The process of ageing can mean the reconfiguring of one’s hopes and dreams. It means the body and in some cases even the mind is not as sprightly as it once was. The children are now mature adults having taken to their responsibilities and in many cases have moved on to a new house, to a new place or perhaps even a new country. Contacts are maintained and regular visits are made. Everyone has adjusted to the new reality. And then Covid 19 happened. It turned the world upside down. Lives were affected in ways unforeseen. The sense of isolation, the absence of activity and the fear of contracting the virus made for a very stressful time.
Enter Maria Menezes a Brand consultant. A resident of Dubai for well over fifteen years, she comes from a very close knit family. She said “My parents live back home in Goa and we live not too far away, in Dubai. We have always been a close-knit family so when we, like the rest of the world, couldn’t travel, we used every way to make this a fun time.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Lockdown meant Pictionary and charades online, evening zoom chats, online birthday celebrations and quizzes and the works. It was a happy time. And yet despite being so joyfully connected, there was that underlying sense of fear that I could see brewing steadily in my parents. When would they see us again? What would happen if they were to get the virus and we couldn’t come? I could also hear their unspoken struggle with being house-bound and sense the frustration, boredom and vulnerability”.
She realized her parents despite being active, positive, tech savvy and so connected to family were under stress. The virus was not just targeting bodies but also their minds. The idea came to her like a flash of lightning and she knew what she had to do. She decided to set up an online community for those 60 and over, a space where they could interact with other like-aged and like-minded people. A place to share their talents and discover new ones and importantly a space that would remind them they mattered and were not alone. The group would be called The Circle of Grey. She was assisted in the venture by Harriet Rego her mother, Dr Dipali Prabhu a practicing ophthalmologist, Ashwini Timblo, Sophia Gonsalves a creative professional, Lakshmi Narayanan, Kay Dennis and Deanna Menezes.
Harriet Rego who is now in Dubai with her daughter said the Circle of Grey was the best thing to have happened to her. She said “I feel so excited to join in the various games and to also showcase my artwork which has received so much of appreciation. It has inspired others and many have seen my drawings and inspired others to draw. We have a lot of fun things to do like watch films online, karaoke, make new friends and learn new things. We don’t call members as seniors but Amigos. I hope it takes off and more people join the group.”
Umbelina Araujo living alone in Goa admitted that living alone could be very challenging. But since joining Circle of Grey, she has stayed constantly engaged, responding to various quizzes and reading the beautiful stories of how other elderly people across the world were living full lives. She said “There is so much positive energy and news in the Circle of Grey.”
Phil Bailey from the United Kingdom said “I would say really that the Circle of Grey is such a positive group that is full of inspiration and good ideas for all us seniors. It shows that life has plenty still to give as we get older and I love being a member of it”.
Mousinho Reis, retired and now settled in Bambolim said the group helped keep his mind occupied, he said “I play games online, listen to music and interact with people. Keeps us elderly people entertained. I access it every day and join in the activities. I am at home the entire day and this keeps me occupied”.
Another member Pury Fernandes said she joined the group in the early days. She said “What I like about this group is the fact that it is made of people who have reached a certain stage in life and it is also importantly non intrusive. We can showcase our hobbies. I am now in Kerala and the day keeps me occupied. At night I can log on and someone or the other is always there. I know I am not alone at that time at night. People our age are not appreciated. We swap funny anecdotes, songs etc. It keeps the mind alive and keeps us all in a good frame of mind.”
Maria said they hoped to sustain this venture and ideas were being generated continuously. They were reading the responses closely and were connecting people with similar interests. She said “We don’t plan to make thiss commercial. However there might be extra offerings by third parties who may promote them on the site. We don’t plan to charge the amigos anything”.
She hoped more senior citizens would participate in the group and learn new skills, make new friends and generally have a good time. One can only hope her dreams come true.
