Holidays are not fun when you are poor

 

Dear Bloggers,

 

The holidays are approaching, the days are gretting shorter, and the temperature is dropping. December is a joyful month for many people. Regretfully, not everyone experiences this. It can be particularly difficult for children who are growing up in (hidden) poverty during this time of year.

Poverty-stricken children and youth frequently receive no presents for Christmas or Sinterklaas. One out of every twelve kids lives in poverty. It affects 1 in 9 kids in big cities. Because there is so little, it is very exciting for these kids and teens to invite friends to their houses. Sometimes there isn't enough money for a winter coat when it gets really cold.

Sometimes the funds for a winter coat are insufficient. Or occasionally there isn't a bicycle available for riding to school. In addition, they could be able to pursue further education beyond high school. Beginning in early November, we once more see storefronts brimming with gifts. Sinterklaas and Santa Claus mention gift-filled warehouses on the Sinterklaasjournaal. Once more, the gift-filled advertisements and toy guides tumble upon the doormat. Children and young people's social and emotional development is greatly impacted when a present on Christmas Eve or Sinterklaas is not at all clear. They are unable to relate to their peers since they are unable to discuss their gift in class. Exclusion results from not receiving Santa Claus or Christmas gifts.

 

Everybody is entitled to a worry-free upbringing. to have the same status as girlfriends and friends. with a bicycle, sports instruction, new clothes, and a Christmas gift. All Dutch children and youths aged 0 to 21 who are raised in poverty are eligible for Kinderhulp. On December 5, Children's Aid makes sure that as many kids who live in poverty as possible get a gift! You can assist, too!

 

Regretfully, not everyone can afford all those groceries. Better yet, not everyone owns a house. Many individuals, especially children, continue to live in poverty even in the Netherlands. Occasionally as a result of losing their employment. Additionally, they are no longer paid because they are ill. For instance, the Netherlands is wealthy in comparison to several Asian and African nations. However, 14.5% of Dutch people do not have enough money to live comfortably in this country. This may result in bad eating habits, delayed medical appointments, and an inability to participate in enjoyable activities like sports. 

Therefore, we must ensure that funds are allocated more effectively. so that everyone may work, have a place to live, eat, and occasionally engage in enjoyable activities. Starting in the Netherlands, this is how we contribute to the global eradication of poverty.

The Old Sailor,

 

 

When Anger makes life difficult

  

Dear Bloggers,

 

Accidentally I met a new person a nearly sixty-year-old man from Turkey who is already here for more than forty years. He reasonably speaks the Dutch language. The biggest problem he has is a bit of a temper when it comes to officials who write letters to him. And yes his anger issue brought him into a lot of trouble. The problem is that we do not understand a lot of all these bureaucratic things. He fled in his younger years and going to school was difficult. 

Does anyone else out there have issues with their "friends" and professionals turning their backs on them and leaving them out in the cold while they are not getting treatment for PTSD? What would you do????

 

He told me that he had a great person who helped him manage all the paperwork and was there socially for him when suddenly the money from the county was stopped. So his guy was not paid anymore and stopped showing up. He has different people around to help him, but according to him they just are taking the money and not much is been done. Everyone who said they would support me through treatment has turned their backs on him and instead of being supportive they are "pushing his buttons" and not helping but adding to his stress.

What would you do??? I can't point it out to them cause it just starts an argument and they claim I'm using the "poor him card". My "best friend" won't even talk to some of them anymore. All I get is negative energy from them as he explains. “I feel more alone than I did before the treatments“. Which it is but as the rest of you know, you can't get through this without help and support from family and friends.

 

You have to do what you can live with. Nothing more, nothing less. If your professionals are adding to your stress and your illness then you need to, even temporarily, distance yourself while you heal. By the way, unless your friends have PTSD they will never 'get it'. They can't understand what's going on in your mind and your life. It's just one of those things in life that can't be changed. You have to find people who can and will support you (therapists, doctors, support groups) and not ask the same thing of your friends.

