A relationship is a unique invention of humanity.
For a relationship to succeed, it must be meaningful.
There are 3 types of ingredients needed for success of any relationship.
We can classify these ingredients as: Vital, Essential, and Desirable.
As we grow older, the body's ability to produce these ingredients diminishes,
Which affects the relationship quality.
Vital ingredient in a relationship
There is just one vital ingredient for a meaningful relationship.
A healthy brain!
A relationship with a healthy person, but inactive brain,
A vegetative state,
Is an exercise in futility.
There is no meaningful interaction, to share the old memories!
A person has to cherish the old memories, all alone.
Even a partially active brain is a vital ingredient for survival of a relationship.
I share 30-90 years old memories of my 94 years old father,
Affected partially by dementia.
It is an exhilarating experience.
He remembers name of his school's headmaster - a 75 year old event.
Surprisingly, he remembers arithmetical tables, up to 19.
He can't co-relate geographical location of L.A., Sacramento, and Delhi.
It doesn't matter.
He may not remember, whether he had breakfast or not and may ask for it again.
But still the relationship is meaningful.
We share old memories with pride, and pleasure.
I whisper in his ears," You are the best daddy!"
I see a smile of a contented person, on his face.
Sometimes during sleep he murmurs:
"Oh my father, I am dying!"
He wants to go to his 'home',
His childhood village, now in Pakistan,
Where, his Muslim friends Karamat, and Abdul Kareem are waiting for him.
And his mother is waiting for him!
(She died 7 decades ago.)
I can do nothing about it,
I feel helpless and sad,
Still thanking God!
Essential ingredients
* His immobility due to arthritis is acceptable.
His inability to walk, doesn't affect the relationship quality,
Other than minor discomfort, in handling his movements.
I may need outside help.
That's it!
* Digestive system is essential.
Its degeneration, is slightly intolerable,
Constipation!
It may result in: poop once in 3 days.
But still, doesn't affect the meaningful relationship.
Desirable ingredients
* Inability to see 100%, doesn't affect the quality of relationship, except that it causes a bit of discomfort.
* Even, the functionality of limbs is at a lower priority, in a meaningful relationship.
* We can live with a 'challenged' person, with lack of vision, hearing, smell, ability to speak or move,
And still enjoy a meaningful relationship.
Conclusion
A relationship survives if it is meaningful,
Which demands: mental agility, and selflessness.
We need God's blessings:
To enjoy mental agility in old age,
To inculcate Godly principles of life, and
To develop ability to let the spouse be happy in his/her own way.
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