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She exhausts me

(47 Posts)
Anniebach Mon 15-May-17 21:22:00

I have a neighbour, a sweet person. Her energy is amazing.

She is a volenteer at our volenteer bureau, visits several elderly people regularly. Runs the poetry group, attends all labour party meetings. Last week she spent five days in Birmingham attending a Quaker conference . She helps run the credit union. Arranges a monthly lecture on what ever subject she thinks is topical, last one was on Brexit. She travels to Wiltshire to house sit every summer . Yesterday she was at the meeting house for prayers then stayed on for the afternoon to do some work in the office.

Today she is on her way to Epsom, seven hours journey, bus and three trains . a friend has recently been widowed and is lonely.
!
Will be back Saturday and hopes the weather will be kind because she wants to cut the hedges front and back gardens on Monday. Tuesday she is catching three buses to get to deep, darkest Mid Wales to visit someone who has been moved from our local cottage hospital to a care home.

She is eighty six years old !

rosesarered Mon 15-May-17 21:23:55

Blimey!

rosesarered Mon 15-May-17 21:25:04

Can I have some of what she is having? please! smile

mollie Mon 15-May-17 21:25:26

Goodness! Amazing, puts me to shame and I'm more than 20 years younger!

Luckygirl Mon 15-May-17 21:27:33

Enough, enough! - I am exhausted just reading this. It all sounds amazing, but, if I were to be honest, I am not sure that this sort of frenetic activity is a good way to live. Life needs balance and time for reflection as well as activity, however laudable that might be.

Anniebach Mon 15-May-17 21:41:35

Rosesarered, I felt a fool when I asked her who was the window cleaner in this part of town, yep she cleans her own,

I wish I had half her energy, she doesn't drive , never catches a town bus or takes a taxi, and she is such a gentle person , not at all showy offy, I did ask her about slowing down a bit, she replied - not yet but I suppose that day will come. She also goes to the local for quiz night, oh and helps run a coffee/tea morning for the elderly on a Friday ,and she also does the tea for the carers monthly get together.

I have been told ,not by her, by the OT that she pops into the ward for dementia sufferers .

I do know her one weakness is pie and chips from the local chippy, she calls in some times on her way home from town

Anniebach Mon 15-May-17 21:44:35

Luckygirl, she has balance , she is a devout Quaker , I attend their meetings sometimes, they sit in silence , she also sets time every day to meditate on her faith

Charleygirl Mon 15-May-17 21:45:34

It wears me out reading about her excursions. I could not do that when I was 21 never mind her age.

I have 2 friends, unrelated and never met and they are also flying around everywhere, neither staying in their respective houses for long. They are both 73. One has more holidays than I have had hot dinners.

DanniRae Mon 15-May-17 22:05:55

I think some people are 'driven' and need to be busy all the time. I am NOT driven - (except by my husband when go out!!)

nanaK54 Mon 15-May-17 22:09:18

What an amazing lady

jogginggirl Mon 15-May-17 22:22:07

What an awesome lady .... I feel energised just reading about her? Her friends are so lucky to have her in their lives ?

Anniebach Mon 15-May-17 22:30:21

I don't think he is driven, she started nursing when she was eighteen, and continued untill retirement age. She is gentle , doesn't rush around, I think she just sees a need and fills it, strange but she is so calm not a busy,busy got so much to do person, I think much of her strength comes from her faith , there is a calmness around her, .

FarNorth Mon 15-May-17 23:30:17

Reading the OP, I felt tired but maybe the lady doesn't find all these things tiring. Maybe she finds some, or all, of them energising.
Just as some people feel tired /energised by socialising depending on their type of personality.

fiorentina51 Tue 16-May-17 00:30:00

Good for her. Long may she continue her active life!

grannyactivist Tue 16-May-17 00:34:44

Some people see a need and simply recognise that they can do something about it - and do so. Your neighbour seems to have this mindset Anniebach and I suspect that although she does get tired sometimes (who doesn't?) she will keep on going for as long as she is able. I have met many such people and they all have a strong sense of commitment to care allied with a warm personality. My own father in law is one such and he's also in his eighties.

Pippa000 Tue 16-May-17 06:35:13

I am in awe at her energy and commitment to others. I wonder if this is also a generational thing, as know of several people, men and women in their eighties and nineties, who are amazing and frankly put me to shame.

jusnoneed Tue 16-May-17 08:14:35

Would be lovely to have so much energy.
I have a friend, well into her 70's who is like this, she gardens for local hospice (has beautiful one at home too) where her husband died a few years ago. She hikes, does Zumba, travels (often on her own) all over Europe. Never still.

JanaNana Tue 16-May-17 09:57:51

I wish I could have this lady,s energy levels. Am guessing this is what keeps her going and good for her. Some people absolutely thrive like this. Long may she carry on.

Lilyflower Tue 16-May-17 10:06:34

I have just read a thread on Gransnet about someone who sleeps all the time. People are so different.

I know a couple of folks who could rival this busy lady and I am in awe of others who have endless energy. Howwever, I do think there is a drawback when energy is channelled into political or religious activism as I think the polemicists infringe on others' rights to think, believe and act as they wish.
Perhaps people do not want to hear this lady's views on Brexit. What right has she to offend others who do not shove their opinions down her throats. I have noticed that those who have strng views also tend to think they are right about everything and are rude and offensive to those they think 'wrong'.

So, energy and 'get up and go' are great but only when channelled in the right direction.

Disgruntled Tue 16-May-17 10:07:00

Gasp! I love her! Now I'm going to meditate. Thanks for telling us about her - so inspiring.

paddyann Tue 16-May-17 10:13:09

maybe she sees it as educating them Lilyflower if epople dont want to hear her opinions then no one is forcing them to go and listen.Would you have said the same about any great reformers e.g the suffragettes? There were many who thought womans suffrage was wrong but who came to see that it was the way forward ..She's not offending anyone or shoving her opinions down their throat...she has invited them to listen

damewithaname Tue 16-May-17 10:16:53

Wonderful! I pray I'm still that active and useful at 86!

Anniebach Tue 16-May-17 10:23:44

The lady runs a very popular monthly lecture, she does not give her views, the Brexit talks were balanced, one speaker who wanted out, one who wanted in. Theology discussions too are balanced, atheist and of faith. Right to die discussions, she had a speaker with a terminal illness who wanted the right to die and a speaker with a terminal illness who didn't. Surprising perhaps but it is possible to accept and respect the fact that people have different opinions and the right to express them and the knowledge those who listen have the intelligence to listen and make their own decisions.

Theoddbird Tue 16-May-17 10:28:58

I think it is because she is organized. I have noticed that organized people seem to get a lot done. Myself...well I am organized at work and get loads done...always finding things to do. At home I sit and look at all the things I have to do for my downsize and can't motivated...hahaha I so wish my whole life was organized. What is the secret?

Luckygirl Tue 16-May-17 10:31:14

I am just dealing with a DD who is just like this and is making herself very ill with it. So my view is a bit jaundiced at the moment! I am glad this lady is fit to do what she does, but I do not necessarily think it is something to be admired or imitated. Sorry - but I am picking up the pieces at the moment.