Senior Living Advice: An ’80s song that will ‘totally change your life’

By BETH DOW, Home Helpers of GA & AL

Written in 1981, a popular song by an English punk rock band The Clash hit the charts a year later.

The song was titled “Should I Stay or Should I Go.”

It can still be heard today on TV in Levi’s commercials and in the 1980s-themed NETFLIX series Stranger Things.

Initially, the song was used in the second episode of Stranger Things in 2016 where the character Jonathan introduces it to his younger brother Will.  Jonathan tells Will the song is going to, “totally change your life!”

It was actually a song about a breakup and a guy in a relationship pondering if he should stay in that relationship or go. But I like the Stranger Things angle on the song better … where it can “totally change your life!”

As we grow older and as the weather grows colder and drearier, it is really easy to answer the question, “should I stay or should I go?” with a very firm “I’m gonna stay!” answer.  I’m gonna stay in the house,  in my chair with my TV, my dog, and my blanket. I’m just going to stay right here.

But … that is not the right answer. The answer to “should I stay or should I go?” should always be a loud energetic GO!  It is so easy to stay at home, but it is so good for you to get out.

People need to be around people.  I don’t know why but that is just how it works best.  A recent study found that social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes.  And that the risk rivaled those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Social isolation was also associated with about a 50 percent increase risk for dementia.

Now you might be telling yourself, “I’m not isolating.  I go to work or go to the grocery store or church.”  But just going through the motions of life does not mean you are living your life.  Often, the job itself gives you an excuse to isolate with excuses such as – I have to work tomorrow, get up early, I’m tired, etc.  And all these may be true … but sometimes a little fun with friends is worth being tired the next day.

A few years ago before I truly understood the impact socialization can have on you physically and mentally – and if you had asked me to go out on a rainy, cold Wednesday night after work – I would have told you no way! Today, if someone calls and asks if I want to do something, I don’t even ask what it is … my answer 99 percent of the time is going to be yes.

Now most of the time, I am the one doing the calling and I do get turned down, but unfortunately for my friends, it doesn’t deter me.  I will call them again.

So as we have about a month more of dreary and cold weather, when you ask yourself – should I stay or should I go – remember the right answer can totally change your life!

Beth Dow is a Dementia and Alzheimer’s Educator, CAEd and Geriatric Care Manager. She is also the owner of Home Helpers of GA & AL in Newnan. Readers can contact her by email at  [email protected].