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推し活とプロダクティブ#4           プロダクティブは「多様」

「施設に入っていた90歳の母、身体も弱ってきて、元気もなくなっていたのね。なにかしたいことあるって聞いたら、なんて答えたと思う?」

こんな問いをしてきたのは、生きがいづくりを応援する活動団体の代表でもあり、ご自身のお母様をサポートするCさん。

 

私の頭に浮かんだのは、「日本橋〇〇のうなぎが食べたい」と亡くなる数日前に呟いた祖父の姿。

Cさんも同じだったようで、「大好物の◾️◾️が食べたい」なんて答えが返ってくると思っていらしたとのこと。

 

「でもね、違ったの。働きたいって、ポツリと呟いたの」

そんなお母様とのやり取りから、Cさんは、歳を重ねても可能な限り長くプロダクティブでいられる場づくりに取り組むようなったとのお話をうかがい、大いに頷いた私だったのですが

 

ふと、思い出したのが、生きがいづくりの講座で講演した際に聴こえてきた受講者からの言葉。

「ねえ、イキイキしないとダメなの?そう言われると、なんだか辛い」と小さな声で私に呟いたのは70代後半の女性。

 

その瞬間に感じたのは、無意識に生きづらさを生み出してしまった自分の配慮のなさ。

プロダクティブや生きがいは、仕事して働き続けることやスーパーボランティアや地域のリーダーになることだけではないはずなのに

 

その女性には、自分の楽しいことや好きなことを周りに少しシェアする位でよくて、イキイキの姿は人それぞれでよいことをご説明させて頂き、笑顔で帰っていただのだけれど

それ以来、気をつけすぎる位に丁寧にお伝えしているのは、プロダクティブのあり方は多様で、そこに優劣はないということ。

 

今考えると、最期を迎える前の祖父も、鰻が食べたかったのではなく、多分、孫や子どもを自分の贔屓の店に連れて行って喜ばせたかったのかもしれない

大事な誰かに好きをシェアしたい、そんな祖父の想いが詰まった言葉が、「日本橋の〇〇のうなぎが食べたい」だったのかな

 

今なら少しわかる、祖父の気持ち。

あの時に理解できていたら、もう少し違う会話ができたのかなと、30年前を振り返る毎日です。

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東海大学健康学部健康マネジメント学科
ウェルビーイングカレッジ
澤岡詩野(SHINO SAWAOKA

jzt1864@tokai.ac.jp
健康学部公式サイト:https://www.tokai-kenko.ac/
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