 

I just learned a very difficult lesson by having this person I thought of as my "best" friend quit talking to me with an outburst of anger and no explanation. I just made a phone call to his health insurance office and told me that they could not help him. I was flabbergasted by this answer and asked who should I call on this issue. This happened after I realized /remembered he was having an anger issue and they got him out of the building by police and he was not allowed to come back in. As he had verbally abused a person he had spoken to or most probably yelled at. He was not in the here-and-now reality - He was reacting as if I was still a hurt terrified young man. His best friend and helping hand had vanished. It's been over two or three years and it hurts him, but I guess that's the reason that he breaks and goes totally bananas when they put too much pressure on him. „I have to control my behavior somehow (or avoid people when I'm in that state) if I want people to stick around, even if it's incredibly difficult, “ he says to me. I tell him all the time you will get there when you ask people in a nice and friendly way. I share my life with my wife who has PTSD and is working hard on herself. I ran into this years ago myself after my army days and I kept it away from the rest but lately, I am going to therapy as well to get a better me out of it. Mine is a form of parts. I struggle with some anger and some strange feelings of failure. It’s not the end of the world for me, although I still struggle with putting myself in the spotlight when I rather go in camouflage and blend in with the rest.

 

Before you read what I have written please understand I am trying to offer a view from the other side of the fence. I do not wish to antagonize anyone with PTSD or invalidate their suffering. I intend to provide you with some thoughts that some of your friends may have thought. As a 'friend' of someone who has PTSD my thoughts are these - I agree that I can never understand PTSD but I can and have learned to have an appreciation for what it may be like.

Conversely, I think some PTSD sufferers forget how dramatic their reactions are sometimes and how frightening they can be sometimes to someone who has no idea of what they are dealing with. I have learned that I cannot apply logic or reason to try and understand a sufferer when they are very ill. To someone who has a history of abuse (but not PTSD etc), it can be quite daunting being lashed out at by someone who is supposed to be their friend.

 

What I think I need to say as a 'friend' is that a sufferer can help their friends understand them better by trying to meet them some of the way and work out what the friend relates to.

 

I like to read and learn so I went to the bookstore and gave me some literature to read. Some other friends may relate to the movie 'Reign Over Me' as they have trouble reading books and rather like watching TV. Of course, it goes without saying that the 'friend' has to be the type of person who is willing to make the effort and learn. I also found that as a 'friend,' I need to be really strong and definite with my boundaries so that while I may see a PTSD sufferer ill it does not become my punishment too.

 Living with someone who has PTSD has taught me (although sometimes difficult) that the issue may not be about me but I may bear the brunt of the pain/frustration/illness that they feel. Luckily for me, I have not had to deal with the full-blown form of PTSD and I can only empathise with those who suffer from it.

 Harsh as it may sound, friendship is a two-way street and sometimes it's just a case of meeting the right person. If I look back over my life so far my friends have changed as my circumstances did but then there are a few who have been there all the way and are still around.

 

I too have been through losing many friends over this. Many were because my wife isolated me from them, as she was not able to reconnect with people around her at that time. I have a few close friends. Many people seem to like me a lot and want to spend time with me, but few can connect with the world I live in.

 It has been hurting for a long time, every now and then it still stings a bit but it's just the way it is. I "feel out" people by slowly giving them tidbits about my life to see if I want to invest emotionally with them in a friendship. There are very few I can talk to about the real me. I am blessed by having those few. As a matter of fact, you remind me to call them today and tell them I love them. I didn't use to do that. Now that I really know how precious friendship, true friendship is, I tell them. I try to take long hard looks in the mirror to see if I'm being a good friend to them, and initiate conversation by asking them how I can be a better friend the times when I am able to look past my own hands.

 I have also looked closely at who adds to my life. I need to surround myself with love and support, not judgment. Life's hard enough, I don't need more added to my plate of battles. So, I've narrowed down my friends as well to those who aren't toxic to me but help me along my path and cherish the few I'm left with. This includes my family. I am now working on our relationship as a couple as I have been playing for too long the role of parent and caretaker, you may see a post from me later about that.

 

Hugs, I know this is hard stuff. And yes one thing you should learn straight away. You are beautiful exactly as you are. Cherish those who enrich your life and you will glow love, attracting others like you who can face life head-on to you.

 I heard this phrase once...People come into our lives for a season, a reason, or a lifetime.

 I think it is exacerbated by our PTSD but even people without PTSD have failed relationships......

 

The Old Sailor,

 

Home Defects: Sue the Seller, Agent, or Property Inspector?

  

Dear Bloggers,

 

A few months ago, we bought us a new home and yes, we were aware of the fact that this was not a new house. In my opinion a homeowner should look after his property. This is the thing that is occurring as the former owner has laid back in his chair and keeping up with the house that needs some work was not his thing.

