Senior Spectrum
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Dec 2007
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Geriatric Psychiatry
The other morning I opened an inspirational/selfhelp book at random to a chapter discussing death. The words conveyed that death is often an uncomfortable topic. As a society, the text suggested, we are becoming increasingly removed from death unless the event is forced upon us. The passage concluded that because death is a reality of life, accepting and respecting death can help us to be grateful for life.
We are in the season of winter, a time of natural dormancy, and a time of illness and for some, death. Anniversaries of losses from years past are co-mingled with the holiday season. There is the dilemma of somber remembrance and respectful pause, in contrast to the social demands for cheer and celebration with family and friends.
It is our nature that we must grow old, experience illness and loss, and eventually we must die.
Happiness is not so much the acquisition of material gains, but of relieving suffering for ourselves and others. When we stop suffering the fears of impermanence, we can be happy. Perhaps this is the spirit of the holidays.
Woody Allen wrote: “The difference between sex and death is that with death you can do it alone and no one is going to make fun of you.”
In Proverbs it is written: The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity.
It is difficult to be thankful for life when there is pain and suffering. But it helps.
Steven Rubin MD
Adult & Gerolescent Psychiatry
geroldoc@hotmail.com