Editor’s Note: This guest commentary is from one of my students at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, NJ.
For many of us, the “holiday season” begins with Rosh Hashanah, and moves on thru Yom Kippur, Thanksgiving, Chanukkah, Christmas, and finally New Year.
If we are fortunate, we have friends who are sensitive to our “family-less” situation, and invite us to be part of their celebrations and rituals. I am always grateful for these invitations and enjoy being part of what are often boisterous, fun, memory filled days. But there is a part of me that recognizes that I am different – an outsider looking in. Without spouse or partner, children or grandchildren, I lack common ground. And often, I return home with feelings of sadness and loneliness – that awful isolation that makes my apartment feel so empty.
Much is written about this. But what about the rest of the year? How does living alone and without family affect day to day living?
There are so many challenges and most of them seem to go unrecognized. Perhaps it is too painful to discuss, embarrassing to admit or difficult to solve.
Going any place alone, where partners or families are prevalent, is frequently uncomfortable and often disheartening. Many of us choose to stay home. Try going to services at synagogue alone. Watch as husbands and wives give a tender touch or children laugh with parents.
And oh! Those myriad seminars and classes that discuss financial planning and health issues. Important topics to be sure, but almost always assume family.
All legal planning takes on an extra layer of complication. Writing a will – what do I leave and to whom? Who will care for my beloved pets? Who can be my health advocate? And end of life planning? My anxiety level rises to new heights each time I contemplate or try to find solutions to something I never thought about until recently. Dying alone? A really scary thought.
Now that I am 70, health problems, fewer friends due to death or incapacity, and a somewhat less adventurous attitude have given me pause. A real shock to my very being!
And I think about my legacy. Without family – what will it be?
Carole Leskin
caroleleskin15@comcast.net
Carole Leskin is a retired Director of Global Human Resources. Embarking on a second career as a writer and photographer concentrating on her personal accounts of aging, her essays and poetry, frequently accompanied by her photos, are published in Jewish Sacred Aging, Jewish Women of Words, Starts At 60, Navigating Aging ( a Kaiser Health publication), Women’s Older Wisdom, Time Goes By and Next Avenue. Her poems, “Father Time” and “Carole’s Debate” were selected for inclusion in the 2019 anthologies of poetry, New Jersey Bards. Her photos have been featured in Mart R Porter Nature Forum.
Its sad but true for so many. We as a society especially us that work in the field advocating for our older adults to do more to include them. I feel and think its much harder when older adults are living in their homes . I am 55 and have not been to synagogue for some of those same reasons and alot to do with the cost of membership and tickets for the high holidays. We need to come up with a way for outreach. I have family , a daughter who is a senior in college looking to serve in the Peace Corp then grad school. I would love to reach out and help . I am game I hope others are as well.
This is a serious topic that often goes unrecognized. Support groups only touch the surface. As we mature income may become lessoned and lawyers become more expensive. I think ALL communities much face a growing situation. Some people bury their head in the sand because its just easier.
Carole, I’m proud of you for putting it out there and recognizing a problem many may face
As I read this, I think to myself, “and you feel lonely”! I have children and grand children. I honestly feel so ashamed. I am so glad that Carole had the strength and courage to share this with us. This needs to be shared to many who are thinking these thoughts and possibly have not shared with others. Remember this Carole, you are not alone.
Other cultures I think are a lot less lonely when you are old. They respect age. Here you are a bygone..