Our home came with some unhappy surprises like leaks, cracks, broken mechanical systems, and other defects, the fiscal responsibility might not be ours alone. According to the lawyer we have hired for this case.

What if something was wrong with your house at the time of purchase and someone, the seller, the property seller's real estate agent, or the inspector could have or should have told us about it, but didn't?

Such problems can become known days, weeks after the sale, leaving you angry and wondering whether you really must shoulder the entire financial burden.

In such cases, you might be able to ask the responsible person to pitch in and take the matter to court if they do not. Ideally, you'll be able to resolve matters without filing a lawsuit suit.

Minor Home Defects or Natural Aging Aren't Grounds for a Lawsuit. We knew when we bought the house that it wasn't in a perfect condition. Some problems, such as a crack in the front walk, A window frame that was rotten these things were obvious. Others, such as aging plumbing, the seller might have told you about in the course of the sale. (In our country laws require home sellers to disclose all "material" defects to prospective buyers.)

 

Our home inspector, we had to hire one to get a mortgage also told us about a few foreseeable problems.

Then after the sale, our home probably continued its normal process of aging and decaying, leaving us to deal with the consequences. None of these sorts of issues provide any grounds upon which to run back to the seller to complain.

Will your insurance company cover the damage? If so, there might be no need to act on your own.

 

Could the Home Seller Be Held Legally Responsible for the Undisclosed Defects?

Even if you think you've been wronged, you can't sue everyone involved in the sale of your home. The home seller is the first one to consider, of course.

As mentioned, nearly every country in Europe has laws requiring sellers to advise buyers of certain defects in the property, typically by filling out a standard disclosure form before the sale is completed. (This responsibility remains even if you bought the house "as is.")

The form usually asks the seller to tell whether the property has certain features like appliances, a roof, a foundation, systems for electricity, water, and heating, and more and then to rate or describe their condition. Disclosure laws are more comprehensive than others, and if a feature isn't on the list, the seller might not be required to speak up. Also, the seller isn't usually required to scout out problems.

If there's clearly a place on the form where the seller should have stated a problem but denied it, your job is to try to figure out whether the seller in fact knew about it. For example, if the seller patched over or hid problem areas, or if the neighbors have told you about the seller's efforts to deal with a problem, the evidence is on your side.

Could the Seller's Real Estate Agent Be Held Legally Responsible?

Sometimes' laws make sellers' real estate agents liable for failing to disclose problems they observed or were told of by the sellers, though often their duties are limited.

Could Your Home Inspector Be Held Legally Responsible?

Hopefully, we are as the bank asked us for getting a home inspection report done before buying. In theory, the inspector should have spotted problems that the seller wasn't aware of or was turning a blind eye to. If the inspector missed problems that an expert (a professional peer) should have noticed, the inspector might be on the hook; that is, legally liable.

We read over your inspection report to see what it said about the area in question. Some buyers are embarrassed to find that the problem is spelled out right in the report or falls within an area that the inspector rightfully excluded from the report (such as a blocked off or inaccessible area). In our case the crawl space was not accessible because it was full of water and gave off a fierce dank smell. As a result, the inspector could not figure out if the utilities were in working order located in the crawl space.

But in other cases, the inspector did not meet basic standards of professional competence. This is the reason our lawyer is hiring an independent building inspector and maintenance expert. And who will hopefully be able to get a clear picture of the stated defects that are being denied by the seller.

Do You Have a Solid Case?

Once you've figured out the possible responsible parties, you'll want to know whether their action or inaction might entitle you to compensation. If your situation meets the criteria below, you might have a good case. We've collapsed a few legal principles into this list, but it will apply to most situations in most U.S. states.

• The defect was there before you bought the home. 
• It's not an obvious defect that you could have seen yourself before buying. 
• No one told you about the defect before the sale, or someone actually lied to you about it. 
• You relied on the lies or nondisclosures. 
• You've incurred monetary damage as a result. 
• You're within any appropriate deadlines.

 

Even if you think you meet the above criteria, remember that in an actual lawsuit, it will be your job to convince a judge. Hence the more evidence you can start gathering, the better. We are trying to avoid a lawsuit as there is quite a cost involved. Still if the seller continues to resist and deny like this then there is probably little choice but to take it to court. Writing the letters is difficult and this has been dragging on for several months now. Hopefully, the courts will provide clarity, and we can move forward with realizing our own little palace. We have not lost hope and hope for a good outcome.

