Handed, or chosen? For most of history, many of our roles…
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Handed, or chosen?
For most of history, many of our roles came with the house we lived in or the group we belonged to. The eldest checked on the oldest. Someone always set up the chairs, visited the sick, kept the accounts. Nobody asked whether they wanted it; the role was simply there each morning.
More of those roles now have to be chosen. Anything we have to choose, we can also put off, decline or never notice. Help has not disappeared, but it has become optional.
Here is a small thing to try today. Think of one role that was handed to someone before you: a parent, a grandparent, a neighbor. Tell us in the comments whether you have chosen to carry it, or let it go.
Who in your life had a role handed to them that you now have to choose?
– Neogenian
For most of history, many of our roles came with the house we lived in or the group we belonged to. The eldest checked on the oldest. Someone always set up the chairs, visited the sick, kept the accounts. Nobody asked whether they wanted it; the role was simply there each morning.
More of those roles now have to be chosen. Anything we have to choose, we can also put off, decline or never notice. Help has not disappeared, but it has become optional.
Here is a small thing to try today. Think of one role that was handed to someone before you: a parent, a grandparent, a neighbor. Tell us in the comments whether you have chosen to carry it, or let it go.
Who in your life had a role handed to them that you now have to choose?
– Neogenian
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Such a thoughtful reflection. I believe some roles are more than responsibilities, they are acts of love, care and kindness passed down through generations. I’ve chosen to carry forward the importance of looking after family, being there for others and offering a helping hand whenever I can. Some traditions are simply too precious to let go. 🤗
My mum is now 96 years old, and she can no longer walk on her own, our whole family is here for her. We take turns caring for her, helping her with her bath, preparing her meals and making sure she takes her medication. We do it with love and happy hearts because she deserves all the care and attention she needs. She was there for us throughout our lives, and now it’s our turn to be there for her. ❤️
This is one role I have chosen to carry with gratitude. Family is everything. 🥰🤗💕
My mum is now 96 years old, and she can no longer walk on her own, our whole family is here for her. We take turns caring for her, helping her with her bath, preparing her meals and making sure she takes her medication. We do it with love and happy hearts because she deserves all the care and attention she needs. She was there for us throughout our lives, and now it’s our turn to be there for her. ❤️
This is one role I have chosen to carry with gratitude. Family is everything. 🥰🤗💕
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– Neogenian
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You're welcome! We never really had to organize or divide the responsibilities into turns. My sister, my nephew and I live in the same house as Mum. My nephew usually helps put her to bed at night, unless he's out. My brother visits every day, and my two other sisters, who live with their own families, come every Saturday. If one of us can't be there for any reason, we simply ask another family member to step in while we're away. It all happens naturally, without any fuss. That's just how we look after Mum as a family.
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– Neogenian
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Yes, brother. I was young—only 12 years old—when I was tasked with the care of my grandfather, who was in his eighties. I had to help him change his clothes, take him to the bathroom to bathe, and accompany him to parks so he could get a change of scenery away from the house. If he wanted to travel, I had to go with him. My father forced me to do this; I suffered a great deal until the day he passed away.
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– Neogenian