Big people worry me.

As usual you got right to the point of this discussion, both of you. Thanks

Thankd for your thoughtful answer, friend. I´m so proud when my personal friends here at mylot write what you have written. We old people are not waiting to die: we are living happily, but in our own way. It´s nice to see a younger person respect us and try to help us just by not bumping into us.

you are welcome friend, it's just that I know that's where all of us are going and I'm not getting younger either so might as well set a precedent. I was a proud young man during my youth and growing old was something that never crossed my mind then, guess it's a little different now

Not necessarily 100% true lilblond, a person doesn't have to be obsessive-compulsive to avoid things to have been proven to cause us pain. I have arthritis in my hands, and nothing is worse than a handshake by somebody who grips too hard. Having known Savy for years now, I don't think her fear is irrational at all: if it hurts, it hurts...period. I also avoid handshaking, and if I do shake hands with somebody, I've found if I don't give a real firm grip, that they respond in kind. Simple handshakes DO often cause pain, to us people who have joint problems. Even osteo can cause excruciating pain if somebody steps on a foot, or squeezes a hand too hard. I take all kinds of meds the Dr ordered for hand pain, and yet even with all that, a handshake still hurts lol. I too hope things get better for her:-)

I didn't say she had to be suffering from it, it was just a suggestion. A handshake shouldn't really hurt someone, so obviously if they're avoiding confrontation from it there must be an underlying issue...Arthritis is still an issue that they should see a doctor for. That's why I mentioned anemia. A lot of my friends with anemia are very fragile and get nervous when they're bumped or touched.

I know some people who are young, but are in pain, but we should all be aware that people become more frail as they get older, and there is nothing wrong in admitting that, and it certainly is better if we all touch each other gently.

Hugs are another source of pain, I love to be held, but be gentle. Thanks

I am sorry that you are hurting this way. But I am not sure my way of dealing with this is better. I have a pretty strong emotional shell, when people say hurtful things I just turn them off. But if you follow my way sure you save a few tears but you start to turn off you ability to feel love. It is human nature to turn away from hurt, however in this situation look closely at the cost. Life is full of these choices. I am now trying to correct this by looking closely at how I respond to others. Remember we are all on the road together and that is a good thing because when things get difficult we have someone to lean on. Blessings

Hi raj, I understand your confusion as the time is still not ripe yet for you to reach the stage of what savypat and most of us are experiencing now. Wait till you cross the bridge and we will all row in the same boat.

My point was to make us aware of people around us, many are in pain that doesn't show and it's easy to hurt them, a little attention on our part can keep this from happening.

Aright, understood that many a people are undergoing pain do not divulge for one or the other reason. If we volunteer and do not get the right information would not it be useless effort?

If all of us could be more gentle toward each other the world would be a better place. Thanks

I am sure you are right, some of this is mental, but a great deal of it is physical. Thanks