We have all heard the various versions of that bit of advice. One
of my favorites is “If life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!” The meaning is
obvious. Find the good in any situation and focus on that. If you have to create
some good in a situation, then give it your best effort and don’t let the
opportunity slip away.
In working with older adults (you decide who is older), I have
learned one way to approach their situation in life is to evaluate their social
and physical needs. The best working categories I have discovered place adults
in one of five areas of life: the Go-Go, the Will-Go, the Slow-Go, the
Can’t-Go, and the Won’t-Go. (These are not original to me, but their source is
unknown.) I can’t think of any adult I have ever met who doesn’t fit into one
of these groups. My intention in this part of my life is to help people in each
of these groups get the most out of life they can, make the best of the
situation.
We all know a member of the Go-Go group. They are the ones who put
us younger folks to shame. They have energy and desire to be active and on the
go. They also have the initiative to make things happen. They don’t wait for
someone else to come up with the idea and get things organized. They step out
in front and are ready to see life happen.
The Will-Go older adults need a little more time to get things
moving. They are willing to be a part of the action. They get excited to see
things happening in which they can take part. Their initiative, however, is not
what it used to be, and they tend to wait for others to come up with the ideas
and plan out the logistics. They may be hesitant at times in joining the group,
but you can generally count on their enthusiasm and participation.
The Slow-Go adults exhibit the desire to see things happen, but
feel it takes special circumstances for them to participate. Timing will have
to coincide with how they are feeling on that day. Transportation may be a concern.
Special arrangements for safe movement might have to be made. These adults see
themselves as moving out of the mainstream of adult activities and taking more
of a sideline perspective. In many cases their primary hindrance is attitude
and not actual physical ability.
The Can’t-Go group is easily identifiable. They are totally
dependent upon others for transportation, and their good days for spending any
time away from where they reside may be few and far in between. These
individuals need to have life brought to them and encouraged to be involved to
the full extent they can. Again their involvement may depend more upon their
attitude than upon their physical condition.
The Won’t-Go members of our older generations have a major problem
with attitude. They have decided they do not want to socialize. They do not
need to be around people or be involved any form of active social
relationships. They are quite happy pulling back into their personal shells and
telling the world to go away.
God loves each member of each of these groups just the same, and
he wants them to get the most out of this gift of life he has given them. It’s
our job to make sure they have the opportunity.
Pro 20:29 We admire the strength of youth and respect the gray
hair of age.