You might still be responsible for paying court costs and other fees, plus expenses such as the attorney's phone calls and postage. Or the court might award reimbursement of attorney's fees as part of your damages.

Waiting for better times.

The Old Sailor,

 

Trying to find closure

 

Dear Bloggers,

 

“This wasn’t supposed to happen! Tell me why this has happened!” These are the spoken words of countless bereaved parents and boy or girlfriends that had a great day out in the old town of Brugge. Travelling by ship to the main land of Belgium. Townsend Thoresen was well known by lorry drivers and regular travelers that numerously crossed the channel with these ships throughout numerous years mostly foot passengers travelled for one pound due to an ad in The Sun — a never-ending and always present wound in the Souls of those who have buried their loved ones. After nearly 38 years, I returned to the place where the disaster with the Herald of Free Enterprise occurred. And the moment will never leave your brain many first responders have still some mental scars from this.

 

Disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, transportation accidents, or wildfires are typically unexpected, sudden, and overwhelming. For many people, there are no outwardly visible signs of physical injury, but there can be nonetheless an emotional toll. It is common for people who have experienced disaster to have strong emotional reactions. Understanding responses to distressing events can help you cope effectively with your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, and help you along the path to recovery. And we are easily forgetting about the rescue teams that have to live with all the things they have seen and heard. The endless sounds of sirens and alarms that are going of constantly. These memories are hard to deal with for many and some of them cannot cope afterwards and get mentally stuck and some even take their own lives.

What are common reactions and responses to disaster?

Following disaster, people frequently feel stunned, disoriented or unable to integrate distressing information. Once these initial reactions subside, people can experience a variety of thoughts and behaviors. Common responses can be:

• Intense or unpredictable feelings. You may be anxious, nervous, overwhelmed, or grief-stricken. You may also feel more irritable or moody than usual.
• Changes to thoughts and behavior patterns. You might have repeated and vivid memories of the event. These memories may occur for no apparent reason and may lead to physical reactions such as rapid heartbeat or sweating. It may be difficult to concentrate or make decisions. Sleep and eating patterns also can be disrupted—some people may overeat and oversleep, while others experience a loss of sleep and loss of appetite.
• Sensitivity to environmental factors. Sirens, loud noises, burning smells, or other environmental sensations may stimulate memories of the disaster creating heightened anxiety. These “triggers” may be accompanied by fears that the stressful event will be repeated.
• Strained interpersonal relationships. Increased conflict, such as more frequent disagreements with family members and coworkers, can occur. You might also become withdrawn, isolated, or disengaged from your usual social activities.
• Stress-related physical symptoms. Headaches, nausea, and chest pain may occur and could require medical attention. Preexisting medical conditions could be affected by disaster-related stress.

How do I cope with this?

Fortunately, research shows that most people are resilient and over time are able to bounce back from tragedy. It is common for people to experience stress in the immediate aftermath, but within a few months most people are able to resume functioning as they did prior to the disaster. It is important to remember that resilience and recovery are the norm, not prolonged distress. There are a number of steps you can take to build emotional well-being and gain a sense of control following a disaster, including the following:

Give yourself time to adjust. Anticipate that this will be a difficult time in your life. Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced and try to be patient with changes in your emotional state.

Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen and empathize with your situation. Social support is a key component to disaster recovery. Family and friends can be an important resource. You can find support and common ground from those who've also survived the disaster. You may also want to reach out to others not involved who may be able to provide greater support and objectivity.

Communicate your experience. Express what you are feeling in whatever ways feel comfortable to you—such as talking with family or close friends, keeping a diary, or engaging in a creative activity (e.g., drawing, molding clay, etc.).

Find a local support group led by appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Support groups are frequently available for survivors. Group discussion can help you realize that you are not alone in your reactions and emotions. Support group meetings can be especially helpful for people with limited personal support systems.

Establish or reestablish routines. This can include eating meals at regular times, sleeping and waking on a regular cycle, or following an exercise program. Build in some positive routines to have something to look forward to during these distressing times, like pursuing a hobby, walking through an attractive park or neighborhood, or reading a good book.

When should I seek professional help?

