"Problems" faced by the elderly besides the obvious physical deterioration & age related medical conditions, are also and very importantly "intellectual"(not referring to High IQ, rather 'of the mind').
You know I have zero qualifications to expound on this topic other than my age (not really OLD - but getting there:)
Being an avid observer of human nature specially in respect to spirituality & how humans are so tempted to indulge in basic instincts & selfish urges, as well as faithfully obeying artificially planted (media created) needs, I find it amusing but not at all surprising, when reading this particular case of a Dr from a certain nation, who obviously could not get happy 'cos of his (self perceived) failed materialistic ambition/aspiration.
In a certain nation, held out as an example of a high achieving country, the craving, the all consuming urge so glaringly obvious across every age sector is MATERIAL success! No one does nothing i.e. every body is all the time on the go...chasing an illusive-getting-harder-to-ever-obtain goal ... which is: "Come hell or high water" must be top dog: Get successful, Be counted among the Elite (in every government-defined idea of Success, & Elitism).
That ideal, those cognizant with Buddhism, is THE factor for INABILITY to attain any level of happiness.
BUT Who cares for Happiness per Buddhism anyway when that kind of Happiness is not enjoyable?
*See the frightened young parents ... every moment from the day when the prenatal ultra sound INDICATED [indicated-not confirmed] life in the female parent's womb... getting frenzied, initiating the quest to ensure their imminent child must become successful in every way humanly possible. So Mozart (unfinished symphony - of course) is piped next to her abdominal walls 24/7. Multi-potent multi-vitamins, specially designed exercise programs to ensure uneventful NORMAL birth of a physiologically/anatomically 'normal' but highly IQ'd child are subscribed to. Designer diets, the engaging of other prenatal gurus with programs that actually make no difference; are adhered to - an almost fanatical undertaking to ensure absolutely zero chance, the still undeveloped, unborn, unconfirmed as a viable child, will be denied any possible human input that will guarantee success in later life. (if at all birthed)
*The young preschooler, & other children from junior schoolers to college, University students, are subjected to a frenzied, very purpose-filled and directed (regimented) program of life. I would not use the word 'live' as they do not have life, as most kids know it; there being little free & easy time to lazily, gleefully explore the wonders that must be the world to their 'youngish' perception. They have almost no self determination in their growing up years, than keeping up, staying on top, or (to the joyful ecstacy of the parents) besting the government set patterned & regimented development program that is good for the nation's survival, growth, achievements etc. etc.
*The Middle-aged group running on an ever speeding treadmill - going nowhere, having to keep running faster - the alternative - falling off is unacceptable?
There is no resident of this "success-at-all-costs" nation, whether transplanted from another country or natural born, who does nothing.. i.e. not chasing or pushing or in action towards an end! NO ONE worth his salt STOPS or DOES NOTHING at any time. Even slowing down is considered 'unproductive', 'frowned upon' and 'not encouraged'
*At a mass transit station above the escalator, hanging over the heads of all commuters like the Sword of Damocles : "It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop" a huge billboard supposedly quoting Confucius.
Would a sage, a wise guy like Confucius be stupid to never stop? To smell the roses (or Chinese Peony), to savor the melody of the bubbling brook, to take in the majesty of a Technicolored Sunset as only the Creator can? Would a wise guy like Confucius be wise like Confucius if he DID NOT STOP? He would have been going very slowly AND stopping countless times in his journey through life to be able to deliberate and come up with the wisdom associated with him. Many of his 'wisdoms' are as you no doubt would gather are of dubious origin, tending toward mass manipulation (indoctrination).
There is uncertainty if this subtle indoctrination of the citizenry thru subconscious mind messages 'blasted' across the media and everywhere like the over-hanging sign boards (sword of Damocles) is a psychological brain conditioning of the people. The motives & real-life beneficiaries - anybody's guess. There are many obvious answers as to why people are made to run faster on the spot. It is safer not to vocalize or speculate.
The only safe way out of this shining (glaring?) example of a "socially engineered successful" nation of busy bustling (?mindless) mob is to STOP three or more times a day. Stop & redirect or reassess the objectives in the lives of its nationals.
If any sanity is to be obtained by any age group, it definitely is not down the path towards material aspirations...huge condos...huge foreign automobiles... huge bank accounts... glamor foreign degrees... foreign husbands/wives...foreign sounding glam names (Caucasian usually) ...faked foreign accents…Glam Religious Affiliations, in other words the acquiring of Pseudo-Prestige/Class & the associated badges of Success.
My point, you would realize by now ... the nation is barking up a very wrong tree - equating success, happiness, fulfillment, achievement, even patriotism with material acquisition ! Or perhaps that isn't the intention of those who planted these ideas of 'success & achievements' in the first place BUT in reality the means to a yet unrevealed agenda?
If that were so it was a very well thought out strategy implemented very subtly over years, through inculcation in impressionably minded generations of pre-schoolers; "That being competitive, maintaining high GDPs, KPIs, besting everyone else, doing anything at all BETTER, BIGGER, FASTER, HIGHER, CHEAPER"
All SUPERLATIVES which together with other suicide inducing ideals - ensure that the country with no natural resources would be able to survive and compete against a hostile world which owes it nothing for a living! - asking Olympian standards of real life people. Ordinary everyday people who only wish to live in a peaceful, safe environment, with sufficiency (not more of everything plus extra) in all needs.
Do you know, under the tiny garden stone, the earthworm which lives in this same nation in the same equally resourceless environment, with no marketable talents, no foreign acquired abilities, is happily living his life - with enough of everything he would ever need for his equally short existence ?
Of course who in this nation wants to live like a worm?
They'd rather commit suicide!
AND if you've come to 67 with a life long brain-tuned attitude of need to climb to the material mountain peak regardless, not even knowing what for, and you suddenly woke(perhaps due to deficiency in testosterone) that 'hey I am not at where I should be" would that not make you depressedly suicidal ?
Have a peaceful week my young friend.
BTW are you happier in Canada? Do they have many psycho-therapists there?
LIFE IS GOOD ANY AGE (even under a stone) IF YOU (not your government) SET YOUR HEART TO MAKE IT SO
God permitting
