一年又过去了，回想去年的生活，其中苦少乐多，武吉巴督228与裕廊东208的居民们津津乐道。乐龄生活里，他们寻得快乐；在平凡的日子里，他们发挥所长，找到生活中莫大的幸福。这一期且听居民许罗妮、刘美田、陈福明、郑莲花、王宝玉、吴雅妹、许养、林悦治分享他们心中的点点滴滴，和一些些维持活跃生活的秘诀，我们肯定受益良多。受访中看见他们个个老当益壮，贤惠活泼的谈论着自己的生活，我深深感受到“走出孤独”的重要性，和心情解放后的无边开阔。所以说，只要我们不放弃，把握生命中的每一天，渺小的生命就不渺小，也能活得更精彩。
健康排第一
许养：青年时期我过得困苦，因此我辛勤工作，没有把健康顾好。后来接触了太极，勤加锻炼后我无须每个月看医生，到现在无需光顾诊所，运动使我赢得健康。如今早晨时间我也参与了音乐氧生操，每个星期一去打乒乓，这些运动不会太激烈，很适合我。
悦治：要有健康的身体，运动是其次，最重要还是保持心情开朗。我们不要老烦恼或发脾气，凡是大事化小，小事化无，做人就会开心，身心也会健康。
林悦治 Lim Yak Tee,66
罗妮：我70岁才学游泳，虽然现在我已84岁，我依然坚持每个星期游泳两天，加上参与氧生操等运动，勤劳运动，才有健康的体魄。
许罗妮 Koh Loh Nee,84
美田：早上起身没事做，我都会去运动。做健身啊!打太极啊，做氧生操啊！我都很勤劳，因为多运动比较健康。现在年纪大了，行动上我会特别谨慎，跌倒就麻烦了。
家庭和谐的重要与愿望
美田：我很重视我的家庭。星期一至五，我负责煮晚饭给家人吃，对于我来说，这一点也不辛苦。我最享受和家人、孙子坐在同一张饭桌吃饭，看见他们吃得开心，我心里就莫名开心起来。一天里面，我和孙子交谈最多，我们的感情也很好。
刘美田 Low Mee Tien,76
莲花：不要对家人要求太多，凡事随便就好。我觉得自己过一天，就像赚到一天一样，每天都应该开开心心。年轻人做事，就由他们去，不要讲他们，就不会产生问题。
许养：有时候不是我想就会心想事成。家庭对我来说很重要，我希望家庭幸福，那最好。
许养 Koh Yeo,76
自由自在的退休生活
悦治：我最喜欢去旅游，出去走走。我的性格比较大胆，常试着到新的地方去探索。我和我的先生也喜欢参加传神举办的活动，有得玩就好，我们就开心了。
宝玉：新加坡人常说“钱不够用”，我说我“时间不够用”。我每天忙工作，做家务，运动，找朋友聊天，与家人一起，生活过得很充实。
雅妹：我对家人像对朋友一样，从不要求家人要为自己做什么，一家人和乐融融。我的孩子也很孝顺，他们帮我理财，帮我选购衣服，常常主动关心我，陪我聊天，我都会开心接受，我感觉很幸福。
吴雅妹 Goh Ah Moi,61
罗妮：我天生有着“想做就做”的个性，也最爱自由。每每看了电视，听了新闻，知道有新的好去处，我都会去走走。尽管偶尔朋友没空，我也会自己出去玩，想唱歌就唱歌，想出去就出去，我的性格很独立。
王宝玉Ong Poo Git,64
朋友
悦治：我在武吉巴督住了30多年，朋友却很少。自参加传神6年以来，我的朋友很多，我也不用只待在家里，在中心里大家有说有笑，我觉得很开心。
雅妹：我的朋友特别多，人家都说我“鸡婆”！（哈哈大笑）不过我的活力可以感染其他朋友，我就像开心果一样，带给朋友欢乐。
福明：我爱交朋友，也帮助别人。我觉得做老人要随和一点，凡事都随便一点，朋友自然多。
莲花：我每天都到活动中心来，这里就像我的第二个家一样。我来这里找到我的兴趣和朋友，他们每一个都很友善。
郑莲花Tay Lian Huay,70
终身学习的态度
罗妮：我有“不轻易放弃”的做人态度。很多朋友都不敢学游泳，但我很有耐心，慢慢学，一定能学会。我觉得应该Open Your Heart! （打开您的心）去学习新的东西。
福明：我是缅甸华侨，在那里社会动荡不安，天灾连连。不像新加坡，生活幸福安宁，也有很多学习机会。我如今学打太极、打桌球、上英文课、玩Rummy-O、写书法、运动等，来传神之后，生活变得更充实。
陈福明Tan Hock Main,66
莲花：我会像小孩一样玩电脑游戏。自孙子们教我上网玩游戏后，我每天都很享受自己开关电脑，下载游戏来玩。去年，因着传神开办的桌球班，我也学会打桌球。活到老，学到老嘛！学习新事物好，不要让自己躲在家想东想西的，也不会那么容易得老人痴呆症。
Recalling life during the past one year, the elderly in Bukit Batok and Jurong East feel that they have really been very happy everyday living an active lifestyle. They have found great joy in little things in their retirement age. Here, they share their thoughts with us.
