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Powered by Positivity
 I
am 86 and live alone in my cosy one-bedroom aprartment in
Pune. Five months ago, I slipped and fell in the bathroom and fractured
my right hip. I ended up spending three months in the hospital.
Hospitals are not alien territory for me as I am a doctor and have
worked in hospitals for decades till I retired some years ago. I am
familiar with hospitals as a patient too. I have had 16 major surgeries
in my life. Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After
that, I had to have my gall bladder removed, and a couple of years
later I went in for hysterectomy. Last year, I slipped when I climbed
on a chair to reach our for a jar of pickle and fractured my left hip.
During
my hospital stays, you will find me crocheting pillow-covers,
tablecloth, bedspreads, TV covers and shawls. I gift these to my
friends or use them to brighten up my home. I love to see the joy on
people's faces when they receive these unexpected, handcrafted gifts.
I do yoga and pranayama every morning. And I
believe that as we grow older we must constantly invest in building a
bank of strength. Though I suffer from diabetes, I am able to keep it
under control with a balanced diet of vegetables and fruits. I also eat
a handful of fresh leaves everyday- tulsi, curry leaves,
methi(fenugreek) and bel.
Old age is usually accompanied by debilities.
Therefore, it is important to hold on to our self-confidence and sense
of humour. Recently after my 16th surgery, I was in the intensive care
unit for a fortnight. When I came out, I told my brother that it was
time I"went up" . He simply smiled and said,"Show me the letter
inviting you there and I'll release you. " His michievous banter helped
lighten the moment.
These days, I'm learning Persian. I have mastered
the alphabet and will now be moving on to grammar. Learning new things
and making young friends makes me feel young, happy and active.
"As
we grow old, we must invest in
building a bank of strength"
By
Sushila Shah, Pune
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