It wasn’t roses all the way, but I look back with gratitude
View(s):Random thoughts of an octogenarian
I halt for a while and look back at the long and winding road I have traversed. I am now at the 85th milepost, very close to the journey’s end. I can hardly believe that I have come such a long way, along this winding road. Where have all the years gone? When one enters the realm of the octogenarian, there is little to look forward to. To compensate for all this however, there is a wealth of experience and memories, to look back on before one’s faculties give way, as sooner or later they must and as the signs of infirmity have already begun to show. “Life begins as a rich collage of memories and experience.” According to an old Chinese proverb – “The journey is the reward.”
I have wistful memories of an uncluttered childhood, a convent education long years ago, under the dedicated tutelage of Irish nuns. Ethnic differences were unheard of, and children of different races and religions studied together and grew up together. School life came to an end and then I began training for a profession – teaching-, which I think is the noblest profession of all. I completed 56 years in the teaching profession. Over the years I have taught in all three categories of schools – Government, private and international. I can look back with pride and happiness at the numerous minds and hearts I have moulded throughout the years – now in various strata of society. I am grateful for the many friends and relations that I have met on the way. Many close friends and loved ones, have gone ahead of me to their journey’s end.
I have so much to be grateful for – a happy and rewarding married life of over 60 years. It has been a remarkable journey together on Life’s road. Now in the eventide of life, when we are nearing the end of the journey and time together is precious, we look back with gratitude. Life has been good to us. We did have our share of trials and tribulations. It was not roses everywhere and sunshine everyday, but we withstood all the vicissitudes of life, with fortitude and prayer.
I am gratefully for the three precious children, we have been blessed with. They look after us with such love and devotion. Roles are reversed now and they are the parents and we – the children! I am more than glad that they found their love just as I did – long, long ago. Sooner than I can imagine, they have become grown up adults, with families of their own. I can hardly believe, that the little girl, who used to hang on my arm, whenever I went out, is a mother of adult children. Now I have to hang on to her for support whenever I go out. The days I spent bringing up the children are cherished golden memories – moments we will never get back.
Although we had no sons of our own, we are blessed with three wonderful sons-in-law, who are more than sons to us. We have seven adored grandchildren who have always been our pride and joy and the happiest moments are spent in their company. We are also the proud great-grandparents of six adorable great-grandchildren, who bring back memories of our own children, when they were kids. The greatest treasures we have accumulated over the years are our children, their children and their children’s children. Both of us, have been singularly fortunate to be blessed with much love from our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family solidarity has kept us together, through good times and bad.
The only thing we can do now is to dream – one is never too old or too young to dream. The only dreams that have so much love in them are the dream that parents have for their own children. We dream of their health and happiness and we want them to have the opportunities that we didn’t have. We dream of a country, where they can live in peace and unity.
Now in the twilight of my life, I am nearing the end of the journey. The road has not always been smooth and flat. There have been winding bends and hills and valleys. The road may be the same one and I am only passing by, but the day is always new. I am reminded of the famous quotation, “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore I can do, or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
- Chatra S. Withana