高齢者の必須科目・・・日々仕事があり、目標があること、そして発見

　倉賀野町には「桜木町」という地名があります。町名の由来と想われる桜並木が今見頃です。ここは私のお気に入りウォーキングコースの一つで、昨日も長閑な景色を堪能しました。ここには広い「鯉池」があり、その北側と東側一帯は美の饗宴です。水面ではロシアへ未だ向わない鴨たちが桜を眺めつつ、スイスイ泳いでる光景が見られます。写真をそれぞれ拡大してご覧ください。

　桜はいかにも日本的な光景です。ところが、この池は江戸時代に起こった「天明の飢饉」を今に伝えてます。１７８３年に大噴火した浅間山は、５０Kmも離れたこの辺一帯にも多くの火山灰を降らせ、農業に大打撃を与えました。私の庭も３０cmも掘ると当時の浅間砂の層が出てきます。この国難のとき、農業用水の必要からこの池を掘ったと歴史は伝えています。機械もない時代のため人海戦術で掘ったと推測されます。

　　

　ところで、いつの時代も生きることは並大抵ではありません。現代は少子高齢化時代。高齢者にとって「老後の生き甲斐」は大きな課題です。平均寿命が延び、子育てが終わり、退職後２０年～長い人は４０年もの期間を、どうしたら「生き甲斐を持って」生きられるかが大切な課題です。

　核家族化が進み、高齢者は仕事が減ってます。家事や子育ての補助者としての役割があまりありません。昔、老人は子守が仕事で、子供の遊び相手であり、「人生の先生」でもありました。しかし、今や、孫と会うのは年に数回ということも珍しくありません。これは幸せでしょうか。一見、生活は満ち足りても、やる仕事がなければ工夫も生き甲斐も生まれません。私たち高齢者にとって、自ら進んで出来る仕事や、達成したい目標、そして発見があれば、それが喜びとなり「真の生き甲斐」につながるのではないでしようか。

Dear my friends who are searching for real meaning of life.

　In my Kuragano-town, there's a place named "Sakuragi-cho" (Cherry Tree Town). The cherry trees lining the street, which are thought to be the origin of the town's name, are currently in full bloom. This is one of my favorite walking routes, so that yesterday I enjoyed the tranquil scenery. There's a large "Koi-ike" (Carp Pond) here, and the area to the north and east of it is a feast of beauty by the cherry. On the water's surface, I could see ducks, not yet on their way to Russia, swimming gracefully while they were gazing at the cherry blossoms. Please enlarge the photos to view them more closely.

　The cherry blossom creates a quintessential Japanese scene. However, this pond still shows witness to the Tenmei Famine that occurred during the Edo period. The active volcano Mt. Asama erupted violently in 1783. It showered volcanic ash this area, even 50 km away, and it severely damaged agriculture. Even in my own garden, if I dig 30 cm deep, I found layers of Asama sand since that time. History tells us that this pond was dug during this national crisis due to the need for agricultural water. It's presumed that it was dug by manual labor, as there were no machines like modern times.

　By the way, life isn't easy, no matter the era. We live in an age of declining birth rates and an aging population. For the elderly, finding meaning in life after retirement is a major challenge. With increased life expectancy, the end of child-rearing, and 20 to 40 years of retirement, the crucial question is how to live with a sense of purpose.

　Nuclear families are becoming more common, and the elderly are finding fewer jobs. They no longer have the role of assisting with housework or childcare. In the past, the elderly were often nannies, playmates, and even "teachers of life." However, nowadays, it's not uncommon for them to meet with their grandchildren a few times a year. Is this happy? Even if life seems fulfilling, without work to do, there's no room for ingenuity or a sense of purpose. For us seniors, having work we can do willingly, or purposes we want to achieve and discovery, would bring joy and lead to a true sense of purpose.