It's amazing how things can affect desire, motivation and dim the light of dreams.
It's just so true that with every UP there is a DOWN, supposedly to keep the balance.
I have been on an emotional HIGH since completing the London Marathon a few weeks ago, and now I am struggling to get back to the even keel. I don't want to evoke sympathy in writing this piece, I just want to find understanding and to let others who are going through the same to show that they are not alone.
My parents both in their 80's have been subjected to the 'system of the Mental Health Act' since February. It has been hard for them, trying to understand what they have done wrong to be treated as they have. And for us, their children, it has been hard to deal with emotionally and just so time consuming.
With our parents we keep strong as the were confused and upset, while with the 'Professionals' we remain calm in dealing with the bureaucracy that surrounds the in-humane way in which my parents have been treated. While at the same time trying to keep focused on how best to deal with the situation for my parents current and future prospects and maintain our own businesses.
The hardest thing was to watch my mother as she 'gave-up', she passed away last week, in pain and confusion. I was with her from the time she was her in the A&E from around 10am till she passed away at 7:30pm. She held on in a morphined haze, taking her final breathe as my Dad held her hand.
There she lay at the age of 84 a tiny person, she had given so much of herself to the local community, being on call for anyone who needed her help and would fight for them, but she gave up on herself. OK she was 84, but her last few years had been of discomfort, pain and mental deterioration. Yes it is difficult for those around, of course, every one has their rights and we have no idea what they are going through physically or mentally, that is personal.
Now we are back to square 1, going through the bureaucratic hoops to ensure that my Dad is cared and loved for as he deserves for the rest of his life, without the government taking everything that he has. It's criminal how they appear to be like vultures just waiting to TAKE.
My parents have not only gone through the horrors of the second world war. Both suffered, mum physically in her capacity as a flight mechanic on the Spitfires and Dad in his experiences of the D-Day landings. Then they worked till they retired, self-employed, running their own retail business; the shop was open 6 days a week serving customers, but nights and Sundays were spent satisfying the rules and regulations of the government and bureaucrats.
It begs belief that the current news topic of unethical behaviour of financial institutions and politicians can get away with all that they are doing, while the REAL people that make a community and a country what it is are punished.
My mother's life's story is going to be written by me; a true people and community person. She put others before her own husband and children spending time, in local government as an Independent who never sought any payment, even not bothering to claim many of the expenses she was entitled too (the family business funding her passion, instead). She was an active member of the Women's British Legion, and so much more.
I know that all will sort itself out and for every grey cloud the sunshine follows, but in the meantime, emotions aside there is the endless mounds of official procedures to follow, as well as immediate needs of family to deal with.
All lessons, new knowledge and growth, but the biggest blessing is that being self-employed and running a home-based business I could be with my mother as she passed away, I can be there for my father any time he needs me and I can spend the time dealing with the bureaucracy, if I was still working in the CITY in the highly paid job I had I wouldn't have been able to.
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