Feeling the Burden

 

As we were visiting my mother-in-law at her residential living place recently, we stood to leave.  As she started to walk back into her building, a sock-footed elderly gentlemen that we did not know came out.

He looked over at us and asked if we could stay.  We couldn’t because we were leaving to meet someone, but we stayed for a minute and tried to talk with him.

I say tried because he was nearly deaf.  He couldn’t hear a thing we said.  But what he said was disturbing and so indicative of the problem we have today.

He told us he was bored.  In fact, he actually said, “I’m lonely.”  It broke our hearts.  He was so vulnerable.

You see they have been quarantined on the grounds of their residence since the pandemic started.  Their home has done a terrific job of keeping the home 100% virus-free, but it is a double-edged sword, as is obvious by our exchange with this man.

It was so sad to hear him talk about being lonely.  I wish we could have stayed, but the home’s visitation was ending and we did have to get going.

For him, I suspect, the extra burden of being deaf, was a heavy one.

Since he could not hear a word we said, he finally just shook his shoulders and gave up, walking away defeated.  While a conversation with him would have been nearly impossible, I doubt conversation was actually what he needed.  He probably needed any distraction from the circular routine in which he found himself living.  It is an exceptional home, but I believe the residents refer to it as being in prison.

As I write this, I am reminded of the importance of being present to each other, especially those who are going through difficult times.  It isn’t so much what we talk about, but just the fact that we are available, in whatever capacity.

Is there someone in your life that you have let slip out of your sight?  Someone you have been too busy or too preoccupied to make time for?  Is there someone you could call today or send a note so they know they have not been forgotten? Maybe even decorate their window if it is allowed?

In-person meetings are often not allowed today, but we cannot stop trying to be creative in reaching out to those who are isolated.

Loneliness and boredom can be so harmful to the human spirit.  So can the impact of feeling forgotten.  If everyone can take just one action towards supporting and comforting someone, we can all make the world just a little better.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.blogspot.com
janetcassidy.blubrry.net