Mindfulness

 Mindfulness.

Dr Tripti Milind Galgali
Hubli.

I was standing at the footpath waiting to cross over.A Frail Geriatric lady was beside me.There was a heavy traffic jam.Vehicular movement was slow and lots of honking and agitated commotion around.
All of a sudden a biker trying to negotiate the traffic climbed over the footpath and whizzed past.The sudden movement of the biker surprised me and the Geriatric so much ,the old lady got flustered and lost her balance .I dud try to support her but she fell down and hurt herself badly.Nearby crowd took her to hospital and rest is history.
This is today a routine rough episode faced by every one.
The unmindful hurry to reach our destination or complete our schedule or our assignments...
We get so succumbed to ourselves that we remain oblivious to others and surroundings.
Geriatric is scorned as a huddle and hurdle.
I was anaesthetising a Geriatric who had fractured his hip when a biker hit him....
The Geriatric voiced his feelings
" Whenever I walk outside, my age has slowed me.My vision has weakened.Reflexes slowed. I can not see the non uniformly placed pavements and non aligned roads and bumpy speed breakers.Vehicular movements scare me to cross over.Bikers honk and whizz
past.People passing over scorn and speak rudely to me."
" Old Man,shouldn't you sit at home quietly and watch Sanskaar channels or chant God's name."
" If you can't walk ,why venture outside?"
" Old man just move out of my way".
Unmindful and Disrespectful.
Who is to be blamed?
Whether it's a crowded hugely populated Metropolitan cities or underdeveloped and ill planned small towns....
Infrastructure anywhere is not safe for our weak and Geriatric population.
Today,in our 150 Crore odd population, almost 40% or more is Geriatric  .
Increased life spans will further increase the percentage of Geriatrics tomorrow.
If our attitude towards our Geriatric people doesn't change,tomorrow we will face more bedridden morbid Geriatrics to be taken care of in every home.
First of foremost is Mindfulness and Patience.
We got to develop these into us and teach our young generations to follow same.
We begin this attitude into our homes first. Only then will it be seen on the streets outside.
A slow wobbly Geriatric is a hurdle for a fast moving and ever in hurry public.
Slow down.Thoughtfully help the weak .Don't scare them or shun them nor scorn angrily at them.Empathise with them.
Tomorrow we too are going to land up in their shoes at that place just like them...at that age.
If we change our attitude and outlook towards Geriatric today.....
Tomorrow our children and next generation will behave well towards us.
As you sow....so do you reap ....and same you will enjoy....or suffer.
If we want a safe Geriatric phase for ourselves...a mindful society around us......
Today, we need to provide that for our Geriatrics.