If you notice persistent feelings of distress or hopelessness and you feel like you are barely able to get through your daily responsibilities and activities, consult with a licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist. Psychologists are trained to help people address emotional reactions to disaster such as disbelief, stress, anxiety, and grief and make a plan for moving forward. To find a psychologist in your area, I did work on myself over more than 35 years. Lately I went for psychological help and I went back to where it all happened. 37 years after there are hardly any traces left of the things that have been printed in my brain forever. The night before I went there my brain was going back to the dark and cold night on the 6^th of March.

The searchlights in he sky and the screaming and crying people in the helicopters and ambulances. The Belgian army guys and firefighters and the Red Cross people who all worked with everything in their powers. It was like a bad and totally crazy movie in my head and I was in doubt if I should go there. Somehow there was something that calmed me down and told me this will bring you towards closure.

It will still take some time before I can say this is over. 

Although slowly but surely I will get there.

 

The Old Sailor,

Hopefully the last time that we moved house

 

Dear Bloggers,

I have moved house four times in just over twenty years. You think that my family and I would be really good at moving, but there is always something that trips us up every time.

After having lived in the same house for 23 years, I left my parental home and moved in with the girl I fell in love with. She rented a little Apartment in a medium sized village. We bought our first house in the village where I was born and where I grew up. Although I was young and restless and had my challenges fulfilled as a man with tons of ideas. In the army I found that life could be tricky and some of us are not getting really old they faced death at an early stage. After that I worked in discotheques and restaurants served people with joy. Although these jobs were for the summer season and I had to work in factories during the rest of the time and it was not paying that well. I started looking for a new challenge and went sailing on a small cruise liner. Here I found joy only thing that was missing was my little miss. Being homesick I left after one cruise and picked up the old jobs again. My dearest surprised me with an application for a new starting route with Scandinavian Seaways and a job as a waiter. After getting married and our first born a financial crisis struck and I lost my job. I tried many different paths but nothing brought real satisfaction. I was so happy when I received a phone call to serve on the Hamburg to Harwich route. Difference was leaving to loves of my life behind to live my dream. We moved to another small village close to my wife’s parents so they could babysit if necessary. And we were talking about a second child as our former home was too small for it. Then the Tax office was making mistake after mistake and almost seized our home as we started to run out of money. I have the mentality of a streetfighter and don’t give up easy. We sold our house and got challenged to get a much lower mortgage and less to live in. We went from a new home to an old and lived out house and had to start all over from scratch.   

 

I had a dream that wouldn't let me rest. I wanted to renovate our old home and turn it into the house that we wanted.  My wife bought into my vision and after almost ten years we looked for a house that we could afford and that we could transform. The deadline for the sale of our beautiful home was coming closer and closer and we had a fourth night left to pack our stuff and move on.

In February 2018, we finally found it - an old, never updated in the last forty-some years. A little family home that was about to be collapsing under its conditions. It didn't have many features - except for a farmers door as a front door, floorboards that were moving with you. It had an outdoor laundry room in the shed and a very tiny toilet room and a tiny, dirty kitchen that was barely functional. Even the electricity had to be removed as it was more than forty years old. Also the plumbing had to be redone. So we took the floors out and started from scratch to remodel the intestines of the house. Fortunately, it had a bit of a yard were we could drop of all the old crap that was removed, the company having containers for all the wood, doors, drywall, bricks, concrete and whatever had been stuck in this house was located close to our house. We had several of them and if you sort it out it saves a pretty penny. After everything was renewed and brought up to todays standards. The foam concrete floor was poured and the underfloor heating was installed the next day. A week later the screed floor and the next week the tiled floor. Finally it was habitable again. In the weeks that followed, the electrical work was done and the plasterers did the walls downstairs. The upstairs was now ready for use because we lived in the middle of this construction site.

At a certain point, the ceilings were also installed and the house could be furnished with all the things that were in the garage and after almost 4 years of renovation, not all of them looked as good anymore. That night I woke up to a searing plastic smell. I looked out the window at the front and saw a bit of smoke. I had a bad feeling and went downstairs to see if everything was okay. I opened the back curtains and saw a flame dancing behind the garage window.

