Keeping Busy this Fall
by Jodi Durham
The days are cooler, the nights are quieter, and the house feels empty once more – it can only mean one thing: summer is coming to an end. Yes, that’s right; those lazy summer days are fading fast, as the grandchildren rush off to school and their parents continue on with their busy work schedules. There’s no more kids screeching in yards as they run around being sprayed with water hoses, and there’s certainly no more booming from the college-bound kid next door’s stereo at midnight. Everything seems nice…until the touch of loneliness creeps in, anyway.
A quiet house can be nice, but when it’s too quiet it can be eerie, especially for those who are retired and living by themselves. Watching your family members hurry on with their busy schedules may cause you to feel left behind, or lonely, as there seems to be nothing to do. Fortunately, however, there are several activities which you can get involved in with just a little bit of time and effort. Whether it’s getting involved with a local senior center, joining a special interest group, or even getting a pet, it is possible for you to get involved in your community and beat any feelings of loneliness before they occur. Just because a fresh fall has started for others, doesn’t mean one can’t start for you too.
One of the best ways to stay in touch with your community is by locating the senior center closest to your home – you can do this by flipping through a phonebook or using a computer to search for it online. Most senior centers feature websites with information regarding their mission statement, upcoming events, and their contact information. The Senior Center’s website may be used as a great source for deciding whether that center is for you, and what events are available for you to attend. Most events offered by senior centers hold no charge for the elderly, and are great opportunities for mixing and mingling with other seniors in your area. Senior centers usually feature a variety of activities, anything from themed dinners to day field trips, or even gatherings for classic car lovers – but if the local senior center does not sound appealing to you, there are other social hubs available to seniors in your community.
Finding and joining a special interest group is a great way to stay busy this fall. Groups like this can be found by searching online, or checking the local bulletin boards around town, especially at local libraries and stores. Should you have an interest in reading, you may wish to look for book clubs that meet close to you, or an interest in exercise may lead to attendance at your local gym – the point is, whatever you like to do, you should find a group who likes the activity, too, and join them so that you may enjoy it together. Do beware, though, that some groups may require membership fees to join their clubs, and depending on the activity and the equipment involved, those fees may at times be pricey. However, if you’re willing to pay out a little bit of cash for a lot of fun, then some of these groups may be just right for you.
One final way to avoid loneliness this fall doesn’t include making trips outside the house, but rather involves bringing someone in. Should you really like to liven up your house this season, bringing home a pet is a strong recommendation. There are hundreds of animals in shelters waiting for someone to find them a perfect home, and that someone could be you. Taking on the tasks involved with adopting pets seems daunting, but imagine sharing your home with a kitten or puppy – animals which offer unconditional love every day. Pets can be useful for many reasons: keeping you company, keeping you healthy, or keeping the house more secure. Animals offer a sense of comfort and security normally lost in an empty house. Of course, with pets comes great responsibility (the food and vet bills don’t pay themselves, unfortunately), but if you’re willing to put in the effort, these little creatures are sure to liven your life and fill your heart with a new fall love.
