Different Strokes for Different Folks!
Posted: Friday, July 06, 2007
by Iris Taub
When I opened my e-mails today I noticed a challenge from Searchwarp.com about writing an article that reflected my opinion of what I thought was "The Meaning of Life"
Interesting concept to say the least. I truly believe that everyone has their own view of what is "The Meaning of Life" and since I can only share my thoughts about that challange, here is what I have finally figured out during the past few years.
It is amazing how many of us react to a major change in our lives and not always in a positive way.
When my health issues interfered with my ability to work and contribute to our household, I was frustrated and angry not to mention felt sorry for myself. Then on July 5,2005, Mom had the massive stroke that finally took her life on August 1, 2005, my personal problems took a back seat to the reality that our beautiful Mom was gone forever. I know this sounds like a cliche, that when one door closes another opens, but it really is true. Mom took care of my beautiful granddaughter three days a week so that my daughter could continue to work and now that she was gone, I had a purpose and a reason not to feel sorry for myself or dwell on the circumstances that put me in the position of being unemployed. I now had to focus on taking care of her and she proved to be the best medicine any doctor could have prescribed for my numerous problems that did not respond to traditional medications. My granddaughter gave me the strength to look forward to getting up in the morning and plan our special days together. We have formed a very special bond and I am proud to be able to be a part of her life and build wonderful memories that we will always share together.
After a long and frustrating battle with social security, with the help of a caring law firm, I finally have won my battle and settled out of court to receive social security disability benefits after working hard up until April 13, 2005 for 35 years. Although I still have not received my benefits and won't have insurance until April 2008, I finally decided to even get another opinion and see another physician to get a fresh point of view on my health and see if he had any suggestions that would improve my quality of life. It has only been a week but with a few simple dietary suggestions and getting myself back on track and exercising again, I finally feel like there might actually be a light at the end of that tunnel as well.
I have so many wonderful blessings in my life, and I needed to remind myself that even though there have been some bumps in the road, I still had so much to be grateful for.
I have a wonderful husband who is also my best friend and we just celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary.
We have two beautiful children who are married.
Both of them have children and my daughter and daughter-in-law are expecting their second only four months from each other.
I have a healthy grandson who is going to be 11 and a healthy granddaughter who just turned 3 1\2 and my daughter-in-law is expecting her second son in Sept. We still are not sure what our daughter is having since it is still too soon to tell, but we are very excited about both girls having babies that will hopefully grow up together.
I may not be able to change the world, stop world hunger, make others care about their environment and to protect our wildlife, teach others about the evil's of intolerance based on their color or religion, but I can try my best to teach my grandchildren to be tolerant of others and to possibly have the power to make those changes a reality.
I have finally figured out what is really important in life, doesn't involve money, or power. It just involves caring for others, loving my family and enjoying the simple pleasures like enjoying a day at the beach, going to a park and actually listening to the sounds of nature all around me and watching my grandchildren play like they didn't have a care in the world.
Iris S. Taub
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hello Iris, I can relate to your concepts of finding a meaning to life in today’s world. With conflicts still going on all over the world mainly motivated by prejudice and hate. One would think we as a people would have learned by now how to live amongst ourselves. As we mature we find a tolerance in living with ignorance. I suppose just by learning why some people behave as they do and our own reason for loving them in spite of their feelings towards us. I have studied all religions and found that love is the foundation they all stand on. As your title states: “different strokes for different folks” we could bring back some of the songs of the 60s like the Beetles “All you need is love” perhaps someday we as the human race will unite, I hope so. "Enjoyed your article"
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