I raised the alarm and ran upstairs woke the children and sent them outside my wife grabbed the dogs and went out the front door. All my tools and materials burned as well as some of the furniture and all the paperwork and our other clothes. The blow was hard and complicated for someone with a trauma and two relatively young children. Yet we would overcome this too. Tough as nails they say. Even though my wife could not find her way as the city has its noises like: traffic noise. screaming sirens of fire brigade, police and ambulances. But also drunken youngsters on weekends and holidays were not uncommon. All year round some stupid guests let off firecrackers which made the dogs react rather nervously and bark out of fear. We decided to sell the property and find something more quiet again. We successfully found a house that needed a great bit of love to make it up to our standards again.

 

So we bought it. The pressure was then on to fix up our current house and pack up our stuff. We had to do a load of work to get the house ready for moving day. And a month is not enough to get everything up and running. Impossible is not in my vocabulary and everyone tried to be ready on the deadlines, not easy for the people that had to do the jobs. The bathroom was one of the issues as the guy that had to install it just gave up on us as he had no time left. My contractor found another plumber and the electrical work I took up for a great deal myself and another company made the new outlets for the freezer and the fridge. Still not everything is done but there is time now to do things later like painting the ceilings and walls.

 

Also, the garage floor needs to be demolished and then re-poured and will have underfloor heating and a tile floor put in. Furthermore, the garage will be split. the front will be my workshop and the back will be the utility room and laundry room for my wife. So still a lot to do in the coming time. Someday it will all be done and the dream will be complete. When I reach retirement I hope the chores will be over.

There is something about living in a house for a long time. You accrue a lot of things. And dare I say, my wife is most probably a hoarder. I am the one that keeps a lot of stuff if it comes to building. Tools I have average. We had quite a big garage, but the amount of stuff I had stored in there was phenomenal (that even excluded all the equipment for the garden I had stored at another location).

Planning the move took a lot of time and lots of tiny decisions. We planned on moving out the big things, the things we could see. Anything we didn't need for a couple of months we packed up and sent to our new rented storage room that we had in regional storage center. I spent countless nights boxing things. And registered all the goods in a spreadsheet. By the time we had our first open for inspection, it looked like we lived this magical, idealized life of a tidy house and lots of floor space (see photo above). It was like living in a sales folder with the perfect family.

 

It felt like a mirage.

When we finally moved (and had still five months) to prepare, we thought it would be easy. After all, we had most of our things in storage and we had also sold or donated a lot of things. I booked a big truck for a day.

By 2pm on moving day, it became painfully obvious things weren't going well. There were still so many boxes to get into the truck. By the time we arrived at our new house, it was dusk. We decided to stop for the night and get the rest tomorrow. The next morning we started early again and literally shoved all the furniture into our new house (so we couldn't use any rooms except the bedrooms).

Thankfully, we weren't living there on the first night. We went back to our old, clean house and slept on mattresses on the floor. We were exhausted and got a little scared of what laid ahead.

The next day was even worse. It was settlement day. I started cleaning and packing up the bits and pieces strewn around the home at 6am. By 10.30am, we were getting frantic calls from our real estate agent about when we would hand in the keys. At 11am, I had to go to the solicitor for the legal paperwork our real estate agent was not there as they were having a day out with the personnel.

We got out of there by 10am the sale had gone through. It seemed like a tiny cause for celebration.

In the end, it wasn't the big pieces of furniture that made our move so traumatic. It was all the bits of stuff we had accrued that I didn't know existed, as well as all the little things I didn't know what to do with. Random cables, pieces of plastic from unknown items, storage containers, pet toys.

 

Yet, what I severely underestimated was that it just wasn't our physical stuff that took a long time to sort, it was also the emotional baggage that lay trapped underneath. From exposing a hidden conflict with my spouse - her deep need to be surrounded by a lot of stuff and my need to have very little, as well as the more held back emotions of my wife as she started feeling lonely as I was not the best guy anymore as I forgot about us and was to busy with all the things to keep running our daughter (who is still traumatized by leaving her okay city home).

The annual house moves took a toll on both of us and trying to believe we were finally moving back home to a settled and easier life. The vision of a beautiful, clean and bigger house that was all ours had long lost its shine (or as our 20 year old proclaimed, "You have been promising this house to me since I was 16 and now I'm planning when I can leave home."

Yet, the whole experience has taught me a lot about when I can push people to change and when I cannot, as well as not ignoring the little things  become so overwhelming and energy-zapping.

During a move, you know not to throw every family member's clothes into one big box. You sort them into individual boxes. It makes it so much easier to unpack when you get to your destination.

 Change isn't something that comes naturally to humans.

