My home is peaceful today too
If I saw it as a burden, it would feel overwhelming. In reality, it’s simply about taking care of my aging, ill parents. My brother is always busy with work, making it difficult for me to discuss things with him. Nonetheless, I view caring for my parents, a good experience in my life, as both valuable and worthwhile.
There are times when I can learn about how my loved ones change as they age, how to handle their declining health, and how to prepare for my own old age, both physically and mentally.
I am learning a great deal these days about things I never learned in school, such as empathizing with others, understanding their struggles with daily tasks, and respecting and honoring them even though they have become forgetful and frail.
I want to embrace it with gratitude and joy.
I have gotten my certificate for caring for elderly people and I have been educated about dementia as well. South Korea is already well on a path toward a super-aged society where 20 percent of the population is expected to be 65 years old and older by the end of this year. Therefore, I can understand my aging parents much better. Why do they keep on saying the same things repeatedly, how their memories are mixed and confused, why do they continue to do things that seem meaningless, why they can’t they eat well, why do different body parts begin to ache?
All this I can understand and accept as quite natural. Aging and aching in one’s old age. This is the way that everyone will end up. No one can be an exception, although there can be differences. As my parents are almost in their 90s, if they passed away right now today, it would be completely normal. Additionally, I feel even more grateful because I am aware that many parents pass away before reaching their 60s and 70s.
I have been cared for and loved very much by my parents. When I was sick or going through hardships, they took good care of me and worried deeply about me. So, I am more grateful to them than any sense of grievance. I am grateful that they exist and are living today. I made up my mind not to worry, be anxious regarding if and when their health deteriorates or how I should cope with sudden emergencies. These things are not happening yet. Worrying and being anxious about them don’t make matters better, to be honest, they make matters even worse.
I am going to be thankful that I am given today, the very precious present. I am going to say to my parents that I love them, that everything will be good, OK, and that I am really grateful to them. I am always going to say good things to them. My home is peaceful today too, despite random thoughts and miscellaneous feelings passing through my mind.
Lee Nan-hee studied English in college and theology at Hanshin University.