Roy’s Sunday Letter for April 19, 2026
Benefits of Letting the Old Man or Woman In
Toby Keith wrote and recorded Don’t Let the Old Man In during his last months of treatment and eventual death from stomach cancer. There is a popular site offering T-shirts, hats, and bags with this message.
I understand the resistance and push back of letting the old man or woman into my daily life, primary relationships, physical condition, as well as my emotional and spiritual health. I hear the voice of my Physical Therapist reminding me to stand tall, head up and eyes forward. I am mindful of the harm of rounded and stooped shoulders, sliding my feet, not lifting and placing my feet when walking. Individuals with Dementia and progressive memory loss and their caretakers have no door or lock as the unwanted old crashes in replacing the young man or woman they knew and loved.
- Medical tests, exams, and pharmacies are about not allowing the natural parts of aging to hold off a little while longer. I see and understand daily life, health and wellness, even optimism can change or decline with the latest test result or fall. Beth and I have many friends who live by themselves. Beth and I are blessed to have the opportunity to face these challenges together, in companionship.
But wait……there is a benefit in allowing, even inviting the older ones into our lives. The older woman or man bring wisdom, humor, their life story to teach, to encourage, to serve as a guide. My life would have been harder, less fulfilling, without the elders who have showed up and have been a part of my stages, places, and events of my life.
Who are now or have been the elder of wisdom and life experience important at a critical time? Is there a way for you to express appreciation to the elder or their family? Making a donation in their name to a favorite charity is another way of recognizing the ones who have added to your individual and family life.
My writing today is about best choices in health and wellness, relationships, financial, and all parts of an active life. So many of our choices are influenced by who we let in and who we do not. Toby Keith’s lyrics were a caution to choose wisely, adapting to each challenge along with the elders who bless and guide us.
Roy, remembering those invited in
This rare unhurried Sunday morning affords me the opportunity to read Roy’s Sunday Letter and comment first. For me the power of this letter lies in the authenticity of its author. Roy lives the struggle between fighting to maintain the abilities of youth and finding the serenity to accept the things we cannot change. May God grant us all courage and wisdom.
Yes, I live, we all live, somewhere in the in-between of was, is, will be.
One key is to float with rather fight against.
One other key is staying connected as part of my health and spiritual balance.
We do so together……
It is strange at times to think of myself as elderly, but it is a reality I live with each day. It takes me longer to accomplish tasks that need to be done just because of the expenditure of energy it takes to do it. Some things are left undone because they don’t seem important. The elders I grew up with never struck me as old. They rarely went to the Doctor and tackled life as it came. I think they were from farming communities where hard work was expected and had to be done. They were a generation of doers, not complainer’s. We can learn from them.
My E. Texas grandparents had daily chores still to do after 5pm supper (eggs. feed cows, milk cow)
No TV habit. The farm had a daily and seasonal flow of animals, crops.
If transported to the city, no crops or animals, they would be lost.
You and I are elders.
You make a difference to hundreds of youth and families.
You, and other elders with you, are givers, difference makers.
Roy
This battle process of over coming barriors is a very important part of life that can be very difficult and complex with a vast array of feelings attacking aging health concerns with remedies that may help make life a bit more palpable as we meet head on challenges that can possibly change immediate and future outcomes and issues confronting us. First of all it is important to find true friends and band togather to challenge our current sucurmstances to find some reasonable solutions. Roy and Beth have been good companions for me to meet head on a good battle that challenges barriers that can be scurcomvented with new brightened pathways to more wholsome outcomes. A good friend once said “don’t go winding around alone”. And that song is also worth listening to. We can change present dire circumstances with love and compassion for ourselves and for each other. And that is the TRUTH!
Our Fridays together are true safe places for 3 three
Both the good and the not.
Sometimes we do Change an outcome
Most times we Accept an outcome and continue on,,,,,as we will Friday.
Well written my friend! A great topic for bench time.
Bench time
R. Pope with coffee.
Our porch chairs
All good places of good words by good people……..
As I am now in my Golden Years it is sometimes hard not to “ let the old man in.” Thank you for the reminder and thank you for another great letter. I look forward to them each week
We read and create our thoughts together.This Sunday’s topic is about Hope, how to retain, how to offer to others.
R. Pope and a coffee anytime…..