Today marks the 100th day anniversary of my mother’s death. She is greatly missed. I think of her many times during the day … every day … and I intentionally envision her healthy and happy, frolicking in her new heavenly home. It helps to heal the hole in my heart knowing that she’s at peace in a beautiful place surrounded by love and light.

Many of you have kindly asked how my Dad is doing now that he’s alone after almost 72 years of marriage to his life-long love. As he’s expressed a few times recently, “Mum was the anchor in my life”. She was his and he was hers. Even though Mum suffered from dementia in the final stages of life, she was physically THERE with him. In his presence. Her well-being became his sole purpose in life … to care for her and see her safely up to heaven.

He did that. So now what? I can’t imagine the depth and breadth of loss and loneliness he felt, being the one left behind. I know he has his moments as do I, but honestly I have to report that overall he is bearing up with incredible fortitude. The transition he’s made would be daunting to a strong 30 or 40 year old, let alone a great-great grandfather of almost 95 living alone in a 2-storey house with a sizeable garden.

How does one go on with life after such a loss and so drastic a life-change? How does anyone cope alone after feeling so needed, and being so single-mindedly purpose-driven for the last 7 years? How is he making such an admirable transition in just 100 days?

He decided. He consciously makes a daily choice to get on with his life as best he can. He relentlessly drives himself to keep on going. One small step and then another. Conquer one day and then tackle the next. Lots of small steps over time, lead to big results. Mindset and determination. Persistence and patience. Stretching boundaries. Pushing himself when it would be easy to give in and give up.

Let me just say that my Dad is nothing short of AMAZING!

We talk on the phone daily for a 10 to 30 minutes…we haven’t missed a day in the 100 days. It’s a huge comfort to know he’s faring well. And we just returned from another visit so we experienced it for ourselves. He’s bearing up and coping very well. Dad has a tremendous support system of caring folk in his small town, a wonderful community of friends, neighbours and organizations who care like no other I’ve ever seen. I am so grateful for the outpouring of love.

He’s invited to coffee, and meals out with friends, and others provide transport to run errands and shop at the local markets. The phone rings frequently with people checking on him, offering their assistance. And here’s an amazing part! He entertains too.  He extends the invitation, creates the lunch or dinner menu, shops for the food, cooks the meals for his friends and then washes the dishes – often by hand!

He is an active member of the Royal Naval Association {he’s a WWII veteran} and enjoys sharing his own and others’ war stories with the younger members. He’s now the oldest living member in his local chapter. The respect, love and admiration he’s given by this group is phenomenal and heart-warming. They are so supportive and selfless.

Dad has a level of mental acuity that is undeniable for someone of ANY age. Not only does he recall incidences and exact dates and times from long ago, but he also has a strong short term memory. He is so with it he even does his own accounting and prepares his own tax returns! It is quite astounding and inspiring.

He just recently stopped driving his car and with the help of a friend, sold it “because I don’t really trust the other people on the road, now that my reaction times have slowed down a bit!”  He may no longer own a car but he’s still driving!

He goes up into the town center on his red scooter – his 4-wheeler electric steed. And let me tell you, he’s very proficient at navigating the twists and turns. He knows all the dips and narrow spots as well as the short cuts. When it’s a suitable day, he still walks up the hill {it’s a steep one} with the aid of a stick, and gets his exercise several times a week.

He is health conscious and has carried on Mum’s healthy eating traditions of lots of locally-grown fresh foods. Plenty of fruit with lunch and always 3 veggies on his dinner plate beside his fish or meat and starch.

We introduced Mum and Dad to Shaklee supplements 31 years ago when they lived in Australia and they’ve been using them ever since. We take the products over when we visit …. and mail them in between. Dad never misses a day of his Shaklee Vivix, Vita Lea, OsteoMatrix, Vitamin C, the occasional Vitamin E and Iron+C ….. and a scoop of protein powder in his breakfast cereal.

Of course he has help coming in to clean the house, mow the lawns, trim the shrubs and trees, and also some delightful care givers who do a spectacular job of looking after him and check on him regularly. All of these things are invaluable and help keep him self-sufficient and independent under very challenging circumstances.

However, I believe it is his mindset of looking to the future, setting new goals {even talks about flying a spitfire again!} plus the consistent moderate exercise, his clean eating and supplementation, combined with the engaging companionship derived from his social circle, that have contributed to Dad’s 100 Days to Amazing.

I love you Dad. You are an inspiration!

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10