She exhausts me

I had a great aunt like this - she was wonderful, everyone loved her and if she didn't love everyone you would never have known it! However, she was a single, independent person all her life - though she did full time paid work and helped out an extensive extended family until her mid eighties.I do wonder whether that made a difference - as well as having generally good health, enough money to pay the bills and a bit over - and a kind and positive attitude to start off with?

It is more difficult maintaining the energy levels you may be lucky enough to have enjoyed in your youth and middle age, if you have had to cope with more than your fair share of misfortune over the years one way or another. I think this is especially true if you have had to become a 24 hour carer for
someone and become isolated as a result.The person you mention is making a huge, beneficial difference to many people - good for her - but, while I admire her, here's a bunch of flowers too, to all those hidden away behind their front doors who are making life a bit better for just one, often at immense cost to themselves.

They are certaintly very special people Indiana

I think these rare people draw their stength from their good living and kindness - almost like a self-perpetuating energy. They seem to have no negativity about them. Surely something to aspire to.

Indiana, she realy has a calmness, nothing seems to drain her, cause her stress, when I asked her how she was going to Epsom, one would think she was just catching a bus to town. Some just have this calmness don't they ? As I have learned of what she does in a week - from others , it is so obvious how much she means to many people.

What a wonderful lady, she enjoys everything she does, giving pleasure to others, I hope she carries on for many years good for her x

annie I love how you described her at 22:30 yesterday evening, ending "There is a calmness about her". I could actually feel that peace from your description. She sounds so wonderful, and reminds me a little of a lovely lady, Rose, a customer of my DH many years ago who was still very active at 93, helping neighbours, doing church flowers, and so on. She had been a seamstress all her life and still, in her 90's, would do alterations for people on her sewing maxhine. She was surrounded by an almost tangible aura of peace and goodness. The church was more packed than it had ever been at her funeral. She was greatly loved and greatly missed.

Jacky

I think she is twins.

Even more amazing, then! I do feel inspired when I hear of those with such a zest for life in their seventies and eighties. I also know that before too long all my grandchildren will be at school and leading their own lives. It is therefore important to hold on to interests and friendships, but that's a topic for another post!

She has a son, grandchildren and g grand children , they do not live in the town , I have no idea when her son moved away

She sounds a bit like my sister in law, who never married and has no children. I think all the running around she does for others is similar to the miles I cover and energy I expend on my children and grandchildren.

Wow! fantastic ! I wish I could have some of her energy ! Painted the conservatory this weekend , did the ironing, mowed the lawns, took all the furniture outside from the conservatory and cleaned it ....then put everything back ,,,,,wore me out for two days ! Just going out there (If I can get off here !) to hand the final wall plates back up !)

Have to replace the hinge on the kitchen cupboard door (tried but keep cutting my finger on it !) then paint all the doors inside the house ,,,but I am currently THINKING about it ...maybe I will go and make tea and sit in the garden to think .........

Hooty, this was tried, she heard about it and put a stop to it, apparently she believes she was blessed with good health so needs nothing more.

This is the exact type of person who should be in the honours list! Not some flaming footballer or fashion designer filling their boots.

Thank you. What I find remarkable is she is just carries on daily, doesn't speak about what she does , I wonder what else she does that I haven't heard of. I know she isn't very keen on tv , no surprise when I see the number of library books she has monthly from the mobile library ?

What a very inspiring lady she is. Her focus is well and truly outside herself and beamed on others. What a fabulous way to live your life. I'm so glad it has been a long life because people like her are needed. Thank you for telling us about her, Anniebach.

Anniebach
This lady is well and truly a miracle.
Can we know of and all have some of what she is having?

All those events and helpful visits keep her young and active, and keep the brain sharp they keep her going. My Dear mum was Cleaning for elderly ladies who couldn't do it themselves until she was 82. Bless her

Lilyflower - no-one is forced to attend the lectures/discussion groups this lady organises. They seem to be pretty well-balanced and well-organised - long may they (and she) continue!

Kim, she doesn't speak of the Quakers when she does her community work, she didn't tell me , I met her shortly after I moved her, a few months ago , I attended a Quaker meeting and there she was , when I moved she knocked my door and welcomed me to the cul de sac, no mention of what she does. I learned of her activities from people in the town. She telephoned me at the weekend and said she was away for the week,i asked her where she was going and I asked her how the hell she was getting to Epsom, if I hadn't asked she wouldn't have said. This I have such respect for, she doesn't speak of what she does ,others do. I didn't know she organised the poetry group untill I turned up there, she lives just three doors away from me. I see her trot along the path every day, no idea where she is
off to. I was told there was a move to have her nominated for the honours list, she stopped that.

I think I'm a little like the lady you mention but certainly not so amazing and I'm not quite 86 yet. I guess being organised is perhaps 'in the genes'. She is certainly a terrific ambassador for the Quaker movement without even trying to promote it. Long my she have the ability to enjoy her lifestyle. Truly inspiring bit of reading. Thank you Anniebach.

My guess is that she may not have a computer - and is certainly not on Gransnet!

anniebach I was envious of your energy when you said you were tramping round Gower yesterday in the rain campaigning.

My energy levels are nowhere near that of your neighbour.
Unless my energy is just directed elsewhere (garden, house, family etc).

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.

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?

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.