 

A quote I heard recently "The old needs to drop away before the new can arise within you." Yet, we stubbornly hold onto the past and fear the new. Moving house is a process of allowing the old to fall away. It can be traumatic because we become so emotionally attached with where we are. Yet, sometimes there is something bigger and better waiting for us that we need to experience, in order to be the person we want to be. 

Everyone evolves at their own pace. Planning a big move or change is really about giving our brains the time it needs to absorb that a new life is ahead of us. Some of us hold on tightly to where we are because it feels comforting and safe, while others jump onboard the change train gleefully and excited. 

It's not until we have moved that we can finally let go of our old daily habits and behaviors. Sometimes the move is positive as we experience new things that light us up and give our lives meaning and joy.  Other times, the move is negative and we find ourselves trapped in a small place that feels like our freedom and autonomy has been reduced. What I learnt is to keep the dialogue open between family members. Focusing on the dream house didn't work with one teenager. Giving them the time and space to vent and complain seemed to be what they needed, as well as not reacting negatively to things they said that were hurtful. 

In years to come, I know I will look back at this time as when myself and my family transcended our limitations and stepped into a new reality. A time when we all learnt individually who we really are and how to interact better with one another during uncertainty and pressure.

 

The Old Sailor,

 

No News today

Dear Bloggers,

We bought another house and being busy refurbishing, I will update you later so this month no blog. See you Soon 

 The Old Sailor,

When This Life Ends A New Life Begins

 

Dear Bloggers,

Just before springtime comes and every now and then there’s a little ray of sunshine that brightens up the dark days of the wintertime. Even if live life to the fullest and you are still making loads of plans. But somehow your sickness is kicking in and slowly but surely the body has to give up bit by bit. And at a certain moment your days are counted.

.

“Life starts and it ends with a breath, in between these two breaths lays a story; a child is born and explores the world; the child smiles and cries; the child lives and becomes a man; the man learns that life is neither good or bad, just beautiful the way it is.

Life ends on this earth by letting go of the first breath, because the man knows that letting go is the path that leads to freedom; and then life begins again purer than ever.”

Think about the flowers. Life is just a bunch of pretty pictures. All this is supposed to do is force you beyond the mind, when you realize that you can't figure it out.

People often wonder what they should say to a person who is dying. It is understandable that you might feel confused – what you feel might be so complex that it is hard to find the right words, or any words at all. It is natural to worry about saying the wrong thing. You may want to offer something that will help them cope but don’t know what that is. It is usually better to say something than to pretend nothing is wrong.

Most times, someone who is dying will find comfort in you being there, and appreciate knowing that family and friends are thinking of them. Even if you feel you’re not doing anything, just being there sends the message that you care.

It isn't clear how long a person who is dying retains awareness of what is going on around them, but research suggests that some degree of awareness may remain even after the person slips from unconsciousness.

Often, people will lapse into a coma before they die—a deep state of unconsciousness and unresponsiveness. People in a coma may still hear people talking even when they can no longer respond. Because of this, the health department suggests that caregivers, family, and physicians should behave as if the dying person is aware of what is going on and is able to hear and understand voices.

 

A 2020 study that investigated hearing in palliative care patients who were close to death provides evidence that some people may still be able to hear while in an unresponsive state. (EEG) was used to measure the dying brain's response to sound. The findings suggest that telling a person you love them in their final may register with them.

Dying is a natural process that the body has to work at. Just as a woman in labor knows a baby is coming, a dying person may instinctively know death is near. Even if your loved one doesn't discuss their death, they most likely know it is coming.

In some cases, the person may come from a culture or a family in which death is simply not discussed. Furthermore, your loved one may sense that others feel uncomfortable recognizing the dying process so they don't want to bring it up.

 

Death can then become the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it's there but no one will acknowledge it. Family discussions may be awkward and superficial and never reach an intimate level.

Talking about death is rarely easy. Many of us feel uncomfortable even saying the words "death" or "dying." Talking about it with a loved one who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness can be especially awkward.

 

First, remember that you are talking to someone who is still living, and that talking about memories and shared experiences honors the dying person's life. Experiencing sadness with the loved one is appropriate; that's part of life, too.

If necessary, a therapist or a social worker with experience in this area can make these conversations easier.

 

The flowers will fade no matter what but the memories we made will never be lost.

The Old Sailor,