When our children were young, we couldn’t wait for the day when they would become adults with lives of their own (‘Open Page’, “The promise of a sunset – and a sunrise”, March 17). It is a time for us, elders, to move on to the next chapter of life; when that day dawns, one should be prepared for it. Gone are the days when employment was local. Youngsters today look to every corner of the world for jobs and careers. So, as adults, we should not restrain them or their ambitions. The empty nest syndrome does not have to be a change for the worse. It can be fun visiting our children in a new place. Even if the extended family has now broken up into small units, often leaving the elderly to live on their own, they can still handle it successfully by keeping fit through yoga, meditation, being curious and active, and, of course, meeting friends. I write this as an empty nester of over 20 years.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bengaluru
