Page 29 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine 2020 Spring - Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

GRADUATING SENIORS

by Colleen Eppler

Bereavement/Spiritual Care Coordinator, Kindred Hospice

I Retiring seniors - what
can’t wait until I graduate,
is their challenge? Aside
then I can do what I want!”
Seniors in high school often from making sure they
are healthy, and their
find themselves looking forward money holds out, one
to graduation day when they can might think their biggest
walk across that stage and receive challenge would be
their diploma, never to return deciding where to go
again to the grind of homework eat during Senior’s
and expectations from parents Happy Hour.
and teachers running their lives.
High school graduates
“I can’t wait until I retire, and eventually find there’s
then I can do what I want!” more to life than making paintings or lawn equipment for
People in their 50s and 60s find money and living “la vida loca”; perfectly manicured lawns.
themselves saying this as they get for those of you who don’t know
closer to retirement age. They Spanish or the singer Ricky Or do we want to leave our
can’t wait until that last day of Martin, this means “living the legacy in people? Maybe even
work, when they get their gold crazy life”. They discover that to those high school graduating
watch, or bouquet of flowers, take they need to have purpose, seniors with wide eyes and
their 401K and walk out the door, whether in their work or in a momentous decisions looming
never to to punch the clock ever cause that gives their ahead of them. You and I both
again. They boast that no one life meaning. know they probably won’t take
will tell them what to do, and Retiring seniors eventually our well-seasoned advice right
they can travel, pursue a hobby discover that there is yet one away, but neither did we when
and be perfectly happy, living a more graduation for them - we were their age!
life of leisure. graduating from this life into the What did we need at their age?
Sooner or later, both “Seniors” next. It’s this “graduation” that What do we have to give at our
come to the stark reality that, causes one to look back and make age? Love - unconditional, “I
actually no, they can’t do what sure that his or her life actually believe in you, and I will listen
they want - at least not for very had meaning. What will they to you” kind of love. This is a
long. Graduates will eventually leave upon “graduating”? Will legacy worth leaving. Let’s be
have to make decisions either they leave a legacy of Groupons? purposeful to graduate with love
to get a job or further training, Pictures of beautiful places they and leave love all along
whether at a university or a trade were able to visit? A storage the way. It’s the only thing
school. house full of bird houses, china that never fails.

Amarillo Senior Link 29