best way out is always through.”  Robert Frost

If you are a caretaker of an elderly parent or loved one and find yourself struggling for guidance or answers, reach out to me at Parent Your Parents in Miami, Florida. I offer inspirational articles, videos, and resources for families with aging parents. Whether you live in Florida or not, I am a senior advocate who helps point you in the right direction. Contact me, Frances Reaves, for a free consultation and elder law support for multiple senior concerns all in one place. If you prefer, you can call 786-418-3303 or email me at info@parentyourparents.com.

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Frances Reaves, Elder Law Attorney and Senior Advocate