For years I had a scrap of paper posted on my fridge, with the
antidote to becoming a grumpy old lady. Do you want to know what it
said? Before I tell you, Let me explain what motivated my quest to keep
this prescription on hand.
It all started when I worked as a therapist at a rehabilitation
hospital and observed the stark difference in the attitudes of two
particular elderly patients. One was a below knee amputee. The other had
an archive of ailments that rivaled the number items on a holiday
grocery shopping list. She was a hemiplegic, arthritic, osteoporotic,
and half blind — and that was just for starters!
But the lady with the debilitating physical condition was cheerful,
while the amputee was a intolerable grump. Granted, having someone saw
off half your leg isn’t all sunshine and roses, but compared to the
other woman, this woman’s rehabilitation would be relatively simple. She
would be fitted with a fake leg, walk out of the hospital, and be
fairly functional. The other woman’s prognosis was bleak. She would be
dependent, confined to a wheelchair, and would finish her days in a
full-care nursing facility rather than in her home.
Their rooms were next to one another, which made the contrast between the two women all the more striking.
The drapes in the cheerful woman’s room were open to let in the
light. Cards and flowers of well-wishers were displayed on every
available surface. She had a constant stream of visitors. One could
often hear the murmur of conversation and laughter. Nurses and
therapists loved to meet this woman’s needs, for they were always
greeted with a pleasant smile and an appreciative, “Thank you so much,
dear!” Keep Reading >>>
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