Exercise for Health
Koh Yeo: I had a difficult time in the past, working without proper health care. But after having practised tai chi for than 20 years I am now stronger and able to enjoy life more. I am now participating in the Music Therapy Exercise and playing ping pong every Monday; these exercises are not too strenuous for me.
Yak Tee: The way to stay healthy is to be always cheerful. One should not worry unnecessarily or get angry easily because such negative thoughts affect our health.
Loh Nee: I learned to swim at 70. Although I am now 84 years old, I still swim twice a week, and take part in Music Therapy Exercise. I believe that exercise helps my body and mind to work better.
Mee Tien: Exercise is the first thing I think of when I wake up because I have nothing better to do in the mornings. I exercise a few times a week because I believe that maintaining good health requires exercise. But, in old age, one does have to be careful not to overstrain.
Harmony within the Family
Mee Tien: I value my family very much. I cook dinner for my family on weekdays.. It is not difficult or tiring when this is done with love in my heart. I enjoy having the whole family eating together, especially seeing the smiles on my grandchildren as they enjoy my simple home-cooked meal.
This is the moment of my day when I feel inexplicably happy. I have a wonderful relationship with my grandchildren with whom I can chat the whole day.
Lian Huay: I do not have high expectations from my family members. They do what they can for me, but they have their own problems trying to make a living. One should not waste precious moments of one’s life by criticising the younger generation. Wish them well. I feel lucky every minute of the day just to be alive and well.
Koh Yeo: Family harmony is very important to me. It is sometimes difficult, with disagreements, differences of opinion, different priorities in life, but I try to maintain a happy, united and harmonious family atmosphere at all times.
Fun in Retirement
Yak Tee: I love to travel and to explore new places. My husband and I sometimes join outings with Concern & Care Society (CCS) and it is always fun to be outdoors.
Poh Git: Singaporeans always say "Money not enough" but I always say. “Time not enough.” I love to fill up my life with work, sports, socialising with friends, family gatherings and housework. A busy schedule always makes me feel good. Of course having more money would be great but to me, an active life in old age is more important. I enjoy a good meal, give my best in everything I do, am easygoing and get along with everyone.
Ah Moi: My family members are also my friends. Just as we never ask our friends for more than they can give, I never need to impose my needs on my children. They are very attentive; they know my needs and always ensure that I am well taken care of.
Loh Nee: I believe in the advice "just do it" and I love freedom. I keep myself updated with the latest news and information, so that I know where in the city I can go to for new experiences. I believe in being independent and I can be quite happy ‘doing my own thing’ at times when family and friends are busy with their own lives and are unable to keep me company
Friends of the Elderly
Yak Tee: I did not have many friends even though I had lived in Bukit Batok for more than 30 years until I found Concern & Care Society. I do not just stay at home now, I come to the centre and make friends. We chat, play games, take part in various activities and generally have a good time.
Ah Moi: I have many friends. They do seem to enjoy having me around because I am always cheerful and I like to bring joy to everyone.
Hock Main: I love to make friends. I am helpful, easy-going and friends and I enjoy each other’s company.
Lian Huay: CCS is my second home, a place I am at every day . I have made a lot of friends here, and we are all like one big happy family.
Learning at Old Age
Loh Nee: I never give up easily. Even at my age, I learned to swim, so I believe that learning at any age is not impossible. As an elderly person, one must continue to open one’s heart and mind to learning new things.
Hock Main: I am from Myanmar which is a country with natural disasters and an unstable political environment. Here in Singapore, I have found that the elderly are very lucky. They live in a safe environment and are able to get involved in most activities. At CCS, I am able to learn English, play Rummy-O games, write Chinese calligraphy and do so much more, all of which I thoroughly enjoy.
Lian Huay: My grandchildren taught me to play online games and now I switch on the computer everyday to play these games! I joined a snooker class last year and I have come to love this game. Learning is not only fun, but also beneficial to our mental health.
From these conversations with the elderly, we have learnt that there is so much more life to live even in old age, so much more to learn and so many things to do. As the Nike advertisement says, and as all of us agree, ‘Just Do It.’.
No comments:
Post a Comment