Lessons learnt from my grandmother: Routine and a Sense of Humour

My grandmother just came back from a vacation and something was amiss. She could barely climb one flight of stairs to our apartment.

Her left leg looked like it was in a lot of pain. After a doctor’s visit we realized she had fractured her femur — the thigh bone that connects the hip to the knee. After much probing she finally admitted she had a fall ten days back. Ten days. The doctors could not believe it. They said it is impossible for someone with that fracture to walk, let alone pack, unpack, sit in a car for six hours and go about life as usual.

Routine gave her the courage.

It was the reverse action of her mind convincing her everything was okay simply because her routine never faltered. The routine, and laughing off the pain, let her carry on for ten days without any pain medication or heat. And this was during Delhi’s coldest day in forty years. She packed her own bags. Bathed herself. Went about her day as if nothing had happened. All with a severely fractured femur. She is a mother of four, a grandmother of nine, and a great-grandmother of three.

And it did not stop there. She insisted on joining the family at the dining table, throwing a proper hissy fit at the suggestion of being fed in bed. She laughed out loud when the doctor advised her to wear an adult diaper at night since she could not walk to the bathroom.

Lessons from my grandmother:

Everything has a funny side and a loud laugh can help you get out of almost anything.

When in unfamiliar surroundings, do what you can to get by and never let anyone in on your weakness.

When in the presence of family and close friends, let your guard down, but never let them decide what is best for you.

When down and out, routine is your only savior. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Including yourself.